Once you've made Air Fryer Tandoori Chicken, it's easy to become a convert, and only want to make Tandoori Chicken in the Air Fryer. Because it's definitely the easiest & fastest way to make authentic looking & tasting tandoori chicken that is slightly charred on the outside, while still being tender, juicy & succulent on the inside.
Jump to:
- What is Tandoori Chicken
- Why make Tandoori Chicken in the Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Tandoori Chicken Ingredients
- How to Make Tandoori Chicken in the Air Fryer (Step by Step)
- Air Fryer Tandoori Chicken Drumsticks
- Tandoori Chicken Drumsticks in Oven
- Serving Suggestion
- More Tandoori Chicken recipes..
- Air Fryer Tandoori Chicken (Tandoori Chicken Drumsticks)
What is Tandoori Chicken
Tandoori Chicken is a chicken dish, typically referring to some kind of bone-in chicken, that is flavored using a tandoori masala marinade, typically consisting of yogurt, ginger garlic paste, and assorted Indian spices, and then roasted in a tandoor (clay oven).
Why make Tandoori Chicken in the Air Fryer
Most of us don't have access to a tandoor at home. So the options are making tandoori chicken using an air fryer, home oven, or an outdoor grill.
And air fryer is the easiest & fastest way to make authentic looking & tasting tandoori chicken that is slightly charred on the outside, while still being tender, juicy & succulent on the inside.
Air Fryer Tandoori Chicken Ingredients
Ingredient notes
- In this recipe, I am using chicken drumsticks to make air fryer tandoori chicken drumsticks. But of-course you can use the tandoori masala marinade to flavor any cut of chicken you prefer. Here are a few recipes I have already shared with different cuts of chicken - boneless tandoori chicken bites, tandoori chicken legs, whole chicken tandoori & tandoori chicken wings.
- As you see, I use more spice powders than just tandoori masala powder to make the tandoori masala marinade. This blend of spices is what I’ve found to work really well together, in case you are using all store-bought masalas, like I am doing in this case.
I am still working on developing a recipe for homemade tandoori masala powder that I like enough to use just that along with yogurt, salt & oil. I’ll share it when it is ready, but until then you can use the blend of masalas shared in the recipe to make really good tandoori masala marinade, that you can adapt to suit several different tandoori recipes.
How to Make Tandoori Chicken in the Air Fryer (Step by Step)
Prepping the chicken
- Take 2 pounds of chicken drumsticks.
- Clean them, discard the fat, and then pat them dry, using a paper towel, to get rid of any excess water.
- Make small gashes across the chicken drumsticks, so that they can be filled with the marinade later.
First marination (for tenderizing the chicken)
- In a small bowl, take 2 tablespoons of lemon juice & 1 teaspoon of salt, and mix them together till they are well combined.
- Apply this lemon & salt mix to the chicken drumsticks, ensuring to coat them well.
- Let the chicken soak in this mix for about 15-20 minutes, and then strain off the excess liquid.
It's important to strain off all excess liquid from the lemon salt mix before applying the tandoori masala marinade to the chicken.
Second marination (tandoori masala marinade)
- In a bowl, take ½ cup of yogurt, 2 tablespoon ginger garlic paste, 1½ tablespoon kashmiri chilli powder, ½ tablespoon tandoori masala powder, ½ tablespoon garam masala powder, ½ tablespoon coriander powder, ½ teaspoon cumin powder, ½ teaspoon chaat masala powder, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon kasoori methi, ½ tablespoon corn flour & 1½ tablespoon oil.
- Mix them all together to form a smooth paste-like marinade. The tandoori masala marinade is ready.
- Apply the tandoori masala marinade to the chicken drumsticks, ensuring to coat them well, and also filling in the marinade inside the gashes made earlier.
- Let the chicken marinate for at-least 4-6 hours. Ideal if you can marinate for longer, for about 12-24 hours.
Air Fryer Tandoori Chicken Drumsticks
- Pre-heat the air fryer at 400 F ( ~204 C).
- Grease the base of the air fryer basket with some oil, and place the chicken drumsticks in the air fryer basket.
- Air fry at 400 F ( ~204 C) for 18-20 minutes till done, flipping the chicken once at the halfway point.
Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature of the chicken to ensure it's done. It should be at-least 165 F ( ~74 C). Checking the temperature & turning off the air fryer when it's at 165 F - 170 F also helps to ensure to not overcook the chicken, which can dry it out.
Tandoori Chicken Drumsticks in Oven
Alternatively, you can make tandoori chicken drumsticks in the oven. For which..
- Pre-heat the oven at 425 F ( ~218 C).
- Take an oven tray, and line it with parchment paper or foil (to catch the drippings), and place a wire rack in it.
- Grease the rack using some oil, and then place the chicken drumsticks on it.
- Bake the chicken at 425 F ( ~218 C) for 35-40 minutes till done, flipping the chicken once at the halfway point.
- Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature of the chicken to ensure it's done. It should be at-least 165 F ( ~74 C).
When done..
Tandoori chicken should be slightly crispy and charred on the outside, especially the edges, and still tender, juicy & succulent on the inside.
Serving Suggestion
Serve tandoori chicken with some laccha pyaaz (indian spiced onion rings), lemon wedges, and pair it with a green chutney dip, and enjoy!
More Tandoori Chicken recipes..
⭐️ Boneless Tandoori Chicken Bites
⭐️ Tandoori Chicken Wings
⭐️ Tandoori Chicken Legs
⭐️ Whole Chicken Tandoori
As always, I hope you found this recipe useful. If you did, please let me know your rating ⭐️ and feedback ? in the comments below, or simply rate the recipe right on the recipe card. I'd really appreciate it. ❤️
Air Fryer Tandoori Chicken (Tandoori Chicken Drumsticks)
This Air Fryer Tandoori Chicken recipe shares how to make authentic looking & tasting tandoori chicken in the air fryer, that is slightly charred on the outside, while still being tender, juicy & succulent on the inside.
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Servings: 4
Calories: 428kcal
Equipment
- Gourmia Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken drumsticks
First marination (for tenderizing the chicken)
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon salt
Second marination (tandoori masala marinade)
- ½ cup yogurt
- 2 tablespoon ginger garlic paste
- 1½ tablespoon kashmiri chilli powder
- ½ tablespoon tandoori masala powder
- ½ tablespoon garam masala powder
- ½ tablespoon coriander powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin powder
- ½ teaspoon chaat masala powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon kasoori methi
- ½ tablespoon corn flour
- 1½ tablespoon oil
Instructions
Prepping the chicken
- Take 2 pounds of chicken drumsticks.
- Clean them, discard the fat, and then pat them dry, using a paper towel, to get rid of any excess water.
- Make small gashes across the chicken drumsticks, so that they can be filled with the marinade later.
First marination (for tenderizing the chicken)
- In a small bowl, take 2 tablespoons of lemon juice & 1 teaspoon of salt, and mix them together till they are well combined.
- Apply this lemon & salt mix to the chicken drumsticks, ensuring to coat them well.
- Let the chicken soak in this mix for about 15-20 minutes, and then strain off the excess liquid.
- It's important to strain off all excess liquid from the lemon salt mix before applying the tandoori masala marinade to the chicken.
Second marination (tandoori masala marinade)
- In a bowl, take ½ cup of yogurt, 2 tablespoon ginger garlic paste, 1½ tablespoon kashmiri chilli powder, ½ tablespoon tandoori masala powder, ½ tablespoon garam masala powder, ½ tablespoon coriander powder, ½ teaspoon cumin powder, ½ teaspoon chaat masala powder, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon kasoori methi, ½ tablespoon corn flour & 1½ tablespoon oil.
- Mix them all together to form a smooth paste-like marinade. The tandoori masala marinade is ready.
- Apply the tandoori masala marinade to the chicken drumsticks, ensuring to coat them well, and also filling in the marinade inside the gashes made earlier.
- Let the chicken marinate for at-least 4-6 hours. Ideal if you can marinate for longer, for about 12-24 hours.
Air Fryer Tandoori Chicken Drumsticks
- Pre-heat the air fryer at 400 F ( ~204 C).
- Grease the base of the air fryer basket with some oil, and place the chicken drumsticks in the air fryer basket.
- Air fry at 400 F ( ~204 C) for 18-20 minutes till done, flipping the chicken once at the halfway point.
- Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature of the chicken to ensure it's done. It should be at-least 165 F ( ~74 C). Checking the temperature & turning off the air fryer when it's at 165 F - 170 F also helps to ensure to not overcook the chicken, which can dry it out.
Tandoori Chicken Drumsticks in Oven
- Pre-heat the oven at 425 F ( ~218 C).
- Take an oven tray, and line it with parchment paper or foil (to catch the drippings), and place a wire rack in it.
- Grease the rack using some oil, and then place the chicken drumsticks on it.
- Bake the chicken at 425 F ( ~218 C) for 35-40 minutes till done, flipping the chicken once at the halfway point.
- Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature of the chicken to ensure it's done. It should be at-least 165 F ( ~74 C).
When done..
- Tandoori chicken should be slightly crispy and charred on the outside, especially the edges, and still tender, juicy & succulent on the inside.
Serving Suggestion
- Serve tandoori chicken with some laccha pyaaz (indian spiced onion rings), lemon wedges, and pair it with a green chutney dip, and enjoy!
Notes
- Chicken Drumsticks – I have used chicken drumsticks for this tandoori chicken recipe, but of-course you can use the tandoori masala marinade to flavor any cut of chicken you prefer. Here are a few recipes I have already shared with different cuts of chicken - boneless tandoori chicken bites, tandoori chicken legs, whole chicken tandoori & tandoori chicken wings.
- Tandoori Masala Marinade – As you see, I use more spice powders than just tandoori masala powder to make the tandoori masala marinade. This blend of spices is what I’ve found to work really well together, in case you are using all store-bought masalas, like I am doing in this case. I am still working on developing a recipe for homemade tandoori masala powder that I like enough to use just that along with yogurt, salt & oil. I’ll share it when it is ready, but until then you can use the blend of masalas shared in the recipe to make really good tandoori masala marinade, that you can adapt to suit several different tandoori recipes.
- Red Color – I usually avoid adding food coloring to most of the homemade dishes. But you can add a few drops of red food coloring to the tandoori masala marinade, if you prefer, to give the tandoori chicken the bright red color that is common in tandoori chicken available in most restaurants.
Nutrition
Calories: 428kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 120mg | Sodium: 1047mg | Potassium: 426mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1150IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 82mg | Iron: 2mg
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Jomanka
This has become a regular favourite in the household. Easy to follow recipe, thank you. I prepare in the evening, ad marinate until lunchtime next day. They taste even better [if possible] when cooled, and refrigerated. They rarely get to the fridge though!
Sumi
Can you please post the link for the thermometer?