Greek Yogurt Curry Chicken Marinade {Indian-Inspired}

Add some flavour to your chicken with this delicious and healthy yogurt curry chicken marinade. Inspired by Indian cuisine, this Greek yogurt marinade helps to keep your chicken thighs incredibly tender and juicy and is so simple to prepare. Mild in spice, it’s kid-friendly, and perfect for meal prep or weeknight family meals! {gluten-free}

Yogurt marinated chicken thighs garnished with cilantro.

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Yogurt Curry Chicken Marinade for Grilling or Baking!

Skip the takeout and make up this yogurt curry chicken marinade instead! This delicious chicken marinade can be prepped in a matter of minutes and infuses so much flavour into the chicken for a healthier and super tasty homemade dinner.

Say buh-bye to bland chicken!

Marinating chicken in Greek yogurt creates the most amazing flavour and texture. It contains calcium and lactic acid, so together they slowly break down the protein for the ultimate juicy and tender chicken with flavour coming from the inside out.

Seasoned with mild Indian-inspired spices, every single bite of this curry chicken recipe is like a party in your mouth!

You can marinate whole chicken thighs to grill or bake in the oven, or dice up the chicken and make some tasty kebabs. However you choose to cook and serve up the chicken, one thing is for sure — this easy 30 minute chicken marinade recipe is a keeper!

For more healthy marinades, be sure to try my Easy Steak Marinade and Healthy Chicken Marinades too!

Overhead shot of greek yogurt marinated chicken thighs on a plate with a cucumber salad side.

Why We Love This Greek Yogurt Chicken Marinade

Healthy: Chicken is a great source of lean protein, but it can be pretty bland on its own. This chicken curry marinade is low in saturated fat and packed with antioxidant-rich spices for some nutritious and flavour packed chicken. Plus, you can control the sodium level by using less salt, which isn’t always possible with store-bought seasonings and marinades.

Quick and easy: The marinade is easy to make and the chicken is super tasty after just 30 minutes of resting time.

Easy to adapt: This Indian yogurt marinade works great with lots of different cuts of chicken and it’s easy to adjust the spice levels to suit your tastes.

Ingredient Notes

Yogurt: For best results, use plain Greek yogurt. Either 0% or 2% milk fat works well. You can also use regular nonfat plain yogurt instead of Greek.
Garlic: Use freshly minced garlic cloves for the best flavour. In a pinch you can use a teaspoon of garlic powder.
Honey: This adds a hint of sweetness to the marinade. Maple syrup or brown sugar can also be used.
Lime juice: Use fresh lime juice rather than bottled for the best flavour. Lemon juice can also be used.
Oil: Oil helps the marinade infuse into the chicken. I use olive oil, but any high heat flavourless oil like canola oil or vegetable oil will also work well.
Seasonings and spices: Curry powder, chili powder, cumin, onion powder and salt add a ton of flavour into the marinade.
Chicken: I made this recipe with boneless skinless chicken thighs, but you can also use boneless skinless chicken breasts or drumsticks if preferred.

How to Make Curry Marinade for Chicken

The marinade ingredients mixed together.

In a large bowl, combine Greek yogurt, minced garlic, honey, lime juice, oil, curry powder, red chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, and salt. Mix to combine.
Add chicken thighs (or other chicken pieces) and toss until well-coated.
Cover and marinate for at least 30 minutes. You can also cover and refrigerate for up to 8 hours.
Remove chicken from fridge and allow it to stand at room temperature for 15 minutes.
Cook chicken using desired method (see cooking methods below), discarding any leftover chicken marinade.

How to Cook Marinated Curry Chicken

Oven

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Transfer the chicken to a foil-lined baking sheet and discard marinade.
Roast until chicken is cooked through and golden brown, about 20-25 minutes. An instant-read thermometer should register 165 degrees F.
Garnish with cilantro and serve.

Grilling

Preheat grill to medium-high, about 425°F to 450°F.
Brush the grill grates with oil.
Place chicken thighs on grill. Grill for about 7 minutes per side, or until internal temperature of chicken reaches 165˚F.
Note: You can also make chicken skewers if preferred.

Stove Top

Heat a tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
Once hot, add the chicken thighs to the skillet, smooth side down.
Cook for 5 minutes or until you can easily flip over the chicken.
Flip and continue to cook for 6 to 7 more minutes, or until the temperature of chicken reaches 165˚F.

Air-Fryer

Preheat the air fryer to 400F.
Place the chicken thighs in a single layer in the basket.
Cook for 12 to 14 minutes, flipping half way through, or until the temperature of chicken reaches 165˚F.

Note: The cooking time may vary if you use a different cut of chicken other than chicken thighs.

Recipe Tips for the Best Chicken Marinade

I like using a thicker yogurt (like 0% or 2% plain Greek yogurt) since it helps the spices stick to the surface of the chicken and prevents the marinade from running off once removed from the bag. This helps to form almost a crust-like layer on the chicken once cooked for lots of flavour in every bite.

This is not a spicy chicken marinade. If you prefer a spicier kick, you can swap the mild curry powder for a spicy one, or add a bit of cayenne to the marinade to make it more spicy.

If you prefer, you can also marinate the chicken in a large resealable plastic bag instead of a bowl. Simply mix the marinade ingredients in a bowl, pour over the chicken in the bag and massage until the chicken is well coated. If you prefer to avoid plastic bags and would rather use a silicone reusable one, try this Stasher 1/2 gallon bag.

Greek yogurt curry chicken thighs on a white plate.

Storage Guidelines

Storing marinade: Marinade can be combined and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days before adding chicken.

Storing cooked chicken: Cooked chicken may be stored in the fridge in an air-tight container for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.

Recipe FAQs

Can you freeze this Indian yogurt chicken marinade?

Yes, you can freeze a yogurt marinade, however you may notice that the yogurt will start to break into small flakes after freezing. It still tastes amazing and does a great job of tenderizing the chicken, so don’t let this deter you from freezing it. We typically just scrapes some of the flakes off before consuming.

What type of chicken works best for this marinade?

I typically like to use chicken thighs with this marinade, but you can also use it to marinate chicken breasts, drumsticks or to make chicken kebabs.

What does marinating chicken in yogurt do?

Yogurt contains lactic acid and calcium, so it slowly tenderizes the chicken while flavouring it. It’s similar to acidic marinades made with citrus juice, vinegar, or wine, with one exception — lactic acid is milder than the acids found in these ingredients so you don’t run the same risk of a mushy, rubbery or tough meat. The yogurt coating also helps to protect the chicken during cooking, making it perfectly tender and juicy.

How long should you marinate chicken in yogurt?

Yogurt can have a tenderizing effect on chicken in as little as 15 minutes, but for the full flavour effect, I recommend marinating for at least 30 minutes, or optimally 2 hours.

Can you marinate chicken in yogurt overnight?

You can marinate chicken for up to 8 hours, however, I do not recommend marinating chicken for longer than 24 hours as marinade ingredients can sometimes affect the texture of the chicken if left to sit for too long.

Serving Suggestions

Serve the marinated curry chicken with:

Brown rice
Roasted garlic potatoes
Cauliflower rice
Naan bread
Roasted cauliflower
Side salad (try this Asparagus Tomato Salad or Pearl Couscous Salad with Roasted Asparagus and Chickpeas)
Creamy cucumber salad (try this Asian cucumber salad but add a bit of yogurt to it to make it creamy)!

Recipe Variations

To make dairy-free: Use your favourite plant-based yogurt. You could also try using coconut milk instead of yogurt if preferred.
To add a spicy kick: Use a spicier curry powder, or add in some cayenne pepper for an extra kick.
Try different types of curry powder: Use a medium or hot curry powder to add some spiciness to your chicken; try using madras curry powder for a sweet/hot touch; try a Jamaican curry powder for hints of allspice; use Ras El Hanout for a Moroccan twist (beware – this can be quite spicy!)
Switch up the spices: You could experiment by adding garam masala powder, turmeric powder, or black pepper to the marinade as well.
To make lower sodium: Use less salt.

A marinated chicken thigh being cut with a fork.

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