Halal Cart Chicken
Halal cart chicken and rice has been a part of half my life! I grew up just 30 min away from NYC in a suburb of NJ and I would frequent a food cart known as Halal Guys in the city. It was so popular and lines would be blocks long and people just loved their signature platters. Oh, and the halal cart chicken white sauce for the chicken is just so good; I would cover my entire plate with it. Am I alone in this? Well, now you can enjoy this sensation from the comfort of your home anywhere in the world because this recipe is really good. Plus, I think homemade is always best.
Why do I love Halal Cart chicken?
This halal cart chicken recipe comes together in under an hour. What I love is that the chicken can be marinated the day ahead and the white sauce can be made earlier as well leaving only cooking the rice and chicken. This is a time saver; in the end, you will have a delicious outcome. I like to serve the meal with chopped lettuce and tomatoes like they typically do. The freshness helps cut the richness of the meal, and I highly recommend you have some; it ties the dish together. I like to dress my lettuce and tomatoes in a little bit of olive oil with a dash of oregano and salt and sometimes lemon!
This recipe is one that I have actually been wanting to recreate and share for a while now especially since I do not live in the Tri-State area anymore and find myself craving this every now and then. It really is a wholesome meal that I can see becoming a weeknight staple in many homes.
Check out my 30 min meal section for more ideas for a quick delicious meal! Some of my favorites are the oozi rice, freekeh with chicken, and dawood basha.
Be sure to check out my Halal Cart Chicken video below! For the best viewing experience, watch the video in full-screen mode!
Send remakes my way on Instagram for me to see and share!
Halal Cart Chicken
Ingredients
Chicken Marinade
- 2.5 lb Chicken Breast, boneless, skinless, cut into 1 inch cubes you can use chicken thighs as well
- 6 Garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 cup Olive oil
- 1 Small Lemon's juice
- 1 tsp White Vinegar
- 1.5 tbsp 7 spice
- 1 tsp Dried Oregano
- 2 tsp Ground Coriander
- 1 tbsp Garlic Powder
- 1 tbsp Smoked Paprika
- 1 tsp Cumin
- 2 tsp Salt or to taste
- 1 tsp Black pepper or to taste
- 1/2 tsp Turmeric
White Sauce
- 1/4 cup Mayo
- 1/4 cup Plain yogurt
- 1/4 cup Sour cream
- 1/2 tbsp White vinegar
- 1/2 Lemon's juice
- 4 Garlic cloves, minced
- Salt & Pepper to taste
- Water, to thin it out
Yellow Rice
- 2 cups Basmati rice, rinsed
- 1.5 tbsp Ghee
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Turmeric
- 2 Bay Leaves
- 3.5 cups Vegetable Stock
Other
- Tomatoes, diced
- Lettuce, chopped/shredded
- Pitas, quartered
Instructions
- First, marinate the chicken in the above ingredients and let it marinate for 4 hours or even overnight covered in the fridge.
- Next, prepare the white sauce since this can also be made earlier in the day. Just stir together all the ingredients in that category but the water. Add a few drops of water at the end until the thickness reaches a consistency that is pourable or to your liking. Cover the sauce and keep it refrigerated.
- Thirty minutes before dinner, work on the rice as it only takes 20 min to make. Add ghee to the pot then the rice to lightly toast for 2-3 minutes then the seasonings/bay leaf. Add the broth and bring this to a boil then a simmer covered for about 20 minutes. Rice should be cooked through, fluffed, and remove bay leaves before enjoying.
- While the rice cooks, cook the chicken as well. In a nonstick skillet, add the chicken to cook for about 8-10 minutes on high heat. You may need to do this in two intervals depending on the size of the pan. The chicken should be cooked through with no pink in the center yet juicy and fully white.
- To assemble, add a layer of rice to a platter then top it off with the chicken pieces, lettuce, tomatoes, and drizzle with white sauce and sriracha for heat. Add in a piece of pita and enjoy!
The meal was so quick and easy to make and one of the best platter recipes I’ve tried! Everything was seasoned to perfection definitely will be making it again soon 🙂
Thank you so much!
I just made the white sauce and that was delicious. I added 1/2 tsp sugar and that balanced it out perfectly. Jazaki Allah khair
Great to hear!
A quick and most delicious meal we go back to regularly. Perfect – as are all of your recipes ❤️❤️
I made this and it was soooo perfect and delish. Made beef kabobs baked in the oven instead of chicken but will try the chicken next time since it looks fire 🔥 thanks Heifa!!
ou! That sounds good!
I loved this recipe! This meal came together super fast and was delicious. I didn’t have the time for a four hour marination, but even with half an hour, the chicken was fragrant and flavorful. The white sauce is perfection. Thank you!!
I am glad it was enjoyed so much!
This recipe is honestly better than halal guys, so much flavor in one plate!!
Such a compliment, thanks!
Everything about this just came outPERFRCT!!! So glad I gave it a try! Became a great go to meal for my family now! Thank u for sharing!
Thank you!
I made it today and it was really good !
Thank you for the recipe:)
Awesome!
So so so tasty and amazing
My husband made me remake it the next day
And also my dad came visiting from new jersey when he knew i made it he’s making me redo it again lol inshallah making triple the recipe today♡ btw its the first time i ever remake a cooked meal off instagram. I usually only remake sweets and it was an amazing first time
Thanks so much, Neveen!
So delicious quick and easy! I only marinated for about 45 minutes but the flavors were delicious, and the white sauce was on point! Husband was skeptical when I said I wanted to try this but absolutely loved it and asked me to keep it on our dinner rotation 🙂 thank you Heifa for another wonderful recipe!
Thanks for the lovely review. I am happy it was enjoyed!
The marinade is amazing!! I had never used 7 spice before so that was a new delicious experience. Will absolutely make this again!
Thanks, Rachel!
Fantastic! Just gorgeous! This is the best copycat of halal cart that I’ve ever had. The white sauce is on point!! I love any recipe that allows me prep stuff ahead of time too. Loved marinating the chicken & making the sauce earlier in the day. Then cooking the rice and chicken later. It makes life so much easier when you have a busy schedule. We actually grilled the chicken outdoors, and it came out amazing! Thx for another awesome recipe to add to my repeat list!
Yay 👏🏼
Thank you for the amazing review! I am so happy to hear this!
All your recipes that I have used are amazing. This one is one of my favorites! I made it last week and it was better than takeout. The sauce was delicious! I appreciate you sharing your recipes!
Thanks, Lena!
Absolutely delicious, as with every recipe we try of yours. We’ll definitely be making this regularly.
Thanks, Kate!
Made this today and everyone loved it, thank you!
Awesome!
I tried this today and it turned out so good Alhamdulillah 😍 I’ve tried a lot of Halal Cart recipes before, but this one is by far, my favorite 🤩
Thanks, Lobna!Love to hear that.
I made this for dinner today and WOW!! So delicious!!! Thank you for an amazing recipe! Will definitely be making this again In’sha’Allah!
Thanks, Abeer! Love to hear it!
Made this recipe the other day. My husband and I loved it! It was super easy to make. I’m so glad I tried this recipe will be making it again for sure! Thank you
Awesome! My pleasure.
A family favorite and a recipe easy enough for any night of the week.
I love to hear that!
Made this for dinner just now. Such a hit with the entire family. Everything was just spectacular, way better than Halal Cart like someone else said. Thank you for another amazing recipe, this one will be in regular rotation.
Thank you so much! Means a lot that your family enjoyed it!
This was such an easy recipe to follow and super delicious! Husband and I loved and devoured it. Jazakum ALLAHU khairun Heifa! ❤️
That makes me so happy to hear!
This is a new favorite in my home! I tried it a month ago, and my husband and I keep coming back to it again and again – it’s definitely staying in our rotation of favorite dinners long-term. Easy to prepare, but tastes AMAZING!!!
I am so happy to hear this is a repeat in your home!
Made this tonight. Such a fun recipe, not hard, and SO good. Thank you for sharing! Can’t wait to make it again! PS- if you can’t find 7 spice, all spice works ok too!
Thank you, Scott!
Made this today. So quick and easy to put together. Perfect weeknight meal.
What type of cookware do you use for the rice? I am a new cook trying out the recipe but my family only has very large cookware. Thanks!
Hi Kyle,
Typically for the rice, I use a smaller pot, like a quart, since I do not make that much. I am keen on Ninja Cookware’s nonstick cookware. I hope this helps. Have a good day!
I love this recipe! I’ve made it a few times already and it is always in rotation at my house. Quick, easy and very flavorful!
Thank you, Deena!
Made this for dinner tonight and it turned out perfect! The white sauce is delicious and it super easy weeknight meal.
Thanks, Romeen! Glad you enjoyed it!
This recipe has become a family favorite! The chicken is so flavorful and the size ties the whole dish together. Quick. Simple. Delicious!
mmmmm mashallah our favorite in the house honestly. i have to make it atleast 2 times a month. my husband doesnt like chicken but is in love with this one. my kids also love it. its definetly our favorite♡
absolutely delicious! very easy, great weeknight dinner. the chicken was so flavorful with the marinade, and we loved the rice.
This is my go to weekday recipe. Super tasty and easy to make! It’s even great the next day for lunch too. Thanks for the recipe!
I made this last week for dinner and my husband asks me every other day when I can make it again. The chicken comes out so juicy and the rice so aromatic and fluffy. All together with the veggies and sauce is literally *chefs kiss*
Ahh I made this recipe a few months ago! It was so delicious!! I’m a sucker for flavored rice w chicken 🙂 definitely will be making it again!
I just made this for Iftar today and it was so so flavorful!!! I served it with some Arabic farmers salad with a bunch of lemon juice, ahhhhh I can’t get over how good this was! I love it so much I am planning on making it for a large gathering I am having later in Ramadan. Thank you for all your amazing recipes!! 🤤🤤🤤
Super fast and easy preparation, wonderfully seasoned, tasty exquisite
This recipe is my go-to when I don’t feel like making something tedious. It is so quick and flavorful! Must-try!
Made this and it was amazing!! Easy and quick to make!
One of my favorite recipes for a quick, easy and flavorful meal! The white sauce is too good.
everything about this recipe was delicious! the chicken was tender and juicy with the marinade, the sauce and the rice were wonderful. looking forward to making this again!
I’ve tried a few different halal cart chicken recipes but this one is the best! This one is constant rotation in our house.
So delicious and my go to recipe when craving for halal cart!
I’ve made this so many times already! So easy to follow along and make. The flavor is out of this world. And the best part is the whole family loves it and so filling! Alhamdillah
This is honestly the best recipe ever!! I got all my cousins hooked on it and even my cousin who regularly ate halal guys in NY said this was better! So thank you heifa!!
My go to recipe when i want to eat most of the food groups lol simply delish and easy to make !
I was away for the weekend and I send to my husband this recipe to try!
He was so impressed when he got to eat it, he obviously had to do it again when I was back. And I can just agree with him, this dish is full of flavour, delish, easy to make and I can’t wait to try more of Fufu’s recipes as they all look soooo tasty!
I’m also looking forward to have her book one day 😊
This halal guys copycat recipe is so much better than halal guys, so easy and always turns out good.
This recipe is a favourite for my husband and myself! Super easy to follow and so full of flavour…thank you!
You outdid yourself with this recipe, ma’sha’Allah my family and I really enjoyed this! Even my picky 6 year old loved the chicken!
This is a great meal you can feed a few people with. I like the chicken which is great source of protocol and the flavor of the chicken in this recipe is savory. Definitely must try!
This recipe was so easy and so delicious! My husband and son absolutely loved the white sauce!
easy and delicious recipe! thank you for sharing this. we especially loved how the amazing sauce ties everything together!
I recently moved to the west coast from NYC and miss the halal carts sooo much. Just made this recipe and OH MY GOD. My husband and I were in heaven. Thank you so much for sharing it!!
Best halal chicken cart recipe I’ve ever tried. The sauce was amazing even though I didn’t have enough sour cream. This was even better than Halal Guys here in NJ. Thank you for this recipe. You definitely know what you are doing.
Absolutely delicious! I especially love the white sauce.
I’ve never had halal cart chicken from a NYC food cart (never had halal cart chicken before), but I’ve made this twice now. Made ghee, yellow rice, and seven spice from scratch. Delicious. Lots of flavor. Thank you for this recipe.