Tandoori Chicken Skewers with Creamy Cilantro Yogurt Sauce

TwoUnder2Mom
Jan 21
2 min read

Updated: Jan 28

I cook a lot of Indian-inspired food in our house - it’s bold, comforting, and somehow still works on nights when everything feels chaotic. These tandoori chicken skewers are one of my favorite ways to bring big flavor to the table without turning dinner into a whole production.

They’re marinated in a simple yogurt and spice mixture that does most of the work for you, then grilled quickly while you juggle everything else life throws your way. The cilantro yogurt sauce is cool, creamy, and optional… but highly recommended. This is one of those meals that feels special but is actually very doable - even on a busy night.

Ingredients

Tandoori Chicken

• 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1½-inch pieces

• ⅓ cup plain Greek yogurt (low-fat or full-fat both work)

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

• 1 teaspoon garlic, grated or minced

• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, peeled and grated

• 2 teaspoons garam masala

• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika

• 1 teaspoon ground cumin

• 1 teaspoon ground coriander

• ½ teaspoon turmeric

• ¼ teaspoon cayenne (optional, depending on heat tolerance)

• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Cilantro Yogurt Sauce

• 1 cup plain Greek yogurt

• ½ cup fresh cilantro leaves

• 2 tablespoons lemon juice

• 1 teaspoon honey

• ½ teaspoon ground cumin

• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. In a bowl, whisk together the yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, ginger, all the spices, salt, and pepper until smooth.

2. Place the chicken pieces into a large zip-top bag or bowl and pour the marinade over the chicken. Toss or massage until everything is well coated.

3. Refrigerate and let marinate for at least 1 hour, or up to 4 hours if you have the time.

4. Preheat your grill to medium-high heat (about 400–425°F). Thread the chicken onto metal skewers or soaked wooden skewers.

5. Lightly oil the grill grates, then place the skewers on the grill. Cook for 4–5 minutes per side, turning once, until the chicken is cooked through and lightly charred.

6. While the chicken cooks, add all the cilantro yogurt sauce ingredients to a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

7. Serve the chicken skewers with the sauce alongside rice, naan, or whatever you have on hand.