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Grilled Tandoori Chicken

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Grilled tandoori chicken is a twist on the traditional Indian roasted chicken recipe. These grilled chicken thighs are juicy, flavorful, and easy to make!

Grilled tandoori chicken is a twist on the traditional Indian roasted chicken recipe. These grilled chicken thighs are juicy, flavorful, and easy to make!
Indian spiced grilled chicken thighs on white platter
grilled indian chicken on white platter

Typically, tandoori chicken is cooked in a tandoor clay oven (the same you would use to make naan). But since most people don’t own one, this version cooks over a charcoal grill. You can use a gas grill, too, but charcoal will give it a little more characteristic flavor.

The simplicity and deliciousness of this grilled chicken thigh recipe will totally have your family hooked! You won’t ever need take out again after you make this recipe!

Grilled chicken thighs on platter surrounded by naan, yellow rice, and raita dipping sauce

How to make Grilled Tandoori Chicken

For the full set of directions, make sure you scroll down to the recipe card below.

  1. Combine all the ingredients for the marinade.
  2. Coat the chicken in the marinade and place in an air tight container in the fridge.
  3. Marinate for between 2 and 8 hours.
  4. Grill chicken over medium heat for 7 minutes per side, or until cooked through to an internal temperature of 165 F degrees.
  5. Enjoy!
chicken thighs marinating in tandoori marinade sauce

Storage Information

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Reheat in the microwave until warmed through.

How do I serve this to my family?

We love this tandoori chicken recipe! It is a great grilling recipe to love all summer long. Oh, and the kids gives it their seal of approval as well – anything you can dip is a gold star! Try dipping this in homemade cucumber raita!

Make this a complete meal by serving it with homemade sourdough naan, easy jeera rice (or Indian Lemon Rice like pictured), and a simple mango lassi.

How spicy is tandoori chicken?

This grilled Indian chicken isn’t overly spicy. It has lots of flavor, but it doesn’t have a lot of heat. The chicken marinates in yogurt mixed with Garam Masala (affiliate link) and a host of other spices.

The flavors are good, but not overly intense for kids. And pairing it with the cooling dip helps, too!

If you want some heat to it, add in 1 teaspoon of chili powder.

grilled tandoori chicken thighs with naan bread behind
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Indian spiced grilled chicken thighs on white platter

Grilled Tandoori Chicken

Grilled tandoori chicken is a twist on the traditional Indian roasted chicken recipe. These grilled chicken thighs are juicy, flavorful, and easy to make!
4.90 from 19 votes
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Course: 30 Minute Meal
Cuisine: Indian
Prep Time: 2 hours
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 439kcal
Author: Jenni – The Gingered Whisk

Ingredients

  • ½ cup plain greek yogurt
  • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 Tablespoon minced ginger
  • 1 Tablespoon dried minced onion
  • 2 teaspoons sweet paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ¾ teaspoon cumin
  • ¾ teaspoon ground coriander
  • ½ teaspoon ground turmeric (affiliate link)
  • 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs

Instructions

  • In a large ziplock bag, combine all the ingredients for the marinade.
  • Seal, smooth to mix the marinade and coat the chicken evenly and place in the fridge to marinate for at least 2 hours and up to 8 hours.
  • Grill chicken 7 minutes per side, or until cooked through to 165 F degrees. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 439kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 59g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 278mg | Sodium: 945mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g
recipe slightly adapted from Cooking Light Gluten Free Cookbook, 2011
grilled tandoori chicken thighs on a plate next to raita sauce

2 Comments

  1. Beautiful! I don't know how anyone can have a blog when they have children. It's work enough for me and I'm retired! I'm really glad you didn't include red food coloring in your tandoori!

  2. bewitchingkitchen.com says:

    Hang in there, dear… this too shall pass….

    I've been through a few moves, four of them intercontinental and I can testify moving is not fun. But, it's always for the better, and things will improve

    one day your kids will be 18 and getting ready to leave home, and all of a sudden all these struggles will have a tone of nice nostalgia to them… easy to say, hard to go through

    Loved the recipe, my kind of chicken, spicy.., tasty

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