Best Ever Juicy Tandoori chicken, chicken marinade in flavourful spices, cooked in oven till char cooked, smoky and turns juicy. Tandoori chicken is also known as tandoori murg or chicken tandoori, very popular dish all over the world. This loved Tandoori chicken is a Indian restaurant classic dish.
Tandoori Chicken Recipe
My daughter loves tandoori chicken, so I make it quite often at home just for her. Every week, when we buy chicken for meal prep, I marinate a portion specially for tandoori chicken and store it in the fridge. Since this recipe is made in the oven, it's very convenient. I can cook it anytime without much effort.
The chicken always turns out juicy, tender, and full of flavor. I use a simple homemade spice blend instead of store-bought blends, which makes the recipe more approachable and easy to recreate at home.
About Tandoori Chicken
Chicken tandoor is a family favorite recipe. Chicken marinated in yogurt and spices and cooked in a tandoor oven till charred. The chicken turn out so juicy with smoky flavour.
Chicken is marinated in yogurt, fresh ginger, garlic, spices like paprika, coriander, chillies, cumin, chaat masala. Yogurt tenderize and soften the chicken and helps the spice blend flavors the chicken better.You can add more or less chillies as per your preferences.
Tandoori chicken is traditionally made by roasting chicken which is marinated in spices like paprika, cumin, chillies, coriander, fresh ginger, garlic and yogurt cooked in Tandoor a cylindrical clay oven. But this recipe uses oven to roast the tandoor chicken.
Tandoori chicken is usually served with Naan, Chutney, Rice and Veggie salads. Tandoori chicken or any tandoori foods are incomplete without the delicious green chutney on the sides.
More Tandoori Recipes
Restaurant Style Smoky Tandoori chicken
In restaurants chicken is cooked in a tandoor which naturally imparts smoky flavor into it. But at home you can easily achieve it by smoking the marinated chicken.
Once chicken is added with all spices and yogurt, place a small bowl in the centre. Add a piece of hot coal, pour a teaspoon of ghee over it. Now cover the bowl and allow it to smoke for 10 minutes. Your restaurant style smoky tandoori chicken is ready.
Alternatively, you can show the cooked tandoori chicken on open flame to get the smoky flavour.
Tandoori Chicken Spice Blend
Readymade Tandoori chicken masala is available in the market. But nothing beats homemade tandoori chicken masala. Mix Yogurt, Chilli powder, Coriander, Cumin, Chat masala powder, Black pepper powder, Garam masala, Turmeric, Ginger, Garlic and Dried Fenugreek Leaves to create a thick masala for the tandoori chicken.
Tandoori chicken Ingredients
Chicken - use bone-in chicken thighs or drumstick for maximum flavour. Make slashes over the chicken for the marinade to penetrate deep into the chicken.
Yogurt - use thick yogurt for the marinade so the spices clings to the chicken.
Fresh Ingredients - fresh ginger, garlic is used to flavor.
Spice Powders - Kashmiri chilli powder, coriander, cumin, garam masala powder, paprika, chaat masala, turmeric, black pepper powder and kasuri methi leaves is added.
Butter & Ghee - used as finishing ingredient which makes chicken so aromatic and glistening.
FAQ
Which is the best cut of chicken to use for tandoori chicken?
I like to use bone in chicken drumsticks and chicken thighs for making this dish. It makes the chicken so juicy without making it dry. Personally I felt chicken breasts turns out chewy and rubbery when cooked in oven.
Can I use boneless chicken for making tandoori chicken?
Also use bone-in chicken for juicy flavourful chicken. It is not recommended boneless chicken for Tandoori chicken, because the excessive heat will dry out the chicken.
How to make tandoori chicken in an air fryer?
This recipe can be easily cooked in an air fryer instead of oven. Since air fryer is more compact the chicken might get cooked faster that in oven.
Step by Step Pictures
First marination
1)Take chicken and wash them well. Use bone-in chicken drumstick and chicken thighs for best juicy taste.
2)make deep slits on them.
3)these slits help the marinade penetrate deep into the chicken.
4)Add in salt, chilli powder and lemon juice. This is your first marination. It helps flavor the chicken from inside.
5)Mix this well and Leave this aside for 30 mins to marinate.
Second marination
6)Now lets prepare the second marinade. Take yogurt in a bowl.
7)Add in all the spice powders mentioned. Kashmiri chilli powder adds natural red colour. if you prefer it bright red, you can add natural red colouring.
- 2 tablespoon Kashmiri Chilli powder
- 1 tablespoon Coriander Powder
- 2 teaspoon Cumin Powder
- 2 teaspoon Amchoor Powder
- 1 teaspoon Black Pepper Powder
- 2 teaspoon Garam Masala Powder
- 1 teaspoon Turmeric Powder
8)Add in fresh ginger and garlic paste. These add so much aroma.
9)Add in kasuri methi leaves, salt and mix well.
10)Mix this really well. This is your second marination. Taste and adjust salt at this point.
11)Pour this over the chicken.
12)Massage it really well so the marinate coat each chicken pieces.
13)Apply all over the deep slits.
14)Leave this to marinate for 6 hours or over night in fridge.
Cooking tandoori chicken in oven
17)Next day, remove the chicken from fridge before 1 hour and let it come to room temp. Preheat oven to 250 Degree C.
Now place the chicken on a foil lined baking tray and pop it in oven for 10 mins.
18)Remove the chicken from oven.
19)remove it and flip over, apply leftover marination over it if you have any and bake it for 10 more mins.
20)Now remove it from oven.
21)Remove the tray from oven, apply ghee all over it.
22)Place the chicken back into the oven for another 8 to 10 minutes.
23)Remove it and flip over and apply ghee all over it and bake it for 10 more mins. Check whether the chicken is cooked, or bake for another 5 more minutes.
24)Remove it from oven, give a final glaze with ghee and sprinkle some chat masala over it. Serve.
📖 Get Recipe
Tandoori Chicken Recipe (Smoky, Restaurant Style, Step by Step)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 kg Bone in Chicken Drumstick and Chicken Thighs
- 3 tablespoon Ghee for Brushing on top
- 2 teaspoon Chaat Masala for Sprinkling on top
For First Marination
- 2 teaspoon Chilli powder
- 2 teaspoon Salt to taste
- 3 tablespoon Lemon Juice
For Second Marination
- 1 cup Plain Yogurt
- 2 tablespoon Kashmiri Chilli powder
- 1 tablespoon Coriander Powder
- 2 teaspoon Cumin Powder
- 2 teaspoon Amchoor Powder
- 1 teaspoon Black Pepper Powder
- 2 teaspoon Garam Masala Powder
- 1 teaspoon Turmeric Powder
- ½ teaspoon Natural Red Food Colouring optional
- 2 tablespoon Ginger Garlic Paste
- 1 tablespoon Kasuri Methi Leaves
Instructions
- Take chicken in a bowl, make deep slits on them. Add all first marination ingredients like salt, chilli powder and lemon juice to them and mix well. Leave this aside for 30 mins.
- Now take second marination ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Pour this over the marinated chicken and mix well. Leave this to marinate for 6 hours or over night.
- Next day, remove the chicken from fridge before 1 hour and let it come to room temp. Preheat oven to 250 Degree C.
- Now place the chicken on a foil lined baking tray and pop it in oven for 10 mins, remove it and flip over, apply leftover marination over it if you have any and bake it for 10 more mins.
- Remove the tray from oven, apply ghee all over it. Place the chicken back into the oven for another 8 to 10 minutes. Remove it and flip over and apply ghee all over it and bake it for 10 more mins. Check whether the chicken is cooked, or bake for another 5 more minutes.
- Remove it from oven, give a final glaze with ghee and sprinkle some chat masala over it. Serve.
suba
If there was a better rating than five stars I would certainly give it to this recipe.
The taste is extremely flavorful,realllllly sooooooo tasty.
rajee
the taste is exactly like in indian restaurent. we enjoyed so much.
Sanhita
The temp setting that you are talking about... its 200F, right?
Francesca
Hi! Happy to know you and your beautiful blog!!
Biny Anoop
wow dear thats fab..i love wat u did with veggies at the ens so there is gravy as well
grEAT
never prepared that but i'd like to do. i've eaten itnonce in an indian restaurant in milano and liked it.
ciao
Anonymous
Hi yar, your presentation quiet good and spicy ... Its useful for beginners too that the measurement is accurate ... Your most dishes are healthy ingrediants and avail in kitchen which is invited for most.. Which is not harm health ... I prefer such healthy modern foods .... Thank u
Anonymous
Shall we prepare tandoori in normal frying pan ?
kavithars81@yahoo.com
I made it in grill mode in my oven with top n bottom grills...result was fab.omitted d coloring n baking powder.what does baking powder serve as hre in tandoori chicken?please reply.
Anonymous
Hi Aarthi, your recipes turn out very well. And what makes it more interesting is the write up and pictorial tour. Way to go lady!
Aasia Rahman
Aarthi
@kavithars81@yahoo.comBaking powder will make the chicken more tender and juicy
Anonymous
How to use this in grill mode?
Aarthi
@AnonymousJust set the upper rod of the oven and place the tray on the neared adjustable rack.
Anonymous
At first we should bake it and then in grill mode ,right?
Aarthi
@Anonymousyes..first bake then grill
vijitha katneni
Hi aarthi,
Lovely blog .. loving it more day by day.
Can u let me one wat is the oven u bought.. even I am also planning to buy :- )
Aarthi
@vijitha katneniCheck this post
https://www.yummytummyaarthi.com/2014/03/meet-my-ovens-ovens-which-i-use-best.html
Annu Kuruvilla
Wow.. Mouth watering dish... Which oven r u using?
Anonymous
luks perfect & yummy..
Aarthi
@Annu Kuruvillahttps://www.yummytummyaarthi.com/2014/03/meet-my-ovens-ovens-which-i-use-best.html
Anonymous
Wow..it luks yummy...too gud..
Anonymous
Can i prepare tandoori in microwave. . Pls message me temperature details
Jeslin
plz tell us how to make chat masala at home.
Anonymous
Hi Aarthi, your recipes are too good . Can you upload the recipe for eggless mayonnaise
Aarthi
@AnonymousCook it for Same temp and same timing in microwave convection mode..
Nisa
Hi, Aarthi you said Preheat oven to 250C... then at wat temp we should bake? cos later you said increse your oven temp to 250C and grill...
Aarthi
@NisaSorry that is a typo.First you have to preheat oven to 220 degre C. Bake it at that..Later increase it to 250.
bashilathu nisha
Am gonna try tis..
bashilathu nisha
Am gonna try tis..
bashilathu nisha
Awesome recipes. . Gonna try one by one.. thx alot for sharing. ..
Tina Chahal
Thanks for this recipe. Looks yummy. Excellent pictorial recipe. I have never seen recipe demonstration such like yours. Truly Aarti, I have stopped checking recipes from other blogs and sites. 😊👏
Anonymous
Wow aarthi it looks so good 2mrw I m Gng to try this I was searching for tandoor recipe this is wht I needed thand u so much!
Madhu
Every thing went well until I placed chicken on a non- stick tawa. I backed for first 15min and took out the tawa to flip chicken pieces. There I see water at bottom of tawa and chicken became soft on that side. But I did not see any water in your tray and I used hung curd too. What went wrong ?
Aarthi
@MadhuIt depends on the chicken, it is not a issue, just keep on cooking. the water will dry out
Unknown
Hi Aarthi,
Thanks for the recipe. The pics are simply mouthwatering. I needed one clarification though. Can you tell me the approx. weight of the chicken ? Should I use these ingredients for 1 or 1.5 kg chicken ? Let me know.
Doreen
Aarthi
@UnknownUse this for 1.5 kg
Anonymous
Is it safe to use on grill this black colour baking tray which is of round shape and comes along with microwave with a combi mode and secondly my convection mode is only for 200 c max heating
Aarthi
@AnonymousI am not sure about that..haven't used microwave so far
plasterer bristol
Great recipe this, thanks for sharing this.
Simon
Divya A
Thank you so much for all your detailed recipes...I tried this dish n it was a great success. looking forward to more great recipes.
Divya A
Thank you so much for all your detailed recipes...I tried this dish n it was a great success. looking forward to more great recipes.
Swap
Hi your dish looks so yummilicious but I was wondering that marinated chicken is kept in the fridge or freezer??
Aarthi
@Swapstore chicken in fridge
smithi
Hi can we omit chat masala? Will it taste good after omitting?
Aarthi
@smithichat masala gives the nice flavour to the chicken, you can leave it out if u want
sana fathima
Hi.. should we bake with both elements on and fan option
Aarthi
@sana fathimayes
reena
Hi. Can I omit the butter and ghee in the end and replace with oil??
Anonymous
Hi arthi
can i use normal yogurt instead of unsour?
Aarthi
@Anonymousyes u can use normal ones
Aarthi
@reenayes u can use oil
Microwave Chef
@Aarthi
If you have convection mode on your microwave, you probably also have a grill mode. I put the chicken by itself on the high metal rack, so it sat just under the grill, and the black nonstick baking tray all the way at the bottom on top of the rotating glass plate to catch the drippings. Grill mode for 15 minutes on each side. The tandoori chicken turned out excellent!
Sarbjeet
hii aarthi....can we make tandoori chicken in electric tandoor???
Aarthi
@Sarbjeeti have never used one of those, but you can give it a try
dipti banjan
Wow I tried this recipe last evening..I added fried besan before cooking and it turned out yummy...thanks fr your easy nd quick recipes.
Anonymous
If we are to make this in a frying pan,what do i do with the oil and lemon base?
Aarthi
@Anonymousyou can brush it on top of the chicken when it is cooking
Anonymous
are these spices for 1kg chicken? I mean
1full chicken for 1kg approx?
azra
Aarthi
@Anonymousit is for 1 kg chicken
Chiminie
Hi I do not have an oven but was wondering if I can pan fry the marinated chicken instead? Thank you!
Aarthi
@Chiminiepan frying is possible.u can cook it on a low heat till it is cooked
Anonymous
Hi aarthi,it is the first time I am commenting on anything like this.but I have to tell you..I tried this recipe and it came out great..keep doing this greatjob...I love your cooking...and I pretty much tried all your chicKen recipes..
ninu narendran
In which mode this needs to be cooked on otg..? Grill or bake?
Aarthi
@ninu narendran you have to bake it
Jyoti Karakoti
your recipe looks so delicious nd blog also very nice..... 🙂 !!!!
Vinithahars
Can i cook this in charcoal grill instead of oven ?
dhravyarao rao
Will it be the same taste when cooked on tawa ? I do not have microwave here? So will it not stick to tawa
bharathi katari
Can I cook this grill or microoven
Aarthi
u need convection mode.
Annie Tebby
Can i fry this using a frying pan... I don't want to use oven thats why ? Is that possible.
Aarthi
yes u can use, but you have to cool it slow. so it gets cooked
sharmi
Hi, I did in the same way, but it did not turn roasted at all.Please let me know where I went wrong?
Aarthi
Once it is cooked. place the rack on the highesy setting and grill it for few mins, so it will gets nice and charred
Husna Fathima
Sis in which mode should we place the chicken after preheating.
Husna Fathima
Sis if I reduce the temp to 160 c then the red light turns on and off sis and red roses are not heating up.only in 220 and 250 the red roses are heating up .
Aarthi
not sure. can you check with your dealer. it may be a fault in your oven
Shaista
Yummy.... Thank you
Lakshmi Balakrishnan
Canse we use fresh cream instead of curd in this recipie?
Anonymous
Aarti this recipe is so so yum my .I have microwave convection model But i have the temp till 200 Shall i do this reciipe with this temp plz let me know.Btwn am happy to tell you i bought my oven by seeing your post "meet my oven"thank u much
Masha Allah
Thank you mam it turned out pretty well...Please share more otg based recipe
ronald
Wow I tried this recipe last evening..I added fried besan before cooking and it turned out yummy...thanks fr your easy nd quick recipes.Thank you so much for all your detailed recipes...I tried this dish n it was a great success. looking forward to more great recipes.
sharanya Doraiswamy
Wow.. I tried this for lunch yesterday.. Came out so good and better than the ones we get in restaurants.. Baked and grilled longer than the time mentioned as my pieces were big.. No other changes made.. Thumbs up for you and the receipe
Lilian
Hi..your recipe is very nice..i have made it twice and my husband loved it...had a question, can we make the tandoori without flipping it so many times?
Kerp up the good work..thanks a lot.
Varsha N
Hi Aarthi.. I tried your tandoori chicken recipe today and it was a big hit. Thank u very much the recipe. 😊 Very simple and tasty. Loved it.
Sameer
Hi, you made tandoori chicken looked so easy to cook, Thanks a lot
Kitcheninfo
This is absolutely, hands down the best tandoori chicken i've made it !!!! Thank you for giving step by step procedure.
This will definitely be a staple in our house!!! Thank you so much for sharing the recipe!! It’s simply fantastic!!
Keep posting yummy dishes
sanju
really awesome article .