Tandoori chicken is a mouthwatering dish that originated in India, where it is traditionally cooked in a cylindrical clay oven known as a tandoor. When prepared properly, tandoori chicken emerges with a smoky aroma, vibrant red color, and juicy, tender texture that is hard to replicate with other cooking methods.
If you want to achieve authentic, delicious tandoori chicken at home, understanding the ideal cooking times is essential. The cooking duration depends on several factors, including the size and cut of the chicken pieces, the temperature of the tandoor, and whether you’re using a traditional tandoor oven or an alternative like a conventional oven or grill.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about how long to cook chicken in a tandoor, with tips to help you nail the timing and technique for flawless results every time.
Factors That Impact Tandoori Chicken Cooking Time
The most significant factor affecting tandoori chicken cook times is the size and cut of the chicken pieces. Smaller cuts like wings or drumsticks may only need 15-20 minutes in a hot tandoor oven, while larger pieces like bone-in thighs or a whole chicken can take 30-45 minutes or even longer.
Thickness is another consideration – thicker cuts will obviously require more time than thinner ones. When using a whole chicken, be prepared for it to take up to 50 minutes since the heat needs to fully penetrate the meat and bones.
Cooking temperature also plays a major role. Traditional tandoor ovens are heated to extremely high temperatures, usually 480°F to 600°F. The higher the temp the less time is needed. If using a conventional oven or grill aim for at least 400°F.
Marinating time can also impact overall cooking duration. Chicken marinated for longer will require less time in the tandoor as the spices and yogurt tenderize the meat. Aim for at least 4-6 hours of marinating, or ideally overnight.
Recommended Cooking Times for Tandoori Chicken
Here are some general guidelines for how long you should cook popular chicken cuts in a properly preheated tandoor oven:
- Chicken wings or drumsticks: 12-15 minutes
- Boneless chicken thighs: 15-20 minutes
- Bone-in chicken thighs: 20-25 minutes
- Chicken breasts: 18-22 minutes
- Whole chicken: 45-55 minutes
For authentic doneness, the internal temperature of the chicken should reach 165°F. Always rely on a meat thermometer for accuracy, since appearances can be deceiving in a tandoor oven.
Tips for Perfectly Cooked Tandoori Chicken
Follow these tips for flawlessly cooked tandoori chicken with a smoky char and tender, juicy meat:
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Marinate the chicken for at least 4-6 hours, or up to 24 hours for the most flavor infusion. Use a yogurt-based marinade.
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Preheat the tandoor or oven for at least 30 minutes before cooking. Temperatures between 480°F to 600°F are ideal.
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Use chicken pieces of uniform size to ensure even cooking Cut or pound them to an equal thickness if needed.
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Skewer the chicken pieces so they cook nicely on all sides. Use flat metal or wooden skewers.
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Brush with ghee or oil before cooking for extra moisture and flavor.
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Cook for the recommended times based on cut and thickness. Rely on a meat thermometer.
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Allow chicken to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving for optimal juiciness.
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Add a charcoal flavor by finishing under a broiler for 2-3 minutes if using a conventional oven.
Common Problems and Solutions
Here are some common issues that can arise when cooking tandoori chicken and how to avoid them:
Problem: Chicken is undercooked and raw inside.
Solution: Increase cooking time and ensure the tandoor or oven is hot enough. Check temperature with a thermometer.
Problem: Chicken is overcooked and dry.
Solution: Don’t overdo cooking times. Test for doneness early, and tent foil if needed.
Problem: Chicken lacks smoky flavor.
Solution: Use real charcoal if possible. Alternatively, finish under the broiler.
Problem: Chicken sticks to the skewers.
Solution: Soak wooden skewers before using. Use enough oil when grilling.
Problem: Spices fall off the chicken.
Solution: Pat spices into meat when marinating. Use less yogurt in marinade.
Alternative Cooking Methods
While a traditional tandoor oven is ideal, you can still make delicious tandoori chicken using the following alternative cooking methods:
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Conventional oven: Preheat to at least 400°F. Cook on a broiler pan for crispy skin.
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Grill: Use medium-high indirect heat. Add hardwood chips for smoke flavor.
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Broiler: Great for finishing chicken and imparting char. Keep a close eye to avoid burning.
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Air fryer: Cook at 400°F, flipping halfway. Gets a nice crisp exterior.
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Instant pot: Use the sauté function first to char all sides. Pressure cook for 8-10 minutes with 1 cup liquid.
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Slow cooker: Cook on low for 4-6 hours until chicken is very tender. Won’t have the char.
No matter which cooking method you use, the keys are high heat for that signature tandoori char, proper marinating, and monitoring cook times. With the right techniques, you can achieve authentic, succulent tandoori chicken at home.
Sample Tandoori Chicken Recipes
To get you started, here are a few mouthwatering tandoori chicken recipe ideas to try:
Traditional Tandoori Chicken
Ingredients: Chicken pieces, yogurt, lemon juice, garam masala, cumin, chili powder, garlic, ginger, ghee
Marinate overnight. Cook in tandoor at 500°F for 15-30 minutes depending on size.
Spicy Tandoori Chicken Wings
Ingredients: Chicken wings, yogurt, tandoori masala, cayenne pepper, paprika, garlic
Marinate for 4-6 hours. Cook in tandoor at 480°F for 12-15 minutes.
Tandoori Chicken Breasts
Ingredients: Boneless chicken breasts, Greek yogurt, tandoori paste, turmeric, coriander
Marinate 2-4 hours. Grill on medium high 12-15 minutes per side.
Whole Tandoori Chicken
Ingredients: Whole chicken, yogurt, garam masala, cumin, Kashmiri chili powder, lemon juice, ginger
Marinate overnight. Cook in covered tandoor at 500°F for 45-60 minutes.
The Takeaway on Cooking Chicken in a Tandoor
Mastering the ideal cooking times is essential for making moist, flavorful tandoori chicken at home. Smaller cuts will be done in 15-25 minutes, while larger pieces and whole chickens can take 30-50 minutes in a hot tandoor oven. Rely on a meat thermometer for doneness. Marinating the chicken well and having proper temperature control will also ensure delicious results.
While a traditional clay tandoor is ideal, you can still achieve excellent tandoori chicken using alternatives like a grill, oven, or air fryer. With the proper technique, you’ll be rewarded with succulent, aromatic chicken that makes for a stellar appetizer or entree. Experiment with different cuts and spice blends until you find your perfect tandoori chicken recipe.
Step 6: Prep Ingredients
Peel and mince the fresh garlic and ginger. Paste works well too, just use an equal amount.
I like to add finely chopped green chilies because they add little pockets of bright, acidic heat as you bite into the chicken. These chilies are hot — eating a piece raw confirms this, however, in the cooking process, they become diluted and more mild as they cook down, meaning the final dish is actually not as spicy as you may fear, so try it!
To minimize the heat, I cut the chilies in half lengthwise and de-seed them before mincing them. Leave them in if you prefer it spicier.
Juice the half of a lemon and strain.
Step 2: What Is a Tandoor?
A tandoor is a traditional cylindrical clay oven popular in some parts of Asia, particularly north India.
Heated by the coals or burning gas at the bottom of the cylinder, hot air rises and falls in convection currents cooking skewered meats and vegetables.
Marinade and fat dripping from the meat hits the coals and vaporizes instantly, giving a smoked, charred flavor to the food thats the signature mark of tandoori dishes.
The clay walls can reach over 300°C or 575°F, at which point bread dough can be slapped onto the actual clay walls, where it puffs up and bakes to become the classic leavened Indian flatbread: Naan!
Most households will likely not just happen to have a tandoor sitting around. You can go buy a model designed for the home somewhere online, or you could make a DIY version.
Various tutorials exist online and on this site, but you can check out my other article, which details how I built one from scratch using clay at this link:
https://www.instructables.com/id/Building-a-Tandoor-From-Scratch/
This article will focus on how to use the device by providing a practical recipe to try!
I have made this dish many times for friends and family, and have come up with a good schedule to make things easier. You will see later that it makes a lot of sense to time things this way:
The Day Before:
- Whenever you can, for example, in the evening before going to bed, set the chicken in the marinade and put it in the fridge to infuse until the next day. I am of the firm belief that marinating overnight provides superior flavor. I explain this later on.
The Day Of:
- An hour and a half before you want to begin cooking in the tandoor, make the naan dough and set it aside to proof.
- Light the tandoor. The preheating takes one full hour, conveniently the same amount of time the naan dough should proof.
- Just before you reach cooking temperature, cut the dough into small balls and rise for a second time, just around 10 minutes.
- Cook the naan and chicken. I like to do some of the naan first to have something to snack on, then the chicken, then finish up my dough afterwards.
- Enjoy!
How to make Tandoori Chicken in the Oven #shorts
FAQ
How long does chicken take to cook in a tandoor?
Baste the marinade on the top side and turn it again after 5 to 6 mins. The cook time depends on the size of your chicken pieces. It takes about 27 to 30 mins to cook the Tandoori chicken fully.
How long does tandoori chicken take?
This Tandoori Chicken recipe is honestly SO good. Delicious, tender chicken in a mouthwatering marinade, make this in the air fryer, oven, grill or BBQ in less than 30 minutes.
What temperature is a tandoor for chicken?
For most home ovens this is 230ºC or 250ºC. Tandoori chicken is normally cooked in a tandoor (clay oven). The temperatures inside a tandoor oven can reach 500ºC, but to cook kababs such as chicken tandoori, or chicken tikka, the tandoor is kept at a temperature range of 250–300ºC.
How to tell if tandoori chicken is cooked?
The best way to check this is with a meat thermometer. The chicken is ready when it reaches an internal temperature of 74°C/165°F. If you don’t have a thermometer, stick a fork or knife into the thickest part of the meat. If the juices run clear, not red, then it’s cooked.
How long do you cook tandoori chicken?
Bake the tandoori chicken in the oven with high heat for fifteen minutes. Remove the tray from the oven. Brush some melted butter on the chicken, turn over the chicken, and continue baking for another thirty minutes or until the edges turn slightly charred. (The cooking time can be varied from oven to oven.
Can you cook chicken tandoori in a tandoor?
Traditionally, it is prepared in a tandoor, which is a clay oven. However, you can achieve equally delicious results by cooking chicken tandoori in a regular oven. In this article, we will guide you through the process of preparing this mouthwatering dish right in your kitchen. What is chicken tandoori? What ingredients do I need?
How long do you marinate chicken tandoori?
For the best results, marinate the chicken for at least 2 hours. However, for more intense flavors, you can marinate it overnight in the refrigerator. Which oven temperature should I preheat to? Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C) for about 10-15 minutes before cooking the chicken tandoori. How do I cook the chicken tandoori in the oven?
How do you cook chicken in a tandoor oven?
Thrust onto sword-like skewers, the chicken then is plunged upright into large barrel-like tandoor ovens that can approach 900°F. Charred and glistening red, at this stage it is tandoor chicken and can be served as is.
What is tandoori chicken?
It is a must-order dish whenever I patronize my favorite Indian restaurant. The tandoori chicken gets its name from the equipment used to cook the chicken, the tandoor. A tandoor is a cylinder-shaped oven made with clay or metal to cook various Indian foods.
What can you do with leftover chicken tandoori?
Leftover chicken tandoori can be used in sandwiches, wraps, or salads for a quick and flavorful meal. You can also shred it and use it as a topping for pizzas or in pasta dishes. In conclusion, chicken tandoori is a delicious and aromatic dish that can be easily prepared in your oven.