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Home » Recipes » Easy Chicken Tikka Masala

Easy Chicken Tikka Masala

By: Rebecca  |  Published: January 1, 2018  |  Updated: July 8, 2020  |   View Our Affiliate Disclosure Policy

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This Easy Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe is a delicious British Indian recipe made with a rich and creamy tomato curry sauce loaded with bold spices and chicken. via @sugarandsoulco

This Easy Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe is a delicious British Indian recipe made with a rich and creamy tomato curry sauce loaded with bold spices and chicken.

This Easy Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe is a delicious British Indian recipe made with a rich and creamy tomato curry sauce loaded with bold spices and chicken.

This Chicken Tikka Masala recipe is an easy family favorite, loaded with bold flavors and a creamy sauce that you won’t be able to get enough of!

My first experience with Indian food wasn’t the greatest, I was in high school and had no idea what I was ordering. I don’t remember what I ordered, but I don’t remember loving it either. Maybe it just wasn’t a great restaurant, I don’t know, I’ve never been back.

However, as I’ve gotten older and the more I’ve traveled, I have grown to truly love Indian food. My reintroduction to it came at Epcot, I’d never had butter chicken before, but as soon as it hit my mouth, I was instantly in love.

Chicken Tikka Masala

But it’s not butter chicken that I love the most, it’s actually Chicken Tikka Masala. While very similar, the two dishes are different. And one of them didn’t originate in India!

Where Did It Originate?

Glasgow, Scotland. Yep, that’s right, or at least most believe that to be the case. Rumor has it, sometime in the 1960s, Pakistani chef, Ali Ahmed Aslam, the chef at Shish Mahal restaurant made Tandoori chicken too dry and a customer sent it back, so he mixed it up with tomato soup, cream, and additional spices. And chicken tikka masala was born.

Easy Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe

What’s The Difference Between Butter Chicken And Chicken Tikka Masala?

Well, since there are endless variations of each of them, this one is a little harder to pinpoint. Both are a tomato cream sauce with chicken and spices, but they actually taste quite different. Here are some of the key differences between the two dishes.

Butter Chicken:

  • Butter
  • Sweeter
  • Bone-in chicken (traditionally)

Chicken Tikka Masala:

  • Onions
  • Spicy
  • Boneless Chicken

Preparations have changed over the years and across the world, but they do remain different recipes of different origins and flavors.

How to make Chicken Tikka Masala at home

I haven’t been to India (yet) and I can only imagine that however tasty American and UK versions of these recipes are, they will never quite touch the real thing. Have any of you seen (or read) The Hundred-Foot Journey?

It’s such a beautiful story about an Indian immigrant family, food, and love. You must watch it if you haven’t already and I bet you’ll be craving this Chicken Tikka Masala by the end of it!

So the recipe I have for you today isn’t what I would call authentic, but I would like to think that it’s a great American take on the classic chicken tikka masala, and the best part is that I’ve made this EASY. Seriously, this deliciously spicy and creamy dish only takes around 30 minutes to make! And it reheats well!

And yes, we’re kind of cheating a little, normally, you’d use chicken tikka in chicken tikka masala, which is chicken that’s been marinated in yogurt and spices and then grilled. But as a busy woman who lives in what is currently frigid Maine, I won’t be doing any grilling anytime soon.

I’m also that worst at planning meals ahead which means I tend to forget to marinade things. And well… dishes. But I promise the masala part of this recipe (the sauce) has enough flavor that your taste buds will still be doing a happy (spicy) dance!

Easy and quick chicken tikka masala recipe

What You’ll Need For This Recipe:

  • Spices – And a whole lot of ’em! You’ll use a good mix of coriander, garam masala, cumin, smoked paprika, turmeric, cardamom, cayenne, and cinnamon in this dish. Like I said before, this recipe packs a ton of flavor!
  • Chicken Breasts – You’ll want to use boneless skinless breasts in this recipe, after cooking them in a pan, you can cut them to whatever sized chunks you’d like before adding them into the masala sauce.
  • Tomato Sauce – This is NOT pasta sauce, this is straight-up tomato sauce out of a can! This gives the masala it’s delicious tomato base.
  • Heavy Cream – Heavy whipping cream is fine too if that’s all you can find. But half and half, light cream, and milk just won’t do. You want this recipe to be rich and creamy!
  • A Large Pot – Even if you don’t fill it, I find it easiest to cook this recipe in a large pot like this one. You want to make sure to have a large surface area to heat the sauce.
  • A Skillet – You’ll want to cook the chicken separately in a skillet. I like this non-stick pan for easy cooking and clean up.

More Delicious Chicken Recipes!

  • Cajun Chicken Pasta
  • Spicy Bourbon Chicken
  • Chicken Fajita Rice
  • Chicken & Rice Casserole
  • Garlic Chicken

👋 Let’s Connect!

If you’ve tried this recipe please let me know how you liked it in the comments below and leave a review, I love hearing from you! And don’t forget to tag me – @sugarandsoulco – on Instagram and Pinterest with your photos! You can also Subscribe to my Newsletter so you never miss a delicious recipe again!

This Easy Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe is a delicious British Indian recipe made with a rich and creamy tomato curry sauce loaded with bold spices and chicken.

Easy Chicken Tikka Masala

Rebecca Hubbell
This Easy Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe is a delicious British Indian recipe made with a rich and creamy tomato curry sauce loaded with bold spices and chicken.
5 from 14 votes
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Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 25 mins
Total Time 35 mins
Course Dinner
Cuisine English, Indian
Servings 4
Calories 397

Ingredients
  

  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon ground garam masala
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 1/2 to 2 teaspoons ground cayenne pepper* see notes
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 large white onion diced
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 15 ounces tomato sauce
  • 2 large chicken breasts
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • salt to taste
  • pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Combine all spices together in a small bowl. 
  • Add the diced onion and butter to a large pot over medium heat and cook until onions are translucent, stirring frequently for about 5 minutes. 
  • Add garlic and saute for about 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently so as not to burn. If more butter is needed, feel free to add a little. 
  • Add in half of the spice mixture and stir to combine. 
  • Add tomato sauce and heavy cream and the remaining spices and stir to combine.
  • Continue to cook over medium-low heat until sauce thickens, stirring frequently. The cook time can vary depending on the type of pan and stove you’re cooking on, but generally between 10 and 15 minutes.
  • While the sauce is cooking, slice chicken breasts into two filets each, creating four equally sized pieces, season the chicken with salt and pepper.
  • Add vegetable oil to a large pan and cook the chicken breasts over medium heat until golden brown on both sides and the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. 
  • Chop the chicken into chunks and add it to the sauce, let lightly simmer for a couple of minutes. 
  • Serve over basmati rice with naan bread.

Video

Notes

Chicken Tikka Masala is generally spicy, but you can control the amount of spice in the dish with how much cayenne pepper you add. I would recommend about 1/2 teaspoon if you like things a little milder and then work your way up from there a 1/2 teaspoon at a time. Remember that the heat will build, so if you have leftovers, they’re likely going to be hotter than when you first made the dish.

Nutrition

Calories: 397kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 15gFat: 33gSaturated Fat: 20gCholesterol: 132mgSodium: 698mgPotassium: 676mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1980IUVitamin C: 11.4mgCalcium: 69mgIron: 1.9mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag me now!Mention @sugarandsoulco or tag #sugarandsoulco!
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Chicken Dinner Recipes

About Rebecca Hubbell

I love sharing mouthwatering and fun recipes with all of you! My recipes are inspired by classic comfort food, the places I travel, and pop culture! I have a serious sweet tooth and love a good cocktail and pancakes and bacon are definitely my weakness! So stick around a discover something delicious!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tess says

    January 22, 2021 at 3:10 pm

    I planned on making this for dinner but realized I don’t have heavy cream. What can I substitute? Would regular milk be good and add a little Cornstarch?

    Reply
    • Rebecca Hubbell says

      January 22, 2021 at 3:15 pm

      To substitute for 1 cup of heavy cream (what this recipe calls for), mix 1/4 cup of melted butter with 3/4 cup of whole milk. This stand-in is best for cooking. If you have half and half, you can use 7 ounces of H&H and 2 tablespoons of melted butter.

      Reply
  2. Tara says

    December 28, 2020 at 10:37 pm

    5 stars
    I have recently tried Chicken tikka masala and wanted to recreate it at home. This was very similar and delicious! My family was very hesitant to try but my husband and daughter loved it too!

    Reply
  3. Madison says

    November 2, 2020 at 4:27 pm

    5 stars
    I made this last night and it was so delicious. I love how easy this recipe is! Definitely a new family favorite!!

    Reply
  4. Amanda says

    October 16, 2020 at 10:34 pm

    Can I substitute Coconut milk for the heavy cream??

    Reply
    • Rebecca Hubbell says

      October 18, 2020 at 10:07 pm

      The cream is an essential and classic component of this dish.

      Reply
  5. E says

    September 19, 2020 at 6:44 am

    5 stars
    Spot on! It was perfectly delicious.

    Reply
  6. Jamie says

    September 15, 2020 at 8:28 pm

    5 stars
    Super easy recipe to follow, loved the taste and will definitely be making again! Thank you for sharing!!

    Reply
  7. Kalila says

    November 23, 2019 at 8:16 am

    I was wondering what you mean by tomato sauce. It it ketchup or blended tomatoes in a can?

    Reply
    • Rebecca Hubbell says

      November 23, 2019 at 8:23 am

      Hi Kalila, It comes in a can and will be labeled Tomato Sauce, it should be in the same aisle as the diced tomatoes and tomato paste.

      Reply
  8. Ann Rickert says

    April 26, 2019 at 3:00 pm

    Can this be a overnight marinade?

    Reply
    • Rebecca Hubbell says

      April 27, 2019 at 9:53 am

      Hi Ann, I’ve never made it that way so I can’t say for sure. Traditionally, Tikka Masala is marinated in a yogurt marinade before being cooked and added to the sauce.

      Reply
  9. Andrew says

    June 17, 2018 at 9:06 pm

    5 stars
    Made for school project. Was amazing!

    Reply
    • Rebecca Hubbell says

      June 18, 2018 at 8:25 am

      So glad you loved it!

      Reply
  10. Tasanee_ArizonaGirl says

    January 8, 2018 at 9:54 am

    Your nutritional facts say 11 carbs, is that before or after rice?

    Reply
    • Rebecca Hubbell says

      January 8, 2018 at 4:29 pm

      Hi there, the rice is not included in the nutritional calculations since many choose not to serve this dish over rice.

      Reply
  11. Karly says

    January 2, 2018 at 9:15 pm

    Girl, you are making magic over here. This looks AMAZING- defintiely need to try!

    Reply
  12. Chrisy says

    January 2, 2018 at 11:51 am

    5 stars
    Absolutely in love with that sauce <3 Can't wait to try making it at home!

    Reply
    • Rebecca Hubbell says

      January 2, 2018 at 12:04 pm

      You’re going to love it, such a quick and delicious dinner!

      Reply
  13. Samantha says

    January 2, 2018 at 11:49 am

    5 stars
    Mouthwatering!! Curry in general has such a presence in the UK (national dish now, I believe) and it is so tasty there. My extended UK family goes out for “a curry” all the time. Love your modern day accessible version!!

    Reply
    • Rebecca Hubbell says

      January 2, 2018 at 12:06 pm

      Yes, Samantha. It will never quite be what you’d get in a traditional curry house, but it’s a much more approachable version for the modern family! I heard it was now the National Dish, so fun! I still dream about all the curry I ate in Scotland and miss it so much!

      Reply

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