Dairy Free Tandoori Chicken

Total time4 hr 50 min

Prep time20 min

Cook time30 min

Bone-in chicken thighs and drumsticks get slashed to the bone so a bold, spiced marinade can really soak in, then roast at high heat until the skin turns deeply charred and blistered. Garlic, fresh ginger, and a warm blend of garam masala, cumin, smoked paprika, coriander, and turmeric build serious depth, while a hit of cayenne brings the heat and lemon juice keeps everything bright. A final blast under the broiler gives you those signature dark, smoky edges without ever touching a grill. Serve it hot off the sheet pan with lemon wedges, chopped cilantro, and thinly sliced red onion for a fresh, crunchy contrast. It's an easy, high-reward dinner that fits neatly into a dairy free spread, whether you're feeding a crowd or just meal-prepping for the week.

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Ingredients

4 servings

For the chicken

3 lbs bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces (drumsticks and thighs)

For the marinade

1 cup whole-milk plain yogurt
Planet Oat Oatmilk Original - 52 fl oz Chobani Original Oatmilk - 52 fl oz Chobani Oatmilk Extra Creamy 52 fl oz Planet Oat Original Extra Creamy Oatmilk 52 fl oz Califia Farms Dairy Free Extra Creamy OatMilk 48 FL OZ
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Chef's tip
Use plain, unsweetened oat milk, measured 1:1. It works well in drinks, batters, sauces, and soups; avoid it where milk sets the texture, like custards, puddings, and frozen desserts.
Chef's tip
Choose a plain, unsweetened dairy-free yogurt unless the recipe calls for a flavored one.
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
2 tbsp neutral oil (such as canola oil or avocado oil)
2 tsp garam masala
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp ground turmeric
½ tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp kosher salt

For serving

lemon wedges, for serving (optional)
fresh cilantro, roughly chopped, for serving (optional)
sliced red onion, for serving (optional)

Instructions

1
Using a sharp knife, cut 2–3 deep slashes through the thickest part of each chicken piece, cutting down to the bone. This allows the marinade to penetrate and helps the chicken cook evenly.
2
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, ginger, neutral oil, garam masala, cumin, smoked paprika, coriander, turmeric, cayenne, and kosher salt until fully combined.

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