Tandoori Chicken Tikka is the perfect way to enjoy chicken kebabs! This simplified version of an Indian recipe doesn’t require any hard to find spices, and is easy to whip up and throw on the grill. With a perfect balance of aromatic spices, these delicious kebabs make a wonderful main dish to a healthy, hearty meal.
What is Tandoori Chicken Tikka?
Tandoori Chicken Tikka is an Indian chicken dish that is made with pieces of marinated chicken that are grilled. The tandoori marinade is generally made of yogurt and spices, and traditionally a “tandoor oven” was used, which is a cylindrical clay oven. Instead of using this traditional method, wooden skewers (or metal skewers) can be used with a standard grill.
Why You Will Love this Recipe
This recipe does not call for Indian spices that are difficult to find in the United States. I recommend cooking with certified organic ingredients, and some spices cannot be found in an organic variety very easily. This means some of my recipes are made without various spices that are in other recipes, but are still incredibly delicious! Not only that, but this makes the recipes a bit easier, meaning this recipe is suitable for anyone who is a beginner at cooking Indian recipes, or who just doesn’t have rare spices on hand.
What Kind of Chicken to Use
This recipe can be made with any type of boneless chicken pieces. I usually like to use most of the meat from a whole chicken for this recipe, including the breasts, thighs and legs. I can then use the chicken carcass and remaining chicken to make a soup!
If you want a quicker way, feel free to purchase boneless chicken breasts and boneless chicken thighs. I do recommend a using a combination of both dark and white meat for your skewers for an amazing contrast of texture and depth of flavor.
I recommend purchasing pasture raised and/or organic chicken whenever possible.
What Kind of Yogurt to Use
The thickness of the yogurt will have an effect on the recipe. This recipe calls for regular yogurt, which means if you only have Greek yogurt, you will want to add some water to thin it out a little before adding it to the marinade. See recipe below for details.
What is in Tandoori Chicken Tikka Marinade?
This aromatic Tandoori Chicken Tikka style marinade includes yogurt, spices, and lemon juice or lime juice. Key ingredients in this recipe are fresh ginger and garlic, so if you don’t have those on hand make sure to grab some before making this recipe!
How Long does this Recipe Take to Make?
To make a deliciously flavorful and tender Tandoori Chicken, I recommend marinating the chunks of chicken ahead of time. This way when you are ready to cook, all you have to do it put them on the skewers and throw them on the grill. You should marinate the chicken for at least an hour, but you could also begin marinating it the night before or the morning before cooking!
What to Serve as a Side Dish with Tandoori Chicken Tikka Skewers?
It’s always nice to have some veggies and fruits grilling alongside chicken kebabs. Some of my favorites are bell peppers, tomatoes, and onions.
Refreshing salads like cumber salad are always a great option for grilled foods.
As always, Indian meals are delicious with basmati rice!
What Kind if Sauce to Serve with Tandoori Chicken Tikka?
A sauce that goes very well with this recipe is a sauce of Indian cuisine called Cucumber Raita. It is made with ingredients like yogurt, cucumber, lemon juice, and mint!
How to Make Tandoori Chicken Tikka
Step One: Make the Marinade
Grate garlic and ginger into a large mixing bowl to make a ginger-garlic paste. Add spices, salt, lime juice, and yogurt. Mix well.
Step Two: Prepare the Pieces of Chicken
Using preferably half breast meat and half dark cut of meat, cut boneless chicken into about 1.5 inch cubes. Add to marinade bowl and combine well with marinade. Cover, place in the refrigerator, and let marinate for 1-24 hours.
Step Three: Prepare the Tandoori Chicken Tikka Kebab Skewers
About 30 Minutes prior to cooking, place wooden skewers in filtered water to soak. This will help prevent the wooden skewer from burning off at the ends.
Carefully place chicken pieces onto skewers, with chicken pieces touching (not spread out). This will help prevent the meat from drying out.
Step Four: Grill
Preheat grill to medium heat or medium high heat
For best results, brush each side of chicken kebabs with melted clarified butter or ghee before placing on grill. This will help prevent the chicken from sticking to the wire rack on the grill, plus it will add a delicious butter chicken flavor!
Check frequently to ensure chicken is not burning from high temperatures.
Grill for about 10-15 minutes, then flip to the other side. Cook for 10-15 minutes more, or until chicken is cooked all the way through. Fully cooked chicken should have a temperature of at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step Five: Serve
Remove cooked Chicken Tikka Kebabs from grill and place on serving dish.
Serve alongside Cucumber Raita with fresh mint, or other other favorite Indian style sauce.
Enjoy!
How to Make Tandoori Chicken Tikka Style Kebabs
Equipment
- 1 knife
- 1 Cutting board
- 1 large mixing bowl and cover (I use a plate to cover my bowl)
- 1 mixing utensil
- 1 fine grater
- 6-8 wooden or metal skewers
- 1 dish for soaking skewers
- 1 grill
Ingredients
- 1.5-2 lb boneless chicken meat (meat cut from a large whole chicken or boneless half dark and half white meat)
- 1 inch fresh ginger piece
- 4 cloves fresh garlic
- 1 tablespoon lime juice (or lemon juice)
- 3/4 cup plain yogurt (if using Greek yogurt, use 1/2 cup yogurt and 1/4 cup water)
- 2 teaspoons garam masala
- 2 teaspoons ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teapoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt (or more to taste)
- 2 tablespoons melted clarified butter or ghee
Instructions
Step One: Make the Marinade
- Step One: Make the Marinade
- Grate garlic and ginger into a large mixing bowl to make a ginger-garlic paste Add spices, salt, lime juice, and yogurt. Mix well.
- Add spices, salt, lime juice, and yogurt. Mix well.
Step Two: Prepare the Pieces of Chicken
- Using preferably half breast meat and half dark cut of meat, cut boneless chicken into about 1.5 inch cubes.
- Add to marinade bowl and combine well with marinade.
- Cover, place in the refrigerator, and let marinate for 1-24 hours.
Step Three: Prepare the Tandoori Chicken Tikka Kebab Skewers
- 30 Minutes prior to cooking, place wooden skewers in filtered water to soak. This will help prevent the wooden skewer from burning off at the ends.
- Carefully place chicken pieces onto skewers, with chicken pieces touching (not spread out). This will help prevent the meat from drying out.
Step Four: Grill
- Preheat grill to medium heat or medium high heat
- For best results, brush each side of chicken kebabs with clarified butter or ghee before placing on grill. This will help prevent the chicken may stick to the wire rack on the grill, plus it will add a delicious butter chicken flavor!
- Check frequently to ensure chicken is not burning from high temperatures.
- Grill for about 10-15 minutes, then flip to the other side. Cook for 10-15 minutes more, or until chicken is cooked all the way through. Fully cooked chicken should have a temperature of at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step Five: Serve
- Remove cooked chicken tikka kebabs from grill and place on serving dish.
- Serve alongside Cucumber Raita with fresh mint, or other other favorite Indian style sauce.
- Enjoy!
