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This easy Chicken Tikka Masala recipe is full of authentic flavors, filling, and easy to make. A great homemade Indian-inspired dish that your family can enjoy and it only takes 30 minutes to make. A family favorite all year round.
Simple stovetop chicken masala that’s bold, rich, creamy, and loaded with authentic flavors. Tender chunks of chicken cooked in a creamy coconut milk authentic sauce, and then served with a side of white rice. An easy way to enjoy authentic Indian cuisine right at home and it’s not spicy at all so the kids could enjoy it as well.
Serve this Indian masala recipe with any rice of choice or with cilantro lime cauliflower rice and Garlic naan. A simple comforting meal that’s hassle-free, easy, and absolutely delicious.
Recipe Summary
- Family-friendly: This is a simple chicken dinner recipe that the whole family will love.
- Simple, easy, and quick: You won’t have to work too hard to make this chicken tikka masala. It is so simple, takes about 30 minutes on your stove-top, and so easy.
- So flavorful: If you love authentic Indian cuisine, then you will love this chicken tikka masala. Bring your favorite restaurant dish right home. It is homemade and tastes just as good.
Ingredients for homemade tikka masala
Below is a list of ingredients you will need and substitutions you can make. Full measurements are listed further down below in the recipe card.
- Chicken breasts: cut into bite-sized cubes. If you would like to use boneless chicken thighs that’s fine, trim fat off. For the vegetarian option, use tofu.
- Greek yogurt: If you don’t like Greek yogurt, use plain whole milk. For a dairy-free option, you may use almond or coconut milk.
- Fresh lemon juice: Do not use bottled lemon juice unless you have no other choice.
- Garlic and ginger: use fresh, not powder.
- Seasonings: Chili powder or paprika, ground cumin, garam masala, salt, ground coriander, an turmeric powder.
- Olive oil: or any other neutral tasting oil.
- Yellow Onion: use yellow cooking onion or white sweet onion.
- Tomato Sauce: use canned tomato sauce unless you would like to make your own. There are great organic options in stores.
- Coconut milk: I am using the ones in the cans. The thicker ones are similar to heavy cream. Not the coconut milk you drink.
- Cilantro: This is used to garnish and gives the dish an overall kick in flavor. If you do not like cilantro, you may skip or use parsley.
- Lemon wedges: used to garnish or for some extra zest. But if you don’t care for it you may skip.
How to make authentic chicken tikka masala
Step 1: In a medium bowl prepare the marination by combining the chicken, yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, ginger, chili powder, ground cumin, garam masala, and salt. Allow the chicken to marinate for at least 30 minutes (preferably overnight).
Step 2: Heat a large skillet on medium heat and add oil. Once the oil is heated add the chicken pieces and cook for 5-6 minutes until lightly browned. Transfer the cooked chicken pieces to a plate and set them aside.
Step 3: To the same skillet add 1 tablespoon of oil. Add the onion and garlic, and saute for 3-5 minutes until the onions turn translucent. Add in the spices; paprika, coriander, garam masala, salt, and turmeric powder. Saute for a minute.
Step 4: Stir in the tomato sauce and cook for a couple of minutes.
Step 5: When the sauce is thickened add the coconut milk and cook for 5 minutes.
Step 6: Once the tikka masala starts bubbling add the chicken back to the pot and allow the masala to simmer for 10 minutes on a low flame.
Step 7: After the chicken is cooked through add in the chopped cilantro and turn off the heat.
Step 8: Serve the creamy chicken tikka masala with a bowl of rice to enjoy!
Recipe notes and tips
- Keep it a vegetarian meal by using tofu instead of chicken
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- To freeze: place in an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months.
- If you do not like coconut milk, you may use heavy cream if you aren’t counting calories.
- For the lactose-free option, use dairy-free yogurt and coconut milk.
- Use all fresh ingredients if possible. So fresh garlic, fresh lemon, and fresh lemons.
- Best served with white rice, or to keep it a low carb meal, use cauliflower rice.
Frequently asked questions
Tikka masala spice combines flavorful ingredients like ground cumin, chili or paprika powder, whole coriander seeds (or ground), whole black and green cardamoms, turmeric powder, cinnamon, cloves, and Kashmiri red chili powder. I have tweaked the seasonings on this chicken tikka masala recipe to the perfect flavor combination.
Tikka in the name tikka masala refers to chicken tikka—made with boneless chicken chunks marinated in spices and yogurt, then pan-fried or baked before added to the seasoned tomato sauce.
The difference is that tikka masala has added a combination of spices not found in just tikka. Most would have garam masala spices added in.
Masala means that the dish has a combination of spices that are mostly used in Indian foods and cuisines that have been ground up into a paste or powder. It gives the dish an authentic burst of flavors found in Indian dishes.
More chicken recipes
- Easy Butter Chicken
- Chicken Cauliflower Fried Rice
- Creamy Chicken Fajita Skillet
- Cheesy Italian Stuffed Chicken Breast
- Instant Pot Chicken Curry
- Thai Green Chicken Curry
- Turkey Meatballs in Curry Sauce
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Creamy Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe
Ingredients
For the chicken
- 1 ½ pounds chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized cubes
- ¾ cup Greek yogurt, or dairy-free yogurt
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ginger, grated
- 1 teaspoon chili powder or paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
For the tikka masala
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ginger, grated
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- 8 ounces tomato sauce, one can
- 1 cup canned coconut milk
- 1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped
- Lemon wedges, to garnish
Instructions
- In a medium bowl prepare the marination by combining the 1 ½ pounds chicken breasts, ¾ cup Greek yogurt, 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, 1 teaspoon garlic, 1 teaspoon ginger, 1 teaspoon chili powder or paprika, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon garam masala, and 1 teaspoon salt. Allow the chicken to marinate for at least 30 minutes (preferably overnight).
- Heat a large skillet on medium heat and add 2 tablespoons olive oil. Once the oil is heated, add the chicken pieces and cook for 5-6 minutes until lightly browned. Transfer the cooked chicken pieces to a plate and set them aside.
- To the same skillet add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add the 1 medium yellow onion (diced) and 1 teaspoon garlic (minced), and saute for 3-5 minutes until the onions turn translucent.
- Add in the spices: 1 teaspoon ginger, 1 teaspoon ground coriander,1 teaspoon garam masala, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon paprika, and ½ teaspoon turmeric powder. Saute for a minute.
- Stir in the 8 ounces tomato sauce and cook for a couple of minutes. Once the sauce is thickened, add the 1 cup canned coconut milk and cook for 5 minutes.
- Once the tikka masala starts bubbling add the chicken back to the pot and allow the masala to simmer for 10 minutes on a low flame.
- Once the chicken is cooked through add in the chopped 1 tablespoon cilantro and turn off the heat.
- Serve the creamy chicken tikka masala with a bowl of rice to enjoy! Lemon wedges optional.
Video
Notes
- For a vegetarian option use tofu.
- Greek yogurt can be substituted with a dairy-free option or plain yogurt.
- If you don’t have coconut milk, you may use heavy cream which isn’t an ideal substation. The calorie count will vary.
- You may use chicken thighs instead of chicken breast.
- Any oil of choice works.
- Serve with rice or for a low-carb option serve with cauliflower rice.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Can’t wait to try it. First time cooking from scratch, I usually cheat watch this space
The most creamy, delicious, tender chicken tikka masala. I just wanted to lick the plate! But instead I sopped it up with some wonderful naan.
Is this spicy?
Great tasting but there seems to be an error in your ingredients list. The 1tsp of grated ginger is listed in the Tikka masala ingredients section too, but the instructions never use it.
Thanks Nate
Very tasty, that being said there is no way! It only has 5g of fat per serving. 1 cup of coconut milk by itself is 40g of fat now include the oil….much higher
patrick shut up let me believe im being healthy
It was so good.. thank you for sharing..
Thanks. Glad you liked it
Turned out delicious! I used extra firm tofu and ended up putting the greek yogurt marinated into the sauce to add more protein. Worked out great!
Nice. Glad you loved it
I just tried this recipe. It was really great , my husband was shocked that it turned out this delicious and healthy , thank you so much
Perfect! So glad he loved it