Air Fryer Tandoori Chicken Bites

Air Fryer Tandoori Chicken Bites are juicy and tender and loaded with authentic Indian spices. This quick and easy air fryer recipe is perfect to make on busy weeknights or any day of the week that you don’t feel like spending a lot of time in the kitchen but crave a flavorful meal.

Serve tandoori chicken nuggets as an appetizer with homemade yogurt sauce or turn it into a complete meal with rice, vegetables, and salad.

Why You'll Love Air Fryer Tandoori Chicken

• So easy to make in the air fryer. If you use your air fryer often, you already know that it can make your favorite recipes cook up faster and even tastier. That’s just the nature of this amazing appliance. And this tandoori chicken recipe is no different. You’ll need to set aside 5 minutes to prep the marinade, and hour to marinate, and just 15 minutes to cook. That’s it!
• The homemade tandoori marinade. To make Indian tandoori chicken, you need the perfect spice blend in the marinade. To achieve the authentic Indian flavor that you’re looking for, you’ll need paprika, curry powder (or garam masala), cumin, garlic, ginger, salt, and pepper. Then, add in yogurt to tenderize the meat while it marinates. It’s the secret of how these tandoori chicken nuggets are so juicy and tender.
• The homemade yogurt sauce. Serving these tandoori chicken nuggets with the homemade yogurt is totally optional but highly recommended. The yogurt sauce draws inspiration from Tzatziki Sauce with dill, lemon juice, and garlic and provides a refreshing taste that pairs so well with the tandoori spices.

Ingredient Notes

To make these easy Air Fryer Tandoori Chicken Bites, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

• chicken - we used boneless skinless chicken breasts, but you can also use boneless chicken thighs if you prefer.
• tandoori seasoning - made simple with paprika, curry powder (or garam masala), ground cumin, garlic powder, ginger powder, salt, and pepper. You can also make it spicy with a pinch of cayenne powder or red pepper powder.
• plain yogurt - we use our easy Homemade Yogurt.
• tomato paste - adds flavor and color.
• vegetable oil
• cooking oil spray
• yogurt sauce - this sauce is perfect for dipping or drizzling. You’ll need plain yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, dill, salt, and pepper. Alternatively, serve these chicken pieces with Tzatziki Sauce.

You will also need measuring cups and spoons, mixing bowl or ziploc bag, and an air fryer.

How to Make the Best Air Fryer Tandoori Chicken Bites

1. Prepare chicken. Cut the chicken breasts into 1-inch thick pieces and set aside in a large mixing bowl or Ziploc bag.
2. Make marinade. Add paprika, curry powder, cumin, garlic powder, ginger powder, salt, and pepper. Rub the seasoning all over the chicken pieces to coat it evenly. Stir in yogurt, tomato paste, and oil. Toss well until evenly coated.
3. Marinate the chicken. Cover the bowl with plastic cling wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (or overnight for the best results).
4. Air fry. Transfer the cubed chicken to the air fryer basket in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Spray with some cooking oil spray. Air fry at 350F for 13-15 minutes until golden brown and fully cooked through. The internal temperature for the chicken should reach 165F as read on a meat thermometer.

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How to Serve

Serve these tandoori chicken bites as an appetizer with a side of homemade yogurt dipping sauce.

Make the yogurt sauce by whisking together yogurt, oil, lemon juice, garlic, dill, salt, and pepper in a small mixing bowl until smooth. Refrigerate the sauce until ready to use.

You can also serve air fryer tandoori chicken bites as a complete meal by pairing them with some side dishes such as:

• Steamed Rice or Rice Pilaf with Carrots.
• Garlic Naan Bread or Pita Bread.
• Cucumber, tomato, and onion salad such as a Persian Shirazi Salad or Greek Salad.
• Roasted vegetables such as Honey Roasted Carrots, Air Fryer Vegetables, or Roasted Cauliflower.
• Sautéed vegetables such as Sautéed Garlic Green Beas, Sautéed Garlic Mushrooms, or Lemon Parmesan Asparagus.

Make Tandoori Rice Bowls by serving this air fryer chicken with steamed rice, salad, and a dollop or drizzle of the yogurt sauce.

More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes

• 25 Easy Air Fryer Recipes
• Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
• Air Fryer Chicken Breast
• Breaded Fried Chicken Wings (Air Fryer)
• Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

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