Grilled Chicken Tikka Skewers

Last Updated on April 26, 2024 by Carne Diem

Protein:

Origin: Indian, British

Method: Grill or Smoker

Chicken tikka is a beloved Indian dish featuring succulent, marinated chicken pieces cooked in a tandoor oven. The result? Juicy chicken bursting with flavor, often served with sides like rice, naan, or raita. But what if you don't have a tandoor oven in your backyard (don't worry, most of us don't!)? Fear not, home cooks! This recipe lets you achieve that same restaurant-quality chicken tikka using your trusty grill.

Chicken tikka is widely popular throughout the Indian subcontinent and are one of our family's favorite foods to cook up on the grill. The chicken receives just the right amount of sour tang from a brief marinade in lemon juice before being marinated in a spiced and seasoned Greek yogurt overnight. These flavorful marinated and grilled Indian chicken kebabs make for the perfect part of your Indian inspired meal. Chicken Tikka Skewers also serve as the basis for some of the best chicken tikka masala on the planet.

Can't get enough of meat on sticks? Be sure to try some of these skewered meat recipes:

• South African Sosaties: Lamb and Apricot Kebabs
• Grilled Souvlaki (Greek Chicken Skewers)
• Grilled Chicken Spiedini
• Korean Corn Dogs: Gamja Dog
• Grilled Shish Taouk: Lebanese Chicken Kebab
• Moroccan Grilled Kefta Kebabs
• Peruvian Anticuchos de Pollo: Peruvian Chicken Skewers
• Pina Colada Shrimp Skewers

Making The Grilled Chicken Tikka Skewers

To make the homemade grilled chicken tikka you will need to marinate the chicken then grill the tandoori chicken.

Selecting the best chicken for tandoori chicken skewers

We typically use chicken breast for this tandoori chicken tikka.  Boneless chicken thighs also work wonderfully.  It should be noted that white meat, like breast meat, can be more prone to drying out, so you really need to monitor the internal temperature of the chicken while it is cooking.  Dark meat chicken is much more forgiving.

Prepare the ingredients

To marinate the chicken, you will first soak the chicken in an acidic salt and lemon juice mixture before marinating the chicken overnight in the flavorful yogurt-based marinade.

The key to amazing chicken tikka recipe lies in the chicken marinade. Here, we'll use a classic yogurt-based marinade that infuses the chicken with fragrant Indian spices. You'll need:

• Yogurt: Thick, Greek yogurt is ideal for this recipe. It tenderizes the chicken and adds a touch of tang.  If desired any plain yogurt will work in the recipe.
• Ginger-Garlic Paste: Freshly grated is best, but store-bought works too. This aromatic duo forms the base of many Indian dishes.
• Lemon Juice: Adds acidity to balance the richness of the yogurt and helps tenderize the chicken.
• Garam Masala: This warm spice blend is a staple in Indian cuisine and adds depth and complexity to the flavor profile.
• Red Chili Powder: Adjust the amount to your spice preference. For a milder tikka, use Kashmiri chili powder or paprika.  The chili powder also adds some of the classic red color to the tandoori style chicken skewers.
• Cumin Powder & Coriander Powder: These common Indian spices add warmth and a touch of earthiness.
• Turmeric Powder: Not just for color, turmeric adds a subtle peppery flavor and boasts anti-inflammatory properties.

Prep the Chicken

Prepare your chicken breast by cutting them into roughly 1-inch cubes. Place the cubed chicken in a bowl.

To marinate the chicken you will first soak the chicken in an acidic salt and lemon juice mixture before marinating the chicken overnight in the flavorful yogurt based marinade.

Next, you will coat the chicken in the lemon juice and salt. You can use either fresh squeezed lemon juice or lemon juice from concentrate for this step.

Add the lemon juice and salt to the bowl with the chicken and mix to combine well. This step adds the proper "tang" to the chicken. If left for a prolonged amount of time the acidity from the lemon juice will begin to chemically cook the outside of the chicken. This is the same process by which ceviche, etc. is cooked. It only needs to sit in the mixture for about 10 minutes, the perfect amount of time to prepare the rest of the marinade.

Prepare the marinade by combining the yogurt with the ginger and garlic, cilantro, and the spices in a large bowl. Fresh minced ginger and garlic works great as well, but we do like the small amount of oil added to the marinade by the ginger and garlic squeeze. It will taste great either way.

Combine all ingredients and mix well. Add the boneless chicken pieces and ensure they're well coated in the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or ideally, overnight for maximum flavor. The yogurt is alkaline and will help to slow/stop the enzymatic reaction of the lemon juice on the chicken. Remember all of the acid-base stuff from high school? This is it. Thanks Mr. Whipple!

The chicken can sit in the tandoori marinade as long as 48 hours, but really is best if it can go at least 8 hours in the marinade.

Prepare the Chicken Tikka Skewers

After the chicken has completed its marinade, it is time to prepare the chicken tikka skewers and get it on the grill. Carefully remove the chunks of chicken from the marinade and place onto skewers. Metal skewers or wooden skewers can be used. If you are using wooden skewers, soak them for a few minutes to try to prevent them from burning on the grill.

Grilling the Chicken Tikka Skewers

Why Grill Your Chicken Tikka?

Grilling your chicken tikka adds a smoky depth of flavor that rivals a tandoor. Plus, it's a healthier alternative to frying, keeping the calorie count in check (perfect for those following a daily value diet!).

Prepare your grill or smoker and bring to a temperature of 450 degrees. You can these over direct or indirect heat. If you are uncertain which to use, chicken breast is prone to drying out, so we have found a higher temp, indirect cook works best for getting the chicken cooked slowly and evenly, while still giving a little char to the outside of the chicken.  We love the flavor that a charcoal grill gives the Indian chicken skewers, but you can cook the chicken tikka on a pellet grill, and gas grill if desired.

Cook the chicken tikka skewers, flipping every 5 minutes. Rotate the skewers if any seem to be cooking more slowly or quickly. In general, the chicken will be cooked in about 15-20 minutes but check with an Instant Read Thermometer in the thickest pieces of chicken. FDA safe temp for chicken is 165 degrees, but with carryover temp the chicken can be pulled off at 160 degrees to retain maximum juiciness.

Cover the chicken with foil and let rest for about 5 minutes before serving.

Serving the Indian Tikka Chicken kebabs

Bonus Tip:  For an added restaurant touch, serve your chicken tikka with a dollop of mint chutney and a squeeze of fresh lemon wedges.

Serve your Grilled Chicken Tikka Skewers as an appetizer with some of your favorite Indian dishes like Northern Indian Butter Chicken, samosas, naan bread and lentils. These chicken tikka skewers also make the perfect protein for homemade Chicken Tikka Masala.

Recipe Variations:

• Spicy Kick: Feeling adventurous? Add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the marinade for an extra kick.
• Not a Fan of Yogurt? Substitute buttermilk for a tangy alternative.
• Tandoori Twist: If you have a baking tray, you can also "grill" your chicken tikka indoors. Preheat the oven to its highest setting (broil) and place the chicken skewers on a baking tray lined with foil. Broil for 5-7 minutes per side, keeping a close eye to avoid burning.

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