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    Home » Main Courses

    Döner Kebab Recipe (Chicken Version)

    Published: Feb 25, 2022 · Modified: Apr 15, 2025 by dirndlkitchen · This post may contain affiliate links · 25 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This Döner Kebab recipe with chicken is THE BEST and MOST AUTHENTIC homemade version of a Döner you have ever tried outside of Germany! I promise it will shut up your Döner Kebab craving like it has mine.

    Doner Kebab recipe chicken dirndl kitchen
    Jump to:
    • What Is Döner Kebab?
    • Why Homemade Döner Kebab Recipe?
    • What's In Doner Meat?
    • Ingredients For Homemade Döner Kebab Meat & Sauce
    • Ingredients for Pide (the Turkish pita pocket)
    • How To Make Doner Kebab Meat
    • Döner Macht Schöner!
    • Döner Recipe with Chicken

    What Is Döner Kebab?

    If you haven't experienced Germany, you are probably wondering what the heck a Döner Kebab is. Simply put, it is THE top-selling and most popular fast food in Germany with over 15,000 Döner restaurants that can be found throughout the country. Döner Kebab had its German breakthrough in Berlin in the 1970s, when many Turkish immigrants settled. Then different types of lettuce, cabbage, and vegetables were added to this German-Turkish sandwich to make the German Döner what it is today.


    Traditionally Döner Kebab consists of marinated meat (most popular is chicken, but beef and lamb are also common) that is stacked high on a giant skewer weighing about 130 pounds! It is then grilled rotisserie-style inside the restaurant, where the crisped outer layers are shaved off and served inside a Turkish bread pocket (pide) with lots of creamy, garlicky sauce, vegetables such as tomato, onions and cabbage, and feta cheese. I also love adding lots of "scharf" aka spicy to my Döner. While I haven't found the exact seasoning in the United States, I think this Mexican seasoning blend comes reeeeeally close! I love it and I love lots of it! I also have a Döner Salad recipe version on my blog that you should check out!

     

    Why Homemade Döner Kebab Recipe?

    My Mama can testify to this: my visits home to Germany typically start with me being utterly exhausted, yet somehow requesting Döner Kebab RIGHT NOW! However, after cooking today's Döner recipe, I feel less inclined to follow this addictive habit because THIS CHICKEN DÖNER RECIPE IS SO GOOD! I could not believe how authentic this homemade Döner tasted!

    While I am not sure many Germans would conquer these steps since Döner shops are EVERYWHERE there, it is nice to know where your ingredients come from that go into this meal. And since we're not in Germany (and not spoiled in that sense), please take this recipe to heart because it is SO WORTH MAKING! Close your eyes and imagine yourself at a Dönerladen in Germany!

    What's In Doner Meat?

    cooking Döner chicken meat in a skillet

    The most popular versions of a Döner in Germany is made from either beef, lamb (or a mixture of the two) OR chicken, stacked on a giant meat skewer that spins in a rotisserie grill. NEVER pork. If you've been to a Döner restaurant, they will often use filler meats such as ground beef to give the Döner stack more structure.

    Commercially produced Döner meat will most likely also have a bunch of fillers, preservatives and flavor enhancers added. Scandals of rotted meat making it into Döner sandwiches have scared many people away. So guess what's THE SAFEST way to eat a Döner? You guessed it. Making a homemade version! And I promise you won't be disappointed!

    Ingredients For Homemade Döner Kebab Meat & Sauce

    • chicken breast. You could also use boneless, dark chicken meat like thighs or beef or lamb meat instead. I also included my recipe for beef (and lamb if desired) in the recipe notes below (scroll down to the recipe card).
    • onion. yellow onion works great here!
    • greek yogurt. I like the thicker kind from the Fage brand and always buy a huge container of it at Costco. You'll need it for the marinating the meat and to make the Döner sauce.
    • olive oil
    • spices and herbs. Dried oregano, garlic powder, paprika powder, salt, pepper.
    • garnishes. Tomato, feta, cabbage, pepperoncini, spicy seasoning 'scharf'. Adding a bunch of veggies to your Döner is what makes this Döner version more German. And not to forget marinated cabbage! I quickly marinate my sliced cabbage in oil, vinegar, a pinch of sugar, salt and pepper. Then stir it once after 10 minutes and it's ready to go. I found that this spice blend most closely resembles the typical 'scharf' seasoning you'll see at Döner restaurants.
    • sour cream. You'll need this for the sauce. Feel free to use light sour cream if you'd like.
    • mayo. Another sauce ingredient. Feel free to use light mayo if you'd like.#

    Ingredients for Pide (the Turkish pita pocket)

    • flour. Just plain old all purpose flour.
    • yeast. I use active dry yeast.
    • sugar. Just a little bit to activate the yeast.
    • butter
    • salt
    • sesame seeds. Don't forget these! They add a toasted, nutty note to your Döner bread that's so lovely.
    Making Homemade Turkish Pide Bread in my stand mixer
    slicing open fresh baked, homemade Pide bread

     

    How To Make Doner Kebab Meat

    Döner meat is stacked high on giant skewers, then added to a rotating grill to cook there all day. I don't do that. I simply marinate my meat (up to a couple of days in the fridge). Then I cook it over medium-high heat in a skillet. I tried grilling before, but the flavor changed too much for me and it didn't taste like the authentic Döner meat anymore! This is the BEST homemade Döner recipe I have come up with over the years of making it and I hope you agree and it helps you feel closer to Europe!

    Döner Macht Schöner!

    "Döner makes you more beautiful" is the translation to one of Germany's most well-known Döner sayings, meaning "Döner macht schöner." Bottom line is that we should probably all consume more Döner because it's really THAT GOOD, whether that's to overcome homesickness or not. I hope you LOVE this authentic German Döner Recipe as much as I do and that it helps you bridge that Döner craving until you get to go back to Germany again (or you may just want to make your own Döner because you then know exactly what goes into your Döner!). I won't be going home to Germany again until this summer, and this has definitely helped me feel more at home here in Kansas City!

    Guten Appetit! Also, if you love German cooking and baking as much as I do, PLEASE SUBSCRIBE to my blog and never miss a post! Danke! ❤️‍

    Other German street food recipes you must try is my seasoning for German French fries, homemade Currywurst, and Turkish pizza (Lahmacun).

    Doner Kebab recipe chicken dirndl kitchen

    Döner Recipe with Chicken

    Author: Sophie Sadler
    This is the BEST Döner recipe & the EASIEST way to make this German-Turkish fast food at home! Stop your cravings with this Döner recipe!
    5 from 29 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 40 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Resting Time 2 hours hrs
    Total Time 3 hours hrs
    Course Dinner, Entertaining
    Cuisine German, German-Turkish, Turkish
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 1236 kcal

    Equipment

    • Rolling Pin
    • Baking Sheet
    • Silicone Baking Mats
    • Parchment Paper
    • Tongs
    • A Good Knife
    • Cutting Board
    • Whisk
    • Food Prep Bowls

    Ingredients
     
     

    Ingredients for homemade Pide (Turkish bread):

    • 500 grams all-purpose flour type 405 if you're in Germany
    • 7 grams active dry yeast one pouch
    • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
    • 50 grams butter soft
    • 2 teaspoons sea salt
    • 250 grams lukewarm water
    • sesame seeds for sprinkling on top before baking

    Ingredients for creamy garlic sauce

    • 150 grams Greek yogurt I use 5% Greek yogurt, but you could also use 0% Greek yogurt
    • 150 grams sour cream I use full fat sour cream, but you could also use light sour cream
    • 100 grams mayo
    • 1 Tablespoon onion finely grated
    • 2 cloves garlic finely grated
    • sea salt & freshly ground pepper

    Ingredients for Döner Meat

    • 600 grams chicken breast you could also use beef or lamb meat
    • 1 onion small, finely grated
    • 3 Tablespoons Greek yogurt
    • 6 Tablespoons olive oil
    • 1 teapsoon dried oregano
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon ground paprika powder
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt
    • 1 teaspoon pepper freshly ground is best!

    Other Döner Ingredients

    • 1 tomato sliced
    • onion thinly sliced
    • ½ head white cabbage thinly sliced, I'll marinate it for about 1 hour in some white wine vinegar, olive oil, a little sugar, salt and pepper
    • feta cheese sliced or crumbled
    • spicy seasoning In German "Scharf" I use the "Posole Spice Blend" seasoning by Los Chileros, as I think it tastes most authentic to what is used at German Döner restaurants.
    • pepperoncini peppers for garnish
    Shop Ingredients on Jupiter

    Instructions
     

    Homemade Pide Bread

    • Combine lukewarm water, yeast, and sugar, give it a good stir, and allow it to sit and bubble up for 5 minutes.
      7 grams active dry yeast, 1 teaspoon granulated sugar, 250 grams lukewarm water
    • Combine the yeast mixture with the remaining pide ingredients, then knead for 5 minutes. Cover and allow to rise in a warm spot for about an hour or until doubled in size.
      500 grams all-purpose flour, 50 grams butter, 2 teaspoons sea salt
    • Prep two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Divide into 2 balls, then roll out each ball into 10-inch rounds (25 cm). Cover with a clean linen towel and allow to rest in a warm spot for one more hour. In the meantime, preheat your oven to 390° Fahrenheit (200° Celsius).
    • Prepare a shallow bowl with water and have the sesame seeds handy. Wetten the outer edge of your hand, then use it to make a diamond-like pattern into your doughs (this is super easy, and it's probably best to watch my video for this one).
    • Now sprinkle the top of your doughs generously with more water and finally, sesame seeds.
      sesame seeds
    • Bake for about 20 minutes or until the tops are just starting to brown.
    • This makes 2 flatbreads, which means you will likely have some leftovers! For storing, keep them airtight (and possibly refrigerated if you need to store them for longer than 2 days). When ready to use, carefully cut a pocket in the middle, then reheat on low on a panini press or in your oven or toaster.

    Döner Meat

    • Par-freeze the chicken breasts for 2 hours (this helps with thin slicing), then slice thin, small slices. Add all other ingredients for the marinade, then combine with the sliced chicken until all chicken is covered. Store in the fridge for at least 2 hours before cooking. This will help develop incredible flavor and tender texture.
      600 grams chicken breast, 1 onion, 3 Tablespoons Greek yogurt, 6 Tablespoons olive oil, 1 teapsoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon ground paprika powder, 1 teaspoon sea salt, 1 teaspoon pepper
    • Heat 1 tablespoon of a high-heat cooking oil, such as avocado oil, in a sauteeing skillet over medium-high heat. Add just enough chicken to cover the bottom of your skillet (you may have to cook it in 2 shifts) and cook for several minutes until cooked thoroughly and browned. If you have a griddle, you can cook the chicken on it instead as well.

    Make Your Sauce

    • Whisk together all Döner sauce ingredients, then season to taste with salt and pepper. Allow marinating for at least 1 hour to allow the garlic and onion flavors to establish in the sauce.
      150 grams Greek yogurt, 150 grams sour cream, 100 grams mayo, 1 Tablespoon onion, 2 cloves garlic, sea salt & freshly ground pepper

    Serve Your Döner

    • For one sandwich, cut open ¼ of one pide bread to the outer edge, but not all the way through (warm for a couple of minutes on low on a panini grill if you have one), then open the "pocket." Start by adding some sauce on the bottom half, then working with tongs, stuff the pocked with the meat, then marinated cabbage, lettuce, tomato, onion, and feta cheese. Optional: Sprinkle with "scharf" (I always have to add tons of this seasoning to mine!). Guten Appetit!
      1 tomato, onion, ½ head white cabbage, feta cheese, spicy seasoning, pepperoncini peppers

    Notes

    Beef (& Lamb) Döner variation
    plate with doner kebab sandwich with beef and lamb meat
    You can easily make this Döner Kebab using ground beef (and lamb if desired). For this version, use the following for marinating and freezing the meat:
    • 1000 grams (2 pounds) ground beef and ground lamb (I used ½ & ½, but feel to use just beef as well)
    • 1 large onion, finely grated
    • 4 Tablespoons Greek yogurt
    • 3 Tablespoons olive oil
    • 2 teapsoon dried oregano
    • 2 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 2 teaspoon ground paprika powder
    • 2 teaspoon sea salt
    • 2 teaspoon pepper, freshly ground is best!
    Purée onion & Greek yogurt. Mix together with all other ingredients. Let marinade in the fridge for 2+ hours or overnight. Form a log on parchment paper and roll it up about 2 inches thick. Place in freezer for 2 to 6 hours before thinly slicing and sautéing in a skillet or on a griddle. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 1236kcalCarbohydrates: 112gProtein: 54gFat: 63gSaturated Fat: 18gPolyunsaturated Fat: 15gMonounsaturated Fat: 25gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 155mgSodium: 2245mgPotassium: 1181mgFiber: 8gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 1231IUVitamin C: 51mgCalcium: 196mgIron: 8mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 29 votes (25 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Phyllis

      November 06, 2021 at 4:33 am

      Hallo liebe Sophie, ich hab immer total gerne mit dir bei Instagram geschrieben, aber ich habe Instagram tatsächlich deaktiviert - ich hatte dir eben über deine contact page geschrieben, aber ich glaub es ist nicht angekommen, weil es hieß ich sollte die Seite neu laden, deswegen versuche ich es hier nochmal. Haha, solltest du meine Nachricht jetzt versehentlich 2-3 mal bekommen haben, dann sorry dafür.

      Haha, seitdem ich Instagram nicht mehr habe, gelingt es mir viel besser an meinen Projekten weiterzuarbeiten. Remember, we gotta start our email list.

      Dein Döner sieht super lecker aus, aber ich glaube ich bin faul und werde mir weiterhin welchen kaufen bei einem der zahlreichen Dönerläden hier in der Nähe. Ich hoffe dir geht es gut und dass du und deine Familie ein schönes Wochenende habt. Liebe Grüße aus dem hessischen Riesling Land, Phyllis

      Reply
      • dirndlkitchen

        December 08, 2021 at 5:42 am

        Und ich habe mich gewundert, wieso ich von dir nichts mehr gehört habe! Wie läuft es mit deiner Email Liste? Und ja, kann ich mir vorstellen, dass du den Döner nicht selbst machen willst, wenn du zig Buden um dich rum hast. 😉 Ganz liebe Grüße! Wir fliegen nächste Woche in die Heimat!

        Reply
        • Lisa S Lasch

          March 23, 2023 at 2:58 pm

          5 stars
          This recipe is a hit with my family. Everyone loved assembling their doner kebabs. This will be on repeat for family parties. The flavor was so delicious. Thank you.

          Reply
          • dirndlkitchen

            September 13, 2023 at 10:42 pm

            This makes me so so happy! My Döner recipe is one of my very favorites as well!

            Reply
          • Tamara

            October 09, 2023 at 9:27 pm

            5 stars
            Just made this tonight. My German husband said it was fantastic and i loved it as well! I've never made bread before so this was an experience. The instructions were easy to follow so it went very smoothly. Thank you!!!

            Reply
            • Sophie Sadler

              February 10, 2025 at 5:03 pm

              Tamara, I am so happy that you and your husband loved my Döner Kebab Recipe. Thank you so much for the nice comment!

    2. Fernando

      March 13, 2022 at 11:50 am

      5 stars
      Thank you. I appreciated this recipe. Miss Berlin Döner Kebab.

      Reply
      • dirndlkitchen

        October 04, 2022 at 9:44 am

        It's really good, isn't it!!

        Reply
      • Rebecca

        April 20, 2025 at 8:31 pm

        Sophie, we love your Döner recipe and will make it on repeat this summer! So easy and delicious! This is also something I miss a lot from Switzerland. We have tons of Turkish Kebab stand/shops in Zürich and I ate them alot 🤗 Also introduced them to my husband of course when we visited home and he loves them too. Thank you:)

        Reply
        • dirndlkitchen

          April 26, 2025 at 12:45 pm

          Thank you for your lovely review, Rebecca! My chicken Döner recipe is one of those recipes I am so proud of! I also think it tastes so authentic and helps to curb the cravings! Vielen lieben Dank! Sophie

          Reply
    3. Liselle

      February 05, 2023 at 5:36 pm

      Making this tonight…I miss döner from when I was stationed in Germany from 2013-2017….I am making a döner box, so on fries instead of in pide….yummm!

      Reply
      • dirndlkitchen

        September 13, 2023 at 10:50 pm

        Ohh I want this now!! Let me know if you liked it!!

        Reply
    4. Lisa

      February 20, 2023 at 10:05 pm

      This was an amazing meal. My family went crazy for it. I planned to run to the store for Pitas but got too busy so made them homemade. They were surprisingly easy to make. This one will be on repeat at my house. Thank you.

      Reply
      • dirndlkitchen

        September 13, 2023 at 10:44 pm

        This makes me so happy! I love this Döner recipe too!!

        Reply
    5. Amy

      July 07, 2023 at 3:44 am

      Hello from USA. Doner kebab looks much like a Greek (rotisserie) gyro in a pita with spicy garlic yogurt, lettuce, tomato and onion. Some restaurants have slightly different versions mde wirh hummus or tahini and tzatziki sauce. Very yummy amd juicy.

      Reply
      • dirndlkitchen

        September 01, 2023 at 4:52 am

        I know it looks similar, but it actually (to me at least) tastes a lot different! The marinated cabbage is my favorite salad addition! Greetings back from Kansas City!

        Reply
        • Sarah

          February 08, 2024 at 6:24 pm

          5 stars
          Excellent recipe! We tried the beef and lamb doner, I will definitely make again! I am also excited to also try the chicken! I made the pide gluten free and it turned out great!

          Reply
          • dirndlkitchen

            March 25, 2024 at 12:07 am

            Love that you loved my Döner recipe!! The chicken version is definitely my go to, so can't wait for you to try that next! Also, please do share which GF flour you used!

            Reply
        • Pam

          July 02, 2024 at 5:00 pm

          I was searching for the ingredients in a döner rollo, and most especially for how the cabbage is prepared, when I happened upon your page. The marinated cabbage part really does add a lot. Can you give me a rough idea of the proportions you use to marinate it (ie. equal parts vinegar and oil?) When we are in Germany, we have döner rollos every day and a good beer (Haake Beck and Faust are favorites). I'm going to substitute a tortilla for the wrap. I know it won't be exactly right but hopefully it is close. I'm excited to try your recipes. My husband loves schnitzel with mushroom gravy so I think he will love your Jägerschnitzel sauce. Thanks!

          Reply
          • dirndlkitchen

            August 12, 2024 at 11:27 am

            Hi Pam! For the cabbage, I use about a 2 to 1 vinegar to oil ratio. You'll have to let me know how it turned out! Sophie

            Reply
    6. Cammi Quinton

      February 09, 2024 at 8:08 am

      I love seeing this recipe! I'm from the US, currently in Italy, but whenever we're in Germany, I have to get a Doner (or 3, LOL). I'm almost afraid to make the garlic sauce in case I like it too much, LOL. Thank you for the recipe! I can't wait to try it!

      Reply
      • Sophie Sadler

        February 10, 2025 at 4:51 pm

        Cammi, I hope that you love my Döner Kebab Recipe, and don't be afraid of the garlic sauce! Thank you for your kind comment.

        Reply
    7. Briar Grace-Tyler

      April 09, 2024 at 3:44 am

      Omg Dankeschön! This is the first thing I have when I go back home too!
      I also make a ground lamb(I am in Newzealand), roll in aluminium foil and cook in a slow cooker, come home slice up and stuff your pita/pide bread lecker!

      Reply
      • dirndlkitchen

        April 10, 2024 at 6:57 am

        Oh yum! Do you crisp up your Döner meat in a skillet before eating?

        Reply

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    Sophie Sadler dirndl kitchen headshot

    Hallo! I'm Sophie Sadler, cookbook author of 'The German Home Kitchen', coming this September, and German food blogger at dirndl kitchen since 2015. I am so happy you’re here! 🥨

    I moved from Trier, Germany to the U.S. in 2009 and soon terribly missed the flavors of home. Crusty German bread, flaky pastries, afternoon Kaffee & Kuchen, and, of course, Döner Kebab and pretzels! So, I started sharing my love for German food and traditions with fun, easy-to-follow recipes. Stay a while, bookmark some recipes, and let’s cook together!

    🥐 Join Plunderteig 101, which is my German Pastry School!
    🇩🇪 Become a Member to get exclusive recipes & behind-the-scenes content.
    📩 Subscribe to My Free Newsletter to get German food inspiration straight to your inbox!
    📚 Pre-Order My Cookbook The German Home Kitchen (Coming Sept 2025!)

    Mit viel Liebe,
    Sophie 💛

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