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Three pieces of grilled tandoori chicken served on a plate with sliced red onions, fresh herbs, and lemon wedges on the side.
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4.87 from 22 votes

My Mom's Authentic Tandoori Chicken Recipe (Oven or Grill)

An authentic Indian Tandoori Chicken recipe passed down from my mom's kitchen in India. Naturally red from Kashmiri chili powder, no artificial color, no shortcuts. Oven and grill methods with overnight marinade tips included.
Prep Time6 hours
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time6 hours 20 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Indian
Servings: 4
Calories: 229kcal

Recipe Video

Ingredients

For Serving (Optional)

Instructions

  • Make 3-4 slits across each drumstick (If using chicken legs, make 5 to 6 slits on each side). Whisk together yogurt, ginger, garlic, lemon juice, red chili powder, turmeric, garam masala, and salt to make the marinade. Apply evenly to the chicken pieces and let them marinate in the refrigerator for at least 5-6 hours or up to 24 hours.

Oven

  • Preheat the oven to 400 ℉. Take the chicken out of the refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking. Baste the chicken with some cooking oil and arrange it on the baking tray
  • Chicken Drumsticks: Bake for 15 minutes. Broil (Hi) for 5 minutes to get some char marks.
    Chicken Legs: Bake for 15 minutes. Then turn over the pieces, brush over some extra marinade (if there is any leftover), and spray with oil. Bake for an additional 10 minutes. Turn the legs over, spray with oil, and broil (Hi) for 5 minutes to get some char marks.

Grill

  • Preheat the grill to 400 to 450 F. Take the chicken out of the refrigerator 30 minutes prior to grilling. Baste the chicken with cooking oil and arrange it the outdoor grill.
  • Chicken Drumsticks: Grill for 20 mins or until the juices run clear.
    Chicken Legs: Grill for 30 minutes, turning halfway through.

Serving

  • Serve with fresh lemon wedges, sliced red onion, and green chutney.

Nutrition

Calories: 229kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 120mg | Sodium: 1336mg | Potassium: 493mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 908IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 88mg | Iron: 2mg
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