Whole Roasted Chicken Tikka Recipe (2024)

This whole roasted chicken tikka recipe features an entire spatchco*ck chicken infused with savory flavor from a creamy yogurt marinade. Seared, baked, and broiled, it’s crisp on the outside yet tender and juicy in the center.

Whole Roasted Chicken Tikka Recipe (1)

Table of Contents

  • What Is Chicken Tikka?
  • Ingredients You’ll Need
  • Skip the Takeout with the Best Chicken Tikka Recipe You’ll Ever Taste
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Common Questions About This Roasted Chicken Tikka Recipe
  • More Fantastic Chicken Recipes
  • Whole Roasted Chicken Tikka Recipe

What Is Chicken Tikka?

Chicken tikka is a type of chicken dish that is popular in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and the United Kingdom. Typically, chicken tikka is made with boneless pieces of chicken marinaded in a spiced yogurt mixture.

Then, they are threaded onto skewers and cooked over charcoal. This recipe features the same yogurt marinade but uses a whole chicken. We bake it in the oven to keep things simple while retaining the juicy consistency of the meat and bold flavors!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Below is an overview of the ingredients and instructions for this recipe. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card below for the complete details!

  • Chicken – Use a whole spatchco*ck chicken.
  • Yogurt – Plain, full-fat yogurt forms the base of the marinade, tenderizing the chicken and infusing it with a tangy flavor.
  • Olive Oil – Similar to the yogurt, this helps tenderize the chicken and creates a smooth marinade.
  • Seasonings – Garam masala, smoked paprika, paprika, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper create the warm, bold flavor we look for in chicken tikka recipes.
  • Aromatics – Fresh garlic cloves and grated ginger add a tangy, subtly sweet flavor.
  • Tomato Paste – Adds extra depth to the marinade.
  • Lemon Juice – Freshly squeezed is best! The acidity cuts through some of the heaviness of the fats and balances the warm flavors.
Whole Roasted Chicken Tikka Recipe (2)
Whole Roasted Chicken Tikka Recipe (3)

Skip the Takeout with the Best Chicken Tikka Recipe You’ll Ever Taste

  1. Prepare the marinade. Combine all the ingredients (except the chicken) in a large bowl, whisking until smooth.
  2. Spatchco*ck the chicken. Remove the backbone from the chicken, and flatten it down.
  3. Season the chicken. Use a sharp knife to make deep slits on both sides of the chicken. Place the chicken in a large dish or sealable bag, and pour the marinade on top.
  4. Marinate the chicken. Massage the chicken, making sure the marinade gets into the slits. Cover the chicken, and transfer it to the fridge.
  5. Warm. Allow the chicken to sit out at room temperature.
  6. Cook. Heat a grill pan or skillet over high heat. Then, add the chicken skin-side down, and cook until charred. Flip the chicken over, and sear the other side.
  7. Bake. Transfer the chicken to a baking dish, and cover it tightly with aluminum foil. Transfer the chicken to a preheated oven, and bake until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
  8. Broil. Remove the foil, and broil the chicken until the skin is brown and crisp. Be careful not to burn!
  9. Serve. Allow the chicken to rest for a few minutes. Then, slice, and serve.

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Whole Roasted Chicken Tikka Recipe (4)

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03/12/2024 05:59 am GMT

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Whole Roasted Chicken Tikka Recipe (8)

Serving Suggestions

Chicken tikka is commonly served with a side of white rice. However, it’s also fantastic with options like:

  • Turmeric Rice
  • Egyptian Baked Rice
  • Cucumber and Tomato Salad
  • Spiraled Yogurt Cucumber Salad
  • Pita Bread

And don’t forget to add a sauce like tzatziki or toum for even more flavor!

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Common Questions About This Roasted Chicken Tikka Recipe

What’s the difference between chicken tikka and chicken tikka masala?

Chicken tikka is typically pieces of meat that are marinated in a yogurt mixture and grilled or roasted. Tikka masala is made by cooking chunks of marinated meat in a spicy, tomato-based sauce.

What does chicken tikka taste like?

Chicken tikka is warm, savory, slightly spicy, and creamy. It’s truly a unique combination of pungent, earthy, and sweet flavors!

What is chicken tikka vs tandoori?

The primary difference is the cut of meat used. For instance, skinless, boneless pieces of chicken breast typically form kebabs. Meanwhile half, whole chicken, legs, breasts, and wings can be used for tandoori.

Whole Roasted Chicken Tikka Recipe (10)

More Fantastic Chicken Recipes

  • How to Cook a Whole Chicken
  • The Best Baked Tandoori Chicken
  • Middle Eastern Chicken and Potatoes
  • One Pot Chicken and Orzo

Whole Roasted Chicken Tikka Recipe (11)

Whole Roasted Chicken Tikka

5 from 5 votes

Author: Food Dolls

Servings: 6 servings

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 1 hour hr

Marinade Time: 12 hours hrs

Total: 13 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Save Pin Print

Make this whole roasted chicken tikka recipe in the oven for a juicy, flavorful chicken dish perfect for meal prep or feeding a crowd!

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup plain yogurt
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 2 Tablespoons garam masala
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 3 teaspoons salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • 2 teaspoons grated ginger
  • 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 whole chicken spatchco*cked (backbone removed and flattened)

Instructions

Prepare Marinade:

  • In a large bowl, combine yogurt, olive oil, garam masala, smoked paprika, paprika, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, black pepper, minced garlic, grated ginger, tomato paste, and lemon juice. Mix until well combined.

    3/4 cup plain yogurt, 1/2 cup olive oil, 2 Tablespoons garam masala, 2 teaspoons smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, 3 teaspoons salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 4 garlic cloves, 2 teaspoons grated ginger, 2 Tablespoons tomato paste, 2 Tablespoons lemon juice

    Whole Roasted Chicken Tikka Recipe (12)

Marinate Chicken:

  • Spatchco*ck the whole chicken by removing the backbone and flattening it.

    1 whole chicken

  • Using a sharp knife, make deep slits on both sides of the chicken.

    Whole Roasted Chicken Tikka Recipe (13)

  • Place the spatchco*cked chicken in a large dish or resealable plastic bag.

  • Pour the marinade over the chicken, ensuring it’s well coated. Massage the marinade into the chicken, making sure it penetrates into the slits.

    Whole Roasted Chicken Tikka Recipe (14)

  • Cover the dish or seal the bag, and marinate the chicken in the refrigerator overnight, allowing the flavors to meld.

  • Season with a 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper to taste.

Cooking:

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius).

  • Remove the marinated chicken from the refrigerator, and let it come to room temperature for about 30 minutes.

  • Heat a grill pan or skillet over high heat. Once hot, place the chicken skin-side down and cook for a few minutes until nicely charred.

  • Flip the chicken over and sear the other side for a few minutes.

  • Transfer the chicken to a baking dish or oven-safe skillet. Cover the dish tightly with foil.

  • Place the covered chicken in the preheated oven and bake for 50-60 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit (75 degrees Celsius) and the juices run clear.

  • Remove the foil, and switch the oven to broil. Broil the chicken for a few minutes until the skin is crisp and browned, watching carefully to prevent burning.

Serve:

  • Once done, remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes before carving.

    Whole Roasted Chicken Tikka Recipe (15)

  • Serve the spatchco*cked tikka chicken with sides of choice, and enjoy!

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Like this recipe?Please leave a comment!

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Welcome to Food Dolls! We’re so glad you found us. We are Alia and Radwa, sisters who want to share simple and easy recipes with you. We hope you find recipes here that you enjoy making as much as we do!Learn moreabout us!

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Whole Roasted Chicken Tikka Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is tandoori chicken and roasted chicken same? ›

Tandoori chicken is a dish of roasted chicken which has been marinated in yoghurt and various spices such as garam masala, cumin and cayenne pepper and roasted in a tandoor oven. So tandoori chicken is a type of roasted chicken but not all roasted chicken is tandoori chicken.

Why is my chicken tikka dry? ›

Overcooking: Chicken dries out when it's cooked for too long. Poultry, unlike red meats, does not have as much fat marbling to keep it moist, so it's easy to overcook and end up with dry meat.

Which is hotter tikka masala or Butter Chicken? ›

Tikka Masala is generally spicier than Butter Chicken. The spiciness of Tikka Masala comes from the use of chili powder, cumin, and other spices. On the other hand, Butter Chicken has a milder taste, with just a hint of spiciness from chili powder.

What is different about chicken tikka? ›

"Tikka" describes grilled or roasted meat marinated in yogurt or flavored water and then cooked on skewers. However, Tandoori Tikka Masala restaurant style can be served with any form of Chicken, while Butter Chicken is often made from breast meat in which Chicken is shredded and cut into nugget size pieces.

Which is better tandoori chicken or chicken tikka? ›

Nutritional Value

The high fiber, protein, fat, and carbohydrate content in chicken tikka kebabs makes them incredibly healthy. It contains 4.2g of protein, 0.7g of fiber, and 5g of net carbohydrates. The delicious appetizer, however, has fewer nutritional value and health advantages than chicken tandoori.

Is tandoori chicken healthier than chicken tikka? ›

Chicken tikka is packed with protein, fibre, fat, and carbohydrates. It contains 0.7 grams of fibre, 4.2 grams of protein, and 5 grams of net carbs. On the other hand, Chicken tandoori is enriched with protein, fibre, and carbohydrates. It has 8.7 grams of net carbs, 1.8 grams of fibre, and 17.5 grams of protein.

What are the disadvantages of chicken tikka? ›

High Fat and Cholesterol Content

Saturated fat can increase your risk for heart disease and raise your cholesterol levels, and each serving of chicken tikka masala contains 28 grams of saturated fat, or 138 percent of the daily value.

What is the difference between chicken tikka and chicken tikka masala? ›

Tikka refers to grilled or roasted pieces of meat that are either marinated in yogurt or spiced water before being cooked on skewers. Masala refers to a sauce made with cream, yogurt, or tomatoes; or a mixture of spices used to flavor food.

What is the red stuff on chicken tikka? ›

It's red food dye. The concentrated liquid one works best for me, but you can also use powdered red cabbage or beetroot for a less intense colour. Some tandoori spice mixes come with the coloring in it. I like to add a bit of turmeric to give it a bit more of an orangey-red color.

Is Vindaloo better than tikka masala? ›

Vindaloo is known for its spicy and tangy profile, often made with vinegar and hot spices. Tikka Masala, on the other hand, has a creamy tomato-based sauce with milder spices, resulting in a rich and mildly spiced flavor. Your preference depends on your taste for spice and degree of creaminess.

Is tikka masala British or Indian? ›

Origins. The origin of the dish is not certain, but many sources attribute it to the South Asian community in Great Britain; some sources also cite Glasgow as the city of origin. Chicken tikka masala may derive from butter chicken, a popular dish in the northern Indian subcontinent.

How healthy is Indian food? ›

Supports digestion: Indian food often includes ingredients like ginger, fennel, and cumin, which have been shown to help support healthy digestion. Promotes heart health: Some Indian dishes, such as those made with lentils and vegetables, are low in saturated fat and high in fiber, which can help promote heart health.

Is chicken tikka good or bad for you? ›

Chicken Tikka Masala has many health benefits. The primary source of protein in Chicken Tikka Masala is chicken. It also helps control blood pressure and weight loss and reduces harmful cholesterol levels.

Why is chicken tikka so good? ›

Everyone loves this dish worldwide. It is a delicious combination of marinated chicken with a creamy tomato-based sauce. So, it's not hard to understand why it's become so popular Indian dish. The aromatic herbs and unique mix of flavors make this dish genuinely one-of-a-kind.

Is chicken tikka healthy or not? ›

An average serving of Chicken Tikka (around 250 grams) contains 312 calories. Although this number might look big, if prepared right, Chicken Tikka is actually healthy, since it is marinated with curd and spices and baked using skewers, it has the least oil usage, and roasted chicken is always beneficial.

What is the difference between tandoori chicken and regular chicken? ›

Preparation. Tandoori chicken being prepared in a tandoor oven. Raw chicken parts are skinned then marinated in a mixture of dahi (yogurt) and tandoori masala, a spice blend. They are seasoned and colored with cayenne pepper, red chili powder, or Kashmiri red chili powder as well as turmeric or food coloring.

What is the difference between chicken and tandoori chicken? ›

According to Urban Tandoor, chicken tikka requires pieces of boneless chicken breast, salt, lemon juice, plain yogurt, and garlic cloves, while chicken tandoori requires either a half or whole chicken in addition to Greek yogurt, red chili powder, garam masala (itself a blend of spices), pepper, coriander, and a ginger ...

What is the difference between tandoori and chicken? ›

Grilled chicken is grilled on a rack of burning coals or on an electric griller while Tandoori is cooked in an authentic Indian oven called Tandoor. The marination of Grilled chicken is simple, with few ingredients, Tandoori marination has ingredients like yogurt, tomato onion paste, and many Indian spices.

What is roasted chicken called? ›

Rotisserie chicken is a chicken dish that is cooked on a rotisserie by using direct heat in which the chicken is placed next to the heat source.

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