
Chicken is one of those foods that almost everyone likes. But chicken, of all the proteins, needs some flavor help. Without some added flavor, chicken often lives up to its reputation of being bland and boring. So, we developed this Spiced Yogurt Roasted recipe for a flavorful chicken dish that is anything but boring!
Which cut of chicken is best?
We especially enjoy the flavorful dark meat of the chicken hindquarters when cooked properly. And that is exactly what we prefer to use in this recipe. We like to cook the thighs and legs a bit more than the breast meat because of the textural change that occurs at about 175°F. The meat becomes more tender and less chewy while remaining juicy and, in our opinion, is perfect.
The yogurt coating results in beautiful caramelization and a crunch on the skin, so we highly recommend using chicken with the skin on. You can also use breast meat for this recipe if you prefer.

Spiced Yogurt Marinade for Chicken
Firstly, the flavor provided by the yogurt mixture is off the charts and really gives the chicken a great boost. The combination of warming spices (like mace, cloves, cumin, and allspice) and flavorful spices (like onion, pink peppercorns, and garlic) work exceptionally well with the yogurt. A few other ingredients round out a flavor profile here and we absolutely love the result!
The yogurt mixture also helps to keep the chicken incredibly juicy and flavorful. Even if you just roasted chicken coated in plain yogurt and salt, you’d experience a juicier chicken! The yogurt provides a “shell” for the entire hindquarter and less moisture from the meat itself evaporates in the oven (or on the grill).
What to serve with this Spiced Yogurt Roasted Chicken?
We like to serve this chicken with couscous, rice, barley pilaf, or farro. This is also great with flavorful garlic thyme smashed potatoes, olive oil and olive mashed potatoes, or another preferred potato recipe that you love.
Enjoy!
We hope that you enjoy this recipe for Spiced Yogurt Roasted Chicken! If you give it a try, leave us a comment below or tag us on Instagram @cooking_with_wine!

Looking for more recipes like this? Check these out:
- Chicken with White Wine Vinegar Tomato Sauce and Spinach Orzo
- Chicken Piccata with Caper Lemon Butter Sauce
- Crunchy Chicken with White Wine Lemon Butter Sauce
- Coq au Vin – Chicken in Red Wine
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