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Easy doner kebab recipe served in warm Turkish flatbread with salad and tahini sauce

Easy Doner Kebab Recipe

This easy homemade doner kebab recipe is made with thinly rolled seasoned beef baked until juicy and flavorful, then sliced into authentic doner-style strips with crispy edges. Served with warm Turkish flatbread, fresh salad, and creamy tahini sauce, this homemade Turkish doner kebab brings classic street food flavors right to your kitchen.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mediterranean, Turkish
Calories: 430
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Doner Kebab
  • 2 lbs 80% lean ground beef
  • 1 onion - grated
  • 4 garlic cloves - minced
  • 2 tbsp plain yogurt
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt - or to taste
  • 1 tsp black pepper - or to taste
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
For Garnishing
  • Chopped fresh parsley
For Serving
  • Turkish flatbread or pita bread
  • Tahini sauce or garlic yogurt sauce
Simple Turkish Salad
  • 1/2 red onion - thinly sliced
  • 1/2 tomato - sliced
  • 2 tbsp chopped parsley
  • 1 tsp sumac
  • Pinch of salt

Method
 

Prepare the Meat Mixture
  1. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, grated onion, garlic, yogurt, salt, black pepper, cumin, coriander, paprika, and cinnamon.
    seasoning ground beef with yogurt, onion, garlic, and Turkish spices for doner kebab
  2. Mix well until fully combined. (preferably if marinated in the fridge for 2 hours or overnight).
    Ground beef mixed with yogurt, onion, garlic, and Turkish spices for doner kebab
Roll the Meat
  1. Place a large sheet of parchment paper on your counter. Spread 1/4 of the meat mixture into a rectangle.
    Doner kebab meat on a parchment paper
  2. Place another sheet of parchment paper on top and use a rolling pin to flatten the meat evenly.
    Seasoned doner kebab meat rolled thinly between parchment paper before baking
Roll Into a Log
  1. Remove the top parchment paper.
    doner kebab meat rolled thinly on a parchment paper before baking
  2. Tightly roll the meat into a log using the bottom parchment paper.
    Homemade doner kebab meat rolled into a log using parchment paper
Bake
  1. Transfer the wrapped doner kebab to a baking pan.
    Optional - add a jalapeno pepper, 1/2 tomato, and half of a red onion to the baking pan.
    Raw homemade doner kebab wrapped in parchment paper ready for baking
  2. Bake in a preheated 400°F (200°C) oven for 30 minutes or until fully cooked.
    Easy doner kebab baking in the oven until juicy and fully cooked
Broil for Crispy Edges
  1. Carefully remove from the oven and unroll the parchment paper.
    Let it rest for 5 minutes,
    doner kebab meat broiled until crispy and golden brown
Slice the Doner
  1. Then thinly slice the doner kebab into strips. For crispy, authentic-style edges, spread the meat on the same baking tray and broil for 1–2 minutes until lightly browned.
    Thinly slicing homemade Turkish doner kebab after baking
Prepare the Salad
  1. In a bowl, combine the sliced red onion, tomato, parsley, sumac, and a pinch of salt.
    Fresh Turkish salad with onions, tomatoes, parsley, and sumac for doner kebab
Assemble and Serve
  1. Serve the doner kebab in warm Turkish flatbread with the salad, tahini or garlic yogurt sauce, and fresh parsley.
    Assembling homemade doner kebab wrap with flatbread, salad, and tahini sauce

Notes

  • Rolling the meat thinly helps create the layered doner kebab texture.
  • Broiling after slicing gives the meat delicious, crispy edges like traditional street-style doner.
  • You can serve the meat in wraps, bowls, or over rice.