Description
Chicken Tikka Masala delivers a creamy, spice-laden adventure straight from North Indian kitchens to your dinner table. Marinated chicken simmered in a rich tomato-based sauce makes this classic comfort meal a total crowd-pleaser that sparks dinnertime excitement.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
Marinade and Spices:
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
Base and Finishing Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 medium onion
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger
- 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Whisk together 1 cup yogurt, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, and all dry spices in a large bowl. Your marinade will create deep flavor layers for the chicken.
- Toss 2 pounds of chicken pieces into the marinade, ensuring complete coverage. Refrigerate for minimum 1 hour, preferably overnight.
- Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large skillet at medium temperature (375°F). Sauté 1 chopped onion until golden and translucent, approximately 5-6 minutes.
- Add 4 minced garlic cloves and 1 tablespoon fresh ginger to the skillet. Cook for 1-2 minutes until aromatic.
- Transfer marinated chicken into the skillet. Cook at medium-high heat for 6-7 minutes, turning pieces to brown evenly on all sides.
- Pour 15 ounces of tomato sauce into the skillet. Reduce heat to low (325°F) and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Gently stir 1 cup heavy cream into the sauce. Continue simmering for additional 5 minutes at low heat.
- Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. The sauce should be rich and creamy.
- Garnish with 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro just before serving. Plate over steamed rice or alongside warm naan bread.
Notes
- Choose full-fat yogurt for marinade to ensure tender, juicy chicken with deeper flavor complexity.
- Marinate chicken overnight if possible, as longer marination allows spices to penetrate meat more thoroughly.
- Gently simmer the sauce after adding cream to prevent separation and maintain smooth, rich consistency.
- For lighter version, substitute heavy cream with coconut milk or Greek yogurt to reduce calories while keeping creamy texture.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Indian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg