Grilled Tandoori Chicken with an incredibly flavorful yogurt marinade bursting with Indian spices that can be cooked on the grill.  Served with naan bread or Indian basmati rice and Raita Sauce.   No grill? Try this Baked Tandoori Chicken! 
Grilled Tandoori Chicken- an easy authentic Indian recipe with a simple yogurt marinade using chicken thighs. Served with naan and Raita Sauce. #tandoorichicken #grilled #grilledchicken #indianrecipe
The world is not here to make you happy- it’s here to make you conscious. – Ekhart Tolle 
Grilled Tandoori Chicken has been happening quite a bit in the last few weeks! It’s a delicious Indian-inspired recipe that can be made on the grill! So easy and full of amazing flavor! Today we’re serving it up with grilled veggies, basmati rice,  naan bread, and Raita– a creamy cucumber yogurt sauce.
Grilled Tandoori Chicken starts with a flavorful yogurt-based marinade, flavored with Indian spices.

How to make Grilled Tandoori Chicken! | 45-sec video


Grilled Tandoori Chicken (or tofu) with Cucumber Mint Raita | www.feastingathome.com

Tandori Chicken Marinade ingredients:

  1. PLAIN yogurt
  2. Garlic
  3. lemon or lime juice
  4. olive oil
  5. salt
  6. cumin
  7. coriander
  8. paprika (not smoked)
  9.  ground turmeric
  10.  cayenne
  11.  ground ginger
  12.  ground clove
  13.  ground cardamom

Grilled Tandoori Chicken- an easy authentic Indian recipe with a simple yogurt marinade using chicken thighs. Served with naan and Raita Sauce. #tandoorichicken #grilled #grilledchicken #indianrecipe

For the simple marinade, add the Indian spices to plain whole milk yogurt, along with garlic, salt, olive oil and lime juice, and give a stir. Let this marinate 20 minutes or up to 48 hours!

Grilled Tandoori Chicken- an easy authentic Indian recipe with a simple yogurt marinade using chicken thighs. Served with naan and Raita Sauce. #tandoorichicken #grilled #grilledchicken #indianrecipe

You can grill the chicken whole,  or thread onto skewers, up to you!

Grilled Tandoori Chicken- an easy authentic Indian recipe with a simple yogurt marinade using chicken thighs. Served with naan and Raita Sauce. #tandoorichicken #grilled #grilledchicken #indianrecipe

Marinate the chicken for at least 20 minutes before grilling, or preferably overnight!

grilling tandoori chicken

The chicken can be skewered or grilled as whole thighs if pressed for time!

Grilled Tandoori Chicken- an easy authentic Indian recipe with a simple yogurt marinade using chicken thighs. Served with naan and Raita Sauce. #tandoorichicken #grilled #grilledchicken #indianrecipe
Make sure to grease the grill well.
Grilled Tandoori Chicken- an easy authentic Indian recipe with a simple yogurt marinade using chicken thighs. Served with naan and Raita Sauce. #tandoorichicken #grilled #grilledchicken #indianrecipe

I love adding “grillable” veggies –  here I have scallions and bell peppers. Zucchini, tomatoes, asparagus, or green beans work well too!

If you don’t feel like starting up your barbecue, a grill pan over your stovetop works great too.

Make sure to grease your grill or grill pan well. Grill each side so all sides are nicely marked, and finish in a warm oven.

Grilled Tandoori Chicken- an easy authentic Indian recipe with a simple yogurt marinade using chicken thighs. Served with naan and Raita Sauce. #tandoorichicken #grilled #grilledchicken #indianrecipe
Either way the flavors will satisfy!
Grilled Tandoori Chicken- an easy authentic Indian recipe with a simple yogurt marinade using chicken thighs. Served with naan and Raita Sauce. #tandoorichicken #grilled #grilledchicken #indianrecipe
Serve with your choice of homemade naan bread (which you can also grill) or fluffy basmati rice.
The creamy cucumber sauce call Raita can be whipped up while the chicken is grilling.
Grilled Tandoori Chicken- an easy authentic Indian recipe with a simple yogurt marinade using chicken thighs. Served with naan and Raita Sauce. #tandoorichicken #grilled #grilledchicken #indianrecipe
Grilled Tandoori Chicken– an easy Indian recipe with a simple yogurt marinade using chicken thighs – let me know how you like this in the comments below!
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Grilled Tandoori Chicken- an easy authentic Indian recipe with a simple yogurt marinade using chicken thighs. Served with naan and Raita Sauce. #tandoorichicken #grilled #grilledchicken #indianrecipe

Grilled Tandoori Chicken Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.9 from 19 reviews
  • Author: Sylvia Fountaine
  • Prep Time: 30
  • Cook Time: 30
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 4-6 1x
  • Category: chicken, grilled, main
  • Method: Grilled
  • Cuisine: Indian

Description

How to make the most flavorful Tandoori Chicken in a yogurt marinade, cooked on a grill!


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 2 pounds chicken thighs (boneless, skinless, left whole or cut into 1 1/2 inch cubes for skewers) or chicken breasts (see notes)

 Marinade Ingredients: 

  • 1/2 cup whole milk PLAIN yogurt
  • 6 cloves garlic – finely minced ( or sub 1 1/2 tablespoon granulated garlic)
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon cumin
  • 2 teaspoons coriander
  • 2 teaspoon paprika (not smoked)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne, more for spicy (this is quite mild)
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground clove
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
Serve the Grilled Tandoori Chicken with Raita, grilled naan bread (or basmati rice) and grilled veggies.

Instructions

In a medium bowl whisk all marinade ingredients together until well combined (or use a blender)  Add the chicken and let marinate for at least 20 minutes or up to 24-48 hours in the fridge. The longer, the better. 🙂

If using wood skewers, soak wood skewers in water at least 30 minutes to prevent burning.

Pre-heat grill to med-high heat. Make sure the grate is cleaned and very well greased.

Sear the chicken, for 4-5 minutes or until good grill marks appear. Resist the urge to move them early, or too much or you will lose the lovely yogurt crust.

Once the chicken has nice deep grill marks it will naturally release itself a little from the grill.  I really like to use a metal spatula to help preserve that golden yummy crust.

Once both sides have grill marks, turn the grill down, or move to a cooler part of grill and cover – or alternatively, finish cooking in a 350 F oven until meat is cooked through.

Serve the Grilled Tandoori Chicken with Raita, grilled naan bread or basmati rice and grilled veggies.


Notes

For vegetarians -feel free to use the same marinade on tofu! Super tasty.

Feel free to substitute chicken breasts- cooking time will shorten- so be mindful that your chicken doesn’t dry out.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 5.5 ounces
  • Calories: 242
  • Sugar: 1.2 g
  • Sodium: 568.9 mg
  • Fat: 10.2 g
  • Saturated Fat: 2.6 g
  • Carbohydrates: 4.1 g
  • Fiber: 0.8 g
  • Protein: 32.5 g
  • Cholesterol: 145.1 mg

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Comments

  1. You nailed it again, Sylvia. These skewers were delicious and looked as good as they tasted. I’ve made enough of your recipes now to know not to mess with them – they’re always perfect just how you’ve written them. Thanks again!






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