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Chicken Tikka Masala

5 from 1 vote

An incredibly popular dish made with tender chunks of yogurt marinated chicken, folded into a richly spiced tomato sauce with just a hint of heat from the cayenne

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 Chicken Tikka Masala ~ an incredibly popular dish made with tender chunks of yogurt marinated chicken, folded into a richly spiced tomato sauce with just a hint of heat from the cayenne. www.savingdessert.com

Chicken Tikka Masala – a restaurant quality recipe with tons of flavor.

Chicken Tikka Masala is an incredibly popular dish made with tender chunks of yogurt marinated chicken, folded into a richly spiced tomato sauce with just a hint of heat from the cayenne.

 

This recipe first appeared on RecipeGirl where I’m a contributor and occasionally post delicious recipes!  

 

Chicken Tikka Masala ~ an incredibly popular dish made with tender chunks of yogurt marinated chicken, folded into a richly spiced tomato sauce with just a hint of heat from the cayenne. www.savingdessert.com

What makes this dish so popular?

The beautiful orange-red color is common in all Chicken Tikka Masala dishes, but the spices may vary greatly from recipe to recipe.  Many years ago when I tried Chicken Tikka Masala for the very first time, I knew this dish would be a regular on our menu rotation.  It was a new and exciting dish for me at the time, and I was surprised to find the chicken incredibly tender, and the aromatic sauce rich with warm spices.  The aroma is practically exciting with hints of cinnamon and fresh ginger.
Masala loosely means a mixture of spices commonly used in South Asian cooking.  Garam masala, one of the spices used heavily in traditional Indian cooking, is often a mixture of ground coriander, black pepper, cumin, cardamon and cinnamon.
 Chicken Tikka Masala ~ an incredibly popular dish made with tender chunks of yogurt marinated chicken, folded into a richly spiced tomato sauce with just a hint of heat from the cayenne. www.savingdessert.com

Chicken Tikka Masala is believed to be the most popular dish in the United Kingdom and has been called the true national dish of Britain.

The origins of the recipe are unclear, and often disputed, but the taste is certainly memorable.  If you can’t travel to Britain, India, Pakistan or Bangladesh where this dish is often served in restaurants, then make it at home. It’s worth a little effort to multitask this to your table. Enjoy a wonderful culinary adventure without leaving your own kitchen!
Garnish with cilantro and serve over rice with homemade naan bread on the side for a complete and delicious meal!

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A bowl of rice topped with chicken tikka masala with cilantro

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Chicken Tikka Masala

Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours
Yield: 6
Course: Main Course
Author: Tricia
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5 from 1 vote
An incredibly popular dish made with tender chunks of yogurt marinated chicken, folded into a richly spiced tomato sauce with just a hint of heat from the cayenne

Ingredients

For the chicken:

  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon ground coriander
  • ½ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (or more to taste)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 cup Greek Yogurt, full fat
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger

For the masala sauce:

  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 teaspoons fresh grated ginger
  • 1  fresh Serrano chili (ribs and seed removed) minced
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon garam masala
  • 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • ¼ cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped plus more for garnish

Instructions

To prepare the chicken:

  • Combine the cumin, coriander, cayenne and salt in a small bowl.  Place the chicken breasts on a large sheet pan and flatten a little to ensure even baking.  Sprinkle both sides of the chicken with the spice mixture and press into the meat.  In a medium mixing bowl combine the yogurt, oil, garlic and ginger.  Spoon the yogurt mixture evenly over both sides of the chicken and spread to cover. Using tongs, place the chicken breasts in large ziplock bag and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 8.
  • Preheat oven to 400°F.  Place the chicken breasts on a rimmed baking sheet in a single layer.  Bake for 40 minutes, turning after 20 minutes.  Bake until the chicken is fully cooked and lightly browned.  Remove and let the chicken rest for about 10 minutes.  Carefully slice into bite size pieces.

To prepare the marsala sauce:

  • While the chicken is in the oven, prepare the sauce.  Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat.  Add the onion and cook stirring frequently until light golden brown, about 10 minutes.  Add the garlic, ginger, chili pepper, tomato paste and the garam masala.  Cook stirring continuously until fragrant, about 3 minutes.  Add the crushed tomatoes, sugar and salt.  Bring mixture to a boil and reduce the heat to medium-low.  Cover and simmer 15 minutes stirring occasionally.  Stir in the cream and return to simmer.  Remove the pan from the heat and cover to keep warm.
  • Toss the chicken in the warm masala sauce but do not cook.  Stir in the cilantro and check the seasoning.  Garnish with additional cilantro if desired.  Serve with rice and Naan bread

Recipe Notes

  • For the best flavor, use fresh Garam Masala if possible
  • Adapted from a 2007 Cook's Illustrated recipe
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. When multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

Nutrition

Calories: 410kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 119mg | Sodium: 953mg | Potassium: 592mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 786IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 84mg | Iron: 1mg

We love going on food adventures, trying new cuisines and then sharing with friends and family.  This Braised Indian Chicken with Chickpeas and Spinach from A Beautiful Plate is one of those adventure meal I can’t wait to try!  Another super popular Indian dish is Butter Chicken and I love this version of the recipe from RecipeTin Eats.

Don’t forget to serve Chicken Tikka Masala with our Homemade Naan Bread.  Excuse the old photos – I’ve learned a lot in 7 years!

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Tricia

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30 Comments

  2. Liz

    I love using yogurt to marinate chicken! There is so much flavor and deliciousness in every bite of your chicken tikki masala!!

    Reply

  3. Chris Scheuer

    Somehow I missed this Tricia! We’re crazy about Chicken Tikka Masala. I love that the chicken is baked in this recipe – it makes it so simple! There are so many unique versions, this one sounds like a winner that I need to try!

    Reply

  4. Dom

    That looks so incredibly good. I think chicken tikka masala is probably my favourite Indian cuisine dish. I love how sweet and mildly spicy it is. Your dish really does look so pretty too. Oh I’m hungry now and it’s not even breakfast time yet here!!

    Reply

    • Tricia Buice

      Thank you ladies! I don’t get out often enough either and sometimes seem disappointed with restaurant food. So, I find something I want to try and make it myself! I have had chicken tikka masala in an Indian restaurant, but would love to try it in England for the full experience 🙂 Happy Memorial Day to you and your families!

      Reply

  9. Monica

    This is making me drool, Tricia! Indian food is one cuisine I can’t control myself over and I love chicken tikka masala! Believe it or not, I have whole yogurt on hand so I was planning Indian fake-out takeout night for tomorrow. I make rice and warm some naan…I marinate the chicken in yogurt, tandoori spices, and lemon juice, then broil it…but here’s my confession…I use jarred masala sauce! Yikes! You are inspiring me to try it from scratch! Yours looks really amazing!
    Have a great Memorial Day weekend!

    Reply

    • Tricia Buice

      Hi Monica! I will have to look for the jarred masala sauce – that would be great for a quick dinner. This is super easy to make, with just a few steps. The flavor is out of this world. Happy Memorial Day to you!

      Reply

  10. cheri

    I’ve had this dish many times and often thought it would be too complicated to make myself. You make it sound very manageable and delicious!! have a great Memorial week-end!

    Reply

  12. tanna

    I’ve never had Chicken Tikka Masala, but I can tell by the list of ingredients and your beautiful photos, I’d love it!! And, I always love trying something new! Thank you, Tricia! Hope y’all have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend! blessings ~ tanna

    Reply

  14. Pam

    It looks delicious, Tricia! I’ve never made it and have to give it a try. Bet the flavors are delicious together! Evidently, the Brits know what’s good! Yum!

    Reply

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