What to Serve with Tandoori Chicken

Grilled tandoori chicken is an excellent dish for any occasion, but have you ever asked yourself what to serve with tandoori chicken? We’ve collected traditional side dishes to pair with tandoori chicken, and some that are a little out of the box (but delicious). One thing I can assure you is that there is something on this list for everyone!

What is Tandoori Chicken?

Tandoori chicken is marinated in yogurt and generously spiced, giving the meat its signature red color. The recipe features chicken (whole or parts) that cooks in a tandoor; since most kitchens do not have access to a tandoor, you will find grilled or baked tandoori chicken recipes that attempt to recreate the cooking technique.

What to Serve With Tandoori Chicken

For those deciding what to serve with tandoori chicken, we’ve collected bread, lentil, drink, rice, sauce, salad, and vegetable sides that are sure to compliment the bright orange, fragrant chicken you’re planning to prepare.

Bread

A natural side to serve with tandoori chicken is naan, especially since they’re both traditionally prepared in a tandoor. But since most Western homes aren’t tandoor-equipped, here are some recipes for bread you can easily prepare at home.

1. Sourdough Naan With Garlic Butter

All you need to make amazing sourdough naan with garlic butter at home is a sourdough starter and a skillet – it’s as easy as that.

2. Flour and Water Flatbread

Flour and water flatbread come together with a few ingredients. It’s an easy-to-prepare recipe and perfect for beginners.

3. Vegan Naan

Vegan naan is a fool-proof recipe made with few ingredients for a light, fluffy, and delicious side.

Lentils

Earthy and bright dal pairs well with the beautifully charred chicken to complete the meal.

4. Moong Dal

Piping hot moong dal is a soothing, filling, tasty side that’s ready in about an hour with simple ingredients.

5. Dal Palak

Dal palak or spinach dal is a healthy, comforting, and delicious meal made with red lentils, spinach, and warm Indian spices.

Do you love palak, try my recipe for Pakistani palak gosht!

6. Instant Pot Masoor Dal

Fennel, coriander, turmeric, and mustard add flavor to our Instant Pot masoor dal. Lentils combine with creamy coconut, spinach, and lime juice for a protein-rich meal that’s ready and on your table in 30 minutes! 

Drinks

7. Indian Mango Lassi

Creamy Indian mango lassi is made from mango, yogurt, honey, and freshly ground cardamom, and it’s the perfect companion for a hot day!

Rice

If meals like kabsa and biryani have taught us anything, it’s that rice and chicken go hand in hand. Consider one of these delicious rice recipes when you’re deciding what to serve with tandoori chicken.

8. Yakhni Pulao

Experience the ultimate Indian comfort meal with my irresistible mutton yakhni pulao! Begin by crafting a smooth and velvety yakhni before cooking the rice. Layered with yakhni-infused fragrant basmati rice, tender chunks of mutton, crisp fried onions, and aromatic Indian spices.

For another variation, try my chicken yakhni pulao.

9. Basmati Rice

Basmati rice is a staple in my home. The fragrance, texture, and length will leave you wanting more. Prepare my basmati rice recipe on the stove-top as we do with only four ingredients for a side you’ll want to pair with everything. We serve ours with aloo keema and grilled tandoori chicken.

10. Turmeric Yellow Rice

Fragrant and flavorful Indian turmeric yellow rice is a tasty alternative to plain white rice to take your meal up a notch.

11. Tomato Rice

Hearty, comforting, and full of warming spices, this tomato rice is so good you’ll want to eat it straight out of the pot.

12. Instant Pot Vegetable Pulao

Instant Pot vegetable pulao is so easy to make, and it’s a perfect accompaniment to any meal.

Searching for More Like This? 

If you love tandoori chicken, try one of these tandoori favorites!

Baked Tandoori Chicken

Tandoori Chicken Tikka

Tandoori Turkey

Air Fryer Paneer

Sauces and Dips

Chutney and sauces like raita are tasty options served with tandoori chicken. They are creamy and herbaceous – making them the perfect palette cleanser and a bright pop of flavor for baked or grilled meat.

13. Serrano Crema

Serrano crema contains serrano chiles, fresh cilantro, a pop of garlic, and a combination of sour cream and yogurt to give the sauce a nice creamy texture.

14. Raita

Whip up our easy raita recipe in just minutes using spiced yogurt, cucumber, onions, and cilantro for a cooling and refreshing dip.

15. Mango Pico De Gallo

Colorful and full of flavor, mango pico de gallo uses fresh mango, jalapeño, onion, tomato, and lime juice to create a delicious garnish you’ll want to pair with everything.

Salad

Simple, light, and refreshing, pairing tandoori chicken with a salad is not only a great idea for warm summer days, it is a healthy, low-carb option.

16. Avocado Cucumber Tomato Salad

This salad is loaded with fresh herbs, juicy tomato, crisp cucumber, and creamy avocado. Olive oil and lime finishes the avocado cucumber tomato salad to make a perfect side dish.

17. Chickpea Salad

Make chickpea salad ahead of time or on the day of for a tasty side with fresh and ingredients. Plus, the salad is packed with protein.

18. Cucumber Yogurt Salad

This refreshing cucumber yogurt salad recipe features crunchy cucumbers, creamy yogurt, fresh dill, garlic, and lemon; it’s a quick and easy side dish that is SO GOOD!

More Cucumber Salad Recipes:

• Cucumber Carrot Salad
• Cucumber Beet Salad
• Sumac Cucumbers

19. Sumac Onions

Bright and tangy, my marinated sumac onions or sumac onion salad is a perfect condiment to pair with grilled meats, kabobs, salads, and vegetable side dishes. And if you don’t love onions, try sumac cucumbers instead!

20. Kachumber Salad

Kachumber salad is made with fresh ingredients like tomatoes, cucumber, and onions and is ready in under 15 minutes with no cooking required.

21. Indian Onion Salad

Laccha pyaaz, or Indian onion salad contains thinly sliced onion rings, lemon, green chili, and cilantro for a quick and easy side dish.

Vegetables

Warm vegetable sides are a perfect way to complement chicken tandoori. Don’t believe me? Take a look at these sides and tell me your mouth isn’t watering by the end.

22. Onion Bhaji

Crispy onion bhajis are made from scratch for an appetizer or side you can easily make in just 20 minutes.

23. Air Fryer Okra

Air fryer okra or bindi is the easiest and tastiest way to enjoy okra as a delicious side dish or low-carb snack!

24. Cauliflower Pakoras

Cauliflower pakoras have a crispy spiced batter, and they are soft and tender on the inside – perfect for dipping in raita or chutney alongside tandoori chicken.

25. Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice

Healthy cilantro lime cauliflower rice is a perfect, tangy low-carb side to pair with any meal.

26. Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower

Add nutty flavor to your plate with Turmeric roasted cauliflower. It is an easy, flavorful, and fuss-free side dish.

27. Pickled Red Onion

Bright and fresh, these tangy pickled red onions are a perfect garnish for any meal, including tandoori chicken.

28. Roasted Potatoes

Crispy roasted potatoes in the oven are a go-to side dish in my home, and they easily cook alongside whatever you’re making. For even more tasty potato recipes, try air fryer red potatoes or air fryer fingerling potatoes.

More Indian and Pakistani Recipes:

• Karahi Gosht
• Chicken Tikka Biryani
• Butter Chicken Masala
• Instant Pot Chicken Biryani