Tandoori Chicken
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Juicy on the inside, crisp on the outside, and seasoned to perfection, tandoori chicken is delicious and easy way to spice up your family dinners.
Tandoori chicken is a traditional Indian dish of chicken marinated in yogurt, citrus, and spices, and then roasted in a tandoor, a cylindrical clay oven. The chicken gets its signature reddish hue from the combination of spices, the flavor of which is further enhanced by toasting them in a pan prior to incorporating into the marinade. Tandoori chicken is a simple dish to prepare, and you can replicate the tandoor environment at home by roasting in a high-heat oven. In this recipe, adapted from Food & Wine, the chicken is deliciously seasoned with super-crispy skin.
Instead of making a traditional green chutney, I serve store-bought mango chutney alongside – it adds a gingery sweetness that complements the spices. Serve tandoori chicken with naan, basmati rice pilaf with dried fruits and almonds (or simple basmati rice), and a refreshing cucumber mint salad. Kids love this one, too!
Table of Contents
“This is the best tandoori chicken recipe you will find. It is definitely restaurant quality, or better.”
What You’ll Need To Make Tandoori Chicken
- Paprika, Garam Masala, Cumin, Coriander, Turmeric, Cayenne Pepper: This blend of spices creates the signature flavor of tandoori chicken, providing warmth, depth, heat and a vibrant color.
- Fresh Ginger and Garlic: Both are key aromatics in the dish, adding a punch of flavor.
- Greek Yogurt: Acts as the base for the marinade, tenderizing the chicken thanks to its acidity. It also helps the spices adhere to the meat and contributes to the dish’s creamy texture.
- Lime Zest and Juice: Adds a citrusy brightness to the marinade.
- Chicken Drumsticks: Serve as the protein in this dish, chosen for their juiciness and ease of eating. Bone-in chicken thighs would also work, and the cook time would be about the same.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-by-Step Instructions
Begin by combining the spices in a small skillet.
Toast for a few minutes until the spices are fragrant. This step really enhances the flavor.
Next, zest the lime and chop your fresh ginger and garlic (the ginger and garlic will get blended in a food processor, but they won’t fully pulverize unless you give them a rough chop first).
Combine the toasted spices, ginger, garlic, yogurt, lime juice, lime zest, oil and salt in a mini food processor or blender.
Pulse until smooth.
Then, using a sharp knife, make slashes in the drumsticks. This increases the surface area of the chicken, so the marinade can penetrate the meat.
Toss the drumsticks with the marinade, cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight.
Line a baking sheet with heavy duty aluminum foil and place a greased oven-proof rack over top. Arrange the marinated drumsticks on the rack, leaving a bit of space in between them.
Cook for 45 minutes, turning once, until the chicken is cooked and the skin is quite crisp.
Finally, flash the chicken under the broiler for about 5 minutes, until the skin is super-crisp and a bit charred.
Serve with mango chutney and lime wedges on the side.
Frequently Asked Questions
The chicken is best marinated for a few hours or overnight, but if you’re in a time crunch, you can simply coat the chicken with the marinade and cook it immediately; it will still be packed with flavor.
That’s correct, traditional tandoori chicken is typically made with ground Kashmiri chili pepper, a spice found only in Indian grocery stores and some supermarkets. Paprika makes an excellent substitute and is readily available, so I use that instead.
Yes, besides drumsticks, bone-in chicken thighs are an excellent choice due to their juiciness and flavor, which stand up well to the high heat required for cooking. Thighs also tend to remain tender and moist, making them a preferred option over chicken breasts, which may not fare as well under the intense heat and could become dry.
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Tandoori Chicken
Juicy on the inside, crisp on the outside, and seasoned to perfection, tandoori chicken is delicious and easy way to spice up your family dinners.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon garam masala (substitute curry powder if you can't find it)
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon ground coriander
- ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (use ¼ teaspoon for less heat)
- 3 tablespoons peeled and roughly chopped fresh ginger (see note)
- 7 garlic cloves, peeled and roughly chopped
- ¼ cup whole milk Greek yogurt
- Zest and juice from one lime (about 1 teaspoon zest and 2 tablespoons juice)
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 2½ teaspoons salt
- 12 chicken drumsticks (about 4 pounds)
- 1 (9 ounce) jar mango chutney, for serving (optional)
- A few sprigs cilantro, for garnishing the platter (optional)
- Lime wedges, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- In a small pan over medium-low heat, combine the paprika, garam masala, cumin, coriander, turmeric and cayenne pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, for about 2 minutes, until spices are fragrant.
- Add the spices to a blender or mini food processor, along with the ginger, garlic, Greek yogurt, lime zest and juice, oil and salt; process until smooth.
- Using a very sharp knife, make 2 or 3 slashes in each drumstick (be careful; they are slippery). Place the drumsticks in a large bowl and toss with the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 450°F. Line a baking sheet with heavy duty aluminum foil (for easy clean-up) and set an oven-proof rack over top. Spray the rack with nonstick cooking spray or grease with vegetable oil.
- Arrange the chicken on the rack, leaving a bit of space between the pieces. Spoon any marinade left in the bowl evenly over the drumsticks. Roast for 45 minutes, turning once midway through, until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through (be sure to turn on your exhaust fan as the oven will get a little smoky). Turn on the broiler and broil the chicken about 6 inches from the heat for 3-5 minutes, until lightly charred and crisp all over. Transfer the chicken to a platter and garnish with cilantro sprigs and lime wedges, and serve with mango chutney on the side.
- Note: Check out easy guidance on how to peel, grate, and chop fresh ginger here.
Pair with
Nutrition Information
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- Serving size: 3 drumsticks (nutritional data does not include chutney)
- Calories: 807
- Fat: 53g
- Saturated fat: 11g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Sugar: 1g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 73g
- Sodium: 1884mg
- Cholesterol: 369mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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So excited, currently have this marinade and chicken drumsticks setting in the fridge. Will be making it for dinner tomorrow. I have a quick question, I made the exact same mix of spices except used one fresh chillie as well, my marinade tastes quite bitter – is that normal? Just worried about it 🙂 I will find out when I cook it tomorrow!
Hmmm… maybe the lime is giving it a strong tangy flavor? Did you use the amount the recipe called for? If you’re concerned, you could always add a bit of agave nectar or honey to the marinade. Let me know how it turns out!
Today I made the tandoori chicken drumsticks to rave reviews from my husband, son and daughter-in-law. I followed the recipe as written and found it easy and fun to prepare. I also made the recommended side dishes which were all relished by my family, especially the naan. Thanks for a great recipe and accompanying menu suggestions.
This chicken is delicious. This recipe is worth 10 stars my family all ate seconds
I made this for dinner and it was tasty, but I only marinated the chicken for the minimum amount of time. I think the flavor could have been richer so next time I will adhere to the recommended time to marinate the chicken. This recipe is certainly worth making again.
i have never tried this, but we make drumstick chicken all the time. this looks absolutely amazing and my mouth instantly started to water lol.Thank you so much for sharing this and i will be sure to try this sometime next week.Can’t wait.i probably will try it sooner than later lol
Hi
I make tandoori chicken all the time…I tried yours and it came out real good.I added green chili,coriander and mint pastes too for that added flavour and heat.Also I serve my tandoori chicken with cucumber,dill and cumin seeds raita.Tastes yum!-Renu- Auckland-NZ.
Anyways,great recipe.
Yum, yum, yum
wonderful flavor, stopped me from downing a burger and I feel good good good!!!
Klyn
These drumsticks are delicious! I’ve made them several times now. Even my picky eater loved them. Having it with the naan is a must.
Jen is it okay to de-skin the drumsticks prior to making this dish? In the past whenever I’ve made Tandoori chicken that’s what I’ve done so making it with the skin on is a new concept for me. Wasn’t sure! Thanks!
You can Alka, but the crispy skin is the best part of this recipe :).
Hello,
This recipe sounds amazing and Ido like to try it soon. I recently visited a spice souk while traveling through Abu Dhabi and I picked up tandoori spice. I have a pretty large bag of seasoning and haven’t the slightest clue on how to use it. Using your recipe, since the spices seem to already be blended, would not just start from the garlic and ginger step, adding my tandoori to the yogurt blend? Thank you!
That should work, Victoria, but keep in mind that your tandoori spice will taste different than the blend I came up with here.
Thanks so much Jenn, Im going to try it on Sunday and I will come back and let you know! I cant wait to try the drunken french toast next weekend when my sisters are in town! I’ll review that as well! 🙂
I finally made these tandoori drumsticks the week before Christmas and I have been getting request for some more ever since! I used tandoori spice that I picked up in the UAE and followed the steps from hearing the spices on…I only marinated for about 5 hours, but the flavor was EVERYTHING! I also made naan and basmati rice. The naan was do easy and tasted amazing! I’ll be making more soon! (I wish knew how to post pics on here!)