Tandoori Chicken Recipe

This Tandoori Chicken Recipe is so easy to make at home for a healthy family dinner.  Chicken pieces are marinated in a yogurt and spice mixture, then oven baked or grilled, for the most tender and flavorful chicken around!

What Is Tandoori Chicken?

Tandoori chicken is an Indian dish made by marinating skinless chicken pieces in a spiced yogurt sauce.  Traditionally, it is cooked in a tandoor, a cylindrical clay or metal oven, at an extremely high temperature (up to 900F degrees!).  Since the heat in a tandoor is produced by a charcoal or wood fire, cooking the chicken on a grill at home is an ideal substitute. 

No grill?  No worries, because the chicken can also be successfully cooked in a oven!  I’ve included cooking instructions on each method below in the recipe card, so feel free to try the one that works best for you.

How To Make The BEST Chicken Recipe

Grab some fresh chicken, plain yogurt, various Indian spices, and a lemon and you are ready to make the most deliciously juicy chicken!  All of the ingredients should be readily available in local grocery stores.  The Indian spice mix, Garam Masala, may be the only one that’s difficult to find.  If you can’t find it locally, try this recipe for a homemade version that’s even better than store bought!

One of the great things about this recipe is it’s super healthy!  It’s ideal for any one following a healthy eating plan, like Whole30, Keto, or Paleo.  

How To Make Juicy Chicken

One of the best cooking methods for juicy chicken is to cook it at a high temperature for a shorter amount of time.  Typically, I grill Tandoori chicken, but sometimes I have to cook it using the oven.  For example, when there’s 3 feet of snow on the ground!

To make the best baked chicken recipe,  place marinated chicken pieces on a baking sheet and bake at 450F/232C for:

• up to 30 minutes for bone-in chicken
• up to 20  minutes for boneless chicken

What To Serve With This Indian Chicken

• Indian Creamed Spinach
• curried chickpeas
• basmati rice
• cucumber raita
• puri bread
• Mango Lassi

So skip going out to the Indian restaurant tonight!  Stay at home and make a healthy dinner with this easy Tandoori Chicken Recipe.  

5 from 1 vote

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Tandoori Chicken

Prep Time

5 mins

Cook Time

35 mins

Marinating Time:

6 hrs

Total Time

6 hrs 40 mins

 

This Tandoori Chicken Recipe is so easy to make at home for a healthy family dinner.  Chicken pieces are marinated in a yogurt and spice mixture, then oven baked or grilled, for the most tender and flavorful chicken around!

Course: Entree, Main Course

Cuisine: Indian

Servings: 6 servings

Calories: 280 kcal

Author:: Karrie | Tasty Ever After

Ingredients

• 6 skinless chicken pieces (can use bone-in or boneless)
• 1 cup plain yogurt whole milk or lowfat
• 1/2 fresh lemon, juiced
• 2 teaspoons garam masala powder
• 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
• 1 garlic clove, grated or mashed
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4-1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 3-4 drops of red food coloring (optional)

Serve with lime wedges

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

1. Take a sharp knife and make slits into the tops of each chicken thigh, being careful not to fully cut through. Combine all the ingredients, except the chicken, in a large bowl. Mix until smooth. Add the chicken and marinate for at least 6 hours but no more than 24 hours.

2. After the chicken has marinated, take the pieces out of yogurt and discard the marinade. Preheat a gas grill or prepare a charcoal fire.

   **If oven baking, preheat oven to 450F/232C degrees and place the chicken on a large baking sheet. Can also place chicken on a rack on the baking sheet and can cover the bottom of the pan with foil for easier cleanup!

3. Grill (or bake) the chicken: bone-in for 25-30 minutes or boneless for 15-20 minutes. Until a thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the meat registers 175F/79C degrees (dark meat) or 165F/74C (white meat).

4. Serve the chicken with lime wedges on the side.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

• Do not marinate for longer than 24 hours, as the chicken meat may become mushy
• When baking the chicken, can place on a rack on the baking sheet and can also cover the bottom of the pan with foil for easier cleanup!
• Store leftover cooked chicken tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days

Nutrition Facts

Tandoori Chicken

Amount Per Serving

Calories 280 Calories from Fat 180

% Daily Value*

Fat 20g31%

Saturated Fat 6g30%

Cholesterol 116mg39%

Sodium 300mg13%

Potassium 309mg9%

Carbohydrates 3g1%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 2g2%

Protein 20g40%

Vitamin A 165IU3%

Vitamin C 1.3mg2%

Calcium 62mg6%

Iron 1.1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.