This quick tandoori chicken recipe uses a flavorful mix of spices. You can cook it in your oven, on the grill, or even in an air fryer.
Course Main Dish Recipes
Cuisine Indian
Keyword how to make tandoori chicken, tandoori chicken
Prep Time 10 minutesminutes
Cook Time 20 minutesminutes
Additional Time 20 minutesminutes
Total Time 50 minutesminutes
Calories 390kcal
Author Robin Donovan
Ingredients
For the tandoori paste
½small onion
4garlic cloves
1-inchpiece of peeled fresh ginger
1 ½tablespoonspaprika
1 ½teaspoonsground coriander
1teaspoonground turmeric
1teaspoongaram masala
½teaspoonfreshly ground black pepper
¼ to ½teaspoonKashmiri chile powder or cayenne
Juice of 1 lemon
½cupplain yogurt
1teaspoonsalt
4whole chicken legsdrumsticks and thighs, with bones and skin intact or 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
Instructions
In a large bowl, stir together the tandoori paste, yogurt, and salt. Add the chicken and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 20 to 40 minutes.
To grill
Heat your grill to medium-high heat.
Place the chicken on the grill and cook for about 7 to 10 minutes per side. Bone-in chicken will take a bit longer than boneless. The chicken should be cooked through and browned and charred in places on the outside. If you are using an instant-read thermometer, the temperature should be 160ºF.
Remove the chicken from the grill and let stand for about 5 minutes before serving.
To cook in the oven
Heat the oven to 425ºF.
Place the chicken on a baking sheet in a single layer. Roast for about 20 to 25 minutes, turning once in the middle. The chicken should be cooked through and browned and charred around the edges. If you are using an instant-read thermometer, the temperature should be 160ºF.
Remove the chicken from the oven and let stand for about 5 minutes before serving.
To cook in the air fryer
I like to line the basket with parchment paper first (I use the kind with the holes cut in it), but it isn’t necessary.
Arrange the chicken in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
Cook at 400ºF for 10 minutes. Turn the chicken pieces over and then cook at 400ºF for another 5 to 10 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and browned and charred in places on the outside.
Remove the chicken from the air fryer and let stand for about 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
If you don't want to make your own tandoori paste, substitute a store-bought version like Patak's.