Tandoori-Spiced Chicken Thighs with Cumin Yogurt Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-17 · Updated 2026-06-17

Juicy chicken thighs marinated in traditional tandoori spices, grilled to smoky perfection and served with a cooling cumin-infused yogurt sauce. This Indian-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs bone-in chicken thighs, plain yogurt, ground cumin for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 6 pieces bone-in chicken thighs
• 1 cup plain yogurt
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 2 tsp ground coriander
• 1 tsp garam masala
• 1 tbsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 4 cloves minced garlic
• 2 tbsp minced ginger
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt (for sauce)
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin (for sauce)
• 1 tbsp finely chopped mint leaves
• 1/4 tsp salt (for sauce)

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Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large bowl, combine 1 cup plain yogurt, 2 tsp ground cumin, 2 tsp ground coriander, 1 tsp garam masala, 1 tbsp paprika, 1/2 tsp turmeric powder, 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 4 cloves minced garlic, 2 tbsp minced ginger, 1 1/2 tsp salt, and 2 tbsp olive oil. Whisk until smooth.
2. Step 2: Add 6 bone-in chicken thighs to the marinade, coating each piece thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight for deep flavor.
3. Step 3: Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat (about 400°F). Grill the chicken thighs for 6-7 minutes per side until charred at edges and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
4. Step 4: While the chicken cooks, stir together 1/2 cup plain yogurt, 1/2 tsp ground cumin, 1 tbsp finely chopped mint leaves, and 1/4 tsp salt in a small bowl until well combined.
5. Step 5: Remove chicken from grill and let rest for 5 minutes. Serve hot with the cumin yogurt sauce drizzled on top and garnish with 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro.