Tandoori chicken tikka skewers grill with a spiced-yogurt marinade for smoky, succulent pieces of chicken breast that are the perfect building blocks for any meal. Eat them traditionally with fresh naan, use them to top a salad, or serve them as a tasty appetizer. Tandoori chicken tikka is easy to cook, healthy, and like our grilled joojeh kabob, it’s a crowd pleaser.
What is Tikka Tandoor?
Tandoori chicken tikka refers to chicken pieces (quarters, legs, bite-sized pieces) that are skewered and lowered into a tandoor. Tandoors are cylinder clay pots heated by an open flame. The result is robust chargrilled chicken packed with smoky flavor and richly-spiced masala.
Since a tandoor is something few people have in their backyard (I certainly don’t), recreate the Indian style of cooking on the grill for juicy chicken with a similar flavor. You won’t even know it was made on the grill and not in a tandoor.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Chicken Marinade: Make a paste with yogurt, garlic, ginger paste, salt, turmeric, cayenne powder, paprika, garam masala, Kashmiri chili powder, lemon, and sliced onion.
- Chicken: I cut chicken breast into 2-inch pieces for this recipe, but you can also use chicken thighs. Be sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly; the safe internal temperature for chicken is 165°F (73°C).
How to Make Tandoori Chicken Tikka
The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Step 1: Combine ingredients for tandoori masala in a food processor; incorporate until smooth. Then, add it to a mixing bowl and set it aside.
Step 2: Add the chicken to a mixing bowl and toss them with the tandoori masala and chopped onion. Cover and marinate in the fridge for at least 6 hours.
Step 3: Preheat the grill by setting all the burners to high heat for 10 minutes. Turn down the heat, but maintain an overall grill temperature of 400°F (204°C). Then, use a wooden grill paddle to clean the grates or remove them if you prefer.
Step 4: Hold the metal skewer with one hand, and slide the chicken pieces onto it. Repeat with the remaining ingredients until all the skewers are loaded.
Step 5: Line the skewers onto the grill; cook until they blister for about 7 minutes. Don’t move the chicken or open the grill to allow the pieces to develop a char.
Step 6: Flip the chicken and cook for another 5 minutes, and begin checking the temperature of the chicken until the chicken has reached 165°F (73°C)
Step 7: Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with cilantro, red onion, lemon wedges, and raita.
Expert Tips
- I recommend marinating the chicken for 24 hours (but at least 6 hours) to ensure the flavor penetrates; use the marinade in this recipe – it’s delicious!
- Preheat the grill and let it get hot before adding the chicken; this helps the chicken get a nice sear; doing so flavors the chicken and locks in the moisture- which is necessary for cooking chicken breast.
- Carefully shake off the excess marinade and onions before adding the chicken to the grill.
- Cook the chicken to 165-170°F (73°C). More than that, the chicken will be dry and difficult to eat.
If you enjoy this recipe, try one of these Indian favorites!
Serving Suggestions
If you’re deciding what to serve with tandoori chicken, check out a few of our suggestions.
- Naan
- Raita, Chutney
- Basmati Rice, Cauliflower Rice, Yakhni Pulao, Saffron Rice
- Roasted Potatoes
- Vegetable Chopped Salad, Avocado Cucumber Tomato Salad, Kachumber Salad
- Grilled Zucchini
What to do with the Leftovers
- Refrigerate – Store leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
- Freeze – Let the chicken cool, then transfer it to a freezer-safe container or bag. Tandoori chicken tikka freezes for up to 2-3 months.
- Thaw – Defrost the chicken in the fridge overnight.
- Reheat – Reheat defrosted or leftover chicken in the oven at 400°F (204°C) for 5-10 minutes.
- Repurpose – This may be a given, but you can make chicken tikka masala, butter chicken masala, or chicken tikka biryani with the leftovers, or use the chicken to top a pizza, quesadilla, or sandwich.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between tandoori and chicken tikka?
There is a lot of confusion surrounding the terms tandoori chicken and chicken tikka, and many use them interchangeably.
• Charga – Similar to our Peruvian chicken or tandoori turkey, chicken charga refers to a whole chicken that’s grilled or cooked.
• Tikka – Most people in the West consider small pieces of chicken (usually breast) to be tikka when in reality, chicken tikka can also mean leg quarters or legs like we use to make our chicken lollipops. They can also include bite-size pieces of chicken, as we use here.
• Tandoori – Tandoori chicken is chicken (whole or parts) that cook in a tandoor; since most kitchens do not have access to tandoors, you will find grilled or baked tandoori chicken recipes that attempt to recreate the cooking technique.
What does tandoori chicken tikka taste like?
The bite-sized pieces of chicken are melt-in-your-mouth juicy and smoky, and they have the perfect subtle spice from the tandoori masala.
Is tandoori chicken healthy?
Tandoori chicken tikka is an excellent meal for a well-balanced diet and perfect for those who volume eat or meal prep. Add them to a tossed salad or serve it alongside a vegetable side dish to complete the meal.
Can I make the recipe ahead of time?
Absolutely! And since the grilling process doesn’t require much time, I recommend cutting the chicken and allowing it to marinate for up to 24 hours before you’re ready to prepare the meal. If you need to go beyond that, I recommend leaving the lemon juice out of the marinade; you can keep the chicken this way in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Is tandoori tikka spicy?
The red color of the chicken appears spicy, but the tandoori masala is pretty mild. While not overly spicy, it’s packed with flavor and traditional Indian spices. If you prefer the chicken to be less spicy, reduce the amount of cayenne and Kashmiri chili powder.
More Pakistani Recipes:
Tandoori Chicken Tikka
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup plain yogurt, full-fat
- 1 tablespoon garlic paste
- 1 tablespoon ginger paste
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon garam masala
- 2 teaspoon Kashmiri Chili Powder
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice, plus lemon wedges to garnish
- ½ medium red onion, roughly chopped, plus sliced onion to garnish
- 3 pounds chicken breast, cut into 2-inch pieces
- Combine ingredients for tandoori masala in a food processor; incorporate until smooth. Then, add it to a mixing bowl and set it aside.
- Add the chicken to a mixing bowl and toss them with the tandoori masala and chopped onion. Cover and marinate in the fridge for at least 6 hours.
- Preheat the grill by setting all the burners to high heat for about 10 minutes. Turn off the rightmost burner, but maintain an overall grill temperature of 400°F (204°C). Then, use a wooden grill paddle to clean the grates or remove them if you prefer.
- Hold the metal skewer with one hand, and slide the chicken pieces onto it. Repeat with the remaining ingredients until all the skewers are loaded.
- Line the skewers onto the grill; cook until they blister for about 7 minutes. Don't move the chicken or open the grill to allow the pieces to develop a char.
- Flip the chicken and cook for another 5 minutes, and begin checking the temperature of the chicken until the chicken has reached 165°F (73°C)
- Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with cilantro, red onion, lemon wedges, and raita.
- I recommend marinating the chicken for 24 hours (but at least 6 hours) to ensure the flavor penetrates; use the marinade in this recipe- it’s delicious!
- Preheat the grill and let it get hot before adding the chicken; this helps the chicken get a nice sear; doing so flavors the chicken and locks in the moisture – which is necessary for cooking chicken breast.
- Carefully shake off the excess marinade and onions before adding the chicken to the grill.
- Cook the chicken to 165°F (73°C). More than that, the chicken will be dry and difficult to eat.
- The nutritional information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for professional advice.