Tandoori Chicken Spicy Indian Style (Printable)
Juicy spiced chicken marinated in yogurt and aromatic spices, roasted until smoky and tender with vibrant Indian flavors.
# What You Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 1.5 lbs bone-in, skinless chicken thighs and drumsticks
→ Marinade
02 - 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
03 - 2 tbsp lemon juice
04 - 2 tbsp vegetable oil
05 - 1 tbsp garlic paste (about 4 cloves)
06 - 1 tbsp ginger paste (about 2-inch piece)
07 - 2 tsp ground coriander
08 - 2 tsp ground cumin
09 - 2 tsp garam masala
10 - 1.5 tsp Kashmiri red chili powder or mild paprika
11 - 1 tsp turmeric powder
12 - 1 tsp salt
13 - 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
→ Garnish & Serving
14 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
15 - Lemon wedges
16 - Fresh cilantro leaves
# Directions:
01 - Using a sharp knife, make shallow cuts in the chicken pieces to allow marinade penetration.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together all marinade ingredients until thoroughly combined.
03 - Add chicken to the marinade, ensuring complete coverage. Cover and refrigerate for at least 6 hours, preferably overnight.
04 - Preheat oven to 450°F. Line a baking sheet with foil and place a wire rack on top.
05 - Arrange chicken on the rack, shaking off excess marinade. Bake for 25–30 minutes, turning once halfway through, until cooked through with slight charring at edges.
06 - For authentic smokiness, broil on high for 2–3 minutes or grill over hot coals for a few minutes per side.
07 - Let chicken rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with red onion, lemon wedges, and cilantro. Serve hot.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The yogurt marinade makes the chicken impossibly tender while infusing every bite with aromatic spices that bloom during roasting
- You get that restaurant-quality smoky char right in your home oven without needing a traditional tandoor oven
02 -
- Do not skip the scoring step because it creates channels for the marinade to penetrate deep into the meat
- Room temperature chicken roasts more evenly, so take it out of the fridge 20 minutes before cooking
03 -
- Pat excess marinade off before roasting to prevent the chicken from steaming instead of roasting
- Let the chicken come to room temperature before cooking for more even cooking throughout