The Best Chicken Tikka
Chicken tikka is a delicious and flavorful appetizer made with tender, juicy chunks of chicken, vibrant spices, and a smoky aroma. This murg tikka recipe is easy to prepare and can be made in an air fryer. With its vibrant colors and irresistible taste, chicken tikka is the perfect appetizer to serve at parties or any other occasion.
Servings: 6
Calories: 294kcal
Ingredients
- 2 lb chicken thigh cut into 1½-2 inch pieces
- 1 large onion diced
- 1 cup bell peppers diced
For the marinade:
- ¾ cup plain yogurt
- 2 tablespoon chickpea flour (see notes)
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 tablespoon ginger garlic paste
- 1 teaspoon Kashmiri chili powder
- 2 teaspoon ground coriander
- 2 teaspoon garam masala (use store-bought or homemade garam masala)
- 1 tablespoon kasoori methi optional
- 1 teaspoon salt adjust as per taste
Instructions
Marinate the chicken:
- Cut the chicken into 1½-2 inch pieces and place them in a bowl.
- Dry roast the chickpea flour on low heat for 3-4 minutes. Let it cool down.
- Transfer the roasted chickpea flour to another bowl and add yogurt, olive oil, ginger garlic paste, chili powder, ground coriander, garam masala, kasoori methi, and salt. Mix well to make the marinade.
- Add the boneless chicken pieces and mix well making sure they are well coated.
- Cover and let it marinate for 30 minutes at room temperature. You can also marinate it in the refrigerator overnight.
- Once the chicken is marinated, add onion and bell peppers to it. Mix well making sure all the veggies are well coated.
Thread into skewers:
- Take wooden skewers and alternatingly thread bell pepper, chicken, and onion pieces.
- Repeat until you reach the end of the skewer. Always start and end with a vegetable and place the meat in the center.
Air fryer instructions:
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 F (205 C) for 2 minutes. Place the skewers in the air fryer basket.
- Air fry for 10-15 minutes until the tikka is golden brown. Keep an eye after 10 minutes.
- Serve with mint chutney or dip of your choice.
Oven instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 400 F (205 C). Place the prepared skewers on a baking tray, making sure the chicken is suspended and does not come in contact with the cooking juices.
- Cook for 18-20 minutes. Transfer it to a wire rack and let it cool slightly before serving.
- Serve with mint chutney or dip of your choice.
Notes
Pat dry the chicken using a paper towel before marinating them. This will help remove any excess water content on the chicken.
Roasted besan (chickpea flour) is an important ingredient in making tikkas and cannot be skipped. It adds thickness to the marinade and helps coat the marinade to the meat. It also imparts a nice nutty flavor to the dish.
Chicken thigh works best to make tikka. It needs less marination time, and the meat will be juicy without drying out. However, if you are planning to use chicken breast, increase the marination time to at least 2 hours. Marinating for longer will help the chicken breast stay tender.
See the tips section above for more useful tips.
Nutrition
Calories: 294kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 484mg | Potassium: 367mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1052IU | Vitamin C: 36mg | Calcium: 63mg | Iron: 1mg