Chicken Tikka Masala is a grilled golden chicken dish in aromatic creamy curry sauce. One of the most popular curry dish in United Kingdom. You can easily create this popular restaurant-style dish at home with this easy to follow recipe. After you tried this recipe you will find this dish is much more easier then you imagined. Serve with a bowl of steamed rice or naan. Absolutely delicious and perfect dish to cook for curry night.
First of all, cut the chicken into medium bite size pieces. Add chicken in large bowl and add all the ingredients from the chicken marinate list. Mix well and marinate for at least 1 hour. (I chose boneless chicken thigh in this recipe, chicken thigh has more fat than chicken breast and very less chance to be overcooked when you grill it. But if you don't like chicken thigh its totally fine to use chicken breast for this recipe. )
Add a tablespoon of oil in a grill pan and cook the chicken pieces with medium high heat until chicken pieces have a nice golden colour, turn sides and cook for another 1-2 mins until the chicken pieces have nice grill colour. Remove the chicken pieces from grill pan and set aside. ( Or you can grill in pre-heated oven about 15-20 mins at 500°F (260°C) until the chicken is cooked and has nice grill colour. )
Heat the cooking pan into medium high heat, drizzle 2 tablespoon of oil. Add fine chopped shallots and stir well until translucent, add ginger paste, garlic paste and continue cook till everything become light golden brown.
One of the secret to get the nice curry paste is to use the shallot onions. Shallot onions are less watery and melt into smooth paste quicker then large onion.
Add turmeric, paprika, garam masala, coriander powder stir well for few seconds. ( Spices can burn very easily, put the tomatoes straight in as soon as the nice smell come out form the spices. )
Then add the chopped tomatoes and cook until the tomatoes become soft and silky. ( Ripen vine tomatoes are best to use for curry paste. )
Add half cup of warm water, stir well, close the lid and continue cook with medium-low heat for 2-3 mins.
Pour the cream, stir well, add the grilled chicken pieces. Mix well, close the lid, and continue cook for 2 mins. ( Add a little bit more water if the gravy is too thick. I've used single cream in this recipe. Double cream goes well too. )
Sprinkle some chopped coriander as final step. Transfer to serving plate. Delicious chicken tikka masala is ready!
Serve with a bowl of cooked basmati rice or naan!
📖 Recipe
Homemade Chicken Tikka Masala
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 450 g Chicken thigh/breast
- 3 Shallot onion
- 2 Ripe Vine Tomato
- 2-3 tbsp Oil/Ghee
- 4 tbsp Cream
- ½ cup Warm water
- Fresh coriander for garnish
Chicken Marinade
- 1 tsp Garlic Paste
- ½ tsp Ginger Paste
- ½ tsp Turmeric
- ½ tsp Paprika
- 3 tbsp Plain Yogurt
- ½ tsp Salt
- ½ tsp Garam Masala
Curry Spice
- 1 tsp Garlic paste
- ½ tsp Ginger paste
- ½ tsp Turmeric
- 1 tsp Paprika
- 1 tsp Garam Masala
- ½ tsp Coriander powder
- 1 tsp Salt
Instructions
- Finely chop the shallots and tomatoes.
- Cut the chicken into medium bite size pieces. Add chicken in large bowl and add all the ingredients from the chicken marinade list. Mix well and marinate for at least 30 mins.
- Add 1 tablespoon of oil in a grill pan and cook the chicken pieces with medium-high heat until chicken pieces have a nice golden colour, turn sides and cook for another 1-2 mins until the chicken pieces have nice grill colour.
- Remove the chicken pieces from grill pan and set aside.
- Heat the cooking pan into medium high heat, drizzle 2 tablespoon of oil.
- Add shallots and stir well till shallots are translucent, add ginger paste, garlic paste and continue cook until light golden brown.
- Add turmeric, paprika, garam masala, coriander powder stir well for few seconds.
- Then add the chopped tomatoes and cook until the tomato become soft and silky.
- Add half cup of warm water, stir well, close the lid and continue cook with medium-low heat for 2-3 mins.
- Pour the cream, stir well, add the grilled chicken pieces. Mix well, close the lid, and cook for another 2 mins. ( Add a little bit more warm water if the gravy is too thick. )
- Sprinkle some chopped coriander as final step.
- Transfer to serving plate. Delicious chicken tikka masala is ready!
- Serve with a bowl of cooked basmati rice or naan.
Chris Warman says
I have just followed your recipe and wow, wow, just wow! Nice heat nothing too mind blowing, the flavours were absolutely gorgeous! This is my first attempt, and I wouldn't change a thing! My first time making one of your recipes too, thank you so much!!!!!
Denise Kerr says
Hi
Can this be frozen please?
Denise
Khin says
Hi Denise, you can freeze it in an air-tight container. To reheat, add a splash of water and reheat it in a microwave or over a stovetop until piping hot.
Tina says
Easy recipe with the very good outcome! Thank you so much!
Khin says
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe Tina.
May says
Delicious recipes
Charity says
Hi can I use coconut milk instead of cream?
Khin says
Hi Charity, yes you can try with coconut milk but the flavour will be slightly different. Hope you enjoy the recipe.
Michala says
Hi I’m going to be making this today, but can it be frozen/reheated if I double the quantities? Thanks
Khin says
Hi Michala, you can definitely reheat or freeze it. Once the curry is completely cooled down, then add it to freezer safe bag or container.
Ak says
Hi, how many calories is this?
Khin says
Hi Ak, Calories updated in the recipe card. Hope you enjoy this recipe.
T hamlin says
This is a good recipe. It is easy and full of flavor. I did add 1/4 teaspoon of white pepper and a 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper to give it a little "kick." I also blended the sauce with a stick blender before adding the cream. This will be a recipe that I will put into my monthly rotation. Thank you.
Khin says
Thank you so much for sharing comment T hamlin! So glad that you enjoyed this tikka masala recipe.