Chicken Tikka Masala

This is the Best Chicken Tikka Masala recipe that is easy to make at home and tastes as flavorful and delicious as your favorite Indian restaurant. The creamy tomato sauce is full of earthy spices and juicy marinated chicken and tastes great served over basmati rice with a side of Naan bread.

We make a yogurt marinade for the chicken that tenderizes and flavors it. The tikka masala sauce is made using traditional spices, onions, and tomatoes - yum.

Jump to:

• Best Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe
• Chicken Tikka Masala Main Ingredients
• How to Make Chicken Tikka Masala
• Best Chicken Masala Recipe Variations
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Storing and Reheating Instructions
• Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe
• More Of Our Favorite Chicken Recipes

Best Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe

Next time a craving for Indian food hits, try making this homemade Chicken Tikka Masala with rice instead of heading out to dinner. Popular throughout India and Great Britain, this distinctive dish is surprisingly quick and easy to make. And at home, it's easy to adjust the level of spiciness to however you like.

The yogurt masala chicken marinade keeps the chicken extra juicy and adds a tangy flavor to the dish. I usually serve Chicken Tikka with fresh cilantro over basmati rice and a side of Naan bread. If you aren’t lucky enough to live near an Indian grocery store, you can find packaged Naan in the bread aisle at most grocery stores. 

Chicken Tikka Masala Main Ingredients

• Chicken Breast - you’ll need to cut boneless skinless chicken breasts into 1” pieces. Chicken thighs would work as well.
• Yogurt - make sure to use plain Greek yogurt. If you try to use regular plain yogurt, the marinade will be much too thin.
• Olive Oil - you’ll need about 2 tablespoons of olive oil for the marinade and another ½ tablespoon or so to cook the chicken. Avocado oil would work, too.
• Lime Juice - fresh lime juice has the best flavor. Lemon juice would also work.
• Garlic - you can use freshly minced garlic, or the jarred minced garlic.

For the Tikka Masala Sauce

• Spices: this recipe uses a combination of coriander, cumin, cardamom, nutmeg, paprika, cayenne, and ground ginger. Garam masala would be another great spice to add, and you can adjust the level of spiciness by using more or less cayenne. If you like spicy, a touch of red chili powder tastes great, too.
• Butter - you’ll need this to cook the onions. It also adds creaminess and flavor to the sauce. 
• Onion - for this recipe you’ll need about ½ of a yellow or white onion diced.
• Tomato Puree - you will need a 10.75 oz can of tomato puree, or crushed tomatoes.
• Water - this is to thin down the sauce a bit. You may need to add a touch more if it becomes too thick.
• Half and Half - if you don’t have half and half you can use ¼ cup milk and ¼ cup heavy cream. 
• Salt - sea salt works great. Add about ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste.

How to Make Chicken Tikka Masala

1. Marinate the chicken. In a large mixing bowl, add the 1" piece of chicken,  Greek yogurt, olive oil, lime juice,  and minced garlic. Use tongs to mix the ingredients and cover the chicken in the marinade. Cover with plastic wrap and transfer to the fridge to marinate for about 4 hours.
2. Cook the chicken. After the chicken has marinated, add a little olive oil to a saute pan and heat over medium high heat.  Remove the marinated chicken from the chicken marinade and allow it to drain. Add the chicken to the hot pan and cook until golden brown on all sides and cooked through. Set aside.
3. Cook the onions. To make the tikka masala sauce, add the butter to a large saute pan or Dutch oven and heat over medium. Once melted, add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent and golden (about 5-7 minutes).
4. Make the tikka masala sauce. Meanwhile, in a small bowl combine the coriander, cumin, cardamom, nutmeg, paprika, cayenne, and ginger. Mix, then add the spice mixture to the cooked onions along with the tomato puree, water, half and half, and salt. Bring the mixture to a boil while stirring.
5. Finish cooking. Reduce to a simmer, then add the cooked chicken and allow to simmer in the pot over medium for about 5 minutes. 
6. Serve. Top with fresh cilantro and serve warm over cooked basmati rice or with Naan bread. Enjoy!

Best Chicken Masala Recipe Variations

Whether you prefer a spicy, creamy, or vegetable-packed Chicken Tikka Masala, there are endless ways to customize this delicious dish! Here are a few ideas:

• Spicy Chicken Tikka Masala: Increase the heat by adding extra chili powder, minced green chilies, or a dash of cayenne pepper to the sauce.
• Coconut Chicken Tikka Masala: Add coconut milk or coconut cream to the sauce for extra richness and flavor.
• Vegetable Chicken Tikka Masala: Incorporate a variety of vegetables such as bell peppers, onions, carrots, and peas into the dish for added texture and flavor. Sauté the vegetables along with the chicken or simmer them in the sauce until tender.
• Paneer Tikka Masala: Replace the chicken with cubes of paneer (Indian cottage cheese) for a vegetarian version of the dish. Paneer absorbs the flavors of the sauce and adds a creamy texture to the dish.
• Cashew Chicken Tikka Masala: Blend cashews into the sauce to add creaminess and richness to the dish. The ground cashews thicken the sauce and add a nutty flavor.
• Spinach Chicken Tikka Masala: Stir in fresh spinach leaves or frozen chopped spinach to the sauce for a nutritious and vibrant addition. The spinach wilts down in the sauce and adds color and texture to the dish.
• Lentil Chicken Tikka Masala: Incorporate cooked lentils (such as red lentils or brown lentils) into the dish for added protein and fiber.

Frequently Asked Questions

Storing and Reheating Instructions

• Refrigerator: store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
• To reheat: either reheat in a microwave, or warm gently in a saucepan over medium heat.

More Of Our Favorite Chicken Recipes

• Citrus Chicken Marinade
• Chicken Spaghetti
• Cilantro Lime Chicken
• Chicken Pesto Pasta Recipe
• Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy
• Lemon Pepper Rotisserie Chicken
• Easy Oven-Baked Buffalo Chicken Wings
• Chicken Tenders
• Chicken and Sun-dried tomato stuffed jumbo shells
• More of the Best Chicken Recipes

This recipe will show you how to make this Indian Chicken Tikka Masala recipe that is as good as your favorite Indian restaurant. It's got tender marinated chicken and a creamy, flavorful tomato sauce perfect for serving with rice or Naan.

I am part of a blog swap with some other great bloggers. My friend Michaela from An Affair from the Heart is so kind to orchestrate it all. We do a virtual blog swap and make each other's recipes and post them. This go round, I made this incredible dish by my friend, Sam, from The Culinary Compass. She is both brilliant and so talented with her website and recipe creation. Her inspiration comes from both other cultures and food science together. You've got to check out her recipes, everything from her Old Bay Shrimp, Sausage Dip, and these fantastic Red Velvet Cookies.

See all of our 2023 Freaky Friday Winter Recipes

Hosted by - An Affair from the Heart

1. An Affair from the Heart - Bailey's Chocolate Chip Cookies
2. The Carefree Kitchen - Chicken Tikka Masala
3. The Culinary Compass - Scotcharoos Recipe
4. Feast + West - Fried Pickles
5. The Fresh Cooky - Easy Elderflower French 75 Cocktail with St Germain
6. Homecooked Harvest - Roasted Cabbage Steaks
7. House of Nash Eats - Bread Pudding
8. Life, Love, and Good Food - Cheddar Bay Biscuits
9. Soulfully Made - No Rise Pizza Dough Recipe
10. The Speckled Palate - Easy Cheese Ball Recipe
11. Take Two Tapas - Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip
12. The Wimpy Vegetarian - Creamy Spaghetti Squash Casserole

« Tzatziki Sauce

Strawberry Virgin Pina Colada Recipe »

Sharing is caring!

162 shares

• Pin
• Share
• Yummly
• Twitter