Tandoori Chicken

Spice up the dinnertime with this smoky and perfectly juicy tandoori chicken. Marinated in yogurt and cooked in the oven, this recipe comes together in minutes!

We love our Indian recipes, especially those with chicken.

If you’ve tried my butter chicken, chicken saag, or chicken tikka masala, you are in for a treat: this tandoori chicken recipe will be a new dinnertime favorite. 

Table of Contents

1. What is tandoori chicken?
2. Ingredients needed
3. How to make tandoori chicken
4. Alternative cooking methods
5. Recipe tips and variations
6. How to store leftovers
7. Frequently asked questions
8. More delicious Indian dinners to try
9. Perfect Tandoori Chicken (Recipe Card)

What is tandoori chicken?

Tandoori chicken is, in my opinion, the most popular and tasty Indian dish ever. It features chicken marinated in yogurt and spices. Traditionally, the chicken is then cooked in a tandoor, which is a clay oven.

In my version, I oven-bake it, and it honestly tastes like something from a restaurant! Here are some reasons why I love this recipe:

• Healthy. Marinated in yogurt and roasted in the oven, tandoori seasoned chicken is a healthy way to cook chicken. 
• Juicy and flavorful. Yogurt works well for tenderizing chicken and making it moist and juicy. The warm spices used in the marinade make the chicken super flavorful. 
• Any chicken cut works. You can use any chicken cut for this recipe. I typically use chicken quarters or chicken legs, but leaner cuts like chicken thighs also work very well.

What I love about this recipe is just how authentic it tastes. Sure, cooking it in a tandoor oven would make things complete, but this oven-baked version tastes just as good! 

Ingredients needed

This recipe calls for very simple ingredients and pantry spices. Besides the chicken itself, you’ll likely have everything on hand. Here is what you’ll need: 

• Chicken. I prefer using chicken leg quarters for this recipe because they are fatty, flavorful, and has the bone intact. You can also use a mix of chicken legs and drumsticks. If you want boneless chicken, opt for chicken thighs.
• Yogurt. Plain Greek yogurt or natural yogurt. It goes without saying but please do not use flavored yogurt.
• Lemon juice. Optional, but if your yogurt is NOT on the tard side, add 1 teaspoon of lemon or lime juice.
• Ginger and garlic. Freshly minced. Fresh ginger and garlic give the chicken Asian notes and add great flavor. Use fewer or more garlic cloves, depending on your preferences. 
• Spices. The spice blend I prefer using for my tandoori chicken recipe consists of garam masala, cumin, cinnamon, ground coriander, turmeric, and smoked paprika. While you can customize the spice blend for tandoori chicken, I recommend you never skip the garam masala, as it gives the dish an authentic Indian feel. 
• Olive oil. For the marinade. You can use butter or ghee but I find it firms up a little too much for my liking.
• Salt. To taste. 

Find the printable recipe with measurements below.

How to make tandoori chicken

Besides marinating the chicken, this recipe calls for barely any hands-on time. The oven takes care of all the hard work! Ready to bake some chicken? 

Step 1- Prepare the marinade. Add the yogurt to a mixing bowl. Add the spices, freshly minced ginger and garlic, and olive oil. Give the mixture a good mix. 

Step 2- Marinate the chicken. Pat dry the chicken pieces and put them in the marinade. Mix well to get the chicken completely coated. Cover and marinade for up to 24 hours in the fridge. If you are in a hurry, let the chicken sit in the marinade for around 10 minutes. 

Step 3-  Assemble. Preheat the oven to 200C/400F degrees. Line the wire racks with tin foil. Remove the chicken cuts from the yogurt mixture and shake off the excess marinade. Place the chicken on the wire rack. 

Step 4- Bake. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the chicken is nicely charred and cooked through. Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes and serve with naan and coconut rice.

Alternative cooking methods

During the warmer months, I like to grill the chicken instead of baking it, and it only needs a few minor tweaks. I’ve also tested this out in the air fryer AND the instant pot, which are both great for speedy cooking.

Grill method: Once the chicken is marinated, place it on a preheated charcoal grill or grill pan. Grill on high heat for 8 minutes per side.

Air fryer method: Once marinated, place the chicken pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Air fry at 200C/400F for 20 minutes, flipping once halfway through.

Instant pot method: Marinate the chicken then place it in the Instant Pot and switch on ‘saute’ mode. Sear the chicken on both sides. Add remaining marinade and set the pot to ‘pressure cook’. Cook the chicken for 8-10 minutes, before turning it off and allow it to naturally release for 10 minutes.

Recipe tips and variations

• Use even-sized chicken pieces to ensure even cooking. If you are using different cuts of chicken, I recommend cooking them in batches.
• Don’t overcrowd the baking rack so that the chicken pieces brown well on all sides. 
• Have a thermometer at hand. Remove the chicken from the oven as soon as it reads 165F in the thickest part of the chicken. 
• Resting the chicken is important because it allows the juices to redistribute amnd yield the most juiciest meat ever.
• For a fun twist on this chicken, shred it with two forks for pulled tandoori chicken.
• You may notice my recipe isn’t as red or pink as restaurant-style Tandoori chicken. The reason is I don’t use any red food coloring. If you want to make this with aesthetic purposes in mide, add 1-2 drops to the marinade.
• For some added spice, add some cayenne pepper or red chili powder.

How to store leftovers

To store: Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator in airtight containers for up to five days. 

To freeze: Place the cooked and cooled chicken in a shallow container and store it in the freezer for up to two months.

Reheating: Microwave portions of the chicken for 40-50 seconds or reheat in a preheated oven until hot. 

Frequently asked questions

More delicious Indian dinners to try

• Chicken vindaloo– Spicy, tangy, and perfect if you love your curries spicy!
• Lamb Rogan Josh– Rich and creamy, the curry base is made up of tomatoes and yogurt.
• Lamb vindaloo– Similar to the chicken version, but swap out the meat for lamb.
• Paneer Tikka Masala– My family’s favorite veggie curry, the leftovers taste even better.

Recipe originally published March 2015 but updated to include new photos, information, and video for your benefit.