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This healthy Tandoori Chicken is a tasty Indian classic that combines pantry ingredients and poultry and turns it into a wholesome dinner. Fresh cilantro and lemon add a bright element to this herbaceous grilled chicken recipe.
Easy to make: Some people think tandoori chicken is difficult to make because it uses so many spices, but the process of combining the spices, creating the marinade and cooking the chicken is easy. This is a great meal prep dinner idea, so you can easily make it in advance.
This tandoori chicken recipe is very healthy. It’s a high-protein meal that is low fat, low sodium, low carb, low sugar and low calorie. The chicken and yogurt add to the protein, which helps keep you full longer and also is important for building and repairing cells, as well as maintaining bone and muscle health. Since there’s not much added oil, it keeps fat and calorie levels low. And since the dish relies on an assortment of flavorful spices rather than lots of salt or sodium-filled sauces, it’s a low sodium dish that’s good for your heart.
This grilled and baked chicken recipe is an ideal choice for those following a heart healthy diet. This low fat tandoori chicken has only 1g of saturated fat since it uses lean chicken breasts and very little olive oil. Thanks to the use of so many aromatic and flavorful spices, only a pinch of salt is needed in the recipe, resulting in a very low sodium chicken recipe that doesn’t fall short in the flavor department. At only 170 calories per serving but 28g of protein, it’s also a low calorie dish that will keep you satisfied.
The tandoori marinade in this recipe starts with a base of plain yogurt, mixed with fresh lemon juice, garlic, ginger, a pinch of salt and a spice mixture that has been heated on the stovetop to enhance the flavor and fragrance of the spices. This blend includes traditional spices used in Indian cooking, such as coriander, cumin, turmeric, cayenne pepper, garam masala, onion powder and sweet paprika. Once combined, this healthy tandoori marinade is combined with the chicken and should be placed in the refrigerator, covered, for one to six hours.
Recipe yields 6 servings
In a small saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the coriander, cumin, turmeric, cayenne, onion powder, garam masala and paprika and cook, stirring often, until fragrant, about 2 to 3 minutes. Set aside to cool completely.
In a small bowl, whisk the yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, ginger and salt. Add the cooled spice mixture and stir to combine.
Place the chicken in a glass or ceramic baking pan. Cut deep slashes into the chicken and coat with yogurt marinade. Chill, covered, for 1 to 6 hours.
Preheat the grill to high heat. Spray the grill rack with nonstick grill cooking spray. Remove the chicken from the marinade, shaking off and discarding the excess marinade. Grill the chicken, covered, for 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until it is brown and slightly charred on all sides. Remove from grill and transfer to a baking dish.
Preheat the oven to 350°. Bake the chicken for 20 to 25 minutes, or until cooked through and a meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the chicken registers 165°.
The chicken can be served warm or at room temperature. Top with fresh cilantro and serve with lemon wedges.
Looking for chicken recipes for dinner that are inspired by tastes from around the world? Give one of these flavorful dishes a try and take your taste buds on a flavor journey: