Tandoori chicken is a popular Indian dish made by marinating chicken in yogurt and spices like garlic, ginger, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, turmeric, and chili powder. The marinated chicken is then roasted in a tandoor, a cylindrical clay oven.
The smoky spicy and flavorful tandoori chicken is delicious on its own but it’s even better when paired with complementary side dishes. The right sides can enhance the flavors of the chicken, provide texture contrasts, add nutrition, and give your meal more variety and eye appeal.
Here are 18 delicious side dishes that go perfectly with tandoori chicken
Rice
Rice is a classic accompaniment for Indian dishes. The neutral taste and fluffy texture of rice provides the perfect foil for strongly flavored tandoori chicken. Some rice side ideas include:
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Lemon Rice: Brighten up your meal with tangy lemon rice flavored with turmeric, mustard seeds and fried peanuts. The citrusy taste contrasts nicely with spicy tandoori chicken.
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Vegetable Pulao: Pulao is a fragrant rice pilaf made with whole spices and veggies. It adds nutrition and variety to your meal. Try making pulao with peas, carrots or corn.
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Coconut Rice: For a creamy, rich side, make coconut milk rice infused with cardamom. It will complement the complex flavors of your chicken.
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Saffron Rice: Saffron gives rice a beautiful golden color and exotic aroma. Saffron rice is easy to make but feels special.
Breads
Breads are great for dipping into the flavorful sauces and scooping up pieces of chicken. Some excellent bread options include:
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Naan: Buttery, slightly charred naan is perfect for wrapping up spicy chicken morsels. Try garlic naan or pesto naan for extra flavor.
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Roti: Whole wheat roti flatbreads have an earthy taste that balances the seasonings in the chicken.
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Paratha: Flaky, layered paratha breads are delicious dipped into any gravies or sauces.
Salads and Raitas
Crunchy, cooling salads provide contrast and help cut through the richness of tandoori chicken. Raitas (yogurt-based condiments) also have a cooling effect. Try:
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Kachumber Salad: A fresh tomato-cucumber salad with chaat masala seasoning.
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Mint Raita: Whisked yogurt with fresh mint, which pairs nicely with tandoori chicken.
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Carrot Raita: Shredded carrots in tangy yogurt provide color and crunch.
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Green Salad: A simple salad of lettuce, tomatoes, onion and lemon vinaigrette.
Vegetables
Roasted, sauteed or steamed veggies make easy, healthy sides for tandoori chicken. Great options include:
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Roasted Cauliflower: Toss cauliflower florets with Indian spices and roast until caramelized.
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Saag Paneer: Indian spinach with cubed paneer cheese.
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Stuffed Peppers: Bell peppers stuffed with herbed rice or lentils.
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** Roasted Broccoli:** Broccoli florets roasted with olive oil, garlic and red chili flakes.
Potatoes
Potatoes are ubiquitous in Indian cooking. They’re delicious paired with tandoori chicken. Try:
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Bombay Potatoes: Crispy pan-fried potatoes tossed in Indian spices.
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Aloo Gobi: Spicy potatoes and cauliflower.
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Garlic Mashed Potatoes: Comforting mashed potatoes with sautéed garlic.
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Potato Wedges: Oven-baked potato wedges with chili powder and cumin.
Chutneys and Sauces
Chutneys, pickles and sauces add bold, contrasting flavors. Serve tandoori chicken with:
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Mango Chutney: Sweet, fruity mango chutney.
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Mint Chutney: Herby cilantro-mint chutney.
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Onion Chutney: Tangy pickled red onion relish.
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Tamarind Sauce: Sweet and sour tamarind sauce.
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Yogurt Sauce: Cooling yogurt sauce flavored with mint.
Fun Fusion Sides
For fusion flair, try these inventive sides:
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Tandoori Chicken Flatbread Pizza: Top flatbread with tandoori chicken, onions, cilantro and cheese.
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Tandoori Chicken Salad: Toss chicken pieces with greens, tomatoes and a creamy dressing.
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Chicken Tikka Pasta: Toss pasta in a tomato cream sauce with tandoori chicken.
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Tandoori Chicken Tacos: Stuff soft tortillas with chicken, lettuce, tomatoes and raita sauce.
Desserts
End your meal on a sweet note with classic Indian desserts:
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Gulab Jamun: Deep-fried milk balls soaked in rose-cardamom syrup.
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Kheer: Indian rice pudding scented with cardamom, raisins and saffron.
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Mango Kulfi: Creamy mango-flavored ice cream.
Tandoori chicken deserves to be the star of the show, so choose sides that complement rather than compete with the chicken. With so many diverse flavors and textures to choose from, you can put together a spectacular tandoori chicken feast. Experiment with different side dish combinations to find your favorites!
Potato & Vegetable Sides
Baby Potatoes cooked with aromatic spices, as a one-pot dish, are perfect to serve as an appetizer or a side dish. These delicious and easy Bombay Potatoes take just 20 minutes to make in the Instant Pot or on stovetop.
Get the Spicy Bombay Potatoes recipe.
his Air Fryer Cauliflower seasoned with spices is easy to make and amazingly delicious topped with cilantro yogurt sauce. Enjoy as a wonderful low-carb side dish or appetizer.
Get the Air Fryer Cauliflower recipe.
This fragrant and flavorful Turmeric Rice is a healthy alternative to your usual white rice. Try my recipe to know how to easily make this vibrant rice on the stovetop or in the instant pot.
Get the Turmeric Yellow Rice recipe.
Aromatic Basmati Rice flavored with lemon juice, mustard seeds, ginger and topped with roasted peanuts.
Get the Lemon Rice recipe.
This fragrant and flavorful Peas Pulao (Matar Pulao) is a staple in most Indian homes. Basmati rice is cooked with whole spices and green peas. Pair this peas pulao as a side dish with any chicken dish.
Get the Peas Pulao recipe.
A quick and easy meal – Quinoa & Vegetable Pulao. Quinoa has become a popular choice due to its high protein content and it is perfect paired with veggies for a healthy side dish.
Get the Quinoa & Vegetable Pilaf recipe.
One-pot Vegetable Biryani is so easy to cook with the same authentic flavors! Fragrant basmati rice cooked with lots of vegetables, and aromatic whole spices and herbs.
Get the Vegetable Biryani recipe.
Want to make a complete Indian meal? Check out Indian dinner menu ideas and fusion Indian recipes.
What do you like to serve with your Tandoori Chicken curries? Share in the comments your favorite sides.
If you want dinner ASAP why not make this one pot tandoori chicken and
FAQ
What is a good accompaniment for tandoori chicken?
Indian food is full of flavour and tandoori chicken creates the perfect hero for a range of side dishes. Think about adding light and plain sides such as rice and salad, plus a heartier accompaniment like naan bread drizzled with a yoghurt and mint dip to add coolness.
What to eat with tandoori roast chicken?
- Raita. A simple, herb-flecked condiment made of yogurt and cucumber, homemade Raita served on the side takes this chicken dinner over the top. …
- Naan. It’s pretty easy to buy good naan, many stores carry it. …
- Rice. You could serve plain basmati rice, or make it fancy!
What are good side dishes to go with chicken?
- Cranberry Apple Quinoa Salad. PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE. …
- French Onion Cabbage Gratin. …
- Garlic-Parmesan Roasted Carrots. …
- Air Fryer Green Beans. …
- Smashed Brussels Sprouts. …
- Roasted Fennel With Delicata Squash & Apples. …
- Sweet Potato Salad. …
- Creamy Tuscan Orzo.
What does tandoori chicken come with?
Tandoori chicken is a popular appetizer from the Indian restaurants. This recipe shows you to replicate the restaurant version at home easily. Serve it with Cilantro Chutney or Mint Chutney. For a complete meal, have some Turmeric rice and cucumber raita.
What to serve with tandoori chicken?
In conclusion, there are a variety of different side dishes that go great with tandoori chicken. From salads to sauces, there is something for everyone to enjoy. I hope this blog post has given you some inspiration on what to serve with your next tandoori chicken dish. Be sure to check out our other blog posts for more great ideas. 1.
Can you eat tandoori chicken alone?
If you’re going to do Tandoori Chicken justice, you need to pair it with some seriously tasty and complementary sides.” So, get ready to say goodbye to those basic side dishes and hello to a whole new world of culinary delight. Tandoori chicken is a delicious and flavorful dish that can be enjoyed on its own or as part of a larger meal.
What Chutney goes with tandoori chicken?
Mint chutney is a treat for your eyes and taste buds. It is a refreshing chutney with mint, yogurt, green chilies, cilantro, and a few other ingredients to give a refreshing touch to your tandoori chicken. This chutney can also be made and frozen for later use. 12. Cucumber Tomato Chili Salad Tandoori chicken pairs well with this salad.
What is tandoori chicken?
Ah, tandoori chicken! Fat, juicy chicken drumsticks with the rich fragrance and color of Indian spices. Fall-off-the-bone, tender meat. And a deep smoky flavor to die for. Tandoori chicken is the Indian answer to the best barbecued chicken, and while it is impressive enough on its own, sometimes you need a few sides to round off your meal.
What goes well with spinach Manicotti and tandoori chicken?
When deciding on side dishes for spinach manicotti and tandoori chicken, it’s important to consider complementary flavors. While traditional accompaniments like garlic bread or salad work well with spinach manicotti, tandoori chicken pairs nicely with rice or naan bread. Experiment with different options to find the perfect combination.
What is a good base for tandoori chicken?
Variety: Consider garlic or butter naan for additional flavour. Basmati rice is a fragrant, long-grain rice that’s light and fluffy, serving as the perfect base to your tandoori chicken. It’s traditionally steamed with spices like cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves to infuse it with a delicate aroma.