This Chicken Tikka Masala is spicy, creamy, flavorful and crazy delicious! You won’t want to stop with one serving! My perfected & time-tested recipe helps you make it better than the restaurants. I also share plenty of options to grill the chicken – in Oven, air fryer, on a griddle or skillet. Cooking this flavor-packed curry is easier than you think. Serve it over fluffy Basmati Rice, Cumin Rice or with Butter Naan, Roti, Chapati, Paratha or any flatbread of choice.
Chicken masala is one of the most beloved Indian dishes, known for its rich, aromatic and creamy curry sauce. This delicacy has garnered immense popularity not just in India, but across the globe. However, when we order a chicken masala at restaurants, the complex blend of spices and ingredients that go into making this flavorful dish often remain a mystery. So let’s unlock the secrets and explore what gives chicken masala its distinctly savory taste and texture.
A Harmonious Melding of Spices
Spices that add heat, flavor, and depth to a dish are what make a chicken masala great. Here are some of the most common spices used in chicken masala.
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Cumin powder – This spice lends an earthy, nutty and slightly bitter flavor. Cumin is an essential component of the Indian spice mixes garam masala and chicken masala powder, both commonly used in this dish.
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Coriander powder – Ground coriander seeds impart a citrusy and slightly sweet taste. The fresh, lemony flavor of coriander beautifully complements the other spices.
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Turmeric – This golden spice is primarily added for color, but also contributes an earthy, mildly bitter taste. Turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties and is used in marinades for tenderizing meat.
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Red chili powder—When the onion-tomato masala base is being cooked, red chili powder is added to give it a spicy kick. The amount of chili can be changed to suit personal taste.
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Garam masala – This blend of ground spices like cinnamon, cloves, cardamom and black pepper adds a depth of flavor along with a touch of aroma. It is usually added twice – during marination and later when cooking the dish.
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Chicken masala powder – A flavorful, customized spice mix containing coriander, cumin, garam masala and a blend of other spices It can be used instead of individual spices for convenience.
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Fresh herbs – Cilantro, mint and curry leaves are used as garnishes. They provide a refreshing herbal flavor and aroma.
The Aromatic Base: Onions and Tomatoes
Sautéed onions and tomatoes form the flavor base for chicken masala.
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Onions – Finely sliced onions are fried to a golden brown color. This caramelizes their natural sugars, lending a touch of sweetness.
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Tomatoes – Pureed, crushed or diced tomatoes provide moisture, mild acidity and rich umami flavors. Tomatoes complement the spices.
Tenderness from Yogurt and Spice Infusion through Marination
Yogurt and marination play key roles in chicken masala:
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Yogurt – Marinating chicken in yogurt tenderizes it while also adding tangy flavors. Yogurt contains enzymes that break down protein fibers.
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Spice marinade – Chicken is marinated with turmeric, red chili, garam masala, ginger-garlic paste and salt. This infuses it with flavor and makes it juicy.
Creaminess from Coconut Milk or Dairy
Coconut milk or cream are often added towards the end for a rich, velvety texture:
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Coconut milk – Provides a subtle natural sweetness and creamy consistency without overpowering flavors.
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Heavy cream – Adds a silky finish and neutral flavor. However, it dilutes the spices slightly.
Finishing Touches for Freshness
Finally, garnishes and herbs provide bright, fresh contrasts to the rich curry:
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Cilantro – Chopped cilantro offers a citrusy note, cutting through the sauce’s richness.
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Fried onions: Fried onions that are nice and crispy add a different texture and a bit of sweetness.
How to Make Chicken Tikka Masala (Stepwise photos)
1. Dice chicken to 1 to 1½ inch pieces and add to a large mixing bowl. Pat dry with a few kitchen tissues to make sure there is no excess moisture. For this recipe, you will need about 1½ lbs. (700 grams) boneless chicken thighs or breasts. A little more or less is just okay. Add the following:
- ½ to 1 teaspoon of Kashmiri red chili powder (you can use up to 1½ teaspoon for more heat)
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- ½ teaspoon cumin powder
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric
- ½ teaspoon salt
2. Add 1 tablespoon lemon juice and 1 tablespoon oil. Try to avoid lime juice here. For authentic Indian tikka flavors, use mustard oil.
3. Put in 1 tablespoon of ginger garlic paste (or 1/4 cup of grated ginger and 1/4 cup of grated garlic) and 1 tablespoon of kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves).
4. Add ½ cup Greek yogurt / strained yogurt or Hung curd. You won’t use runny yogurt with whey for these tikkas because it will dry out too quickly and wreck them. If you don’t have any, this post on how to make strained yogurt or hung curd will help you make some. But note that you have to make this 12 hours in advance because this takes time.
5. Mix up everything well. Cover with a cling wrap and let it rest for a minimum of 8 hours & up to 48 hours in the refrigerator. If you are in a rush you may cook them after 3 hours but longer the better as they really become juicy and soak up all the flavors well.
Chicken Tikka Masala Vs Butter Chicken
A lot of people think Chicken tikka masala and Butter Chicken and Chicken Jalfrezi are same but in fact they are not. While tikka masala is on the spicier side, is made with boneless chicken and has a chunky sauce due to the usage of chopped onions. It is also cooked in oil and sometimes a small amount of butter is used.
But authentic Indian Butter chicken has no onions and can be made with bone-in chicken and is essentially cooked in butter. The main characteristic of an authentic Butter chicken is its smooth silky sauce and is low on the spice levels, with sweet notes but not prominently sweet tasting.
My recipe is easy enough for beginners and gives you the best chicken tikka masala that actually tastes better than in any restaurant. You can easily tweak the spice levels by following my notes and tips below.
Here are the key differences between the Indian and the British Chicken Tikka Masala: My recipe works well for both the versions
The Indian version has whole spices like bay leaf, cinnamon, cloves and cardamoms. 2 interesting ingredients you always find is the bell pepper & onions in the tikka skewers. However I have not added them here just to keep the recipe simple. You won’t find any of these in the British curry.
The Indian dish uses cashews to give that creamy and naturally sweet flavor. Very little quantity of cream is used at the end mostly to garnish and to adjust the flavors. The British version has a lot of cream and no cashews are used.
Indian masala makes use of fresh tomatoes (chopped or pureed) so your dish has more fresh flavours. The British chicken tikka masala is essentially made with passata/ bottled or canned tomato puree which imparts umami flavors. Some recipes even use canned tomato soup & tomato paste.
Quick & Easy Chicken Tikka Masala – Creamy Chicken Curry Recipe
FAQ
What are the ingredients in chicken masala powder?
Different brands of chicken masala powder may have different ingredients, but most of the time they have ginger, cardamom pods, cinnamon sticks, and black pepper. All of these spices work together to give the dish its characteristic flavor and heat. Does chicken masala contain chicken?.
What spices are used in chicken masala?
It is a sauce made from spices that are used to add flavor to food. The spices used in chicken masala can include ginger, cumin, cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves. They also use a variety of other herbs and spices to create their unique flavor profile. What does chicken masala powder contain?.
Is chicken masala a Hindu dish?
A popular Hindu dish called chicken masala, which is made with red chili and other spices, is thought to be the first dish that was used to make curry. The color of the dish is attributed to the use of turmeric, cumin, and other spices in its preparation.
Does chicken masala contain chicken?
Some people believe that it contains chicken, while others refuse to eat anything that includes it. However, there is no definitive answer as to whether or not chicken masala contains chicken. That said, some experts who have tasted and researched the dish say that it does indeed contain some poultry. Which masala is best for chicken?.
What is chicken butter masala?
About Chicken Butter Masala Recipe | Murgh Makhani Recipe: This is a creamy but spicy chicken dish that goes well with any restaurant-style chicken dish and has a delicious spice smell. A buttery chicken curry cooked with tangy tomatoes and cream. This is what we call pure pleasure. 1. Heat oil in a wok. 2. Add ginger-garlic paste and chicken. 3.
What is chicken masala made of?
Chicken masala is typically made with chicken, various spices (including garam masala), onions, tomatoes, and sometimes yogurt or cream. The specific spices used can vary, but often include coriander, cumin, black pepper, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, garlic, turmeric, and red chili powder.
What is masala made up of?
Masala is loosely translated as “spice” and although there are many varieties and preferences masala is typically made up of 5 spices. Cardamom, cinnamon, coriander, cloves and cumin are mixed together to make an aromatic and flavour profile.
What ingredients are in a masala?
The specific combination differs by district, but it regularly incorporates a blend of flavours like cardamom, cinnamon, cumin, cloves, bay leaves, star anise, and peppercorns. Garam masala can be found in a wide range of dishes, including marinades, pickles, stews, and curries.
Is chicken masala healthy?
Chicken masala, particularly chicken tikka masala, can be part of a healthy diet when prepared and consumed in moderation.