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Smoky Tandoori Chicken

ByCulinary TeamLast updated

Juicy, charred chicken marinated in yogurt and spices - the iconic dish that started it all.

Easy
Prep: 4 hoursCook: 25 minsServes: 4

Ingredients

  • 3 lbs chicken legs and thighs
  • 1.5 cups yogurt
  • 3 tbsp tandoori masala
  • 1 tbsp Kashmiri red chili powder
  • 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
  • juice of 2 lemons
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 tsp salt
  • melted butter for basting
  • for serving lemon wedges and onion rings

Instructions

  1. 1

    Make deep cuts in the chicken pieces.

  2. 2

    Mix all marinade ingredients: yogurt, masala, chili powder, ginger-garlic paste, lemon juice, oil, and salt.

  3. 3

    Coat chicken thoroughly with marinade. Refrigerate for minimum 4 hours, preferably overnight.

  4. 4

    Bring chicken to room temperature 30 minutes before cooking.

  5. 5

    Grill or broil on high heat, turning occasionally, until charred and cooked through, about 20-25 minutes.

  6. 6

    Baste with melted butter during the last few minutes.

  7. 7

    Serve hot with lemon wedges, onion rings, and mint chutney.

Chef's Notes

Tandoori chicken is the dish that introduced the world to Indian cuisine. The yogurt-based marinade tenderizes the meat while the spice blend creates that signature red color and complex flavor profile.

SPICE ROOM Kitchen, Culinary Team at SPICE ROOM Denver

SPICE ROOM Kitchen

Culinary Team

The SPICE ROOM culinary team collaborates on recipes inspired by generations of family cooking traditions from across India and Nepal. Every recipe we share is tested and refined in our Denver kitchens to bring you authentic flavors at home.

Indian Cuisine
Himalayan Cuisine
Home Cooking

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Smoky Tandoori Chicken

Smoky Tandoori Chicken

Prep: 4 hours · Cook: 25 mins · Serves: 4

Key ingredients: 3 lbs chicken legs and thighs, 1.5 cups yogurt, 3 tbsp tandoori masala, 1 tbsp Kashmiri red chili powder, 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste, juice of 2 lemons…

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Recipe by SPICE ROOM Denver

<blockquote cite="https://denverspiceroom.com/blog/smoky-tandoori-chicken" style="max-width:400px;font-family:Georgia,serif;border:1px solid #D4A853;border-radius:12px;overflow:hidden;margin:1em auto;">
<img src="https://denverspiceroom.com/food/chicken-tikka-tandoori.jpg" alt="Smoky Tandoori Chicken" style="width:100%;height:200px;object-fit:cover;" />
<div style="padding:16px;">
<h3 style="margin:0 0 8px;font-size:18px;color:#1A1A2E;">Smoky Tandoori Chicken</h3>
<p style="margin:0 0 8px;font-size:13px;color:#666;">Prep: 4 hours · Cook: 25 mins · Serves: 4</p>
<p style="margin:0 0 12px;font-size:12px;color:#888;">Key ingredients: 3 lbs chicken legs and thighs, 1.5 cups yogurt, 3 tbsp tandoori masala, 1 tbsp Kashmiri red chili powder, 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste, juice of 2 lemons…</p>
<a href="https://denverspiceroom.com/blog/smoky-tandoori-chicken?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=recipe_embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="display:inline-block;padding:8px 16px;background:#D4A853;color:#1A1A2E;text-decoration:none;border-radius:8px;font-size:13px;font-weight:bold;">Get Full Recipe →</a>
<p style="margin:8px 0 0;font-size:10px;color:#aaa;">Recipe by <a href="https://denverspiceroom.com?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=recipe_embed" style="color:#D4A853;">SPICE ROOM Denver</a></p>
</div>
</blockquote>