Air Fryer Chicken Tikka Kebabs
Equipment
- Bowl, large
- Bowl, small
- Knife
- Skewers, 4
- Tongs
Ingredients
- Chicken Tikka
- 2 chicken breast fillets cut into bite-size pieces
- 2 cloves garlic crushed
- 2 tablespoons tikka masala curry paste
- 150 g natural yogurt plus extra for serving
Raita
- ยฝ cucumber diced or grated
- 1 handful coriander chopped
- 1 large naan bread
- 1 handful mint chopped
- 150 g natural yogurt
- Mango chutney lime pickle or diced cucumber, for serving
Instructions
- Mix the yogurt, tikka masala curry paste and crushed garlic together in a large bowl. Add the chicken and stir thoroughly until every piece is coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes or overnight.
- Preheat the air fryer to 180ยฐC.
- Thread the marinated chicken onto four skewers, using one skewer for each serving.
- Place the skewers in the air fryer basket and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, turning halfway through, until the chicken is cooked through and lightly charred. Cook in batches if necessary.
- Meanwhile, combine the yogurt, mint, coriander and cucumber in a small bowl to make the raita.
- Warm the naan bread in the microwave or lightly toast it with water.
- Serve each chicken tikka skewer with warm naan bread, raita and extra yogurt. Add mango chutney, lime pickle or diced cucumber as desired.
Notes & Wine Advice
Serving Suggestions
Serve the Chicken Tikka Kebabs straight from the Airfryer with warm naan bread and plenty of cool raita. Mango chutney adds sweetness, while lime pickle provides a sharper and spicier contrast. For a more substantial meal, add Rice or a fresh Salad.Recipe Notes
Cut the chicken into evenly sized bite-size pieces so they cook at approximately the same rate. The yogurt marinade helps keep the chicken tender, while tikka masala curry paste provides most of the spice and seasoning. A minimum of 20 minutes marinating time will flavour the chicken, but leaving it covered in the refrigerator overnight develops a deeper flavour. If using wooden skewers, check that they are suitable for your air fryer and trim them if necessary so they fit comfortably inside the basket.Variations
Adjust the amount of tikka masala curry paste to control the strength of the spices. Red onion or pieces of capsicum can be threaded between the chicken pieces for extra vegetables. You can also serve the chicken without skewers and use it as a filling for Wraps.Storage Advice
Store leftover cooked chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Keep the raita in a separate covered container. Reheat the chicken thoroughly before serving. The raita should remain chilled and should not be reheated.Wine Advice
A dry Riesling is an excellent partner for Chicken Tikka Kebabs because its freshness works well with the aromatic spices and creamy yogurt. A Sauvignon Blanc is another good choice, particularly with the mint, coriander and cooling cucumber raita.Nutrition values
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About Air Fryer Chicken Tikka Kebabs
Air Fryer Chicken Tikka Kebabs combine pieces of marinated chicken breast with tikka masala curry paste, garlic and yogurt before cooking them quickly at high heat. The result is tender, aromatic chicken with lightly charred edges and a creamy, spicy flavour. Served with naan bread and homemade raita, these skewers create an easy Main Course inspired by the flavours of India.
What Makes Chicken Tikka So Flavourful?
The key to chicken tikka is the marinade. Natural yogurt coats the chicken and carries the flavours of the tikka masala curry paste and garlic. The creamy marinade also helps protect the lean chicken breast from drying out during the relatively intense cooking process.
Tikka masala curry pastes vary between brands, so the exact balance of spices and heat can differ. Some are relatively mild, while others contain considerably more chilli. This makes it sensible to adjust the amount according to personal preference rather than automatically adding extra chilli or salt.
Why Marinating Time Matters
The chicken can be cooked after approximately 20 minutes of marinating, making this recipe practical when time is limited. However, preparing the chicken earlier and leaving it covered in the refrigerator overnight allows the garlic and spices more time to flavour the meat.
Always marinate raw chicken in the refrigerator rather than at room temperature. Once the chicken has been threaded onto the skewers, discard marinade that has been in contact with the raw poultry unless it will be thoroughly cooked before serving.
Cooking Chicken Tikka in the Air Fryer
The Airfryer is particularly useful for chicken tikka because circulating hot air cooks the small pieces quickly while helping the yogurt-based marinade brown around the edges. Turning the skewers halfway through cooking exposes both sides to the heat.
Leave some space around the skewers rather than packing the basket tightly. If four skewers do not fit comfortably, cook them in batches. The exact cooking time depends on the size of the chicken pieces and the air fryer, so the chicken should be checked for doneness rather than relying entirely on the timer.
Making a Cooling Raita
Raita provides a useful contrast to the warm spices in the chicken. This simple version combines natural yogurt with mint, coriander and cucumber. The yogurt gives it a creamy texture, cucumber provides freshness and the herbs contribute a bright flavour that complements the tikka marinade.
Keep the raita refrigerated until serving. It can be prepared while the chicken cooks, or slightly earlier if convenient. Stir it again just before placing it on the table because cucumber can release a little moisture as it stands.
Serving with Naan Bread
Warm naan bread turns the chicken skewers and raita into a satisfying Dinner. The bread can be torn into pieces and used to pick up chicken and raita, or the chicken can be removed from the skewers and wrapped inside pieces of naan.
Mango chutney introduces sweetness that works particularly well with the spices, while lime pickle creates a much sharper and more intense flavour. Extra yogurt is useful when serving people with different tolerances for spicy food.
Making the Meal More Substantial
Although naan and raita are enough for a relatively light meal, the kebabs can easily become part of a larger spread. Serve them with basmati Rice, a fresh salad or additional vegetable dishes. The individual skewers also make portioning straightforward when serving four people.
For an informal Family Dinner, place the naan, raita, chutney and pickle on the table separately. Everyone can then decide how much sauce and spice they want with their chicken.
Variations on Chicken Tikka Kebabs
The basic method is easy to adapt. Pieces of red onion or capsicum can be threaded between the chicken to add colour and vegetables. For a hotter version, use a spicier tikka paste or add fresh chilli to the marinade.
The cooked chicken can also be removed from the skewers and served in Wraps with lettuce, cucumber and raita. This makes leftover chicken particularly useful for lunch the following day, provided it has been stored and reheated correctly.
Storing Leftovers
Cooked chicken should be refrigerated promptly in a covered container. Keep the raita separate because it is intended to remain cold. When reheating the chicken, heat it thoroughly and add the chilled raita only immediately before serving.
Because this recipe uses poultry, careful food handling is essential. Keep raw chicken away from the naan, herbs, cucumber and other ready-to-eat ingredients. Wash hands, knives, boards and other surfaces thoroughly after contact with raw chicken.
Chicken Food Safety
Chicken must be cooked thoroughly before serving. A food thermometer provides the most reliable way to check that the centre has reached a safe temperature. For current information about handling, storing and preparing poultry safely, consult the U.S. Food and Drug Administration food-safety information.
With tender spiced chicken, warm naan and cooling herb-and-cucumber raita, Air Fryer Chicken Tikka Kebabs deliver a satisfying combination of spicy, creamy and fresh flavours. The short cooking time and flexible marinating period make them equally practical for a quick meal or for preparing ahead for dinner.