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Chicken Pita Sandwich Recipe

July 26, 2022 by Elizabeth Murray | Affiliate Disclaimer
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This delicious chicken pita sandwich recipe stuffs pitta bread with golden brown shiitakes, healthy sautéed spinach, hummus and truffle aioli. Tart pickled red onions provide the acid in this perfectly balanced and extremely tasty chicken pita bread sandwich recipe!

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Three stuffed pita sandwiches with red onion, spinach, chicken and sauce visible on a blue serving platter.

What Do These Healthy Pita Sandwiches Taste Like?

Every bite of this pita bread sandwich is bursting with so many different flavors and textures. From the crunchy tart bite of the pickled red onions, to the chewy earthiness of the shiitakes sautéed in garlic, each bite will keep you wanting more.

The truffle aioli is a MUST. It is bold and rich, with a distinct truffle flavor that is absolutely devine. I purchased mine from the grocery store, but feel free to make yours from scratch! There is a great easy truffle aioli recipe here!

Salt is an important ingredient that often gets overlooked when seasoning chicken. In this recipe, it is important that the chicken is lightly salted prior to cooking, as the salinity plays an important roll in the overall composition.

Two hands holding a stuffed chicken pita sandwich with chicken, pickled red onion, shiitakes, spinach and sauce visible.

How To Make This Simple Stuffed Pita:

See the recipe card for the full list of ingredients and instructions.

  1. Pickled Red Onions: Slice the red onion into thin strips, and place them in a mason jar. In a small sauce pan, combine apple cider vinegar, water, sugar (or honey) and salt. Bring the mixture to a boil, then remove from the heat and pour over the red onions. Allow to sit for a few minutes before placing a lid or cover over the glass and carefully placing the hot glass in the refrigerator.

  2. Season Chicken: I used adobo seasoning. Adobo seasoning is a mix of a bunch of frequently used pantry spices, and I just adore it’s well rounded flavor.

  3. Cook Chicken: Heat olive oil in a pan and sauté the chicken on medium-high heat until golden brown, about 6 minutes per side. Transfer to a baking sheet and finish in the oven until the internal temperature registers 165 degrees F.

  4. Sauté Shiitakes & Spinach: In the same pan that the chicken was cooked in, add the cleaned and chopped shiitake mushrooms. Sauté, stirring frequently, until golden brown (about 6 minutes). Toss in the spinach and minced/pressed garlic. Stir well until the spinach has wilted. Remove from the heat and squeeze in the juice of 1/2 of a small lemon.

  5. Add Sauces: Cut the pita pockets in half so you have 2 pockets per pita. Carefully open the pocket. Smear about 1 tbsp of hummus on one side of the inside of the pita pocket, and about 1 tbsp of truffle aioli on the other side.

  6. Make Pita: When the chicken is done, chop it into bite sized pieces. Fill each pita with the chopped chicken, and a few tsp of the spinach/shiitake mixture. Place a few pickled red onions into the pita pocket, and enjoy! Feel free to add some feta cheese if you choose.

A large chicken breast in a pink pan on the stove top with a golden top.
a cutting board on a counter with shiitake mushrooms on it and blue subway tiles behind it.
A hand holding an open pita pocket with hummus inside of it.

More Easy Chicken Recipes You Will Love

While these chicken pita pockets are absolutely delicious, you might also really enjoy these other healthy chicken recipes!

  • Skillet Roasted Pomegranate Spatchcock Chicken

  • Healthy Enfrijoladas Recipe

  • 7 Ingredient Lemon Dill Chicken Kabobs Recipe

  • Greek Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs And Vegetables

How To Make Truffle Aioli:

So I purchase truffle aioli at the store and keep it in the refrigerator for when I decide to make sandwiches. It absolutely TRANSFORMS anything it touches, and I highly recommend just purchasing a jar.

BUT, if you want to try to make it at home, you definitely can. Feel free to use vegan mayonnaise or even greek yogurt! Here’s an easy recipe:

  • In a small bowl, whisk 1 cup of mayonnaise with 1.5 tbsp of truffle oil. Squeeze a little bit of lemon juice in, and season with a pinch of salt/pepper.

Thats it! So simple, and your taste buds will thank you!

Truffle aioli goes great with:

  • Home fries or French fries

  • Eggs

  • ANY sandwich, sub or pita pocket

  • Slather on top of a burger

  • Cut it with a little water and drizzle over roasted vegetables

A non-stick pan with cooking golden brown shiitake mushrooms, spinach and garlic

Is This Chicken Pita Sandwich Recipe Mediterranean Diet Friendly?

It is almost fully Mediterranean diet friendly, but there are a few changes that you will want to make to this healthy meal. Please note that I am not a doctor or dietitian, so please consult with yours before making any changes to your diet!

  • Whole Wheat Pita – Opt for whole wheat pita bread. Whole grain breads contain more fiber, vitamins and minerals.

  • Vegan Aioli – While dairy is okay to consume on a Mediterranean diet, it is recommended to only be enjoyed in moderation and not every day. And if you are getting it from the store, it is likely to be pretty processed.

    So you have two options here – you can make it from scratch so it is not processed, or you can buy it or make it vegan to cut out the dairy. The choice is up to you! Here is a great vegan roasted garlic truffle aioli recipe.

FAQ:

What kind of hummus should I use?

Any kind you like! Hummus with red peppers or garlic or fresh lemon juice all work very well! You can also use tzatziki sauce in substitution of hummus.

Do I have to use truffle aioli?

In this specific recipe, I highly recommend it. It really ties all of the flavors together and adds something special to the pita. If you don’t have a jar handy, see above for how to make it from scratch!

Can I use chicken tenders or pre-made chicken?

Absolutely! I have made this with chicken breast and chicken thighs and both came out incredible. Whatever cut of chicken you want to use is totally fine, just adjust cooking times accordingly.

three chicken pita sandwiches filled with greens, pickled red onions and chicken on a blue serving platter.

More Recipes You Will Love

If you like this recipe and the shiitake mushrooms in it, you will love these other delicious recipes featuring mushrooms!

  • Spinach Salad With Asparagus, Feta and Mushrooms

  • Crispy Kale Salad With Honey Mustard Chicken and Mushroom Bacon

  • Shiitake Mushroom Pasta With Lemon Butter Sauce, Honey Yogurt and Fried Capers

  • Bacon Sauteed Baby Bella Mushrooms

Did you make this chicken pita pocket recipe? Rate it below and tag me in your creation on Instagram! @RecipeHippie

chicken pita

Chicken Pita Sandwich Recipe

This delicious chicken pita sandwich is filled with golden brown shiitakes, healthy sautéed spinach, hummus and truffle aioli. Tart pickled red onions provide the acid in this perfectly balanced and extremely tasty pita!
5 from 3 votes
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Prep Time 8 minutes mins
Cook Time 30 minutes mins
0 minutes mins
Total Time 38 minutes mins
Course Dinner, lunch, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 333 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 pita pockets
  • 1 large raw chicken breast (or the equivelent in chicken thighs or strips)
  • 1 tsp your choice of chicken seasoning (I use adobo seasoning)
  • 1 cup shiitake mushrooms, brushed of dirt & sliced
  • 2 cups fresh spinach
  • 2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced or pressed
  • 4 tbsp hummus of choice
  • 4 tbsp truffle aioli (if you do not have a jar on hand, see blog post for how to make from scratch)
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • juice of 1/2 of a small lemon

Pickled Red Onions:

  • 1 red onion, peeled and sliced into strips
  • 3/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/4 tsp table salt
  • 2 tbsp granulated sugar or honey

Instructions
 

Make Pickled Red Onions:

  • Place red onion slices in a mason jar. In a small sauce pan, combine apple cider vinegar, water, sugar (or honey) and salt. Bring the mixture to a boil, then remove from the heat and pour over the red onions. Allow to sit for a few minutes before placing a lid or cover over the glass and carefully placing the hot glass in the refrigerator. 

Pita Instructions:

  • Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F.
  • Season Chicken: Season the chicken on all sides with seasoning of choice. Whatever seasoning you decide to use, make sure there is some salt for flavor!
  • Cook Chicken: Heat 1 tbsp of olive oil in a pan and sauté the chicken on medium-high heat until golden brown, about 6 minutes per side. Transfer to a baking sheet and finish in the oven until the internal temperature registers 165 degrees F.
  • Sauté Shiitakes & Spinach: In the same pan that the chicken was cooked in, add the cleaned and chopped shiitake mushrooms. Sauté over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until golden brown (about 6 minutes). Toss in the spinach and minced/pressed garlic. Stir well until the spinach has wilted, about 60 seconds. Remove the pan from the heat and squeeze in the juice of 1/2 of a small lemon.
  • Add Condiments: Cut the pita pockets in half so you have 2 pockets per pita. Carefully open the pocket. Smear about 1 tbsp of hummus on one side of the inside of the pita pocket, and about 1 tbsp of truffle aioli on the other side.
  •  Make Pita: When the chicken is done, chop it into bite sized pieces. Fill each pita with the chopped chicken, and a few tsp of the spinach/shiitake mixture. Place a few pickled red onion slices into the pita, and enjoy! 

Nutrition

Calories: 333kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 18gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 567mgPotassium: 626mgFiber: 4gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 1429IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 62mgIron: 2mg
Keyword pita bread sandwich, pita sandwich ideas, pita sandwich recipe
Interested in the Mediterranean diet? Check out my 21-Day Mediterranean Diet Meal Plan! Take the stress out of meal planning and let me do the hard work for you!Learn More
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Category: Chicken Recipes, Dinner Recipes, Lunch recipes, Mediterranean Diet Recipes
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Chris David

    August 8, 2022 at 8:03 am

    Really delicious recipe. I love it yummy!!! It’s really awesome. Will surely try this. You can also try

5 from 3 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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