Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe

Chicken Tikka Masala is one of the most popular and loved curry dish around the world. Chicken tikka masala is spicy, buttery, creamy and smoky delicious gravy which can be made easily at home. In this recipe I have shared detailed recipe for making chicken tikka and restaurant style tikka masala gravy at home. Serve it with jeera rice, ghee rice, naan, roti, chapati, garlic naan or with plain steamed basmati rice. Learn how to make this restaurant style chicken tikka masala with step by step pictures and video.

Chicken Tikka Masala

Chicken Tikka masala is a popular gravy in which Chicken Tikka is cooked in a spicy tomato sauce. And my favourite is this one. The one thing in this recipe is, it is a two step recipe. First you have to make chicken tikka and then add that in this spicy tangy sauce. The main flavouring in this dish is butter. Since everything is done in butter it tasted awesome. I served this dish with Malabar Ghee Rice it tasted awesome.

About Chicken Tikka Masala

Chicken Tikka masala is one of the most popular dish around the world. It is also known as tikka masala, chicken tikka gravy. This dish is equally popular like butter chicken but it is slightly spicier than that.

Chicken tikka masala is a classic chicken curry with tender juicy pieces of char-grilled chicken tikka simmered in slightly spicy tomato gravy known as tikka masala gravy. The dish consist of two components, chicken tikka and chicken tikka masala. It is two step process which is so worth it. Serve it with jeera rice, ghee rice, naan, roti, chapati, garlic naan or with plain steamed basmati rice.

Chicken tikka is made with boneless chicken is marinated in yogurt, spices, ginger, garlic. Marinated chicken pieces are usually cooked in tandoor or oven till charred and cooked. Chicken tikka masala has an onion tomato gravy base simmered with spices in butter to create silky smooth sauce.

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Chicken Tikka and tikka masala originated in Northern part of India. Marinated chicken pieces is cooked in tandoor and served as an Appetizer with green chutney. Cooked chicken tikka pieces is simmered in tomato base gravy to make chicken tikka masala.

Chicken tikka masala is equally popular in British | England. It is one of the most popular chicken curry dish ordered in and around England. It is said that chefs from India popularised this curry in Britain restaurants. Chicken tikka masala is considered to be National dish of Britain.

Curry became more popular in Britain considering the large amount of Indian immigrants. The word Curry has become an integral part of British cuisine. But the process of making curries differ. British curries are usually thicker, creamier and sweeter than their Indian curries. Some of the most popular curries are this chicken tikka masala, butter chicken, chana masala and palak chicken.

Chicken Tikka Masala Ingredients

Chicken Tikka - boneless chicken is marinated in yogurt, spices, ginger, garlic. Marinated chicken pieces are usually cooked in tandoor or oven till charred and cooked.

Onion - use finely chopped onions for making the gravy. Cook the onions till golden brown which adds a sweet taste to the gravy.

Tomato - I used tomato puree for making the gravy which gives a creamy sweet texture to the tikka masala.

Ginger & Garlic - you can use minced ginger, garlic in the curry which provides the aroma.

Spice Powders - Kashmiri chilli powder, garam masala powder is used in the gravy. But you can use other spices like cumin powder, coriander and turmeric.

Butter - butter makes your dish better. Chicken tikka masala gets the buttery flavour from the modest amount of butter used.

Cream - use fresh cream in the end to provide the creamy texture to the gravy. Don't let the gravy boil once cream is added.

Chicken Tikka Masala (Indian vs British)

Even though chicken tikka is an Indian dish, it is considered very popular in Britain. Curry has become an integral part of British cuisine. But the process of making curries differ. Here are the main difference between Indian chicken tikka masala vs British chicken tikka masala.

Indian chicken tikka masala is made with tikka cooked in tandoor simmered in fresh tomato butter cream sauce made with fresh tomatoes. The curry is later finished with a small amount of cream to give the richness. Unlike butter chicken, this tikka masala tends to be on the spicier side.

British curries are usually thicker, creamier and sweeter than their Indian curries. Chicken tikka masala made in Britain often made with canned tomatoes, canned tomato puree or passata. Since canned tomatoes are acidic in nature, British curries often consists more sugar and cream to balance the taste.

Chicken Tikka Masala vs Butter Chicken

Even though chicken tikka masala and butter chicken uses the same ingredients. The main difference between these two popular curries is the taste and texture.

Tikka masala tends to be on the spicier side while butter chicken tenders to be sweeter with more sugar added. Butter chicken is made with bone-in tandoori chicken while tikka masala uses boneless chicken.

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Making Chicken Tikka

Chicken Tikka, pieces of chicken marinated in yogurt, spices and cooked till tender and juicy in oven, tandoor or tawa. Chicken tikka is one of the most popular and loved chicken dish all over the world. It can be made wide by variety of methods and every time it taste amazingly juicy, any leftover chicken tikka can be made into this delicious chicken tikka masala.

You can refer this detailed Chicken Tikka recipe with step by step pictures.

Ingredients

• 500 grams Boneless Chicken Thighs (cut in cubes)
• ½ cup Curd | Yogurt
• 2 tbsp Ginger Garlic paste
• 2 tbsp Lemon Juice
• 1 tbsp Kashmiri Chilli powder
• 1 tsp Turmeric powder
• 2 tsp Cumin Powder
• 1 tbsp Coriander Powder
• 2 tsp Garam Masala Powder
• Salt to taste

How to Make Chicken Tikka

Marinate the chicken with the given ingredients. Allow the chicken to marinate for minimum 2 hours or overnight.

Chicken Tikka in oven

Preheat oven to grill mode to 250 degree C. Line a baking tray with parchment paper or foil. Place a rack on top. Place the chicken over the rack. Place the chicken in oven and cook for 12 to 15 mins.
Flip over in between and brush with oil if needed.

Air fryer Chicken Tikka

Arrange the chicken in a tray, place the chicken in the air fryer or oven. Bake at 220 degree C for 12 to 15 minutes. Make sure you flip them in between, brush with butter or ghee and serve.

Stove Top Chicken Tikka

This is method of making chicken tikka on stove top in a grill pan. Skewer the marinated chicken in a skewer. Place it in a grill pan, you can cook in regular tawa as well. Cook on medium high heat for 5 minutes on each side, flip over carefully and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes. Make sure you brush top with some butter or oil

How to Make Chicken Tikka Masala (Stepwise Pictures)

Sauteing Onions

1)Heat oil or butter in a kadai. I used butter, you can use oil instead.

2)Add in ginger garlic paste and saute for 2 minutes on low heat till aromatic.

3)Add in finely chopped onions. You can use sliced onions instead of chopped onions.

4)Sprinkle salt over the onions so the onions gets golden brown.

Making Chicken Tikka Masala Base

5)Once the onions gets golden brown in colour. You can start adding spice powders. I am using kashmiri chilli powder for the bright red colour.

6)Add in garam masala power. Mix that into the curry.

7)Add in tomato puree. This is fresh tomatoes pureed till smooth.

8)Mix the tomatoes into the curry and cook them on medium low heat till raw smell leaves. Now you will see a small layer of butter separating from the curry.

Mixing in Chicken Tikka

9)Add in cooked chicken tikka pieces.

10)Mix chicken tikka with the tomato gravy. Add extra hot water to form the gravy. Mix well.

11)Cover and simmer on low for 5 minutes.

Finishing Chicken Tikka Masala

12)Add in cream into the curry to finish the gravy.

13)Chicken tikka masala ready.

14)Add in coriander leaves and mix well.

15)Mix well. Chicken tikka masala is ready to serve.

16)Enjoy with rice.

Expert Tips

• I made a basic gravy for chicken tikka. You can add whole spices like cumin seeds, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves. 
• A small pinch of kasuri methi leaves can be added in the end for taste.
• Instead of cream, you can add milk for creamy texture. 
• You can pan fry chicken in a pan, instead of cooking in oven.

Serving

Serve it with jeera rice, ghee rice, naan, roti, chapati, garlic naan or with plain steamed basmati rice.

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📖 Recipe Card

Chicken Tikka Masala | Indian Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe

Chicken Tikka Masala is one of the most popular and loved curry dish around the world. Chicken tikka masala is spicy, buttery, creamy and smoky delicious gravy which can be made easily at home. In this recipe I have shared detailed recipe for making chicken tikka and restaurant style tikka masala gravy at home. Serve it with jeera rice, ghee rice, naan, roti, chapati, garlic naan or with plain steamed basmati rice. Learn how to make this restaurant style chicken tikka masala with step by step pictures and video.

4.64 from 11 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 servings

Calories: 287kcal

Equipment

• Cooking pot
• OTG or Oven
• Blender

Ingredients

For Chicken Tikka

• ▢ 500 grams Boneless Chicken Thighs
• ▢ ½ cup Curd | Yogurt
• ▢ 2 tbsp Ginger Garlic paste
• ▢ 2 tbsp Lemon Juice
• ▢ 1 tbsp Kashmiri Chilli powder
• ▢ 1 tsp Turmeric powder
• ▢ 2 tsp Cumin Powder
• ▢ 1 tbsp Coriander Powder
• ▢ 2 tsp Garam Masala Powder
• ▢ Salt to taste

For Chicken Tikka Masala

• ▢ 1 large Onion chopped finely
• ▢ 4 large Tomato pureed
• ▢ 2 tbsp Ginger garlic paste
• ▢ 1 tsp Garam masala powder
• ▢ 1 tsp Roasted Cumin powder
• ▢ 2 tbsp Kashmiri Red Chilli powder
• ▢ ¼ cup Cream
• ▢ Salt to taste
• ▢ 4 tbsp Butter or Oil
• ▢ 3 tbsp Coriander leaves chopped finely

Instructions

How to Make Chicken Tikka Masala

• ▢
  Take chicken in a bowl, add spice powders, yogurt, oil, lemon juice, salt and ginger garlic paste. Mix well and Marinate for 2 hours. Preheat oven to grill mode to 250 degree C. Line a baking tray with parchment paper or foil. Place the chicken and cook the chicken in oven for 12 to 15 mins. Flip over in between and brush with oil if needed. Remove from oven, sprinkle top with ghee or butter, sprinkle with chaat masala powder. Serve hot or use in chicken tikka masala.
• ▢
  Heat butter in a kadai. Add in ginger garlic paste, onions and salt. Cook this till golden brown. Add in Red chilli powder, cumin powder if using and garam masala powder and mix well. Pour in tomato puree and cook till oil separates from this.
• ▢
  Add in chicken tikka pieces and pour in some water. Cover this and simmer for 10-15 mins until all flavour gets together.
• ▢
  Now add in cream and mix well. Garnish with coriander leaves and mix well. Serve with rice or roti.

Notes

• I made a basic gravy for chicken tikka. You can add whole spices like cumin seeds, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves. 
• A small pinch of kasuri methi leaves can be added in the end for taste.
• Instead of cream, you can add milk for creamy texture. 
• You can pan fry chicken in a pan, instead of cooking in oven.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servings | Calories: 287kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 96mg | Sodium: 154mg | Potassium: 657mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 2455IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 85mg | Iron: 3mg

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