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5 from 1 review

Creamy Yogurt Garlic Shawarma Sauce

GF Gluten-Free V Vegetarian
Posted by Jess Larson on September 9th, 2025
THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE SALES LINKS. PLEASE SEE MY FULL DISCLAIMER POLICY FOR DETAILS.
Boldly spiced shawarma practically begs for a cooling, creamy drizzle, and this 5-Minute Yogurt Shawarma Sauce is my go-to. Made with just 6 pantry-friendly ingredients—no chopping or cooking required!—it’s tangy, garlicky, and perfectly complements roasted meats or veggies. You'll love spooning it over rice bowls, stuffed pitas, or kebabs straight from the grill. Since it stores well, it’s also easy to make ahead for weeknight dinners or meal prep. 
Jump to Recipe
An overhead shot of garlic yogurt shawarma sauce in a small bowl alongside chicken shawarma in a metal tray. The tray is surrounded by plates of lemon wedges, pickled red onions and tomato and a large bowl of sauce on a white textured surface.
Photography by Gayle McLeod
Prep: 5 min
Cook: 0 min
Yield 1/2 cup

My Tried and True Cooling Yogurt Sauce for Every Shawarma Night

My Easy 5-Minute Shawarma Marinade is one of the most popular recipes I’ve ever shared—and for good reason! Thousands of readers love it because it packs a punch of boldly spiced flavor, using just a few pantry staples. 

But after making this fan-favorite marinade hundreds of times, I’ve learned that all that big flavor needs a little relief. That’s why I always pair shawarma with a cooling sauce to balance out the spices of the marinade.

An overhead shot of a spoon drizzling yogurt shawarma sauce over a bowl of chicken shawarma, rice, lettuce, tomatoes, pita bread, and red onions on a white textured surface. this Recipe for Later!
I always make this creamy yogurt garlic sauce for shawarma-anything, especially rice bowls!

Sometimes I use a creamy hummus (like in my popular Shawarma Hummus Bowls), but nine times out of ten, this quick little garlicky yogurt sauce is my go-to. It’s made with ingredients I always have on hand and takes literally 5 minutes to whisk up.

The result is a simple yet punchy sauce that contrasts the spices without overpowering the dish, adding a special touch to Chicken Shawarma Rice Bowls and pita wraps without the dreaded garlic breath. 🙏🏼

An overhead shot of ingredients displayed in various dishes on a white textured surface: plain yogurt, mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, lemons and lemon juice, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
This 6-ingredient sauce starts with a blend of full-fat Greek yogurt for creaminess and just a touch of mayonnaise to round out the tang with some richness. A hint of garlic powder, bright lemon juice, and apple cider vinegar ties it all together.

You can still enjoy the cooling creaminess of this shawarma sauce, but make it vegan and dairy-free! Just use a plant-based yogurt and a vegan mayonnaise like Sir Kensington’s (my personal fave).

Simple Shawarma Sauce Essentials

How to Make the Creamiest Shawarma Sauce In Just 5 Minutes 

This shawarma garlic sauce comes together fast in one bowl without any chopping! Simply combine the ingredients and adjust the consistency to your liking.

An overhead shot of plain yogurt, mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, lemons and lemon juice, garlic powder, salt and pepper in a small bowl atop a textured off-white surface.
Combine the yogurt, mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, lemon, garlic powder, salt, and white pepper…
An overhead shot of shawarma sauce and a small metal whisk in a small bowl atop a textured off-white surface.
…then whisk until smooth. If you’d like it a little more drizzly, add a splash of water!
An angled shot of white sauce with a small silver whisk in a small stoneware bowl atop an off-white textured surface.
The garlic sauce ends up thick and creamy, but it’s still light and smooth enough to coat every bite of smoky spiced chicken, lamb, beef, or veggies.
An overhead shot of shawarma sauce with a wooden spoon in a small stoneware bowl atop a white textured surface. The bowl is surrounded by a tray of shawarma chicken and sauce, plates of pickled onions and lemon wedges, and pita bread.
It’s SO easy to whisk up on a weeknight and also stores beautifully! You can keep any leftover shawarma sauce in the fridge for up to 1 week—perfect for meal prep.
An overhead shot of a spoon drizzling yogurt shawarma sauce over a bowl of chicken shawarma, rice, lettuce, tomatoes, pita bread, and red onions on a white textured surface. The bowl is surrounded by fresh parsley and mint, lemon wedges, and pita bread.
There’s nothing I love more than drizzling a big spoonful of yogurt garlic sauce over a chicken shawarma rice bowl. The perfect finishing touch!

I can’t wait for you to try this 5-Minute Creamy Yogurt Garlic Shawarma Sauce! If you do give it a try, be sure to let us know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo and tag @playswellwithbutter on Instagram. We LOVE seeing your PWWB creations! ♡ Happy cooking!

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An overhead shot of a spoon drizzling yogurt shawarma sauce over a bowl of chicken shawarma, rice, lettuce, tomatoes, pita bread, and red onions on a white textured surface. The bowl is surrounded by fresh parsley and mint, lemon wedges, a plate of onions and cucumber, and a blue patterned cloth.

5-Minute Creamy Yogurt Garlic Shawarma Sauce (6 Ingredients)

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 1 review
  • Author: Jess Larson
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: heaping ½ cup 1x
  • Category: Sauces & Condiments, Entrée Salads & Bowls
  • Method: No-Cook
  • Cuisine: Middle Eastern
  • Diet: Vegetarian
Print Recipe

Description

Boldly spiced shawarma practically begs for a cooling, creamy drizzle, and this 5-Minute Yogurt Shawarma Sauce is my go-to.

Made with just 6 pantry-friendly ingredients—no chopping or cooking required!—it’s tangy, garlicky, and perfectly complements roasted meats or veggies.

You’ll love spooning it over rice bowls, stuffed pitas, or kebabs straight from the grill. Since it stores well, it’s also easy to make ahead for weeknight dinners or meal prep. 

Ingredients

Scale
  • ½ cup plain yogurt (full-fat Greek yogurt preferred)
  • 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
  • 1 ½ teaspoon apple cider vinegar
  • ¼ lemon, juiced (approx. 1–2 teaspoons)
  • heaping ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • kosher salt and ground white pepper, to season

Instructions

  1. Mix the shawarma sauce: Add all listed ingredients to a small bowl. Season with ½ teaspoon kosher salt and ground white pepper as desired. Whisk until the sauce is smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. If you’d like to thin it out some, whisk in 1-2 tablespoons of water. Set aside, or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.An overhead shot of plain yogurt, mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, lemons and lemon juice, garlic powder, salt and pepper in a small bowl atop a textured off-white surface. An overhead shot of shawarma sauce and a small metal whisk in a small bowl atop a textured off-white surface.
  2. Serve immediately. This is the ideal yogurt garlic sauce for shawarma—beef, lamb, chicken, and veggies! I love drizzling it over a Chicken Shawarma Bowl. My weeknight-friendly Hummus Bowl and Roasted Vegetable Shawarma Bowl are also both longtime PWWB reader favorite recipes. Enjoy!An overhead shot of garlic yogurt shawarma sauce in a small bowl alongside chicken shawarma, lemon wedges and pickled red onions in a metal tray.

Equipment

Notes

  • Easy Recipe Variations: As written, this shawarma sauce recipe is naturally vegetarian and gluten-free. To make it vegan and dairy-free, replace the yogurt and mayonnaise with your favorite plant-based substitutes.
  • Make-Ahead and Storage: This shawarma sauce will keep, stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, for up to 1 week. If it firms up in the refrigerator, give it a quick whisk to loosen and serve as desired.

Follow along with Plays Well With Butter on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and Pinterest for more unfussy recipes that pack a big punch of flavor!

An overhead shot of garlic yogurt shawarma sauce in a small bowl alongside chicken shawarma in a metal tray. The tray is surrounded by plates of lemon wedges, pickled red onions and tomato and a large bowl of sauce on a white textured surface.
An overhead shot of garlic yogurt shawarma sauce in a small bowl alongside chicken shawarma, lemon wedges and pickled red onions in a metal tray.

Hi there, I'm Jess!

If there’s 1 thing to know about me, it’s this: I am head-over-heels in love with food. I’m on a mission to make weeknight cooking flavorful, fast, & fun for other foodies, & PWWB is where I share foolproof recipes that deliver major flavor with minimal effort. Other true loves: pretty shoes, puppies, Grey’s Anatomy, & my cozy kitchen in Minneapolis, MN.

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Comments

  1. 9.10.25
    Karen said:

    Love how easy this was! And super flavorful.

    Reply
    • 9.11.25
      Emma @ Plays Well With Butter said:

      Glad you enjoyed it, Karen!!

      Reply
  2. 9.9.25
    Kimb said:

    Jess you have done it again! I changed up my dinner plans to make a chicken dinner. When this recipe popped into my inbox I knew what was for dinner!

    Amazing flavor and super easy to make on a Monday night! This will be in rotation at our home moving forward

    Reply
    • 9.10.25
      Emma @ Plays Well With Butter said:

      So happy to hear you enjoyed it, Kimb!! 🙂

      Reply