Did you know you can make perfect juicy tandoori chicken in less than 30 minutes in an air fryer. It is super easy and convenient to make tandoori chicken in an air fryer than in oven. With basic spices and marination, you can easily make this dish which taste authentic.
Air Fryer Tandoori chicken recipe
I have been making tandoori chicken for years now. Every-time I use my oven to cook the chicken. Even though it is easy, it takes more time and constant basting and flipping of chicken.
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But once I started making tandoori chicken in my air fryer, I was completely surprised how easy and fast it was. The idea came to me after I started making fried fish in air fryer. Since air fryer is getting so popular these days, I thought of sharing this as a separate recipe post.
About Air Fryer Tandoori chicken
I have been using air fryer a lot more these days. Mostly because of its convenience. Cooking foods in an air fryer is fast, easy and time saving. I found that the dishes get ready in half the time when cooked in an oven.
I have made chilli potatoes, fried chicken in air fryer which turned out perfect. And it is a family favorite dish which I make often for dinner. My recent discovery is making fish fry in air fryer and I have already shared the recipe on my Instagram page. I will soon share the recipe on my blog too.
Now coming to this tandoori chicken recipe. If you own an air fryer there is no looking back. This dish will become your family favorite. What I like most about it is, how fast the chicken cooks, giving the iconic char marks without over cooking the chicken and drying it out.
Related Recipes
Few simple points to keep on mind, use bone in chicken for maximum flavour. Marinate it overnight, don't over cook the chicken. Thats it.
My daughter loves tandoori chicken. So I pack it often in her lunch box. Most of the time I used boneless chicken for her ease.
If you prefer to use boneless chicken, reduce the cooking time in half. You can use that chicken to make wraps, burger and sandwiches. Check my Tandoori Chicken bites.
Ingredients
- Chicken - for tandoori chicken it is best to use chicken legs or thigh with bone in so it doesn't dry out.
- Yogurt - use thick Greek style yogurt for the marinade. If your yogurt is watery, strain it through cheesecloth before using.
- Spices - as far as spice powders, I used Kashmiri chilli powder for colour. Cumin, coriander, pepper, garam masala, chat masala and turmeric. My secret ingredient is ground cardamom.
- Ginger and garlic - freshly ground ginger and garlic paste enhances the taste of the chicken.
- Kasuri methi leaves - one of the most important flavouring in tandoori chicken is Kasuri methi leaves.
- Lemon juice - you can use lemon juice or vinegar for the tangy taste.
- Oil - use oil in marinade which makes the chicken juicy and prevents drying.
Step by Step Pictures
1)Start by making the tandoori chicken marination. Take a mixing bowl, add all marination ingredients in a bowl. I am using yogurt, oil, lemon juice, ginger, garlic, spice powders, kasuri methi leaves and salt.
2)Mix it really well. Taste and adjust seasoning.
3)Take chicken legs and make deep slashes all over it. Pat it dry with paper towel.
Add in chicken and mix it really well with the marination.
4)Apply the marination into the slashes of the chicken.
5)Cover the bowl with lid or plastic wrap and place it in fridge and allow it to marinate 30 minutes, or preferably overnight.
6)Remove the chicken from fridge before 30 minutes cooking. So it can come to room temperature. Preheat air fryer at 180 degree c for 5 minutes. Brush the air fryer rack with oil.
Now place chicken on the rack. Apply marination on top if needed. Now air fry the chicken for 20 minutes at 180 degree c.
7)Open the air fryer at 10 minute mark and brush top with oil. Continue cooking for 10 more minutes. No need to flip the chicken inbetween.
Now increase the temperature to 200 degree c in the air fryer and cook for 1 more minute so the chicken gets charred a little.
8)Now remove the chicken from air fryer and serve hot.
Expert tips
- I like to use chicken legs which turns out juicy. If you are using breast, then the cooking time will vary.
- Always make slashes all over the chicken legs for even cooking.
- Taste the marinate before adding the chicken. Adjust seasoning as per your taste.
- The longer you marinate the chicken, the more juicy the chicken turns out.
- You don't need to flip the chicken in the air fryer. Place it on the rack and cook.
- You can brush the cooked tandoori chicken with ghee after it is cooked.
Storage and serving
Marinated chicken can be stored in fridge upto 5 days. Cooked tandoori chicken can be stored in fridge upto 2 days.
FAQ
Q: Can I make tandoori chicken in oven?
Yes you can cook tandoori chicken in oven. Check this tandoori chicken recipe.
Q: Should I add besan in the marinate?
Personally I don't add besan in my chicken marinate. If you want, you can roast them slightly and use in marination.
📖 Get Recipe
Air fryer Tandoori Chicken Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 large Chicken legs skinless and bone in
For Marination
- 2 tablespoon Sunflower Oil
- 2 tablespoon Kashmiri chilli powder
- 2 teaspoon Roasted cumin powder
- ½ teaspoon Turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon Coriander powder
- 1 teaspoon Garam masala powder
- ¼ teaspoon Ground cardamom
- 1 teaspoon Chat masala powder
- ½ teaspoon Black pepper powder
- 2 tablespoon Ginger Garlic Paste
- 1 tablespoon Lemon juice
- ¼ cup Yogurt
- 1 tablespoon Kasuri methi leaves
- Salt to taste
To cook Chicken
- 3 teaspoon Oil or Ghee
Instructions
- Take chicken legs and make deep slashes all over it. Pat it dry with paper towel and set aside.
- Take all marination ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Add in chicken and mix it really well with the marination. Apply the marination into the slashes of the chicken. Cover the bowl with lid or plastic wrap and place it in fridge and allow it to marinate 30 minutes, or preferably overnight.
- Remove the chicken from fridge before 30 minutes cooking. So it can come to room temperature.
- Preheat air fryer at 180 degree c for 5 minutes. Brush the air fryer rack with oil.
- Now place chicken on the rack. Apply marination on top if needed. Now air fry the chicken for 20 minutes at 180 degree c. Open the air fryer at 10 minute mark and brush top with oil. Continue cooking for 10 more minutes. No need to flip the chicken inbetween.
- Now increase the temperature to 200 degree c in the air fryer and cook for 1 more minute so the chicken gets charred a little. Now remove the chicken from air fryer and serve hot.
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