Chicken Tikka Masala
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This homemade chicken tikka masala is cozy, creamy, and full of warm spice—a restaurant favorite made simple enough for any night of the week.
Chicken tikka masala is one of those restaurant favorites that’s easy to make at home. In this version, tender pieces of broiled chicken are simmered in a rich, creamy tomato sauce layered with warm spices. It’s deeply flavorful without being overly spicy, making it a great introduction to Indian cooking for the whole family.
While chicken tikka masala is closely associated with Indian cuisine, it’s widely believed to have evolved from butter chicken and gained popularity in Great Britain, where Indian chefs adapted traditional flavors into the now-iconic dish we know today. The signature orange sauce gets its warmth and depth from garam masala, an easy-to-find spice blend that brings everything together. Serve this homemade chicken tikka masala with fluffy basmati rice, peas, and naan for a cozy, restaurant-worthy meal.
“Amazing! Made this for dinner tonight and it was far better than any I’ve had at an authentic Indian restaurant. Adding this to my rotation.”
What You’ll Need To Make Chicken Tikka Masala
- Whole Milk Yogurt: Used for marinating the chicken, it helps tenderize the meat and adds a subtle tanginess.
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts: This lean cut is a great option for this recipe as the sauce is quite rich, but boneless skinless chicken thighs work well too.
- Onion And Fresh Ginger: These aromatics form the base of the sauce.
- Garam Masala, Coriander, Turmeric, And Cumin: A blend of spices used both in the marinade and the sauce, providing the characteristic flavor profile of Chicken Tikka Masala.
- Canned Crushed Tomatoes: Add body and a rich, tangy flavor that complements the spices.
- Heavy Cream: Added to the sauce for richness and a creamy texture, balancing the acidity of the tomatoes and the heat of the spices.
- Fresh Cilantro: Used as a garnish to add a fresh burst of color and flavor.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-by-Step Instructions
In a bowl large enough to hold the chicken, combine the yogurt, salt, and spices and whisk to combine. Add the chicken and mix until it is evenly coated. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour or overnight.
Preheat the broiler with an oven rack in the top position. Line a baking sheet with foil, place a wire rack on top, and spray it with nonstick cooking spray. Arrange the chicken on the rack, spooning any leftover marinade over it.
Broil the chicken for 7 to 8 minutes, until it is nicely browned on top—there’s no need to flip it over.
While the chicken cooks, start the sauce. Melt the butter over medium heat in a large pan. Sauté the onions and ginger until softened, 5 to 7 minutes.
Stir in the spices and cook for 2 minutes. Next, add the tomatoes, heavy cream, salt, sugar, pepper, and 1/2 cup water.
Bring to a boil, then simmer on medium-low until thickened, about 15 minutes. Adjust the seasoning to taste.
Add the broiled chicken to the sauce and simmer for a few minutes until warmed through and fully cooked. Sprinkle the cilantro over the chicken and serve.
Video Tutorial
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Chicken Tikka Masala
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- ½ cup whole milk yogurt
- 1½ teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon garam masala (okay to substitute curry powder)
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 2-in (2.5-cm) chunks
For the Sauce
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh ginger
- 1¼ teaspoons garam masala (okay to substitute curry powder)
- 1¼ teaspoons ground coriander
- 1¾ teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 (14-oz) can crushed tomatoes
- 1¼ cups heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
- In a bowl large enough to hold the chicken, whisk together the yogurt, salt, turmeric, garam masala, coriander, and cumin. Add the chicken and mix until it is evenly coated. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour or overnight.
- Preheat the broiler and set an oven rack in the top position. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and set a wire rack on top; spray the rack with nonstick cooking spray.
- Place the chicken on the prepared rack, spooning any marinade left in the bowl over the chicken. Broil for 7 to 8 minutes, until browned on top. (The chicken does not need to be flipped over.) While the chicken cooks, start the sauce.
- To make the sauce: Melt the butter over medium heat in a large pan. Add the onions and ginger and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Do not brown; reduce the heat if necessary. Add the spices and cook 2 minutes more. Add the tomatoes, heavy cream, salt, sugar, pepper, and ½ cup (120 ml) water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, until thickened, about 15 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary (I usually add a bit more salt and sugar).
- Add the broiled chicken to the sauce and simmer until the chicken is warmed through and fully cooked, a few minutes. Sprinkle the cilantro over the chicken and serve with buttered Indian basmati rice and/or naan.
Notes
Nutrition Information
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Gluten-Free Adaptable Note
To the best of my knowledge, all of the ingredients used in this recipe are gluten-free or widely available in gluten-free versions. There is hidden gluten in many foods; if you're following a gluten-free diet or cooking for someone with gluten allergies, always read the labels of your ingredients to verify that they are gluten-free.
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Our all-time favorite recipe. Me and my daughter love to eat with Indian naan. It goes well with rice and chapati too.
This is one of my favorites! Not only is it easy but the house smells so fantastic while you’re making it. My husband hovers around the stove with a piece of naan in hand hoping sneak a sample.
This is a family favorite and it makes the house smell great. Serve with balsamic rice and homemade chutney and everyone had seconds. Leftovers are terrific especially with some store-bought naan. Its certainly more economical that take out from our local Indian restaurant and I like that I can control the quality of the chicken that I use.
I’ve made Tikka Masala before using different recipes but after I tried this one I knew it would be my new go to. So good!
This recipe is my new favorite. I have recently gone vegetarian, but have not yet convinced my family. With this recipe, everyone is happy and I do not have to cook separate dinners for me versus the family. I marinate and grill the chicken separately as the beginning of the recipe states. Then, for the sauce, I add two 15 oz cans of drained and rinse garbanzo beans near the end of the cook time–which makes it vegetarian for me. Husband and kids get chicken + chana masala and I get the chana masala. Super delicious with great leftovers. I have found you can cut down on the cream too to 1/2 cup and it still tastes great.
This is the best recipe for Tikka Masala out there. I make it at least once a month. It tastes like it came from my favorite Indian restaurant. I have done this with fat free Greek yogurt and it still came out amazing. Be sure to make the naan recipe on this blog with it. I add some butter with sauteed garlic to the naan.
Whoops! Forgot to add my stars!
This was the first Indian dish I tried to make from scratch and it was delicious! Even better as leftovers after a day in the fridge. At first the spice was too much for me, but the next day it was totally perfect! Will definitely make this again!
I could eat this tiki masala every day! So good!! I also added frozen sweet peas to the sauce for something green. Yum.
This chicken is the best. It’s simple to make, super tasty, and offers an excellent alternative to take-out or sauce in a jar. It appeals to kids and adults of varying taste and spice palettes. Looking forward to making again and again.
Amazing quick tikka masala! We make this for our two young kids too and they love it!