Chicken Tikka Masala must have been one of the first, if not the first, Indian dishes I was introduced to. It was love at first bite.
Okay, that line was pretty corny, but I couldn’t resist. Also, I realize Chicken Tikka actually originated in England. Either way, this tomato-based chicken curry is widely popular for a reason.
The flavors in this dish are complex, yet perfectly balanced. Acidic tomatoes, warm spices, sweet cream and just a little heat create an incredible sauce. If you want to go vegetarian, I would suggest to substitute out the chicken for paneer or even tofu.
If you have been following this blog, it might surprise you a bit to see Indian food. It’s certainly not something in my normal repertoire. It didn’t exactly come naturally either. I originally developed this recipe for a special at work last year, and boy did I do my research. I’ve tested and adjusted this recipe time after time. It was all worth it though. I can say with confidence that this recipe is truly delicious.
Now, one thing I will admit is this recipe requires many, many spices. It’s tough to suggest substitutions and adjustments in some cases, but if you’re looking to make something similar in a more simplified way, just comment below!
Chicken Tikka Masala
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: 3 servings 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Chicken tikka masala has to be one of my favorite Indian meals, even if it did originate in England. The flavors in this dish are complex, yet perfectly balanced. Acidic tomatoes, warm spices, sweet cream and just a little heat create an incredible sauce.
Ingredients
Chicken marinade:
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1 cup plain whole milk yogurt
- 1 inch ginger, finely grated
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp sweet, paprika
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- ½ tsp garam masala
- ¼ tsp kashmiri chili powder or other hot Indian chili powder
- ¼ tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp freshly cracked black pepper
Sauce:
- 3 tbsp clarified butter or ghee
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1–2 serrano peppers, diced (remove seeds for less intense heat)
- 1 ½ inch ginger, finely grated
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 2 tsp sweet, paprika
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- ½ –1 ½ tsp kashmiri chili powder or other hot Indian chili powder
- ¼ tsp turmeric
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tbsp toasted cashews
- 1–14.5oz can crushed tomatoes (about 1 ½ cups)
- 1 cinnamon stick, broken into large pieces
- 2 bay leaves
- 3 green cardamom pods, lightly cracked
- 3 whole cloves
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ tsp fenugreek (methi) powder
- ½ tsp garam masala
- Fresh cilantro, for garnish
Instructions
- Make marinade: Combine the yogurt through pepper in a ziploc bag. Add the chicken, coat in the yogurt mixture and marinate at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours. Allow the chicken to come to room temperature for 30 minutes to 1 hour before cooking.
- Brown chicken: Warm a wide, heavy-bottomed sauce pot over medium-high heat. Remove excess marinade from chicken. Season with additional salt and pepper. Add 2 tablespoons of butter, followed by the chicken and cook about 3 minutes per side or until well-browned, but not cooked through. Remove chicken and allow to rest.
- Cook aromatics: Reduce heat to medium. Add the remaining tablespoon of butter to the pot, followed by the onions and cumin seeds. Sautee 3-5 minutes or until onions are translucent. Add ginger, garlic and chilies. Cook 30 secs-1 min, stirring frequently.
- Add spices & tomato paste: Add paprika, coriander, chili powder, turmeric and a few spoonfuls of water to prevent spices from burning and help deglaze pan. Cook 1 minute. Add tomato paste and more water to prevent burning, if needed. Cook 5-6 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove pan from the heat.
- Blend sauce ingredients: In a food processor or blender, finely grind the cashew nuts. Add onion mixture and puree until smooth. Add tomatoes and blend until smooth.
- Add whole spices & cook sauce: Add cinnamon stick, bay leaf, cardamom and cloves to pot. Toast about 1-3 minute or until fragrant. Add in tomato mixture. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in about 1 cup of water or enough to thin mixture to desired thickness. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Cook partially covered, for 30-60 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add additional water to thin sauce, as needed.
- Cook chicken, finish curry & serve: Cut chicken into 1 inch pieces. Add chicken and its juices to the sauce. Simmer about 10-15 minutes or until warm and just cooked through. Stir in cream, fenugreek and garam masala. Taste and adjust seasoning, if needed. Garnish with cilantro. Serve with basmati rice and/or naan. Enjoy.
Notes
- Total time does not reflect time needed to marinate the chicken.
- Category: Main
- Method: Simmer
- Cuisine: Indian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/3 of curry
- Calories: 543
- Sugar: 13g
- Sodium: 205mg
- Fat: 33g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 38g
Keywords: chicken tikka masala, easy chicken tikka masala, easy chicken tikka
I imagine already the incredible smooth, creamy and spicy taste of this wonderful chicken. When I read the ingredients it does look a lot like the butter chicken actually which is my Indian favourite dish 🙂
Thanks so much! I love butter chicken, too.
Yum, I love a nice warm bowl of Indian food in the winter! The spices are always so cozy. Your version looks perfect!
Thank you, Liz!
Oh yum, this dish looks super delicious ????
Thanks, Esther!
Ahhhhhhh, this looks SO darn good. I love chicken tikka masala, and love the idea of being able to make it at home even more! Need to try this recipe soon!
Thanks so much, Karly! I hope you give it a try 🙂
Yummy and delicious !!
Thanks, Nithya!
I LOVE tikka masala and this recipe looks amazing!
Thank you, Julie!