Chicken Tikka Masala

Chicken Tikka Masala is a classic Indian dish made with tender pieces of chicken in a creamy tomato-based sauce. It is super easy to make and tastes 1000 x better than takeout. The spices and aromatics make it extremely flavorful and make your house smell sooo good while you're making it! 

Chicken Tikka Masala is made with bite-sized chicken breasts or thighs that are super juicy and flavorful due to the spiced yogurt marinade. The creamy tomato-based sauce is full of so much flavor from the abundance of spices. It's perfect served over Basmati rice with a side of naan bread for mopping up the sauce. 

How to Make Chicken Tikka Masala:

For the chicken marinade:

Mix together the plain yogurt and sour cream with the spices and lemon juice. Add the chicken and marinate in the fridge for at least 1 hour or overnight if time allows.

To cook the chicken: 

Chicken thighs are preferred for this recipe, they are juicier and more tender than chicken breasts. For the best flavor and texture, skewer the chicken and grill over medium-high heat, about 2-3 minutes per side until cooked through. Don't have a grill or short on time? The chicken can also be sautéd in the pan with the sauce for an extra easy one-pot meal!

Make the sauce:

Tikka Masala sauce is made with chopped onion and garlic sautéd in melted butter over medium heat. Then tomato sauce is added along with plenty of spices and heavy cream. The spices used in this recipe are cumin, chili powder, turmeric, garam masala, salt, and pepper. Adjust the amount of seasoning to your taste preference. Toss the cooked chicken with the sauce and serve warm. 

What to Serve with Chicken Tikka Masala:

This dish is typically served with basmati rice and toasted naan bread. The naan is great for soaking up all the leftover sauce, which you definitely don't want to go to waste! I like to toast it or heat it on the grill for a few minutes and then sprinkle with a little garlic salt.

More Indian Dishes to Try:

• Dal (Indian Red Lentil Curry) 
• Chicken Curry 

📖 RECIPE

Chicken Tikka Masala

Tender marinated chicken thighs tossed with a creamy and flavorful sauce

5 from 6 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 people

Ingredients

  

½1x2x3x

• 1 lb. trimmed boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-size pieces

For the Chicken Marinade:

• 1 cup plain yogurt
• ¼ cup sour cream
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon turmeric
• ¼ teaspoon garam masala
• ½ teaspoon chili powder
• ½ teaspoon cumin
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder

For the Tikki Masala sauce:

• ¼ cup butter
• ½ cup chopped onion
• ¼ cup tomato sauce
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ¼ teaspoon garam marsala
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• ½ teaspoon turmeric
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 cup heavy cream

Instructions

For the chicken:

• Combine all of the marinade ingredients and coat with the pieces of chicken. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
• Remove the chicken pieces from the marinade and thread onto a skewer. Grill over medium heat for 3 minutes per side. *

Make the Tikki Masala sauce:

• Melt the butter in a medium saucepan and add chopped onion to sauté for 3 minutes.
• Add the minced garlic and sauté an additional minute.
• Add the tomato sauce and all of the spices and stir to combine.
• Boil and simmer the sauce for a few minutes. Add the heavy cream and simmer on low until the chicken is finished cooking.
• Add the cooked chicken and coat thoroughly with the sauce. Serve over basmati rice with a side of naan bread.

Notes

* Cook the chicken in the pan with the sauce if you don't have a grill or are short on time. Add the chicken to the pan at the same time as the chopped onion. 

Nutrition

Calories: 275kcal