Tandoori Chicken

Tandoori Chicken Recipe

By Swasthi on September 14, 2023, Comments, Jump to Recipe

Tandoori Chicken at its best! This easy recipe helps you make incredibly tender, juicy, moist and outrageously delicious Tandoori Chicken. This mind-blowing way of grilling chicken is immensely popular in the Indian restaurants & is known as Tandoori Murgh. It is eaten with Cilantro Chutney or Mint Chutney. Indian food lovers keep going back to the restaurants time and again, not knowing it is the simplest that can be made at home.

Tandoori Chicken

In this post I share how to make the best Tandoori Chicken in numerous ways – using an oven, on stovetop Griddle, air fryer and on direct fire. If you are new to the dish you may be wondering

What is Tandoori Chicken?

Tandoori Chicken is a popular Indian dish where marinated chicken is grilled to perfection in a Tandoor, a cylindrical clay oven. As a first step chicken is marinated overnight with various spices, herbs and yogurt.

This marinade helps to tenderize, spice and flavor up the chicken. It is later grilled in a Tandoor. Traditionally the heat for a tandoor is generated by wood fire or charcoal. As the food cooks in this clay oven, the juices drip on to the hot charcoal and release a smoky flavor.

The resulting char grilled chicken is the best – tender and juicy with bursting flavors.

Sources say Tandoori chicken dates back to the Mughal period. While others say it was invented at Moti Mahal, Peshawar by Kundan Lal Gujral, before the partition of India. However it is beyond the scope of this post so let us enjoy making this amazing dish at home.

Wondering how to make Tandoori chicken without having a tandoor?
Any kind of heat source is good enough to grill/roast the chicken – an oven, stovetop, air fryer or direct fire. We are going to roast the chicken to perfection in one of these ways.

How do we infuse the smoky aroma into the chicken?
It is simpler than you think, you can infuse the smoky flavor either by smoking the grilled chicken with a red hot wood coal or cook it over direct fire for a few minutes towards the end.

More Chicken Recipes
Chicken Tikka Masala
Butter Chicken
Easy Chicken Kebab
Chicken Tikka Kebab
Chicken Shawarma

How to Make Tandoori Chicken (Stepwise Photos)

Prepare Marinade

1. Greek yogurt also known as hung curd is the key ingredient used in the marinade. It is nothing but curd that has been strained of all the whey/liquid. If you do not have Greek yogurt, please check this link to make hung curd.

2. Firstly transfer yogurt to a large mixing bowl. Add all the spice powders. Garam masala, coriander powder, pepper powder, turmeric, chili powder and salt. Also add in ginger garlic paste and kasuri methi.

adding spice powders

3. Add lemon juice. Be careful not to add a lot. Use as required depending on how sour your yogurt is.

adding lemon juice

4. Pour oil as well.

pouring oil

5. Mix well and taste the marinade. Add any ingredient needed to suit your taste like salt and chili powder. The marinade has to be thick and not runny otherwise it will stick up to the pan. Chicken will let out lot of moisture and juices while grilling if the marinade is runny.

marinade for chicken biryani

6. Make sure the chicken has no dripping water. If needed wipe dry with a kitchen tissue. Next make deep gashes to the chicken.

making gashes

7. Marinate it well so that the masala reaches deep inside. The marinade will tenderize the chicken. So make sure you do it properly.

marinating chicken

8. Cover and refrigerate for at least 6 hours to over night. Do not reduce the time as the chicken will not get cooked and turn tender. You can keep this as long as 48 hours in the refrigerator.

Grill Tandoori Chicken

Grilling in Oven – Preheat the oven to the highest for at least 15 to 20 mins. In my oven it is 470 F (240 C). Place a wired rack over a baking tray and then place the prepared chicken over the wired rack. Grill it for 15 mins.

For a spicy version, mix together red chilli powder with oil and baste the chicken on both the sides. You can also baste the left over marinade over the chicken.

Grill the chicken again for another 6 to 10 mins until fully cooked through. Adjust the timing as needed depending on the size of your chicken pieces. The last 5 mins set the oven to broil mode or move the rack to the top most level and grill until charred.

Stovetop method – Grilling in pan

9. Heat a pan. Spread 1 to 2 tbsp oil.

spreading oil on the tawa

10. When the oil turns hot, place the chicken on the tawa. Regulate the heat to medium.

grilling tandoori chicken on tawa

11. After 3 to 4 minutes flip the pieces. Smear the marinade.

12. Flip them again after 3 to 4 mins.

Basting marinade on tandoori chicken

13. Meanwhile add red chili powder to a small bowl. Mix it with the oil. This is optional. Skip if you do not want spiced ones.

14. Smear that to the tandoori chicken.

making spicy oil for tandoori chicken

15. Turn them to the other side. Cook on both the sides until soft and cooked. If it looks too dry, smear little soft butter.

flipping chicken

Smoke Tandoori Chicken

16. This step is also optional, unless you want to smoke the chicken. Burn the charcoal.

17. When it turns hot, drop it in a cup. Immediately pour 1 to 2 tsps ghee.

18. It will begin to smoke immediately.

smoking tandoori chicken

19. Finally cover it and allow to smoke for 5 to 7 mins.

20. Before smoking the tandoori chicken, do check if it is cooked well. The meat should fall off the bone easily. Serve tandoori chicken with Cilantro Chutney or Mint Chutney alongside sliced onions, carrots and lemon wedges. If you want to extend your menu, have Turmeric Rice and Cucumber Raita.

Chicken Tandoor Recipe

Air Fryer Tandoori Chicken

  • Preheat the air fryer to 390 F or 200 C. Place the chicken on the basket and air fry for 10 mins on each side or until cooked through and the internal chicken temperature reaches to 165 F.
  • Once done, brush the tandoori chicken with the left over marinade or the red chilli paste mixed with oil. Air fry for another 2 mins. For the authentic flavors, brush with mustard oil or butter.
tandoori chicken

Grill in Outdoor Grill

  • Preheat the outdoor grill for medium high heat.
  • Grease the grate generously with oil. Wipe off the excess marinade from the chicken and place them over the preheated grill.
  • Cook for 5 to 6 mins and turn them the other side. Baste the marinade on the top side and turn it again after 5 to 6 mins. The cook time depends on the size of your chicken pieces.
  • It takes about 27 to 30 mins to cook the Tandoori chicken fully. Insert a meat thermometer in the thickest part of the chicken and cook until it shows 165F or 75 C. Brush with some butter or mustard oil.

Related Recipes

Recipe Card

tandoori chicken recipe

Tandoori Chicken Recipe | Tandoori Murgh

Tandoori chicken is a popular Indian appetizer made with chicken, spices, yogurt and herbs. This recipe shows you to replicate the restaurant version at home easily. Serve it with Cilantro Chutney or Mint Chutney. For a complete meal, have some Turmeric rice and cucumber raita.
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For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card

Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Marinating time6 hours
Total Time40 minutes
Servings4
AuthorSwasthi

Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )

  • ½ to ¾ kg (1.1 to 1.6 lbs) chicken
  • ½ cup Greek yogurt (hung curd)
  • ¾ to 1 tablespoon ginger garlic paste
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • 1 teaspoon red chilli powder (kashmiri or any low heat chilli)
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper crushed (powder)
  • 1 teaspoon coriander powder (daniya powder)
  • ¼ teaspoon salt (taste marinade & add more)
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric (haldi)
  • 1 teaspoon kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • tablespoon oil (preferably mustard oil)

To Grill

  • 1 tablespoon oil

For color

  • 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder
  • 1 to 2 tablespoon oil (preferably mustard oil)

Instructions

Marinade

  • To a mixing bowl, add greek yogurt or hung curd (thick curd). If you do not have it make your own following the notes below.
  • Next add in ginger garlic paste, garam masala, red chili powder, salt, turmeric, kasuri methi, pepper powder and coriander powder.
  • Pour oil and lemon juice as well.
  • Mix everything well. The marinade has to be thick and not of dripping consistency. Taste it and add more salt and chili powder if needed.
  • Make deep gashes over the chicken and add it to the bowl.
  • Marinate the chicken well into the gashes.
  • Cover and set aside for at least 6 hours. If you reduce the marination time, chicken will not turn soft and juicy. It may not get cooked well if making on tawa.

How to make Tandoori Chicken

  • Preheat the oven to the highest for atleast 15 to 20 mins. In my oven it is 470 F or 240 C. For the stovetop and air fryer method, please follow the step by step instructions above the recipe card.
  • Place a foil on a oven tray to collect the drippings.
  • Then keep a greased wired rack on the tray.
  • Place the chicken pieces over the wire rack.
  • Grill the chicken for about 15 mins.
  • For spicy version mix together 1 tsp red chili powder with 1 tbsp oil.
  • After 15 mins of grillling, baste the red chili oil over the chicken. You can also baste the left over marinade over the chicken.
  • Turn the chicken to the other side and baste the red chili oil or marinade.
  • Grill for another 6 to 10 mins or until the chicken is cooked through. You will need to adjust the timing as it depends on size of the chicken pieces.
  • The last 5 mins, set to broil mode. Alternately you can move the entire tray with wire rack to the top most rack for the last 5 mins. This gives the charred effect.
  • Brush the drippings all over the chicken. This keeps the chicken moist. You can also burn a char coal piece and place it in a small cup. Bring out the chicken tray from the oven and place the cup of char coal in the tray. Cover with a large bowl or foil. Allow it to smoke for 5 to 7 mins.
  • Restaurant style tandoori chicken is ready. Serve with this Cilantro Chutney or Pudina Mint Chutney alongside onion and lemon wedges. For a complete meal, serve it with Turmeric rice and Cucumber raita.

Notes

To make thick curd or yogurt, line a thin cloth over a sieve. Pour 1 cup curd. Wring it gently and strain off the whey (water). Make a knot and hang it to a hook for 45 mins. Then use half cup here.
Grill time: You will need to adjust the grilling time depending on the size of the chicken pieces.

Alternative quantities provided in the recipe card are for 1x only, original recipe.

For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips above the recipe card.

Video

Watch Tandoori Chicken Video

NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)

Nutrition Facts
Tandoori Chicken Recipe | Tandoori Murgh
Amount Per Serving
Calories 540 Calories from Fat 387
% Daily Value*
Fat 43g66%
Saturated Fat 9g56%
Cholesterol 130mg43%
Sodium 360mg16%
Potassium 413mg12%
Carbohydrates 3g1%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 32g64%
Vitamin A 870IU17%
Vitamin C 5.8mg7%
Calcium 68mg7%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @SwasthisRecipes or tag #swasthisrecipes!

© Swasthi’s Recipes

Tandoori Chicken Recipe

About Swasthi

I’m Swasthi Shreekanth, the recipe developer, food photographer & food writer behind Swasthi’s Recipes. My aim is to help you cook great Indian food with my time-tested recipes. After 2 decades of experience in practical Indian cooking I started this blog to help people cook better & more often at home. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cook I am sure Swasthi’s Recipes will assist you to enhance your cooking skills. More about me

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5 stars
Thanks for the recipe

Just wanted to add that I think the addition of Amchur powder would be and appropriate. And authentic

5 stars
Hi, just to inform and maybe educate
There is no such thing as Greek yogurt! All yoghurt originated in Turkey and in fact yoghurt is a Turkish word for thicken or stirred.
The so called Greek yogurt was in fact introduced by a Turkish/Armenian that emigrated to the USA in 1929 I believe. He only named it Greek yoghurt because it wasn’t selling so well when it was introduced as Turkish yoghurt.
Your recipe is otherwise very authentic and tasty. I just I had a Tandoor oven ! Ideally this recipe needs an extremely high temperature and for the minimum time possible, to ensure that the chicken is extremely tender 🙏

thank you. it is really helpful

5 stars
made this yesterday and it was incredible. I had to make a few modifications: I didn’t have any turmeric or kasuri methi and had to use normal yoghurt, and lime instead of lemon but it still came out delicious. Definitely will be making this again!

5 stars
fantastic recipe. Easy to follow.

5 stars
This was fabulous. I had made my own chili oil which was nice. I used whole chicken legs and thighs. Roasted in a hot oven for 40 minutes. Served with garlic naan and brinjal pickle. My only suggestion would be to rub the lemon juice over the chicken before you put it in the marinade. It just brightens up the chicken a little more.

I made this and it was perfection! I didn’t have mustard oil (never heard of it) but it worked with the oil I had olive or avocado I don’t remember now. I marinated it overnight.

5 stars
This recipe made the most tender chicken I have had in a very long time. I let it marinate over night. Perfectly cooked. And super-delicious! Thank you.

5 stars
One thing that some people need to be aware of (maybe note more loudly) is that chili powder is not american chili powder as in texas chili. Much different flavor and use. American chili powder is actually a mix of paprika, cumin, oregano…) and that is not what the recipe is after.

Hi swathi, I made this recipe today in the oven but the chicken was dry. May I know how make it juicy?

Built in oven, temperature was set at 240C.

The recipe is great by the way, just that the dryness was the issue if that’s rectified the fish will be superb.

Chicken not fish *

After baking for first 30mins, just bashed it with butter or oil and then wrapped the chicken with a foil, then baked for 30min more.

5 stars
This was the best recipe. I followed the instructions for Air Fryer. The chicken was moist and the spices were just right. My family loved it. I will definitely make it again.

5 stars
It came out very good. The hung curd is the concept which I was missing so long. Because of this the chicken remained moist after grilling.

5 stars
I have this marination right now and can’t wait to eat!

Do you have a suggestion about the ratio of ground fenugreek that could substitute for fenugreek leaves? Thank you!

5 stars
The recipe says fenugreek Leaves. What makes you think the author meant leaves? I’m curious, because I’m aware of the two forms, and only have the leaves.

5 stars
Love this recipe – full of flavour!

5 stars
Super delicious, very easy recipe. Thank you Swasthi.

5 stars
Excellent recipe!

Hi,

Can you slow coook this at all? Like a pulled chicken type style?

5 stars
Hi Swasthi, such a great recipe! For boneless, can we use chicken breast or do you recommend thighs? Does the cooking time change based on the chicken we choose? Also my oven can go upto 270 c. Do you recommend a higher temperature or should we stick to 240? Does the cooking time change?

5 stars
Awesome

5 stars
Hi Swasthi, thank you for the great recipe! I used thick Greek yogurt instead of hung curd, what can I do to get rid of the extra water in the marinade without hanging the curd?