Oven Baked Tandoori Chicken

Yes, you can bake a tandoori chicken in the oven. It comes out wonderfully juicy and very flavorful!

I was surprised to learn that you can absolutely bake a tandoori chicken in the oven. It comes out is succulent and intensely flavorful. It’s also very easy to make! I’ve been making it quite often lately because all my family members love it.

Tandoori is so flavorful

I adore tandoori dishes. They are just so flavorful! A real treat for me is going to an Indian restaurant and ordering a mixed plate of lamb, chicken, and fish.

Then, for dessert, I order mango ice cream! (My homemade mango frozen yogurt is also wonderful, by the way).

What is tandoori chicken?

It’s an Indian chicken dish prepared by roasting chicken marinated in yogurt and spices in a tandoor, a traditional cylindrical clay oven.

Can you bake tandoori chicken in the oven?

Yes! It won’t be exactly the same. But if you use very high heat and traditional seasonings, it’s actually very close.

For best results, set your oven to high heat (475°F) and roast the chicken until charred in spots. This will ensure juicy and flavorful chicken even without the traditional clay oven.

Does tandoori chicken have skin?

No. It’s usually made with skinless bone-in chicken pieces. The thick yogurt coating helps prevent the meat from drying out, even without the protection of the fatty skin.

But I actually like to use boneless skinless chicken thighs in this recipe. They are very flavorful and so easy to eat.

The ingredients needed for this recipe

Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make this tasty recipe. Scroll down to the recipe card for exact amounts.

1. Greek yogurt
2. Fresh lemon juice
3. Garlic
4. Salt and pepper
5. Spices: turmeric, ginger, cumin, paprika, cayenne
6. Boneless skinless chicken thighs
7. Cilantro

How to bake tandoori chicken in the oven

It’s so easy! Scroll down to the recipe card for the detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps:

1. First, prepare the marinade: mix the yogurt with the lemon juice, salt and pepper, and spices.
2. Add the chicken to the marinade and toss to coat. Marinate in the fridge for at least 1 hour.
3. Place the marinated chicken pieces on a greased roasting rack. Roast until fully cooked, about 30 minutes at 475°F.
4. Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve.

Is this a healthy recipe?

I think it is. Chicken is considered a healthy protein source, plain yogurt is healthy, and so are various spices.

What side dishes go with this dish?

I like to serve it with Indian-style side dishes such as sauteed curried cauliflower and sweet potato cakes.

It’s also good with plain steamed rice (if you don’t mind the carbs) or with cauliflower rice.

What about leftovers?

You can keep leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for up to 4 days. Reheat them gently, covered, in the microwave on 50% power.

More tasty chicken recipes

Another great recipe that uses boneless skinless chicken thighs is this recipe for spicy chicken thighs. It’s delicious and very easy to make.

And if you enjoy Indian flavors, you should definitely try this excellent recipe for keto butter chicken!

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4.97 from 61 votes

Oven Baked Tandoori Chicken

Oven baked tandoori chicken is wonderfully juicy and very flavorful, even when using a home oven and not a traditional tandoori oven.

Prep Time1 hr 10 mins

Cook Time30 mins

Total Time1 hr 40 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Indian

Keyword: chicken

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 203kcal

Author: Vered DeLeeuw

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs (1 lb. total weight)
• Avocado oil spray
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

• In a large bowl, mix together the yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, turmeric, ginger, cumin, paprika, salt, black pepper and cayenne.
• Add the chicken pieces and turn to coat. Marinate for 1 hour in fridge. You may also do this in the morning, leave the chicken to marinate, covered, in the fridge, then roast at night when it’s time for dinner.
• Preheat oven to 475 degrees F. Fit a rimmed baking sheet with a roasting rack and spray the rack with nonstick spray. Place the coated chicken pieces on the rack.
• Roast until charred in spots and juices run clear when pierced with a fork, about 30 minutes. Garnish with cilantro and serve.

NUTRITION INFO Nutrition info is approximate and may contain errors. It is calculated using the SparkPeople.com recipe calculator, and the carb count excludes sugar alcohols. Please feel free to make your own calculations. Please read the disclaimers in our Terms of Use carefully before using any of our recipes. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Please verify they are before using.

Nutrition Facts

Oven Baked Tandoori Chicken

Amount Per Serving (1 chicken thigh)

Calories 203 Calories from Fat 108

% Daily Value*

Fat 12g18%

Sodium 673mg29%

Carbohydrates 3g1%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 20g40%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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