Shawarma-Spiced Beef Pitas with Pickled Onion and Lemon Cream Sauce

These shawarma-spiced beef pitas are a flavor-packed twist on a classic handheld meal. Tender ground beef is seasoned with aromatic shawarma spices and studded with sweet golden raisins, then tucked into warm whole wheat pita pockets. A tangy quick-pickled red onion and a creamy lemon sauce add brightness and crunch, making every bite irresistible.

Serve these pitas with a side of crunchy blue corn tortilla chips for dipping into any extra sauce or filling that escapes. Whether you’re looking for a quick dinner or a fun lunch, this recipe comes together in just 20 minutes with minimal cleanup. Perfect for busy weeknights!

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Ingredients

1 unit Red OnionView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit LemonView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

10 ounce Ground BeefView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit KetchupView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 ounce Golden RaisinsView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 tablespoon Shawarma Spice BlendView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 tablespoon MayonnaiseView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1.5 tablespoon Sour CreamView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 unit Whole Wheat PitasView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 teaspoon Hot SauceView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1.5 ounce Blue Corn Tortilla ChipsView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Salt, to tasteView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Pepper, to tasteView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 teaspoon Cooking OilView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Instructions

1. Wash and dry produce. Halve, peel and thinly slice half the onion (use whole onion for 4 servings). Quarter the lemon. In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine sliced onion, juice from half the lemon and a pinch of salt. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave until softened, 30-40 seconds. Uncover, stir and set aside to pickle.
2. Heat a drizzle of oil in a large nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Add ground beef, ketchup, raisins, shawarma spice blend, a big pinch of salt and pepper. Cook, breaking up meat into pieces, until cooked through, 4-6 minutes. (Ground beef is fully cooked when internal temperature reaches 160°F.)
3. Meanwhile, wrap pitas in damp paper towels and microwave until warm and pliable, 30-40 seconds. Halve pitas and gently pull apart to create pockets. Tip: Halve pitas one at a time to make opening easier and prevent sticking. In a second small bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream and juice from one lemon wedge (two wedges for 4 servings). Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Fill pita halves with beef. Top with white sauce, pickled onion (draining first) and as much hot sauce as you like. Divide pitas between plates. Serve with tortilla chips and any remaining lemon wedges on the side.

Recipe Tips

FAQ

Can I use a different protein instead of ground beef?

Yes, ground lamb or chicken would work well with the shawarma spices. Adjust cooking time as needed.

Can I make the pickled onion in advance?

Absolutely! The pickled onion can be made up to 2 days ahead and stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

What can I substitute for the shawarma spice blend?

You can make your own blend with cumin, coriander, paprika, turmeric, cinnamon and a pinch of cayenne.