Here is a super easy oven baked tandoori chicken recipe! Tandoori chicken is a popular Indian dish and it’s definitely been one of my favorites growing up. The beautiful red color has always made me feel fascinated by it and of course I always said ‘yes’ to Tandoori Chicken.

The traditional recipe consist of marinating chicken pieces in spices and yogurt then cooking the chicken in a clay oven. The chicken has a delicious unique flavor and it’s super tasty. For us home cooks this dish can be easily made at home using a oven and you will still get that great taste. Of course tandoori chicken taste that much better when it’s cooked in a clay oven, that’s what makes tandoori chicken special. But for a make at home recipe this is close enough and definitely worth trying out.

More about oven baked tandoori chicken

A blend of Indian spices give the chicken a really good and unique flavor. In this recipe I use spices like turmeric, chili, coriander, cumin, black pepper and garam masala. As well as using these spices I also use tandoori masala from the Shan brand. This packet has all that is needed for making tandoori chicken. I just prefer to add extra spices to give the tandoori chicken that extra bit of flavor. I also like to add mint sauce, this gives the tandoori chicken a nice taste too. Other ingredients like lemon juice and yogurt are essential when it comes to making tandoori chicken. Lastly I add oil to the marinated chicken this helps to lock all the flavors in and also help with the cooking process. In this recipe I will be using chicken leg pieces, you could use smaller pieces by using drumsticks and thigh pieces or you can use chicken breast pieces. I have a recipe for Tandoori Chicken bites using chicken breast, check it out!

I like to make this super easy oven baked tandoori chicken recipe for special weekend lunch or dinners, also when I have friends and family coming over. Tandoori chicken is always a winner and everyone enjoys a piece. It’s a quick and easy dish to prepare and make. It taste great just as a appetizer or with pilau rice or naan bread. You can prepare this dish a day ahead by marinating the chicken in the fridge overnight and bake just before serving on the day.

Baking and Serving Tandoori Chicken

Baking the chicken makes this recipe nice and easy. Make sure to preheat the oven so it’s nice and hot and ready for the chicken. Line a baking tray with foil for easy clean up. I bake my chicken at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 40 minutes turning over half way through the bake and brushing with oil or butter. You know when the chicken is done when the juices run clear. You can also use a thermometer to check if the chicken is done, a reading of 165 degrees Fahrenheit indicates that the chicken is cooked. The delicious smell of tandoori chicken takes over the whole house when it’s baking in the oven, definitely makes me hungry lol.

Once the chicken pieces are baked let the chicken rest for 10-15 minutes before serving. Cover the baked chicken up with foil to keep warm. Serve up this super easy oven baked tandoori chicken with fresh lemon wedges, basmati rice or naan bread.

Oven baked tandoori chicken recipe

Recipe by Shema Course: MainCuisine: IndianDifficulty: Easy

Servings

6

servings

Prep time

10

minutes

Cooking time

40

minutes

Oven Baked Tandoori Chicken

Ingredients

• 6 chicken leg pieces skin off
  

• 1 and a 1/2 teaspoons of salt
  

• 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
  

• 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder
  

• 1 teaspoon of chili powder
  

• 1 teaspoon of coriander powder
  

• 1/2 teaspoon of cumin powder
  

• 1/2 teaspoon of garam masala
  

• 1 tablespoon of Shan tandoori masala
  

• 1 tablespoon of mint sauce/chutney
  

• 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
  

• 1/2 cup of plain yogurt
  

• 1/4 teaspoon of red food color
  

• 2 tablespoons of oil
  

• Extra oil or butter for brushing chicken
  

Directions

• Clean and pat dry chicken leg pieces
• Using a sharp knife slash the chicken pieces, 4-5 slashes in each leg piece
• In a large mixing bowl add in all the ingredients one by one apart from the oil
• Mix all the ingredients in well using a spoon (this is the marinade)
• Add in the chicken leg pieces to the marinade
• Using your hand (wear a food glove) mix the chicken pieces with the marinade, mix well ensuring that the chicken pieces are well coated
• Add in the oil (2 tablespoons), mix again
• Leave chicken to marinate for 25-30 minutes in the refrigerator or overnight
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit
• Line a baking tray with foil
• Place the chicken leg pieces onto the baking tray
• Bake for 40 minutes turning over half way at 20 minutes, brush the chicken pieces with oil at this point
• Use a food thermometer to check if chicken is cooked by inserting into the thickest part of the chicken, temperature should read 165 degrees Fahrenheit
• Once baked let the chicken pieces rest for 10 minutes, cover with foil to keep warm
• Serve warm with pilau rice, naan bread or a side of salad.

Notes

• Best to be eaten on the day it has been cooked. Any leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for 1-2 days.