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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 sides 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!

Grilled tandoori chicken with onion, cilantro, and raita.

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.

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

Naan on a table garnished with garlic butter and cilantro.
Photo Credit: Barley and Sage

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

Flatbread stacked on one another on a plate.
Photo Credit: My Morning Mocha

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

3. Vegan Naan

Naan on a plate with cilantro and butter on top.
Photo Credit: Sunglow Kitchen

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

A single serving of Moong Dal with long-grained basmati rice.

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

5. Dal Palak

Spinach dal in a bowl with rice in the background.
Photo Credit: Cooking Gorgeous

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

A bowl of Instant pot masoor dal served over basmati rice.

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

Mango lassi in a mug with mangos in the background.

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

Yakhni pulao on a plate topped with cilantro.

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

A bowl of basmati rice with a bay leaf for garnish.

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. Indian Turmeric Yellow Rice

A bowl of turmeric yellow rice with cilantro in the background.
Photo Credit: Piping Pot Curry

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

Tomato rice in a bowl with a spoon in it.
Photo Credit: Recipes from a Pantry

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

Vegetable pulao in a bowl with cucumber slices on the side.
Photo Credit: Simple Sumptuous Cooking

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!

Grilled tandoori chicken with onion, cilantro, and raita.

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

A small bowl of serrano crema with a jar of the same in the background.

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. Easy Raita Recipe

Easy raita in a bowl with cucumbers garnish.

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

A small bowl containing or mango salsa recipe.

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

Avocado cucumber tomato salad in a serving bowl.

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

Chickpeas salad in a serving dish ready to eat.

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

Cucumber salad in a bowl garnished with fresh dill.
Photo Credit: Maple and Mango

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:

19. Sumac Onions

An up-close bowl of 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 in a bowl with ingredients around it.
Photo Credit: The Devil Wears 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

A bowl of onion salad with a plate of rice and chicken in the background.
Photo Credit: Spice Up the Curry

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

A plate of onion pakoras garnished with cilantro.
Photo Credit: Little Sunny Kitchen

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 in a bowl.
Photo Credit: Strength and Sunshine

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 with rice and chilies in the background.
Photo Credit: A Mummy Too

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

Coconut cauliflower rice topped with cilantro and lime wedges.
Photo Credit: Wholesome Yum

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

26. Roasted Cauliflower

Roasted cauliflower on a sheet pan.
Photo Credit: I Heart Naptime

Roasted cauliflower is full of delicious parmesan flavor. They will become one of your favorite side dishes to serve with chicken.

27. Pickled Red Onion

Pickled onions in a glass jar.
Photo Credit: Tabetha’s Table

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

28. Roasted Potatoes

Roasted potatoes on a serving plate.

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.

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A Pinterest pin for what to serve with Tandoori Chicken.

Noreen

Sunday 20th of November 2022

I just saw this on Twitter and I cannot wait to try all of these recipes!

Tressa Jamil

Sunday 20th of November 2022

You will have to report back here when you have made a few of them!