Air Fryer Tandoori Chicken Thighs (Indian Takeaway Style)

This Indian takeaway style air fryer tandoori chicken thighs recipe produces lightly spiced and tender chicken with charred edges. Perfect with bread and salad, or added to curry dishes like chicken patia curry.

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Indian restaurant and takeaway menus offer a huge number of tempting dishes. But, my focus is always immediately drawn to the starter and mixed grill section, with the enticing flavours of properly tandoor cooked chicken and lamb.

Recreating these dishes at home is, of course, always going to be hampered by the missing tandoor oven. The high heat and unique flavour it brings to proceedings is unrivalled. But, we can still make very tasty chicken tikka and tandoori chicken at home, filled with all of the same flavourful spices. And, with the help of an air-fryer, we can cook the chicken quickly at a high temperature, bringing a little char to proceedings too. The result is deliciously tender, smokey chicken pieces that are ready to be wrapped up with salad and sauces in your favourite bread, or added to simmering curry sauces.

Ingredients For Air Fryer Tandoori Chicken Thighs

To make this easy air fryer tandoori chicken thighs recipe, we’ll coat the chicken in classic tandoori style marinade ingredients like garlic, ginger, cumin, coriander and garam masala.

• Chicken: Skinless, Boneless Chicken Thighs
• Spices: Cumin, Coriander, Garam Masala, Kashmiri Red Chilli Powder, Dried Fenugreek Leaves, Turmeric, Smoked Paprika
• Other Ingredients: Garlic Ginger Paste, Mint Sauce, Tamarind Paste, Sea Salt, Fresh Lemon Juice, Natural Yogurt, Vegetable Oil, Beetroot Powder, Water

How To Make Air Fryer Tandoori Chicken

This simple air fryer tandoori chicken takes hardly any effort. First, the marinade ingredients are combined. Next, the skinless, boneless chicken thighs are covered with the super tasty tandoori style marinade packed full of flavour, and set aside for as much time as you have. It’ll work straight away, or you can plan ahead and let it marinade for a few hours or even overnight in the fridge. When you’re ready to eat, it takes just 15 minutes in the air fryer to cook delicious sizzling spicy tandoori chicken!

Step 1: Tandoori Chicken Marinade

In a large bowl, add 1 teaspoon garlic & ginger paste, 1/4 teaspoon cumin powder, 1/4 teaspoon coriander powder, 1/4 teaspoon garam masala, 1/4 teaspoon dried fenugreek leaves (methi), 1/4 teaspoon kashmiri red chilli powder, 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/4 teaspoon turmeric, 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, 1/2 teaspoon beetroot powder, 1/2 teaspoon mint sauce, 1/2 teaspoon tamarind paste, 1 tablespoon natural yogurt, 1 tablespoon sunflower oil and 1 teaspoon water. Mix well. Add 3 skinless, boneless chicken thighs and mix well again until fully coated. Cover and set aside for 20 minutes, or overnight.

Step 2: Air Fry Tandoori Chicken

Remove marinated chicken thighs from the fridge 20 minutes before you want to cook. If your air fryer needs to be preheated, do this now. Arrange marinated chicken thighs in an air fryer basket and air fry at 200C for 15 minutes until cooked through and a little charred.

Step 3: Serve Tandoori Chicken

Arrange tandoori chicken thighs on a serving plate. Garnish with 1/2 onion, finely sliced and 1 small handful fresh coriander, finely chopped and serve with fresh lemon wedges.

Recipe Tips For Air Fryer Tandoori Chicken

• Leftover tandoori chicken thighs are great in sandwiches and wraps or as a topping for pizza and baked potatoes.

I hope you’ll try this air fryer tandoori chicken thighs recipe. If you do, let me know in the comments how it went!

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Air Fryer Tandoori Chicken FAQ

How do Indian takeaways make tandoori chicken so colourful?
Food colouring or beetroot powder are commonly added to marinades, alongside naturally colourful spices like turmeric, paprika and Kashmiri chilli powder.

Can I make this tandoori chicken without an air fryer?
Yes! Arrange marinated chicken on a baking tray and cook in a preheated oven at 200C for 14-16 minutes, or until cooked through and a little charred.

What can I do with tandoori chicken?
Deliciously spiced and smokey tandoori chicken is tasty with just a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, some finely sliced fresh onion and a pinch of freshly chopped coriander. Try it ‘Frankie’ style in a plain chapati wrap, or add to Indian curry sauces like chicken patia curry. Mix with mayonnaise to make a delicious sandwich or baked potato filling, use as a topping for a spicy chicken pizza – the options are endless!

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Do you like this Indian takeaway style air fryer tandoori chicken recipe? If so, buying a copy of my book might appeal to you! In The Indian Takeaway Secret you can find a host of restaurant style recipes that you can make at home. You’ll learn how to make onion bhajis, fish pakora, korma curry and more! You can buy The Indian Takeaway Secret in paperback or kindle form here.

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