Instant Pot Easy Tandoori Chicken Recipe
Yet another easy breezy recipe made in the Instant Pot- Tandoori chicken and its healthy
If not for Instant Pot, in Winter I would have baked the tandoori chicken in the oven. In Summer, its all about outdoor grilling.
In the Instant Pot, chicken is cooked in a few minutes and effortlessly. Chicken legs smeared with an aromatic spice mix are allowed to marinate and cooked at high pressure in the IP for 10 minutes followed by Natural pressure release. I like my chicken legs browned and crispy, so I broiled the chicken legs for a few minutes in the oven.
Turned out perfect and delicious.
Cooking Video
- Ginger Garlic paste- 2 tbsp
- Chili powder- 2 tsp
- Kashmiri Chili powder- 1 tsp
- Turmeric powder- ¼ tsp
- Chicken legs- 10 to 12
What Cut Of Chicken Is Best For Tandoori Chicken
The different cuts of chicken can be confusing so heres a quick explanation Chicken drumstick is just the lower leg and chicken leg includes the thigh and the leg. While chicken legs are most commonly used for Tandoori chicken, you can also use drumsticks and thigh pieces. These cuts are preferred over chicken breasts because they have higher fat content and tend to be more moist and flavorful.
How To Store Reheat And Instant Pot Tikka Masala
- To Store. Store chicken tikka masala in an airtight storage container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- To Reheat. Gently reheat leftovers in a large pot on the stovetop over medium-low heat until hot. You can also reheat this dish in the microwave in a microwave-safe bowl until warmed through.
- To Freeze. Place cooked and cooled leftovers in an airtight freezer-safe storage container and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. The texture will become slightly grainy, but it will still be tasty.
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What Makes Tandoori Chicken Red
Most restaurants use artificial red color to get that typically-red tandoori chicken. I dont like doing that, and most of us dont do that when we cook at home.
Ive found that using Sweet Smoked Red Paprika in this Tandoori Chicken recipe helps in two ways. Not only does it add a lovely and natural red color to the tandoori chicken, but it also lends it a slightly smoked flavor which elevates this Air Fryer Tandoori chicken to a wonderful smoky, tender, well-spiced dish.
Tandoori Chicken In Oven
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking tray with foil or parchment paper. Place marinated chicken on the tray. Bake for 20 minutes, then turn the chicken, brush it with oil and bake for another 15-20 minutes on the other side, until chicken is cooked through and registers a thermometer reading above 165°F.
- For chicken thighs, place the baking sheet on the top rack keeping a 2.5-3 inch clearance. Turn on broil mode and cook for 8 minutes, flip, brush oil, and cook for another 6 minutes.
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How Spicy Is It
I would categorize this as a mild-medium spicy dish. And that’s because we use Kashmiri Red Chili powder in the marinade here. It provide a bright red color and very mild heat. If you want to make it milder, simply replace the Kashmiri red chili powder with paprika, which will make the total quantity of paprika in this recipe 2 teaspoons.
Looking For More Great Indian Dishes You Can Make In Your Air Fryer
- This Vegan Amchoor Potatoes recipe will rock your world with their combination of tart and spice!
- This Chicken Jalfrezi recipe is an air fried take on a delicious and traditional Indian Jhalfrezi recipe. It’s gluten-free and low carb!
- Make Indian food seem familiar with this Air Fryer recipe for Beef Kheema Meatloaf! It’s simple to make, but the flavors are amazing!
So whether you decide to cook this recipe in your air fryer or on the stovetop, you’re sure to absolutely LOVE this Tandoori Chicken Recipe. Make sure to share this recipe with your friends on Facebook and Pinterest so they can enjoy it as well!
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below! Just click on the stars in the recipe card to rate. Don’t forget to pin this recipe for later!
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Tips And Tricks For Making This Tandoori Chicken Recipe
- If you don’t have an air fryer, you can cook this recipe in a skillet. Just heat up a skillet until it’s screaming hot, add ghee that has a high smoke point, and cook the chicken for 4-5 minutes on each size.
- This chicken is marinated in spices. You wont be able to tell if its done by just looking at the color. Without a meat thermometer, youre likely to overcook the chicken. The best and only way to cook this without making rubber chicken is to use a meat thermometer, and cook until it reaches an internal temperature of 165F.
- I know many dairy-free folks will ask me what they can substitute for yogurt. The closest you could come would be to use lemon juice instead.
Why Red Food Coloring
Youre going to notice that the recipe calls for red food coloring. No, its not a typo, and yes it may seem odd, but its also totally optional. Its used purely to get that traditional deep orange/red color. If want to achieve the bright red color, but dont want to use food coloring, substituting Annatto powder or paste is a great natural alternative. Its not always easy to find, check in the International aisle of your grocery store or buy it online.
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Prepare The Tandoori Chicken Marinade
Add all the ingredients in a clean dry bowl and mix well with the help of a fork or a whisk until a smooth thick paste forms.
If you want a vibrant, fiery red hue without adding any food color in your chicken tandoori in instant pot than.
Add organic beet root powder to the marinade and mix well until incorporated.
Pressure Cooker Tandoori Chicken Recipe Tips & Tricks
- You can enjoy the Tandoori Chicken straight out of the Instant Pot. However, the crust feels more traditional if you pop it under the broiler for a few minutes to crisp-up the coating.
- 4 hours is the minimum marination time to create a lovely spiced flavor. However, the longer you soak the chicken the better. This is a great recipe to prep one night while cooking another dinner, then save to cook the next night.
- If you dont have an Instant Pot, you can most definitely cook this on the grill or in the oven. See the instructions in the recipe below.
- No, you dont have to remove the chicken skin. But YES, you really should! If you leave the skin on, the flavor stays primarily on the skin, instead of working its way through the chicken.
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Juicy And Flavorful Chicken Ready In No Time
It’s no secret that rotisserie chicken is the key to making meal time easier. Save yourself time by adding leftover rotisserie chicken to meals throughout the week, or serve it all at once with some quick and easy side dishes for a meal that will feed the whole family. But before you head to the grocery store to pick up a rotisserie chicken, consider cooking a whole chicken yourself. This allows you to control the flavors and seasonings used on your chicken. The Instant Pot makes it so that you can cook a whole chicken in under an hour with only five minutes of prep work. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to cook a whole chicken in the Instant Pot, plus more ways to use leftover chicken.
How to Cook a Whole Chicken in the Instant Pot: Step-by-Step
Learn how to season, sear, and cook a whole chicken in the Instant Pot, based on Instant Pot® Lemon Rotisserie Chicken recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 lemon, cut into 4 wedges
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 cup chicken broth
Ways to Use Leftover Chicken
Instant Pot Chicken And Vegetable Tortilla Soup
A great comfort food dish made in the Instant Pot®! A healthier spin on Mexican tortilla soup without sacrificing flavor. With shredded chicken, hearty veggies, and lots of optional toppings, this soup is sure to fill you up and put a smile on your face! Garnish with any or all of the following optional ingredients: rice, tortilla strips, shredded cheese, sour cream, avocado, cilantro, or jalapeno.
Provided by Dana Souza
| 1 tablespoon olive oil, or more as needed |
| 1 can chopped green chilies |
| 1 medium onion, diced |
| 1 ½ cups diced carrots |
| 1 cup diced celery |
| 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs |
| 2 cans black beans, rinsed and drained |
| 1 can fire-roasted diced tomatoes |
| 1 package frozen corn |
| 1 can red enchilada sauce |
| 4 ½ cups chicken broth |
| 2 ½ cups water |
| 3 large red potatoes, chopped |
| 1 medium lime, juiced, or more to taste |
| 1 tablespoon salt |
| 1 tablespoon ground dried chipotle pepper |
| 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning |
| 1 tablespoon ground black pepper |
| 1 teaspoon dried oregano |
| 1 cup tortilla strips |
Steps:
Nutrition Facts : Calories 389 calories, Carbohydrate 50.3 g, Cholesterol 58.8 mg, Fat 10.2 g, Fiber 11 g, Protein 25.8 g, SaturatedFat 2.3 g, Sodium 2096.2 mg, Sugar 5.9 g
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Grilled Tandoori Chicken On The Barbecue
Tandoori Chicken is a real crowdpleaser for BBQ parties and summer picnics! It makes a great appetizer for game day parties, too.
When making it for a crowd, I prefer using boneless skinless chicken thighs for this recipe. They cook faster and can stand the high-heat of the grill . To prepare tandoori chicken on the barbecue, simply:
Instant Pot Tandoori Spiced Chicken And Rice
- Pin1194
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Instant Pot Tandoori Spiced Chicken and Rice is an easy weeknight meal that is packed with flavor and sure to make the entire family happy! Warm, mellow flavors with just a touch of heat mingle with the chicken breasts and rice to create a delicious meal. Of course you can always add more heat if you like it spicy.
For even more delicious pressure cooker recipes, check out the Instant Pot Recipes page.
I am a bit of wus when it comes to spicy foods, so I created a mild version of Instant Pot Tandoori Spiced Chicken and Rice and I loved it!! I wrapped mine in heated naan bread because that’s how I roll, but it is not necessary if you are watching your carb intake.
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Cooking Whole Chicken In An Instant Pot Vs Oven:
Is pressure cooking chicken better than roasting chicken in an oven? Yes, pressure cooking results in a tastier chicken .
Heres the thing. The oven can dry out the breast meat. You also have to watch the chicken more carefully, tent the meat, make sure the wings dont burn. Oven-roasted chicken is just a little more high maintenance. The instant pot is fuss-free. Pressure cooking a whole chicken somehow results in perfectly cooked white and dark meat.
That said. If you have an actual tandoor in your house, youre probably some sort of expert chef/cooking whiz. In which case Im kind of honored that youre even reading my blog. If you have a tandoor and know what youre doing, then use that. But if youre like most of us and are debating between cooking a chicken in a regular oven or an instant pot
Just trust the instant pot. And trust me.
Recommended Tools To Make Instant Pot Tikka Masala
- Instant Pot. I used this one to make my Instant Pot chicken tikka masala.
Whether you adore Indian food or are just starting to tiptoe your way in, this healthy twist on chicken tikka masala is a wonderful mini vacation on a plate.
Close your eyes and inhale its sweet aroma. You can almost hear the Bollywood tunes playing through the streets!
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Making Tandoori Chicken Using Instant Pot Or Mealthy
Crisping it using an oven
Crisping it using Mealthy CrispLid
Serving suggestions
Best Instant Pot Tandoori Chicken Recipe
How To Make Tandoori Chicken in Instant Pot, Without Oven / TandoorHello Foodies, Happy holidays to you all! We hope you all had a fabulous Christmas, and now you are enjoying your holidays. I am busy with all the prep for the new year’s party. How about you guys? This chicken tandoori is gonna be one of our new year’s party menu. These chicken drumsticks are deliciously spiced up with tandoori masala, perfect as a starter or side dish with gravy over steamed rice. It’s an easy and instant pot recipe. Make a big batch and refrigerate, and you have everything ready to surprise your guests. YouTube Video: Juicy and tender chicken drumsticks, seasoned with tandoori masala and cooked in 10 minutes in the instant pot, it doesn’t get easier than this! It is effortlessly evergreen Instant Pot Chicken Tandoori with a delicious gravy recipe you’ll ever try. I like making different dishes from all over the cuisines, and yeah, I love to take pictures of what I cooked, and I love to see the happy face of Dr.K when he enjoys what I’ve made for him. And tandoori chicken is one of his favorite chicken dishes to eat as a side with steamed rice. When I first-time prepared chicken tandoori in the instant pot, and I was amazed by how the time-saving method is this. And every time I loved the way it turns out.Why I have prepared gravy along with tandoori chicken:Cooking Time for Chicken in the Instant Pot:After you try this Instant Pot Chicken Tandoori, you won’t want to miss:My Take:
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What Is Tandoori Chicken
Tandoori chicken, pronounced Ton-Do-Ree, is probably one of the most flavorful and popular chicken recipes from the Indian subcontinent. It is the Indian spiced version of barbecue chicken.
Chicken is marinated in a blend of yogurt, ginger, garlic, lime juice and warm Indian spices, then grilled to perfection.
Most Indian restaurants grill it in a high-heat clay-oven called tandoor, which is where it gets its name from. Tandoor is a cylindrical clay oven typically heated with charcoals. That is what gives the chicken a slightly smoky flavor.
But, since most of us don’t have a clay oven in our backyards, an air fryer or oven can achieve a similar flavor!
I promise you, you will think this is the Best Homemade Tandoori Chicken Ever!
Fun fact: In the late 1940s, Tandoori Chicken was popularised at Moti Mahal restaurant in Peshawar by Kundan Lal Jaggi, Thakur Dass, and Kundan Lal Gujral.
