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chicken tikka masala in a wok on top of banana leaves with a large spoon

Chicken Tikka Masala

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5 from 11 reviews

Creamy, rich and packed with flavor, this Chicken Tikka Masala recipe is on the table in 45 minutes!

  • Total Time: 45 min
  • Yield: 6 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon chickpea flour
  • 1 tablespoon crushed garlic
  • 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin, divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 2 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil
  • 1 large garlic clove, finely chopped
  • 1 red Thai chili pepper, seeded and finely chopped
  • 2 teaspoons ground paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 14 oz. can chopped tomatoes
  • 1 1/4 cups heavy cream
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • 3 cups cooked basmati rice
  • Fresh chopped cilantro for garnish
  • 1/2 cup chopped cashew nuts for garnish
  • Indian Naan bread for dipping

Instructions

Marinate the chicken:

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a medium sized bowl, combine Greek yogurt and chickpea flour. Beat with a fork until well blended and smooth. Add in the garlic, ginger, chili powder, coriander, 1/2 teaspoon cumin, garam masala, and turmeric. Mix thoroughly.
  2. Place chicken in the marinade and chill in refrigerator for 4 to 6 hours, or overnight. Return to room temperature before cooking.
  3. Remove chicken from marinade (reserve remaining marinade) and bake chicken pieces in oven for 10 minutes. Baste chicken with reserved marinade and bake another 10 minutes until pieces are done. Transfer chicken to a dish, cut into bite sized pieces and set aside.

Make the tikka masala:

  1. Melt the oil in a large skillet or wok with a lid over medium heat. Add the garlic and chili pepper and stir-fry for 1 minute. Stir in remaining cumin, paprika, and salt & pepper to taste and continue stirring for about 30 seconds.
  2. Stir in the tomatoes and cream into the skillet. Reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until the liquid reduces and thickens.
  3. Add the chicken pieces to the skillet, cover, and let simmer for 3 to 5 minutes, until the chicken is heated through. Garnish with cilantro and cashew nuts, and serve on a bed of basmati rice, with Naan bread for dipping.

Notes

  • You can make this marinade in advance and keep it in the fridge for when you're ready. It also freezes well. Make an extra batch to pull out another time!
  • Make it dairy-free using coconut milk. It will be slightly less creamy, but delicious nevertheless!
  • Chicken thighs also work well in this dish, or do a combo of both breasts and thighs.
  • Author: Asian Caucasian
  • Prep Time: 15 min
  • Cook Time: 30 min
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Stove-Top & Oven
  • Cuisine: Indian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 587
  • Sugar: 4.6 g
  • Sodium: 582 mg
  • Fat: 28.5 g
  • Carbohydrates: 34.4 g
  • Protein: 46.4 g
  • Cholesterol: 190.2 mg