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Home / Recipes
1 hour 5 minutes
4.52 from 119 votes
58 Comments

Tandoori Chicken

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by: Joanna Cismaru
02.17.19
Updated: 09.03.20

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This Baked Tandoori Chicken features healthy and delicious Indian flavors you can enjoy right in your home. Made from scratch, baked in your oven and perfect for a weeknight meal!

overhead shot of tandoori chicken with lemon wedges on a baking sheet

Indian cuisine has to be one of my favorite cuisines with tandoori chicken being right there at the top of my favorite dishes. I’ve been going to Indian restaurants for a while now and I pretty much always order tandoori chicken. What attracts me to it really is the red color, I think it makes the chicken look so exotic.

However, a long time ago I learned to make tandoori chicken at home. With a few spices and a few tricks, the popular tandoori chicken can be made right in the comfort of your home in your own oven. Not only can you bake the chicken in your oven, you can also grill it!

What is Tandoori chicken?

Tandoori chicken is an Indian chicken dish prepared by roasting chicken marinated in yogurt and spices in a tandoor cylindrical clay oven. You can read more about tandoor ovens here on thekitchn.com.

This delicious chicken dish is extremely popular in Indian restaurants, and it’s one of my favorite dishes to order. However, I also love making it at home without a tandoor oven. All you need is your oven.

tandoori chicken process shots for applying wet rub on chicken

What Cut of Chicken Can You Use

When you visit an Indian restaurant and order tandoori chicken, almost always you will get chicken drumsticks. However, I have made this many times with boneless skinless breast as well as thighs and drumsticks.

In this recipe I am using both breasts and drumsticks. It works just as well with both cuts of chicken. Chicken breast with skin and bones works as well.

How to Make Tandoori Chicken

Clean the chicken and pat it dry. If using chicken breasts cut them in half. In a small bowl, mix all the wet rub ingredients together to form a paste. Using a knife, cut deep slits into the chicken. Smear the rub in between the slits and if there is any left over, rub it over the entire chicken pieces.

In a medium size bowl, whisk together all the marinade ingredients. Since Tandoori chicken is usually red, I used a few drops of red gel food coloring, however this is optional and the more food coloring you use the more red color you’ll get.

Place the chicken in the bowl with marinade and mix well, making sure all the chicken pieces are fully coated. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a couple hours.

tandoori chicken process shots for marinating the chicken

How long to bake?

After a couple hours you can start preheating your oven to 400 F degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and over it, place a grill rack.

Place the chicken breasts over the grill rack leaving a bit of space in between each piece. Bake the chicken for 30 minutes. 15 minutes, in brush some butter over each piece. After the first 30 minutes, turn the chicken pieces over, brush with more butter and bake for another 15 minutes. 

The chicken is done when the juices run clear when poked with a fork. The best way to check if your chicken is done, is to use an instant-read thermometer to check the temperature near the bone. When it reaches 165 degrees F, the chicken is done.

tandoori chicken drumsticks on a baking sheet

How to serve

Make sure to serve this chicken with some lemon slices so you can squeeze the lemon juice all over the chicken. It will really bring out all those tandoori flavors.

I usually serve this with a side salad like a simple spinach salad with tomatoes. However tandoori chicken is great with some basmati rice, sliced fresh cucumbers, and some red onions.

Leftovers

As with most dishes, this tandoori chicken should be enjoyed as soon as it’s cooked. However if you have leftover chicken, store it in airtight containers in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.

You can also freeze the chicken also stored in airtight containers and it could last up to 4 months in the freezer.

two tandoori chicken drumsticks over a bed of spinach salad

Try These Indian Recipes:

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overhead shot of tandoori chicken with lemon wedges

Tandoori Chicken

4.52 from 119 votes
Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 45 mins
Total: 1 hr 5 mins
Author: Joanna Cismaru
Serves: 6
Print Pin Rate
This Baked Tandoori Chicken features healthy and delicious Indian flavors you can enjoy right in your home. Made from scratch, baked in your oven and perfect for a weeknight meal!

Ingredients

  • 3 lb chicken such as breasts, thighs or drumsticks
  • 3 tbsp butter unsalted, melted, for brushing

Wet Rub

  • 1 1/4 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 2 tsp lemon juice freshly squeezed
  • 1/4 tsp salt

Marinade

  • 1/2 cup yogurt plain, such as Greek yogurt
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tsp ginger minced
  • 2 tsp chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp pepper freshly ground
  • 1 tsp garam masala
  • 1 tsp coriander powder
  • 1/2 tsp cumin powder
  • 3 tbsp lemon juice freshly squeezed
  • 4 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 drops red gel food coloring optional
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • Prepare the chicken: Clean the chicken and pat it dry. If using chicken breasts cut them in half. Using a knife, cut deep slits into the chicken.
  • Apply wet rub: In a small bowl, mix all the wet rub ingredients together to form a paste. Smear the rub in between the slits and if there is any left over, rub it over the entire chicken breasts.
  • Prepare marinade: In a medium size bowl, whisk together all the marinade ingredients. Place the chicken in the bowl with marinade and mix well, making sure each chicken breasts is fully coated.
  • Marinate chicken: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a couple hours.
  • Preheat oven and baking sheet: Preheat your oven to 400 F degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and over it, place a grill rack.
  • Place the chicken breasts over the grill rack leaving a bit of space in between each piece.
  • Bake: Bake the chicken for 30 minutes. 15 minutes in, brush some butter over each piece. After the first 30 minutes, turn the chicken pieces over, brush with more butter and bake for another 15 minutes.
  • Garnish with lemon slices, parsley and serve.

Video

Recipe Notes

  1. As with most dishes, this tandoori chicken should be enjoyed as soon as it’s cooked. However if you have leftover chicken, store it in airtight containers in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
  2. You can also freeze the chicken also stored in airtight containers and it could last up to 4 months in the freezer.
  3. Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used.

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 427kcal (21%)Carbohydrates: 3g (1%)Protein: 44g (88%)Fat: 25g (38%)Saturated Fat: 7g (44%)Cholesterol: 233mg (78%)Sodium: 721mg (31%)Potassium: 632mg (18%)Sugar: 1g (1%)Vitamin A: 875IU (18%)Vitamin C: 4.5mg (5%)Calcium: 53mg (5%)Iron: 2.4mg (13%)
Course:Main Course
Cuisine:Indian
Keyword:baked tandoori chicken, indian recipes, tandoori chicken
Tried this recipe? Rate it belowtag @jocooks on instagram and hashtag it #jocooks!
Recipe originally shared March 2012. Updated with new pictures, more information and video.

Meet Joanna Cismaru

I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

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Comments

  1. Donna A Pollock says

    December 24, 2020 at 8:52 pm

    5 stars
    What a great recipe… I loved it and it was so easy to make. Very tasty

    Reply
  2. Century Foods says

    September 20, 2020 at 10:26 pm

    Really loved your recipe of delicious looking tandoori chicken. It was worth reading this article, Thanks for this recipe.

    Reply
  3. Lisa says

    September 19, 2020 at 11:16 am

    I’d like to use my slow cooker or instant pot for this recipe, so you think I can? What are you thoughts and suggestion? Thanks!

    Reply
    • jo says

      September 19, 2020 at 5:09 pm

      You probably could but you’re not going to get that crispy exterior, so I would still maybe put them under the broiler for a couple minutes to crisp up a bit. If you have an air fryer, I think that would be perfect.

      Reply
  4. Julia R. says

    July 25, 2020 at 5:31 pm

    5 stars
    This recipe is fantastic! I didn’t change a thing. I added red gel food coloring (didn’t have liquid), and they turned out great! Definitely a keeper.

    Reply
    • Jo Cooks Team 2 says

      July 26, 2020 at 9:06 am

      Love to hear it! So glad you liked the recipe 🙂

      Reply
  5. Jack P. Shepherd says

    June 17, 2020 at 10:12 am

    5 stars
    Me and my daughter loved making this, very easy to follow thank you x

    Reply
  6. Jason C says

    April 12, 2020 at 12:53 am

    5 stars
    This recipe was great. I made it this evening, and everyone loved it! I added a tad bit more garam masala. Totally hit the spot. I’m loving all your recipes. I wish I can add a photo of my Tandoori Chicken!

    Reply
  7. Gira says

    April 7, 2020 at 2:58 pm

    5 stars
    Thanks for a great, simple recipe! I’m Indian, and really enjoyed this :).

    I made a few minor changes, and grilled my chicken for the nice dark char and smoky flavor! For the chili powder in the rub I used Kashmiri chili powder- this gave me a nice spicy chicken and the red color (did not use red food coloring). Had only about a pound of chicken so I put a lot of this paste on and added in some extra lemon juice. I loved how this helped with the flavor! In the past I’ve only done the straight marinade in the yogurt and spices. This was much better!

    In the marinade I also added in a tsp of mustard powder, and used double the garlic. Instead of garam masala I had a good curry powder which I used (about the same ingredients with a few additional spices), and I doubled this because I had no corriander powder. Left the chicken to marinate in the fridge for about 5 hours.

    Highly recommend and will make this again soon!

    Reply
    • Gira says

      April 7, 2020 at 3:41 pm

      Oh and adding onto my review- I used boneless skinless chicken breast tenders, and the butter during grilling was a must! Chicken picked up a nice flavor and char and did not dry out!

      Reply
  8. AS136 says

    February 14, 2020 at 1:41 pm

    4 stars
    Very good recipe, but if you’ll accept my constructive feedback, quantities of dry spices are too small if authenticity is what you’re after (I’m from India). Need to be doubled at least to bring out that richness of flavor after cooking. Again, very good recipe – flavor profile is spot on.

    I cooked mine sous vide with just the wet rub. Coated cooked chicken with yogurt mix and finished over charcoal. Excellent.

    Reply
    • JP653 says

      May 21, 2020 at 2:16 am

      Thanks, I have not yet tried this recipe. Did you also double the amount of yoghurt?

      Reply
  9. Whitney Harvey says

    May 11, 2019 at 5:39 am

    5 stars
    This is delicious and so easy! I used chicken thighs, and didn’t find it necessary to add butter while baking. Will definitely make again!!

    Reply
  10. Joanne says

    February 21, 2019 at 8:59 pm

    5 stars
    Absolutely delicious! We loved it and will be making this often

    Reply
  11. John says

    February 19, 2019 at 4:41 pm

    5 stars
    Very good, very easy dish that went over well. Not as spicy as I expected but very tasty. One tip the longer it marinated the better it is!!
    Love these recipes Jo!!

    Reply
    • Joanna Cismaru says

      February 19, 2019 at 6:11 pm

      Yay! So glad you liked it!

      Reply
  12. Vicki Kloock says

    February 19, 2019 at 11:41 am

    Hi, Joanna, This sounds absolutely wonderful, but before I try it, I want to clarify the cooking time. Is it a total of 1 hr. 15 min. (30-baste-30-baste-15) or a total of 45 min. (30-baste-15)? Sorry to be so dense! Thanks much for your wonderful blog! Vicki

    Reply
    • Joanna Cismaru says

      February 19, 2019 at 4:05 pm

      You’re not dense don’t be silly. So it’s a total of 45 minutes, 15 min – baste – 15 min – flip over – baste- 15 min. Does that make sense? 30 min on one side and 15 on the other, but you baste every 15 min.

      Reply
      • Vicki Kloock says

        February 19, 2019 at 4:24 pm

        PERFECT sense! Thank you SO much!

      • Joanna Cismaru says

        February 19, 2019 at 6:10 pm

        My pleasure! 😉 You got this!

  13. H. Marlene Miller says

    February 18, 2019 at 4:00 pm

    5 stars
    I am 70 years old, tired of cooking, tired of eating, and I lost 35 pounds from not eating any more. HOWEVER! I subscribed to only your pages and I get my emails every day with recipes that are TRULY Delicious looking, easy to prepare, and get my tummy growling!!! I have been trying them for the last 4 months and I have been so very happy making them and eating them! Different countries, easy to prepare, no guess work and they are mouth-watering delicious! Thank You young lady for giving this Just Want to Die old woman some spice and happiness for her life again! YOU ARE WONDERFUL, Amazing, and Very Much Appreciated for ALL you do! (this page kicked my 5 star rating off) You are 100 STARS

    Reply
    • Joanna Cismaru says

      February 18, 2019 at 4:46 pm

      Marlene, you have made my day! You’ve made my week!! I’m so so happy to hear all this. 🙂 Hugs and kisses!

      Reply
  14. Sean Edwards says

    September 24, 2018 at 12:17 pm

    4 stars
    Great recipe and excellent tip to baste with butter thank you. Absolutely yes to the red food colouring, it just makes it look so authentic. Lemon or Lime is as you say essential. However I would beseech anyone trying this to use skinless bone in chicken thighs….sooo much more flavour.

    Reply
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