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Chicken Tikka Masala

Chicken Tikka Masala – Yogurt marinated chicken in a spiced curry sauce. Seriously the best!  Serve with rice and Naan bread for a restaurant experience at home!

I love Indian food and curry in general.  There are quite a few of those types of recipes already here on the blog.  Coconut Chicken Curry is ready in minutes, and uses ingredients you probably already have in your house, so it is one of my favorites.  But Tikka Masala has taken me a little longer to master.

When we go out for Indian food, chicken tikka masala is always something we order. So I know what it tastes like in a restaurant.  But getting those flavors at home, is not easy.  Well, I think I have finally mastered it.  After trying more recipes than I can count, combining a bunch of different ones, and adding in some of my own I have done it!  Trust me, this chicken tikka masala recipe is going to be a keeper!

A plate of Chicken and Masala

 

What is Tikka Masala

It is a dish that is made from chunks of chicken that are marinated in a yogurt and spice mixture for hours.  Then the chicken is either grilled or cooked quickly over a high heat.  Tikka masala sauce is made from onions, garlic, ginger and lots of spices.  Then it is simmered with tomato sauce and finished with cream.  It is a rich and delicious sauce.  You will want to make sure you have plenty of Naan bread to soak it all up.

I like the tikka masala sauce to be thin, so I use my immersion blender to puree everything. You can use a regular blender or food processor if that is what you have too.  And if you don’t mind the little pieces of onion and garlic in your sauce, then you can just leave it as is.  I have only ever had it smooth in restaurants, so that is how I like to make it at home.

A plate of Chicken and Masala

 

How to Make Chicken Tikka Masala

It really is rather easy to make, you just need to have lots of spices on hand.  I am able to find all of the spices at my regular grocery store, so hopefully you can to.  My goal was to come up with a recipe that you could make any night of the week.  Not something you had to make a special trip to one store, that is across town, and has limited hours.

I start by mixing together the yogurt with all the spices for the marinade.  Then mix in the chicken that is cut into chunks.  Cover and let it side in the fridge for at least an hour, but over night is even better.  The longer the chicken has the move flavor it gets, and the more tender it is.  When you are ready to cook I broil the chicken while I am making the sauce.  Again, it really is just dump a bunch of spices in and stir.  Simple, just some measuring involved!

Chicken masala on a plate with rice

 

If you like Indian food and curry, you are going to love this chicken tikka masala recipe.  It is way easier than you think it is to make, and it will remind you of your favorite restaurant!  You can adjust the heat level to what your family likes.  My family is a fan of heat, so I went heavy with the cayenne.  But you can go light and it will still have all those comforting spices.

Butter chicken is another classic Indian curry that my family loves. There is just something about all those spices together that is pure comfort food to me.  And this Basil Coconut Chicken Curry kind of has a Thai twist, but the chicken is so tender and over the top delicious.

chicken tikka masala on a plate

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close up of chicken tikka masala on a plate

Yield: 5

Chicken Tikka Masala

A plate of Chicken and Tikka

Chicken Tikka Masala - Yogurt marinated chicken in a spiced curry sauce. Seriously the best!  Serve with rice and Naan bread for a restaurant experience at home!

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Additional Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes

Ingredients

Chicken Marinade

  • 1 1/2 pound boneless chicken (breast or thighs), cut into pieces
  • 1 cup plain yogurt
  • 1 1/2 Tbls garlic, minced
  • 1 Tbls ginger, minced
  • 1 Tbls garam masal
  • 2 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp salt

Tikka Masala Sauce

  • 2 Tbls vegetable oil
  • 14 oz tomato sauce
  • 1 Tbls garlic, minced
  • 1 Tbls ginger, minced
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 1 Tbls garam masala
  • 1 1/2 Tbls ground cumin
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1 Tbls ground coriander
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp cayenne pepper, (reduce if you want it mild)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 cup heavy cream

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl whisk together the yogurt with all of the seasonings for the marinade.  Add chicken and mix until everything is well coated.  Cover and place in fridge for at least an hour, up to overnight. 
  2. Preheat oven to Broil.  Place chicken pieces on a baking sheet.  Cook for 3-4 minutes, flip the chicken and cook for 2-3 minutes more.  Remove from oven.
  3. In a large sauce pan heat oil over medium high heat.  Add onions and cook for 4-5 minutes until soft.  
  4. Add garlic and ginger and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.  
  5. Add garam masala, cumin, turmeric, and coriander, and chili powder. Mix with onions, and cook for about 1 minute.    
  6. Add tomato sauce, cayenne, salt and pepper. Stir until all the spices are well blended. Simmer for 10-15 minutes until the sauce starts to thicken.  
  7. Add the chicken and the juices to the sauce.  Stir in the cream and cook for about 10 minutes until the cause is bubbling and thick. 
  8. Serve over white rice.  Garnish with cilantro if desired.

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Nutrition Information

Yield

5

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 541Total Fat 34gSaturated Fat 15gTrans Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 17gCholesterol 178mgSodium 1517mgCarbohydrates 14gFiber 3gSugar 8gProtein 45g

Nutrition Disclaimer: All information presented on this site is intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information shared on dinnersdishesanddesserts.com should only be used as a general guideline.

Did you make this recipe?

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Erin S
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Greer McCorkle

Tuesday 11th of January 2022

Thank you!

Greer McCorkle

Monday 10th of January 2022

Hi! Is there a place on your website where there is just a list of the recipes, e.g. chicken, without having to scroll through the phots & whole recipe? I'm sorry if I've missed that spot on your website. Thanks!

Erin S

Tuesday 11th of January 2022

There is a visual Recipe Index that has one thumbnail sized photo of the recipe, so you can see what it is instead of just the name. You can search by all sorts of different categories - Chicken, Air Fryer, Mexican, Asian, Ground Beef, Dinner, Breafast etc.

Anmol Barbecue Restaurant

Monday 19th of October 2020

One word for your dish - fabulous!

Milisa

Saturday 9th of February 2019

Definitely an easy dinner! Love these bold flavors and my family gave it a best chicken ever rating.

Carrian

Tuesday 29th of January 2019

Oh man, I love Indian flavors! Chicken tikka masala is one of my favorites too!!

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