Slow Cooker Tandoori Chicken

Let’s talk about tandoori chicken! Well even though the title says Tandoori Chicken, this marinade will work with whatever meat you chose to use

Tandoori gets the name from the bell-shaped tandoor oven, I could only dream of having one!

But I am going to assume you guys don’t have one either!

Instead, I’ve come up with this recipe, cooked in the slow cooker for tenderness then blow torched for the char.

238 cal per portion and 38g protein makes this a must cook for anyone who tracks macros!

As I’ve mentioned before my father is from India, so I have a complete food crush on Indian cuisine.

Sadly I live in a house with an iddy biddy kitchen. Which may already be loaded to the brim with cooking bits and pieces.

(It totally is! And, I am not sorry!)

At any rate, two things I have not convinced my husband to let me have (yet)

A proper pizza oven and a tandoor (one day I will win)

Oh, ok, three things… a dehydrator. Buuuut Christmas is coming soon. And I live in hope that Santa will Break in through the window (we have no chimney), and leaves me a shiny new toy…

anyway, let’s back back to food!

The Recipe

The tandoori marinade consists of yoghurt, lemon juice and 9 spices. (11 if you want bright red-Harissa and Tumeric) As these aren’t essential I will just add them as a note on the bottom of the recipe.

In an ideal world I would say leave this marinating overnight, and use chicken thighs! I have used chicken breast because it was on discount and am thrifty/ tight.

But because that isn’t always an option, I will give a guide of at least 3hrs.

The longer it sits the better the flavour.

For Tandoori Chicken Thighs

When using thighs, keep the bone in for extra flavour. I promise it will slide out clean and easily, but thighs really do hold their moisture over a stint in the slow cooker!

Don’t forget to score them with a knife for quicker cooking time and deeper marinadiness, ( Yes, I’ve just made up a word!)

If you use thighs with the skin on, why not try making some Chicken skin crisps. It adds texture and flavour and looks a bit fancy.

Well, I guess it works out best that David hasn’t caved and let me spend a fair few pounds on a clay oven. For example, it means I’ve had a chance to experiment.

This chicken is marinated, popped in the slow cooker and charred with a blow torch. A grill will probably work just as well, but I’ve got a new gadget, thus I NEED to use it!

(Yes, I know, I have issues…)

I’ve used Harissa and turmeric to achieve the colouring, However, in my honest opinion, you can easily skip that, and opt for a few drops of red food colouring instead. Or just leave it natural! Above all, it is your choice.

Most important is this is flexible, therefore you can make it what you want.

Serve it alongside my spinach, mushroom and garlic rice, or with my mini naan breads!

I am in the middle of writing a post with a guide to making your own spice mixes such as garam masala, so if that’s something you want to learn more about, keep an eye out for it.

I hope you enjoy the tandoori chicken recipe, don’t forget to tag me in your pictures so I can see how yours turned out!

Happy cooking!

Love

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Tandoori chicken

As traditional as I could get without a clay oven! Tender chicken marinaded in yogurt, lemon and spices. Just as perfect on a winters day as a bbq!

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time3 hrs

Marinade3 hrs

Total Time6 hrs 10 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Indian

Keyword: cayenne, Chicken, coriander, cumin, Garam masala, garlic, Ginger, lemon, paprika, spices, Tandoori, turmeric, yoghurt

Servings: 6 Servings

Author: just nicole

Equipment

• Slow Cooker
• Marinade tub
• Grill or blow torch

Ingredients

• 1 kg Chicken breast or thigh score thighs or dice breast

Marinade

• 1 cup Plain Yoghurt
• half tbsp Coriander I've used both ground and dried before and both work well
• Half lemon Juiced 2-3 tbls if using bottled
• Half tbsp Cumin
• Half tbsp Cayenne Pepper Adjust to your preference, this is'nt overly spicy but has got a warmth behind it
• Half Tbsp Turmeric
• I.5 Tbsp Paprika Looking for sweet not spicy here
• half tbsp Smoked Paprika
• 1 tbsp Tandoori masala
• 4 Cloves Garlic Crushed
• 2 tbsp Ginger fresh or powder
• half tsp salt
• splash part boiled water if you need marinade slightly thinner

Sauce

• Just add water to adjust thickness/flavour intensity

Finishing Touches

• 1 medium White onion Thinly sliced

Instructions

• pour yoghurt and all spices into plastic tub/ bowl
• Stir through until evenly mixed
• place in Marinade and leave for a few hours at least (ideally overnight)

Thighs only

• Heat a pan with a spritz of oil
• Place chicken thighs skin down and allow to sear about 4-5 minutes
• flip over and repeat

Slow cooker time

• pop all chicken into slow cooker thighs will take longer then breast, you will know it is done when you can cut is with a fork

Finishing the dish

• Blow torch for a few minutes to char. Or pop under the grill until the char is to your liking

Notes

To naturally dye your chicken pink. I used harissa and an extra bit of turmeric, you are only using the turmeric for its dying ability, amounts will vary my harissa is quite a bright red so I only needed half a tablespoon and a dot of turmeric.

This recipe works wonderfully on BBQs cooking time will be around 40 mins on a hot grill