10+ Easy & Authentic Tandoori Recipes

Here's a collection of 10+ easy and authentic Indian Tandoori Recipes to spice up your dinner table. And the best part is that you don't need a tandoor (traditional clay oven) to achieve that restaurant-style charred, juicy taste.

Image collage with tandoori chicken, fish, paneer and caulifower

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This list of tandoori recipes includes a mix of chicken, fish, meat, paneer, and vegetables. These are marinated in a traditional spice paste made of yogurt with a blend of delicious Indian spices, then grilled to perfection.

Learn more about Tandoori cooking: What is Tandoori?

Traditionally, tandoori recipes are cooked in a tandoor, a cylindrical clay oven that uses charcoal or wood to generate high heat. However, the recipes in this collection achieve that same taste and texture using modern cooking appliances, like the air fryer or oven.

Let's get started on this delicious collection of recipes!

Easy & Authentic Tandoori Recipes

Here is a collection of some of the most popular Tandoori recipes originating from the Indian subcontinent, including tandoori chicken. These recipes are part of the Indian Recipes Collection.

Tandoori chicken drumsticks with lime wedges

Tandoori Chicken (Restaurant-Style)

An easy tandoori chicken recipe featuring succulent chicken legs marinated in an authentic spiced yogurt blend, then baked or grilled to juicy, smoky perfection.

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Tandoori Chicken Wings

These tandoori chicken wings are crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and flavored with Indian spices. Made easily in the oven or air fryer.

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A whole roasted Tandoori Chicken on a grey platter

Instant Pot Tandoori Whole Chicken

Tender, juicy and packed with flavor, here's a fail-proof pressure cooker recipe for Whole Tandoori Chicken, a classic Indian style Roasted Chicken. Enjoy this low-carb, keto-friendly and gluten-free recipe which gives amazing results with very little effort.

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Chicken tikka skewered and grilled with peppers

Tandoori Chicken Tikka

Tandoori Chicken Tikka kebab is a flavor-packed Indian appetizer in which marinated chicken chunks and vegetables are threaded onto skewers and grilled until crisp and slightly charred.

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Tandoori Chicken Sliders

Tandoori Chicken Sliders are mini-burgers made with marinated & grilled chicken, buttery-soft slider buns, dressed with a tart & spicy cilantro-chutney spread.

Tandoori Paneer Sliders - Air Fryer or Stove

30-minute recipe for buttery-soft tandoori paneer sliders with juicy, smoky paneer and veggies nestled between soft dinner rolls, with sriracha mayo, pickled onions, and melty cheese.

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Tandoori Salmon

This Tandoori Salmon recipe is a quick, easy and healthy meal in which salmon fillets are rubbed with aromatic Indian spices, then cooked in an air fryer or oven.

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Tandoori Fish Tikka on a black stone plate

Tandoori Fish Tikka - Airfryer/ Oven/Crisplid

Say hello to your new favorite appetizer, Tandoori Fish Tikka! Tender fish marinated in a classic Indian tandoori masala and crisped to perfection in an Airfyer, Crisplid or oven. Enjoy this low-carb dish with a side of cilantro chutney!

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sliced turkey breast on platter with orange slices, cranberries and rosemary

Tandoori Turkey Breast- Juicy & Crisp

Here's an easy recipe for a juicy and crisp Tandoori Turkey Breast that's a real showstopper! This Indian-inspired turkey can be prepared in the Instant Pot or Oven, with plenty of homemade gravy and cilantro lime crema to pass around.

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Whole Roasted Tandoori Cauliflower

Whole roasted Tandoori Cauliflower is a 30-minute, impressive Indian vegetarian dish, in which a flavor-packed, roasted cauliflower head is served with homemade gravy and pickled onions!

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Naan pizza with paneer and peppers on black slate

Paneer Pizza - Naan Pizza (Air Fryer | Oven)

This 30-minute Paneer Pizza is a tasty Indian fusion pizza with a naan base and paneer tikka topping, made easily in the air fryer or oven.

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Tips for Great Results

Make gashes: For more flavorful results, make ½-inch deep cuts in the meat so the marinade can seep in.
Marinate: For best flavor, marinate the following for the time listed: Paneer: 30 minutes, Tofu / Veggies / Fish: 30 minutes - 1 hour, Chicken: 2-4 hours, Lamb / Beef: 4-6 hours. Chicken, beef, and lamb can also be marinated overnight, but for no more than 12 hours.
Yogurt: Use plain, full-fat Greek yogurt for its thick texture, which will cling to the meat well and hold the spices intact.
Ginger and garlic: Use fresh ginger and garlic in the marinade as opposed to dry powders.
Lime: Fresh lime or lemon juice is always the best choice for the marinade. It not only imparts flavor but also helps tenderize the meat.
Fresh herbs: Fresh herbs like cilantro and mint add vibrant color and flavor to the dishes.
Check your spices: Spices release oil over time and lose flavor, so make sure your spices haven't gone stale.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a dish tandoori?

A dish can be called tandoori if it is marinated in yogurt and spices, then grilled in a tandoor, air fryer, or oven creating juicy, charred meat.

What is tandoori mix made of?

Tandoori spice mix mainly consists of garam masala, ground coriander, cumin, turmeric, Kashmiri red chili powder, and salt. Many times, dried and fresh herbs are also added to the spice blend to enhance flavor.

What makes tandoori so red?

Restaurants often use red or orange food colors for tandoori dishes. However, you can achieve the red color naturally by combining turmeric and Kashmiri red chili powder.

Is tandoori healthy?

Tandoori dishes are relatively low in fat and carbs, which makes them healthy. This cooking method doesn't require any oil for cooking.