Air Fried Tandoori Drumsticks | Keto, Low-Carb, Gluten-Free

Delicious air fried tandoori drumsticks in as little as one hour! This recipe is easy and flavorful; you’ll want to return to it time and time again.

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Hungry for more? Here are some recipes to try:

• Vegan Chickpea Curry
• Blackened Catfish
• Broiled Orange Sesame Glazed Salmon
• Pollo Guisado
• Shakshuka with Turkey Sausage

Peace, family!

File this under recipes you’ll want to make at least once a week. It’s that good. These air fried tandoori chicken drumsticks are ah-mazing. Tender, crispy, smoky, flavorful, and best of all – easy! After marinating, they cook up right in the air fryer. Plus, there’s an easy trick to help achieve the smokiness that would come from a tandoor oven. Let’s get into some details.

What is Tandoori Chicken?

Tandoori chicken is a dish in Indian cuisine that is comprised of chicken that has marinated in spices and yogurt. It is then roasted in a type of clay oven called a tandoor, which gives it a signature smoky flavor. Some recipes call for food coloring which gives the chicken it’s deep red-ish hue.

What Ingredients Do I Need?

To make this recipe, you’ll need the following:

• Greek Yogurt – plain, unflavored, full fat
• Ginger Paste
• Garlic Paste
• Red Chili Powder
• Smoked Paprika
• Black Pepper
• Coriander
• Kosher Salt
• Garam Masala
• Turmeric
• Lemon Juice
• Chicken Drumsticks
• Cooking Oil Spray

Can I Use Other Cuts of Chicken?

You can use any cut of bone-in chicken that you prefer. I personally love tandoori style chicken wings.

Is Tandoori Chicken Keto-Friendly?

My recipe for air fried tandoori chicken drumsticks contains just 2 grams of net carbs per serving, making it great for those adhering to a low-carb or ketogenic lifestyle. This recipe is also gluten-free.

What If I Don’t Want to Use an Air Fryer?

I assume that if you clicked on this recipe, you want to make the dish in your air fryer, but rest assured that you can also make tandoori style chicken on your barbecue grill or even in the oven. This specific recipe was tested using an air fryer, but you can still use the marinade recipe as written.

Meat Thermometer

As with all of my meat recipes, I recommend the use of an instant read meat thermometer. This will help you ensure that your chicken is not under or overcooked.

How to Make Air Fried Tandoori Drumsticks

Begin by creating the marinade. It’s very easy. In a large bowl, you’ll simply combine the Greek yogurt, ginger paste, garlic paste, chili powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, coriander, kosher salt, garam masala, turmeric, and lemon juice. Use a spoon or whisk to mix very well until a creamy, smooth marinade forms. You can also taste the marinade and determine if you’d like to add more salt.

Next, you’ll add the chicken pieces to the marinade. Make sure that the chicken is well coated. I like to allow my chicken to marinate for at least 30 minutes if I’m in a hurry. If you have the time, let it marinate (covered) in the refrigerator for 24 hours for even more flavor.

When it’s time to cook, add the chicken pieces to your air fryer basket. Depending on the size of your air fryer basket, you may need to cook in batches to avoid over crowding.

I then like to spray my chicken with a little cooking oil. I find that this helps to achieve even color and crispier skin when air frying. You can also hit the chicken with a bit more smoked paprika for extra/even color.

Set the air fryer to 380° F and allow the chicken to cook for 10 minutes.

Flip the chicken, spray with additional oil spray, and allow to cook for an additional 10 minutes. Your kitchen is going to be smelling so good.

Flip the chicken once more, set the air fryer to 400°F, and allow the chicken to cook for 4 minutes. We’re looking for deep color, crispy skin, and an internal temperature of 170° F

Squeeze additional lemon juice on the chicken, as desired.

Mimicking a Tandoor (Extra Flavor, Optional Step)

I’ve seen this method/tip used numerous places including in this post (Coal Smoking Method For Tandoori Recipes – Smoke Food Using Charcoal) and this video (Tandoori Chicken without Oven).

Because I can’t recommend burning charcoal inside your house, I’ve adapted it a bit. I should state that you are following this at your own risk, using your own best judgment.

I recommend completing this step outdoors on your porch or patio to avoid burning charcoal indoors.

Place the chicken into a large bowl.

Using metal tongs, hold a piece of charcoal over a gas flame, such as a long stemmed lighter.

After 4-5 minutes, the coal will turn red hot/grey. In the center of the large bowl containing the chicken, create a “well” in the center using a small metal or ceramic cup.

Place the hot coal in the cup and lightly spray it with cooking oil spray; the coal will begin to smoke.

Immediately cover the bowl with a heat-safe lid and allow it to sit for 2-3 minutes.

Your chicken will be tender, smoky, and absolutely delicious.

Serving Suggestions/Sides for Air Fried Tandoori Drumsticks

• Fresh Garden Salad
• Naan
• Mint Chutney
• Rice
• Potato Salad

Try it out and let me know what you think! When you make it, be sure to snap a pic and tag me on Instagram or Facebook!

Peace,

Adri

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