These Air Fryer Tandoori Chicken Thighs are authentic and mega flavorful with a two-step marination. Made using a scrumptious marinade without food color, this is the best tandoori chicken recipe you'll try - Oven and Grilling instructions included!
Looking for more healthy Indian style chicken dishes? Try my protein-rich chicken keema matar recipe next!
What is tandoori chicken? It is one of the most popular Indian dishes, made by marinating chicken in a flavorful blend of spices and yogurt. It is then roasted in a tandoor, which is a cylindrical clay oven, resulting in a smoky and tender meat.
Like all air fryer chicken recipes, this recipe for air fryer tandoori chicken produces succulent and tender chicken thighs, all without the need for a traditional tandoor oven. Looking for more ways to cook boneless skinless thighs?
It has been my trusted go-to chicken recipe for decades, consistently producing robust flavors and juicy texture. A guaranteed crowd-pleaser, this dish never fails to impress every single time!
The tandoori chicken marinade boasts an irresistible blend of authentic Indian spices and herbs that truly pack a punch. So exceptional is its flavor that I've extended its use beyond chicken, creating tasty tandoori chickpeas crostini and mouthwatering tandoori cauliflower.
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Why you'll love it?
- Most authentic recipe
- Two-step marination
- Easy and healthy
- Make it in air fryer, oven or grill
- Juicy and tender
- Super flavorful
Ingredients
Scroll down to the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and amounts.
- Chicken - I opt for boneless, skinless chicken thighs due to their ability to cook up juicy, tender, and moist compared to chicken breast.
- Yogurt - Use plain thick yogurt or Greek yogurt.
- Spices - Authentic Indian spices such as coriander, cumin, cayenne and garam masala.
- Kashmiri chili powder - Made using a special type of red chilies from the Indian region of Kashmir, it is very mild spicy but imparts a vibrant red color to the dish. It is available in Amazon or Indian grocery stores.
- Lemon juice - The acidity helps tenderize the chicken.
- Ginger and Garlic - Traditionally, ginger garlic paste is used, but I prefer freshly grated ginger and garlic. Grinding a small amount can be cumbersome, so this method offers convenience without compromising on taste.
- Kasoori methi - It is dried fenugreek leaves and is essential for imparting a distinctive buttery flavor to an authentic tandoori chicken recipe. It can be easily found in Indian grocery stores or Amazon. However, feel free to omit it if it's not available.
Pro tip: Authentic tandoori chicken recipe typically incorporates orange food color to achieve its iconic hue. However, for this air fryer version, I prefer to skip the food coloring entirely. Instead, I rely on a blend of Kashmiri chili powder and cayenne for both color and flavor. If Kashmiri chili powder isn't available, simply increase the amount of cayenne pepper used. While your air fryer tandoori chicken thighs may not boast the same vibrant appearance, they'll still be incredibly delicious.
How to make?
You can find full printable recipe below, but here is a quick overview of the procedure along with step-by-step photos.
👉 I used the same tandoori marinade to make tandoori chicken wings.
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Step 5 - Air fry at 400 degrees, until cooked through.
Oven instructions
- Marinade chicken thighs according to recipe instructions.
- Position an oven rack about 6 inches from heat element and turn on the broil.
- Set an oven-safe wire rack on a baking sheet to allow any excess moisture to drip down, then arrange the chicken thighs on the wire rack.
- Position the baking sheet in the oven, about 6 inches away from the heat element, and broil for approximately 20 minutes, or until the chicken is slightly charred and fully cooked.
Grilling instructions
- Marinade chicken thighs according to recipe instructions.
- Preheat a grill to medium heat.
- Brush grill grates with oil.
- Place chicken thighs, cook 5-7 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked or until chicken reaches 165°F.
- Remove from grill and set aside, covered, for 5 minutes.
How to serve?
Air fryer tandoori chicken is delicous served with naan bread, any flavorful Indian rice dishes and a variety of chutneys. I especially love this mint chutney which elevates the taste!
It also lends itself wonderfully to dishes like tandoori chicken sandwiches, tandoori chicken salad, or even pizzas.
Helpful tips
- Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for moist, tender air fryer tandoori chicken.
- Use plain yogurt and not any flavored yogurt.
- Kassori methi or dry methi leaves is available in all Indian grocery stores or Amazon. Feel free to skip it, if unavailable.
- If Kashimiri chili powder is unavailable, then skip and increase the cayenne.
Recipe FAQs
Tandoori chicken originally derived its deep reddish-orange color from ground red chili peppers. However, modern versions often incorporate orange or red food coloring along with the red pepper for consistency. This marinade not only imparts the iconic hue but also infuses the chicken with its bold flavor.
While both dishes are marinated in similar spices, chicken tikka is typically made with smaller pieces of boneless chicken, often skewered and grilled. It has a slightly charred exterior and a more intense smoky flavor.
Tandoori chicken, on the other hand, usually involves larger pieces of chicken, such as quarters or halves, traditionally cooked in a tandoor oven. It tends to have a juicier texture due to the longer cooking time and higher temperatures.
More Indian Food Recipes
Air Fryer Tandoori Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs
First Marinade
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Second marinade
- ⅓ cup plain yogurt
- 1 ½ tablespoons Vegetable oil
- ½ tablespoon Kasoori methi optional
- 2 cloves garlic, grated
- 1 teaspoon grated ginger
- 1 tablespoon Kashmiri chili powder or use ½ to 1 teaspoon addional cayenne
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin powder
- ½ teaspoon garam masala powder
- ½ to 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- First marinade - Toss chicken thighs with lemon juice, cayenne and salt. Let rest for 10 minutes.
- Second marinade - Add all second marinade ingredients and toss to thoroughly combined. Cover the bowl and allow the marinade to infuse the chicken for a minimum of 30 minutes to up to 6 hours in the refrigerator.
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F.
- Place chicken thighs, smooth side down and cook for 5 minutes.
- Using tongs, flip the chicken so that the smooth side is facing up. Continue cooking at the same temperature for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information, based on third-party calculations, should be seen as estimates, not guarantees, as various factors like product types, brands, processing methods, and more can alter the nutritional content in recipes.
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Kelly @ Kelly Lynns Sweets and Treats
Love that this can be made in a regular oven! I will have to try this out. Your chicken looks so full of flavor. Yummmm!
Madie
This looks so good, will definitely be giving it a try, thank you for sharing!
Just curious, what do you do with the leftover marinade? Would you use it to baste the chicken when you flip it mid cooking or just throw it out?
Maria Doss
Hi Madie, There will not be much marinade leftover. Basting might make the chicken more spicier! However, if you do not want to waste any marinade, then you could increase the amount of chicken or toss some cauliflower florets and cook them separately. Hope it helps, Maria
Cynthia
Delicious, with just enough spice.
Maria Doss
Thank you Cynthia, Maria
Sanjana
We made this twice in last month! It's so easy yet authentic and impressed my Indian in laws🙂
Nikki
Made the recipe several times already and it's really great, even my picky partner loves it! First few times I skipped the first marinade (lack of time) and it still turned out great. Thank you!
Maria Doss
That’s so great to hear, so glad you loved it - Maria ♡