Chicken Tikka Kebab

4.93 from 40 votes

Chicken Tikka Kebab is a delicious appetizer that is packed with flavor. It starts with chicken pieces marinated in yogurt along with lime juice and aromatic spices, then threaded onto skewers and cooked to create a delicious appetizer. Make it in the air fryer or oven to serve at the gathering, or include it into your meal prep for the week!

Prep Time35

Cook Time10

Total Time45

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: Indian

Keyword: chicken kebabs, chicken tikka, chicken tikka skewers

Diet: Gluten-free, Low Carb

Method: Air Fryer

Servings:

Author: Meeta Arora

Ingredients

1 lb Chicken thighs boneless skinless, cut into 1.5-2 inch cubes
1 tablespoon Mustard Oil optional, heat the oil until it smokes, then use it
1/2 cup Red Onion cut into 2 inch cubes, layers separated
1/2 cup Green Bell Pepper cut into 2 inch cubes
1/2 cup Red Bell Pepper cut into 2 inch cubes
Lime wedges to garnish
Onion rounds to garnish

For marinade

1/2 cup Yogurt Greek (also called hung curd)
3/4 tablespoon Ginger grated
3/4 tablespoon Garlic minced
1 tablespoon Lime juice
2-3 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder mild, adjust to taste
1/2 teaspoon Ground Turmeric (Haldi powder)
1 teaspoon Garam Masala
1 teaspoon Coriander powder (Dhaniya powder)
1/2 tablespoon Dried Fenugreek leaves (Kasoori Methi)
1 teaspoon Salt adjust to taste

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Combine all ingredients for the marinade in a bowl and mix well. Add chicken and coat each side with the marinade. Let it rest for anywhere between 30 minutes and 8 hours in the refrigerator.
When ready to cook, add the oil, onions, green and red bell pepper to the marinade. Mix well.
Thread the marinated chicken, peppers, and onions in the skewers alternating between each.

AirFryer Method:

Preheat the air fryer. Arrange the chicken skewers in airfryer. Lightly brush or spray with oil. Cook at 190°C or 380°F for 10 minutes, turning halfway through. (For extra char marks, cook for an additional 2 minutes. Check the internal temperature has reached 165F.)
Serve warm with lime wedges and onion rounds, along with mint cilantro chutney for dipping or drizzling on top. You can also serve with saffron rice and salad for a complete meal.

Oven Method:

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Prepare a baking tray lined with parchment paper or foil. Place a rack over the top.
Place the skewers on the rack, lightly brush or spray with oil, then bake for 15-20 minutes until the chicken is well-cooked.
Turn on your oven's broiler and broil the Tikka Kebabs for about 5 minutes to get the char marks.

Video

Notes

Marinate: Marinate for at least 30 minutes, but longer is ideal for more tender Chicken Tikka.

Cook: For best results, cook the meat only until done. This will result in soft, juicy & tender chicken kebabs. Overcooked meat can result in chewy kebabs.

Meal Prep: Make a batch of this marinated chicken and freeze it for later use or meal prep for the week.

Skewers: I used bamboo skewers that I soaked in water for 30 minutes,

Make Chicken Tikka Bites: Skip the skewers and place the marinated chicken and veggies directly in the air fryer basket to make chicken tikka bites.

Nutrition