Halal Cart-Type Rooster Over Rice

July 23, 2025

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This straightforward halal cart-style rooster over rice combines juicy, spice-rubbed rooster with fluffy yellow rice, drizzled with the long-lasting, creamy white sauce! I’ll present you how you can make it 100% from scratch.

You may additionally like my tandoori rooster rice bowls and this filling Mediterranean bowl recipe.

Overhead view of halal cart chicken over rice in a bowl with flatbread, garnishes, and a sour cream drizzle.

For those who’ve ever caught a whiff of smoky, scorching rooster on a avenue nook in NYC, you already KNOW as we speak’s recipe! We’re making juicy, seasoned halal cart rooster over rice, full with the well-known creamy white sauce. I’ve saved this do-it-yourself model straightforward, nevertheless it nonetheless has all of the genuine avenue cart flavors I keep in mind! This recipe will be meal-prepped, and making it from scratch means I can customise it in additional methods than one.

Do-it-yourself Rooster Over Rice That’s Even Higher Than Road Meals

Genuine flavors. Halal carts in New York are a late-night favourite. I needed to maintain these avenue meals flavors in a do-it-yourself model that anybody could make of their kitchen.
Minimal hands-on time. With simply quarter-hour of prep, I believe I did fairly effectively right here! A lot of the magic occurs in your oven. These avenue food-style bowls are additionally an effective way to make use of up leftover rooster and rice.
Excellent for meal prepping. The most effective half about making this at house is that I used to be capable of scale up the recipe. Prepare dinner as soon as, and luxuriate in scrumptious rooster over rice all week lengthy.

Chicken over rice in a bowl with flatbread, tomatoes, shredded salad, and a sour cream drizzle.

What Is Halal Cart Rooster?

Halal cart rooster is iconic New York Metropolis avenue meals made with spiced grilled rooster over rice with salad and white sauce. It’s so standard, you’ll discover this rooster dish throughout the US, too (The Halal Guys is a sequence that began as meals carts). I don’t wish to brag, however I believe this do-it-yourself rooster over rice may simply rival any restaurant or avenue cart!

Halal cart chicken ingredients with text labels overlaying each ingredient. — Rooster components.

Substances You’ll Want

A typical halal cart platter consists of rooster shawarma served over yellow rice with salad or contemporary greens, similar to lettuce and tomatoes, on the aspect. The of entirety is a drizzle of bitter cream sauce. It seems, it’s straightforward to recreate it at residence.

I’ve included notes on the components for every element under. Scroll to the printable recipe card for the total particulars, adopted by a step-by-step overview with photographs.

For the Rooster

Rooster – I really like the juiciness and taste of boneless rooster thighs with the pores and skin nonetheless on. You might make this recipe with rooster breasts or bone-in rooster, too. Take into account that the cooking instances will differ.
Olive Oil – Helps the rooster crisp up and offers the spice rub one thing to stick to. You may swap olive oil for any cooking oil you like.
Garlic – Freshly minced, or you possibly can substitute ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder per contemporary clove.
Spices – I make my shawarma-inspired rooster spice rub with dried oregano, coriander, cumin, turmeric, paprika, salt, and freshly floor black pepper.

For the Rice

Butter – Salted or unsalted. Think about decreasing the quantity of added salt within the recipe in the event you’re utilizing salted butter.
White Rice – Select a long-grain rice, like jasmine rice or basmati. You might additionally take a shortcut with quick-cooking prompt rice.
Spices – Turmeric, cumin, salt, onion powder, and garlic powder (you possibly can change garlic powder with onion and vice versa).
Broth – Provides extra taste to the rice whereas it cooks. You should utilize vegetable or rooster broth, whichever you like. I prefer to cook dinner with low-sodium broth.

White Sauce Substances

Bitter Cream – You might substitute Greek or plain yogurt, or tahini if wanted.
Lemon Juice – Contemporary or bottled is okay, since we’re solely utilizing a small quantity.
Sugar – I exploit granulated sugar, however you could possibly use one other sweetener, like honey, in the event you’d like.
Za’atar – Za’atar is an fragrant Center Jap herb mix that features thyme, sumac, and sesame seeds. You’ll discover it in most grocery shops and spice aisles. I add slightly garlic powder in with my za’atar, however that’s optionally available.
Milk – You’ll want simply sufficient to skinny out the sauce so it’s straightforward to drizzle. Any kind of dairy or plant-based milk works right here.

Chicken over rice in a bowl with flat bread, garnishes, and a sour cream drizzle.

Recipe Suggestions

Use rooster thighs when you possibly can. Rooster thighs keep juicier than rooster breasts, they usually’re more durable to overcook. Ensure to make use of halal-certified rooster as wanted.
Chill the seasoned rooster within the fridge. Spice your rooster not less than 1 hour earlier than cooking and let it relaxation within the fridge. Similar to marinating, that is key to constructing taste.
Examine that the rooster is cooked. Whether or not you’re utilizing thighs, breasts, or in any other case, rooster is finished when the inner temperature reads 165ºF on an instant-read meat thermometer.
Use leftover rice. If in case you have leftover cooked white rice within the fridge, merely stir within the butter, spices, and a splash of broth whereas it reheats. Bam! Halal cart rice that’s able to go.

Simple Meals Cart Toppings

Prime your rooster over rice with any of the next:

Shredded lettuce
Diced tomato
Peeled and diced cucumber
Pickled jalapeños or greens

Serving Recommendations

When you’ve assembled your avenue cart rooster and rice bowls, tuck items of lavash bread or naan bread on the aspect, and luxuriate in! This cottage cheese flatbread additionally makes an ideal low-carb possibility. This rooster over rice is a meal in a single, or you possibly can serve it with Mediterranean-inspired appetizers, like stuffed grape leaves.

Halal chicken over rice in a bowl with flatbread, garnishes, and a sour cream drizzle.

Methods to Customise Your Rooster Over Rice

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Prepare dinner the Rooster

Add the spice rub. In a medium bowl, mix the rooster thighs, olive oil, garlic, and all of the spices. Toss to coat the rooster on all sides with the oil and spices. Cowl with plastic wrap and chill within the fridge for 1 hour.
Oven methodology. Preheat your oven to 400ºF and line a baking sheet with a Silpat or parchment paper. Place the rooster thighs on the baking sheet and bake for 35-45 minutes or till the rooster registers at 165ºF on an instant-read thermometer.
Air fryer methodology. You might additionally cook dinner the rooster thighs within the air fryer. Begin by preheating the air fryer to 390ºF. Place the rooster thighs within the basket (no wire rack), pores and skin aspect down. Prepare dinner for 10 minutes, then flip and cook dinner it pores and skin aspect up for 10-12 minutes extra. The rooster is finished when the pores and skin is crispy and the rooster registers at 165ºF with an instant-read thermometer.
Cool and slice. Let the rooster cool for five minutes, then slice it into strips or bite-sized items.

Make the Rice

When to make it. Do that whereas the rooster is cooking.
Stovetop methodology. Soften the butter in a medium pot over medium-low warmth. Stir within the rice to coat it with the butter. Add all of the remaining rice components, stir effectively. Convey to a simmer, then cowl and cook dinner for 15-20 minutes. The rice is finished when it is fluffy. Take away from the warmth and fluff the rice with a fork.
Instantaneous pot methodology. Flip the Instantaneous Pot on to sauté and soften the butter. Flip off the Instantaneous Pot and stir within the rice. Add all of the remaining rice components to your Instantaneous Pot. Give it stir, then seal the lid and press the “rice” button.

Make the Bitter Cream Drizzle

When to make it. Do that when the rooster and rice are nearly finished.
Combine. In a medium bowl, mix the bitter cream sauce components. Stir effectively.

To Serve

Layer all the things in a bowl and add toppings. Spoon the rice into particular person bowls and prime with the sliced rooster. Add shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and diced cucumbers to the bowl. End with a beneficiant drizzle of the bitter cream sauce. Tuck some items of pita or naan bread into the aspect of the bowl and serve.

Dietary information is an estimate and supplied as courtesy. Values could differ based on the components and instruments used. Please use your most popular dietary calculator for extra detailed information.

How one can Make Halal Cart Rooster Over Rice

For those who’re utilizing skin-on rooster thighs, contemplate trimming away any extra pores and skin to maintain issues neat. Then, we’ll season the rooster and cook dinner it following the instructions for my oven-baked rooster thighs. It will get the pores and skin good and crispy!

First, Prepare dinner the Rooster

Chicken rubbed with spices in a glass bowl. — Season the rooster.

Season the rooster. Mix the rooster thighs with the olive oil and spices, and toss to coat. I like to make use of my fingers to rub the seasoning in. Cowl and refrigerate the rooster for 1 hour.
Bake the rooster. Afterward, bake the rooster on a lined baking sheet at 400ºF for 35-45 minutes.
Cool. Cool the rooster for five minutes, then you possibly can slice the rooster into strips, chunks, or depart it complete for serving.

Use the Air Fryer

Alternatively, you possibly can cook dinner the rooster utilizing my air fryer rooster thighs methodology. Preheat the air fryer to 390ºF, and add the rooster to the ungreased basket, pores and skin aspect down. Prepare dinner for 10 minutes, flip, and cook dinner for one more 10-12 minutes.

In the meantime, Make the Rice

Rice cooking in a saucepan with a wooden spoon. — Stir the rice with melted butter.

Instantaneous Pot. Soften butter on sauté mode, then change off the Instantaneous Pot and stir within the rice and the remaining components. Seal, then cook dinner utilizing the “rice” setting.
Stovetop. Or make it on the stovetop and soften the butter in a saucepan, stir within the rice and remaining components over medium-low warmth. Convey the pot to a simmer, cowl, and cook dinner for 15-20 minutes. Then, take the rice off the warmth and fluff it with a fork.

Assemble and Serve

Sour cream sauce whisked in a bowl. — Whisk the bitter cream sauce.

Make the bitter cream sauce. When the rooster and rice are almost finished cooking, whisk the white sauce components collectively in a bowl.
Layer all the things in a bowl. Add your rice to bowls, prime with the rooster, then add your lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, or any toppings you’d like. Lastly, give your rooster over rice a beneficiant drizzle of the bitter cream sauce and dig in!

Meal Prep and Storage Directions

Refrigerate. Retailer your cooked rooster, rice, and bitter cream sauce in separate hermetic containers within the fridge.
Meal prep your rooster and rice. Alternatively, assemble the rooster over rice in meal prep containers and preserve them within the fridge for simple, to-go lunches all through the week.
Reheat. Heat the leftovers within the microwave or the oven till the rooster and rice are scorching all through.