Homemade Tikka Masala with Chicken Recipe - Everyday Dishes (2024)

Home » eat » Homemade Tikka Masala with Chicken

by Cheryl Najafi on Jun 7, 2017 2 comments »

Jump to Recipe

We confess—we absolutely love Indian cuisine and were slightly intimidated about developing a homemade tikka masala with chicken recipe. We had to achieve the taste we were looking for while creating a recipe that is easy to make!

Our process ended up being rather straightforward from start to finish—not laborious or intimidating like we initially thought! This dish will make your home smell fantastic and is a complete meal when served over a bed of steamed rice. It’s fun to try new things!

To make the homemade tikka masala marinade, you will need to purchase a bottle of garam masala. It’s been right in front of you all these years in the spice section—some of us just didn’t know what it was used for! This blend of spices, including cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and black pepper is available in any well-stocked grocery store; however, the blend may slightly vary from brand to brand.

This post includes links to purchase items you’ll need from our affiliates.

Watch our video on how to peel and grate ginger!

Homemade Tikka Masala with Chicken Recipe - Everyday Dishes (3)

Homemade Tikka Masala with Chicken Recipe

Create homemade tikka masala with chicken to rival the same spicy dish found at Indian restaurants! This is one of our most popular recipes for a reason.

Print Recipe

Ingredients

Yield: 6 servings

4.59 from 17 ratings

Leave a Review

  • 1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1" cubes

marinade

sauce

Instructions

  • To make the marinade, add yogurt, garlic, ginger, lemon juice, garam masala, salt and pepper to a medium-sized bowl then stir until completely combined.

  • Add diced chicken, stirring until each piece of chicken is coated, then cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight.

  • Preheat oven to 475 degrees. Coat a baking sheet generously with cooking spray then spread marinated chicken pieces evenly on the sheet. Bake 10 minutes or until chicken is just barely cooked through and coating becomes scorched in places. Remove from oven then set aside while the sauce is prepared.

  • Place a large high-sided skillet over medium heat then add butter. When butter has melted, add garlic, jalapenos and ginger and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add tomato paste, garam masala and paprika then cook approximately 1 minute to toast spices and brown tomato paste just slightly.

  • Pour in petite diced tomatoes including juice and water. Stir to dissolve then let sauce to come to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer 20 minutes, stirring frequently until sauce becomes very thick. If a smooth sauce is desired, you may puree the mixture then return it to the pan.

  • Add cream and chicken, including any juices from the chicken, then stir to combine. Simmer chicken in sauce approximately 10 minutes then season with salt and pepper. Serve over fresh steamed rice and garnish with finely chopped cilantro.

Notes

Some spice blends and canned tomatoes include salt so don’t add any additional salt to the sauce until after it has reduced and cream has been added.

Author: Cheryl Najafi

Course: dinner

Calories: 438kcal, Carbohydrates: 34g, Protein: 27g, Fat: 22g, Saturated Fat: 13g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 121mg, Sodium: 846mg, Potassium: 217mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 4g

Tried this recipe?Mention @EverydayDishes or tag #everydaydishes!

Homemade Tikka Masala with Chicken Recipe - Everyday Dishes (4)

Chicken dinner eat High Protein Sauces

originally published on Jun 7, 2017 (last updated Aug 12, 2023)

2 comments Leave a comment »

« Previous PostChewy Gluten-Free Chocolate Cookies with Pecans

Next Post »Low-Sugar Strawberry Parfaits Video

2 comments on “Homemade Tikka Masala with Chicken”

Leave a comment »

  1. Sherry

    Was wanting to try the Garam masala I picked up at the farmers market last week . Very good easy weeknight version, teenager approved! I used coconut milk instead of cream. Thanks for posting.

  2. Barb

    Pretty decent flavour for a “quicker-to-make” version of one of my fave dishes! Used coconut milk in place of cream and finished off with a swirl of cream

Leave a Reply

Homemade Tikka Masala with Chicken Recipe - Everyday Dishes (2024)

FAQs

Is chicken tikka masala healthy or unhealthy? ›

It's one of the most-ordered entrees at Indian joints. But like many Indian dishes that were originally low fat, the modern recipe for chicken tikka masala is anything but. An average portion has whopping 1,249 calories and 90.8 grams of fat. A lot of that comes from the ghee and heavy cream.

How long does homemade chicken tikka masala last in fridge? ›

Leftover chicken tikka masala will keep in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months when stored in an airtight container.To reheat, just put it in the microwave for about 4 minutes on medium high heat.

What to serve with tikka masala? ›

Traditionally, chicken tikka masala is served with vegetables, steamed long-grained basmati or white rice, toasted pita, or any type of naan bread. Then top it with some chopped coriander, and finally serve with a few lemon wedges on the side.

What makes tikka masala taste good? ›

An incredible combination of spices are simmered into this creamy, tomato based sauce that tastes so perfect it makes your curry explode with flavour.
  1. Garam Masala.
  2. Cumin.
  3. Ground Coriander.
  4. Turmeric.

Is chicken tikka masala bad for blood pressure? ›

Chicken Tikka Masala has many health benefits. The primary source of protein in Chicken Tikka Masala is chicken. It also helps control blood pressure and weight loss and reduces harmful cholesterol levels.

What are the disadvantages of chicken masala? ›

**Sodium Content**: Many restaurant or pre-packaged versions of chicken masala can be high in sodium due to the use of salt and store-bought sauces or spice blends. Excessive sodium intake can contribute to high blood pressure and other health issues.

Can I eat chicken tikka everyday? ›

High Fat and Cholesterol Content.

One serving of tikka masala contains approximately 53 grams of fat or 81 percent of the daily value (based on a 2,000-calorie diet). Saturated fat can drastically increase your risk for heart disease and raise your cholesterol levels.

What side dish goes with chicken tikka masala? ›

Here are some popular side dishes to serve with chicken tikka:
  • Naan or Roti: Soft and fluffy Indian bread like naan or whole wheat roti is a classic accompaniment to chicken tikka. ...
  • Mint Chutney: A fresh and cooling mint chutney made with yogurt, mint leaves, and spices can balance the spiciness of the chicken tikka.
Nov 12, 2017

Can I freeze homemade tikka masala? ›

Will keep, in an airtight container, in the freezer for up to three months.

What is the main flavor in tikka masala? ›

Tikka Masala is a tomato and cream-based sauce that's smoky from the chargrilled chicken, rich and creamy, with a slight sweetness and tanginess with mild heat (although we like it hot!) punctuated by earthy spices, ginger and garlic.

What vegetable goes well with tikka masala? ›

Vegetables – there are so many vegetables that go well with tikka masala. Use 2 cups of your favourite fresh or frozen vegetables. I use a mix of knobby cauliflower florets, diced carrot or sweet potato and frozen peas. Spinach leaves are a great addition too, or even a can of lentils or chickpeas for added protein.

What to add to tikka masala sauce jar? ›

Add more spices: Store-bought curry sauces often lack the depth of flavour that homemade sauces have. To remedy this, you can add more spices like cumin, turmeric, coriander, and garam masala.

What is the difference between chicken tikka masala and chicken tikka curry? ›

Chicken tikka is a dish made by marinating chunks of chicken in a mixture of yogurt and spices, then grilling or broiling them. Chicken tikka masala, on the other hand, is a dish made by cooking chunks of chicken tikka in a tomato-based sauce, which is often creamy and spicy.

What's the difference between chicken tikka and chicken tikka masala? ›

Tikka refers to grilled or roasted pieces of meat that are either marinated in yogurt or spiced water before being cooked on skewers. Masala refers to a sauce made with cream, yogurt, or tomatoes; or a mixture of spices used to flavor food.

How do Indian restaurants thicken their sauces? ›

Adding tomato puree is probably the most common method of thickening curry sauces. Simply add the tomato puree during the cooking process rather than adding it at the end.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Saturnina Altenwerth DVM

Last Updated:

Views: 6312

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (64 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Saturnina Altenwerth DVM

Birthday: 1992-08-21

Address: Apt. 237 662 Haag Mills, East Verenaport, MO 57071-5493

Phone: +331850833384

Job: District Real-Estate Architect

Hobby: Skateboarding, Taxidermy, Air sports, Painting, Knife making, Letterboxing, Inline skating

Introduction: My name is Saturnina Altenwerth DVM, I am a witty, perfect, combative, beautiful, determined, fancy, determined person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.