The Ultimate Tandoori Chicken Recipe for Beginners

Easy Homemade Tandoori Chicken Recipe That Will Wow Your Guests! – Hey friends! Lumina here, and today I’m SO excited to share my go-to tandoori chicken recipe with you!

Tandoori Chicken

Lumina Liu

Authentic Indian Tandoori Chicken marinated in yogurt, lemon juice, and aromatic spices including garam masala, cumin, and turmeric. The chicken thighs are grilled to perfection, creating a juicy, flavorful dish with a beautiful charred exterior that's both spicy and satisfying.

4.9 from 287 votes

Prep Time 20 Minutes

Cook Time 16 Minutes

Total Time 1 Hour 36 Minutes

Course Main Course

Cuisine Indian

Servings 16 servings

Calories 245 calories kcal

Ingredients

 

• 2 lemons, juiced
• 4 teaspoons paprika
• 2 red onions, finely chopped
• 16 skinless chicken thighs
• Vegetable oil for brushing
• 300ml Greek yogurt
• 1 large piece ginger
• 4 garlic cloves
• ¾ teaspoon garam masala
• ¾ teaspoon ground cumin
• ½ teaspoon chilli powder
• ¼ teaspoon turmeric

Instructions

 

1. Mix the lemon juice with the paprika and red onions in a large shallow dish. Slash each chicken thigh three times, then turn them in the juice and set aside for 10 mins.
2. Mix all of the marinade ingredients together and pour over the chicken. Give everything a good mix, then cover and chill for at least 1 hr. This can be done up to a day in advance.
3. Heat the grill. Lift the chicken pieces onto a rack over a baking tray. Brush over a little oil and grill for 8 mins on each side or until lightly charred and completely cooked through.

Nutrition

Calories: 245.00 caloriesFat: 13.00 gCarbohydrates: 5.00 gCholesterol: 110.00 mgFiber: 1.00 gProtein: 28.00 gSaturated Fat: 3.00 g

Keyword tandoori chicken, indian chicken, spicy chicken, yogurt marinated chicken, grilled chicken thighs, garam masala recipe

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This is seriously one of those dishes that looks super impressive but is actually really simple to make.

The first time I tried making tandoori chicken at home, I was shocked at how authentic it tasted compared to my favorite Indian restaurant!

What Makes This Tandoori Chicken Recipe Special

This tandoori chicken recipe brings all those amazing Indian flavors right to your kitchen without any fancy equipment.

The secret is in the marinade! It creates that distinctive reddish color and that amazing flavor that makes tandoori chicken so irresistible.

The combination of yogurt, spices, and that little bit of acidity from the lemons tenderizes the chicken in a way that’s an absolute game changer. Trust me, your family will think you ordered takeout!

Ingredients of Tandoori Chicken Recipe You’ll Need

To make tandoori chicken, you will need the following ingredients.

For the Initial Marinade:

• Juice of 2 lemons
• 4 teaspoons paprika (this helps create that classic red color!)
• 2 red onions, finely chopped

For the Main Marinade:

• 300ml Greek yogurt
• Large piece of ginger, grated
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• ¾ teaspoon garam masala
• ¾ teaspoon ground cumin
• ½ teaspoon chilli powder
• ¼ teaspoon turmeric
• Vegetable oil for brushing

For the Chicken:

• 16 skinless chicken thighs

How to Make Perfect Tandoori Chicken

To make the perfect tandoori chicken, follow the following step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Prepare the Initial Marinade

In a large shallow dish, mix the lemon juice with the paprika and finely chopped red onions. This creates our first flavor layer! Slash each chicken thigh three times (this helps the flavors penetrate deeper) and turn them in the juice mixture. Let them hang out for about 10 minutes.

I like to make these cuts about ½ inch deep – not too shallow that the flavor doesn’t get in, but not so deep that the chicken falls apart!

Step 2: Create the Main Marinade

While the chicken is sitting in that initial marinade, mix all your main marinade ingredients together in a bowl. I’m talking about the Greek yogurt, ginger, garlic, garam masala, cumin, chilli powder, and turmeric.

The yogurt makes the chicken super tender while the spices bring all that amazing flavor!

Pour this mixture over the chicken and give everything a good mix, making sure each piece is well coated. This is where the magic happens!

Step 3: Let It Marinate

Cover the dish and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. But honestly? The longer, the better! I usually try to prepare this the night before or in the morning if I’m serving it for dinner. That 24-hour marinade is a total flavor bomb!

Step 4: Cook the Chicken

When you’re ready to cook, heat your grill (or oven if you don’t have a grill). Lift the chicken pieces onto a rack over a baking tray. This setup helps the heat circulate around the chicken, giving you that authentic tandoori effect!

Brush a little oil over the chicken pieces and grill for 8 minutes on each side. You’re looking for that slightly charred exterior and completely cooked interior. The chicken should reach 165°F (74°C) internal temperature when it’s done.

Tips for the Best Tandoori Chicken

• Don’t skip the slashes! Those cuts in the chicken thighs are crucial for letting all those amazing flavors penetrate the meat.
• Marinate overnight if possible. I know it requires planning ahead, but the difference in flavor is totally worth it!
• No grill? No problem! You can bake this tandoori chicken in the oven at 425°F (220°C) for about 25-30 minutes, turning halfway through.
• Spice level customization: If you love spicy food like me, feel free to increase the chilli powder. For a milder version, reduce or omit it.
• Got leftovers? Tandoori chicken makes amazing wraps the next day! Just shred it up, wrap in a warm tortilla with some fresh veggies and yogurt sauce. Lunch upgrade!

Substitutions and Variations

• Chicken cut options: While thighs are traditional and stay juicier, you can use chicken breasts if you prefer. Just reduce the cooking time slightly so they don’t dry out.
• Yogurt alternatives: No Greek yogurt? Regular yogurt works too! Just hang it in a cheesecloth for an hour to drain some liquid if it’s really thin.
• Make it dairy-free: You can substitute coconut yogurt for the Greek yogurt. The flavor will be slightly different but still delicious!
• Add some veggies: Sometimes I throw bell peppers and onion chunks on the grill alongside the chicken for a complete meal.

Serving Suggestions

This tandoori chicken recipe pairs perfectly with so many sides! My favorite way to serve it is with:

• Basmati rice
• Warm naan bread
• Cucumber raita (yogurt sauce)
• Sliced onions and lemon wedges

The combination of the spicy tandoori chicken with the cooling raita is absolutely perfect. It’s like a flavor party in your mouth!

My Personal Experience with This Recipe

The first time I made this tandoori chicken recipe, I was nervous about getting that authentic flavor.

My mom is Chinese but my best friend growing up was Indian, and her mom made the BEST tandoori chicken. I wanted to recreate those flavors that reminded me of dinners at their house.

It took a few attempts to get the spice balance just right (my first attempt was WAY too spicy – oops!), but this version has been approved by even my most critical food friends.

The key was finding that balance between the tanginess from the yogurt and the warmth from the spices.

I hope you give this tandoori chicken recipe a try! It’s one of those dishes that looks and tastes impressive but is actually super easy to make. Let me know in the comments if you try it and what you think!

Happy cooking!

Lumina