Whether you’re new to Indian food or consider yourself a proud connoisseur, this easy Chicken Tikka Masala recipe will become a fast favorite in your home. Tender pieces of chicken are slow simmered in a spiced yogurt tomato sauce made with coconut milk for a flavor-packed dish perfect for any night of the week.
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Chicken tikka masala is FAB-U-LOUS.
I spent one of the tastiest months of my life traveling around India, and Ben worked there for two summers.
Thanks to our mutual food affair, on the nights we order takeout, it’s almost always Indian food. Each time, we pick a different mix of dishes to share.
Well, most of the dishes are different, with one notable exception. I think you know where this is going.
Chicken tikka masala.
5 Star Review
“This is absolutely delish! So simple to make and the family gobbled it all up! I love all your recipes! I’m so happy I found your site!”
— Tab —
If you haven’t eaten Indian food before, the taste of tikka masala can be a little hard to describe.
Picture warm, aromatic, and a little exotic. Indian food, in general, is robust which is one of the reasons I love it. Every time I eat it, I’m transported to a faraway, dreamy place.
It’s also really, really good.
What is Chicken Tikka Masala?
Traditional Indian chicken tikka masala features pieces of chicken tikka (chicken tikka is boneless chicken marinated in spices and yogurt that is roasted in an oven), served in a creamy tomato curry sauce.
The Origin of Chicken Tikka Masala
The true chicken tikka masala origin is up for dispute.
- Some say it was created Punjab, India by accident a mere 50 years ago.
- Some say it originated in a South Asian community in Britain.
- One popular account states that chicken tikka masala actually originated in Scotland, where a British Pakistani chef added a tomato cream sauce over the top of his chicken tikka to satisfy a customer (the customer was expecting more of a gravy and thought the original dish was dry). The addition was a huge success, and the variation stuck.
Wherever and however this dish came to be, I’m certainly glad it did! I suspect you will be too.
Chicken tikka masala is typically served over rice (try Turmeric Rice!), often with naan bread to mop up the saucy goodness (this Homemade Naan recipe is our favorite).
No one single recipe is standard.
But Is It Spicy?
This particular chicken tikka masala recipe is not “spicy” in the sense of hot, the way a jalapeno might be. (If you are looking for spicy as in hot, try this Jamaican Curry Chicken.)
Made with garam masala (which is a blend of many spices), turmeric, and cumin, chicken tikka masala is spicy and rich, but only in the sense of FLAVOR.
Chicken Tikka Masala vs. Butter Chicken
Chicken tikka masala is frequently confused with butter chicken, which has a similar appearance.
- Both dishes have the same orange-colored sauce and bite-sized pieces of chicken.
- Unlike chicken tikka masala, however, butter chicken does not have a prominent tomato flavor.
- Butter chicken’s sauce is also slightly creamier and richer.
Both dishes are unbelievably delicious, and I highly recommend trying them both. Check out my Slow Cooker Butter Chicken, Instant Pot Butter Chicken, or stovetop Indian Butter Chicken for easy butter chicken recipes.
A Healthy Adaptation
How to Make Chicken Tikka Masala
Many authentic Indian chicken tikka masala recipes have a list of ingredients that runs the length of my forearm.
However, what you’ll find in today’s post is a streamlined, easy chicken tikka masala recipe made on the stovetop with lightened-up ingredients you can find at most grocery stores.
While not every version of chicken tikka masala is healthy, this one, which includes veggies, light coconut milk, no salt added tomato sauce, and uses Greek yogurt instead of cream, certainly is.
All you need is a great big pot, a spoon, and of course, an appetite!
The Ingredients in Chicken Tikka Masala
- Chicken. I used boneless, skinless chicken breast, though you can certainly swap chicken thighs. It becomes tantalizingly tender once slow cooked in the sauce and spices.
- Garlic + Ginger. Both add to the complex flavors of the dish.
- Garam Masala. A blend of many spices (including cinnamon, mace, peppercorns, coriander, cumin, and cardamom to name a few), it’s a one-stop flavor shop and a must-have spice for Indian-inspired recipes like this one. It can be found at most grocery stores and online here.
- More Classic Indian Spices. Turmeric, chili powder, cumin, and cayenne help create the bold, deep, and complex flavor we expect from chicken tikka masala sauce. Adjust the amount of cayenne as needed to reach your desired level of spiciness.
- Tomato Sauce. I prefer to use a sauce with no salt added for better control over the saltiness of the dish.
- Coconut Milk + Greek Yogurt. My wholesome swaps for the heavy cream. Both ingredients help thicken the sauce and make it supremely rich and creamy. I used light coconut milk and nonfat Greek yogurt.
- Peas. A colorful final veggie addition. Frozen peas work beautifully here. You don’t even need to thaw them first.
The Directions
- Season the chicken.
- Sauté the onion in butter. Stir in the garlic, ginger, and spices.
- Brown the chicken, stirring to coat the pieces in the spices. Look at that color!
- Stir in the tomato sauce and coconut milk. Simmer until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce is thick.
- Stir in the yogurt. Serve with rice or naan, with a sprinkle of cilantro. ENJOY!
Storage Tips for Chicken Masala Recipe
- To Store. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight storage container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- To Reheat. Rewarm tikka masala in a Dutch oven on the stovetop over medium-low heat. You can also reheat this dish in the microwave.
- To Freeze. Freeze leftovers in an airtight freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. The texture of the sauce may change, but the flavors will still be delicious.
What to Serve with Chicken Tikka Masala
Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe
- Dutch Oven. A classic kitchen tool that’s perfect for making this recipe.
- Extra Large Cutting Board. Never run out of cutting space again.
- Measuring Spoons. Perfect for measuring all the different spices in this dish.
Cooking this recipe takes me right back to that wonderful summer in India. I hope it transports you there too!
As always, if you try this recipe please leave a comment below to let me know how it came out. Your notes and kind reviews keep me going, and your feedback is so important to me.
Chicken Tikka Masala
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Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt divided
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 small yellow onion finely chopped
- 3 large cloves garlic minced (about 1 tablespoon)
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
- 1 tablespoon garam masala*
- 1 teaspoon ground chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne use more if you like the dish spicy
- 1 8-ounce can no salt added tomato sauce
- 1 14.5-ounce can light coconut milk
- ¾ cup frozen peas no need to thaw
- ½ cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
- Prepared brown rice or Homemade Naan; for serving
- Fresh cilantro for serving
Instructions
- Season the chicken with 1 teaspoon kosher salt and set aside.
- In a Dutch oven or similar large, sturdy pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Once melted, add the onion. Cook until beginning to soften, about 4 minutes. Stir in the garlic, ginger, garam masala, chili powder, cumin, turmeric, and cayenne. Cook, stirring often, until the onion is completely soft and the spices are very fragrant, about 3 minutes more.
- Add the chicken pieces, stir to coat with the spices and onion, and cook, stirring often, just until the outsides start to brown, about 4 minutes.
- Add the tomato sauce, coconut milk, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Stir to combine.
- Bring the pot to a simmer, then reduce the heat to medium low. Let simmer gently until the sauce thickens slightly and the chicken is tender and cooked through, about 20 minutes.
- Stir in the peas.
- Let cool for 3 to 4 minutes, and then stir in the Greek yogurt (do not stir in the Greek yogurt right away or it may curdle). Enjoy warm with rice or naan and a sprinkle of fresh cilantro.
Video
Notes
- *Garam masala is a blend of many spices and is very important to the final flavor of the recipe. It is available in most grocery stores and can also be found online here.
- TO STORE: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight storage container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- TO REHEAT: Rewarm chicken tikka masala in a Dutch oven on the stovetop over medium-low heat. You can also reheat this dish in the microwave.
- TO FREEZE: Freeze leftovers in an airtight freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. The texture of the sauce may change, but the flavors will still be delicious.
- Adapted from my Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala.
Nutrition
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Delicious! Made in the slow cooker on high and it was done in two hours. Flavors are amazing. My 4 year old loved it. I added lentils and blended them in for extra protein. Thank you! Will make again.
Hi Virginia! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Hi Erin! I love your recipes so much. I have a question about light coconut milk—do you have a lower-fat suggestion? I have high cholesterol, so I really try to limit this, but boy, do I love Tikka Masala so much. I wonder if I did half or a quarter can plus subbed the rest for something else. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Hi Danielle, The coconut milk is used in place of heavy cream, so you could try with whatever you normally substitute for heavy cream. If you give it a try, I’d love to know how it turns out for you. Enjoy!
This is a family favorite of ours! I do have a quick question though – do you have the sodium content for the recipe by any chance. I’d like to make it for my mother, but she’s on a sodium-restricted diet. Thanks so much!
Glad to hear you enjoyed the recipe, Beth! I stopped including sodium info because it can vary so much depending upon what products you used, and I found a lot of conflicting info online, so ultimately I didn’t feel comfortable publishing it because sometimes it wasn’t even in the ballpark. If you’d like to calculate it yourself, there are lots of free tools online (myfitnesspal.com is popular). I hope that helps!