Discover Authentic Indian Food Recipes: Easy Chicken Tikka Masala at Home

Craving the rich flavors of Indian cuisine but hesitant to cook at home? Prepare to be amazed! This Easy Chicken Tikka Masala recipe is a game-changer, bringing the vibrant taste of your favorite Indian restaurant right to your kitchen in just about 30 minutes.

Forget long drives to distant Indian eateries and say hello to a healthier, more budget-friendly alternative without compromising on authentic taste. If you’ve always wanted to explore Indian Food Recipes, this is the perfect starting point. Don’t let the name intimidate you – this recipe is incredibly simple to follow, even for beginners.

Indian food holds a special place in many hearts, but access can be a challenge depending on where you live. This easy chicken tikka masala recipe, a classic and beloved dish in Indian cuisine, allows you to satisfy your cravings without the hassle of dining out. It’s an ideal way to introduce yourself to the world of flavorful Indian food recipes.

Unlocking the Flavors: Essential Spices in Chicken Tikka Masala

The secret behind this incredibly easy and delicious Indian food recipe lies in a magical spice blend: garam masala. This pre-mixed blend, readily available in stores or easily made at home, is a cornerstone of many Indian food recipes. Garam masala typically includes aromatic spices like cardamom, cumin, coriander, and ginger, creating a warm and complex flavor profile.

Using garam masala simplifies the cooking process significantly. Instead of measuring out numerous individual spices, a tablespoon of this blend, combined with a touch of cayenne pepper for heat, is all you need to infuse this entire dish with authentic Indian flavors.

While traditional Indian cooking often involves toasting whole spices and grinding them fresh for maximum flavor depth, pre-ground garam masala offers a convenient shortcut for busy home cooks. This recipe strikes a balance by toasting the spices with onions at the beginning, allowing those essential aromatic notes to bloom and enhance the overall taste of your homemade Indian food.

A Culinary Journey: Tracing the Origins of Chicken Tikka Masala

Chicken Tikka Masala is a type of curry, closely related to Chicken Tikka. Chicken Tikka itself is a classic Indian dish featuring chicken marinated in yogurt and spices and cooked in a tandoor oven. Chicken Tikka Masala takes this a step further by adding a creamy, tomato-based sauce, typically served over rice. This creamy sauce is what truly distinguishes it and elevates it into a global favorite among Indian food recipes.

Interestingly, the origin of Chicken Tikka Masala is debated. While Chicken Tikka is undoubtedly Indian, some food historians believe that Chicken Tikka Masala was actually created in the United Kingdom, not India. The theory suggests that Indian immigrants in the UK developed the creamy sauce to cater to British palates, who preferred meat dishes served with gravy. This adaptation led to the creation of Chicken Tikka Masala as we know it today.

The vibrant red or orange color often seen in restaurant versions of Chicken Tikka Masala comes from spices like turmeric, or sometimes, even food coloring. This homemade version might have a slightly more muted color, similar to a homemade egg drop soup, but the flavor remains undeniably rich and authentic, showcasing the true essence of Indian food recipes.

Cooking Indian Food at Home: Mastering Chicken Tikka Masala

Making Chicken Tikka Masala at home is easier than you might think, and it’s a fantastic way to expand your repertoire of Indian food recipes. The process begins with marinating the chicken in a simple yet flavorful mixture. Greek yogurt, garam masala, salt, and pepper create a tenderizing and aromatic marinade. While a minimum of 20 minutes is recommended, marinating overnight enhances the flavor even further. However, even if you’re short on time, don’t worry – the dish will still be delicious. You can even use pre-cooked chicken, like leftover roast chicken or rotisserie chicken, for an even quicker meal.

Next, the chicken is browned in butter. This step isn’t about fully cooking the chicken; it’s about searing the outside to develop color and enhance the texture.

After removing the chicken, onions are sautéed in more butter until softened. Sweating the onions gently, rather than browning them, brings out a sweeter, more nuanced flavor that complements the spices beautifully. This might take a little longer, but the depth of flavor is worth the extra minutes.

Then comes the heart of the sauce: ginger, garlic, spices, and crushed tomatoes are added to the pot, followed by the browned chicken. The mixture simmers until the chicken is cooked through and the flavors meld together. Finally, heavy cream is stirred in, adding richness and creaminess. For variations, you can use regular milk or coconut milk instead.

Serving suggestions are key to enjoying Indian food recipes fully. Cumin-scented basmati rice is a wonderful accompaniment to Chicken Tikka Masala. Adding cumin seeds to basmati rice while cooking infuses it with a warm, earthy aroma that complements the curry perfectly (see recipe notes for detailed instructions).

A sprinkle of fresh cilantro and sliced fresh jalapeños (optional, depending on your spice preference) provides a fresh and vibrant finish. And of course, no Indian food experience is complete without naan bread to soak up every last drop of the flavorful sauce!

This Chicken Tikka Masala is also perfect for meal prepping. It reheats wonderfully, making it ideal for lunches throughout the week or a make-ahead dinner. You can even freeze it for up to 6 months, ensuring you always have a taste of homemade Indian food recipes readily available.

If you’re eager to explore more Indian food recipes, you might also enjoy Curried Chicken Salad with Apples and Raisins, Oven-Broiled Tandoori Chicken (which can be used in this Tikka Masala recipe for a smoky flavor), and Red Lentil Dal with Poached Eggs and Cucumber Yogurt Sauce.

Ready to embark on your Indian food cooking adventure? Here’s the printable recipe for this Easy Chicken Tikka Masala!

Easy Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe

This Chicken Tikka Masala recipe is an easy and authentic way to enjoy popular Indian food recipes right in your home. Healthier and more affordable than takeout, it delivers incredible flavor without complicated steps.

4.98 from 83 votes

Save this Recipe Saved! Print Pin RateCourse: Dinner

Cuisine: Indian

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 461kcal
Author: Elizabeth Lindemann
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Ingredients

1.5 pounds chicken breast or thigh meat cut into 1-inch cubes
1/2 cup Greek yogurt
1.5 tablespoons garam masala divided
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
4 tablespoons butter divided
1 onion diced (about 1 cup)
1 tablespoon fresh ginger grated (see notes)
2 cloves garlic minced (about 1 tablespoon)
14.5 oz. canned crushed tomatoes or pureed
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 cup heavy cream whole or coconut milk can also be used
Naan bread cooked basmati rice, fresh cilantro and sliced jalapeños, for serving ((optional- see notes))

Instructions

Marinate the chicken in the yogurt (1/2 cup), 1/2 tablespoon of the garam masala, kosher salt (1 teaspoon) and black pepper (1/4 teaspoon) for at least 20 minutes or overnight.
Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a large, deep skillet or pot over medium-high heat.
Brown the marinated chicken on both sides over very high heat- it shouldn’t be fully cooked, you’re just trying to get some color on it (about 2-3 minutes on each side). Remove from the pot and set aside.
Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter to pot and sauté the onions over medium heat until very soft, about five minutes.
Stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon garam masala and cayenne pepper (1/4 teaspoon). Sauté for a minute or so, until spices are toasted and fragrant.
Add the 2 cloves minced garlic and minced fresh ginger (1 tablespoon) and sauté for approximately 1 minute, or until fragrant.
Pour in the 14.5 oz. crushed tomatoes and add the browned chicken. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook on low for about 15 minutes, or until chicken is fully cooked.
Stir in the heavy cream (1/2 cup). Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
Serve over rice with naan, garnished with chopped fresh cilantro and sliced fresh jalapeños, if desired.

Notes

You can serve this with plain basmati rice (or another variety), but I recommend adding some whole cumin seeds when you cook it to pump up the flavor. I usually toast 1 cup of basmati rice in 1 tablespoon butter along with 1/2 teaspoon whole cumin seeds for 2-3 minutes. Then, I add 1 3/4 cups water, bring to a boil, cover, and turn the heat to low to cook for about 15 minutes. Delicious!
A note about the ginger: I keep fresh ginger in the freezer and use a microplane grater to grate it directly from the freezer when I need it. This way, you don’t need to worry about fresh ginger going bad, if you use it infrequently.
You can freeze this in an airtight container for up to 6 months, and you can make it ahead of time to reheat for dinner or lunches throughout the week.
To make this dairy-free/whole30/paleo compliant, use ghee instead of butter, skip the marinating, and use coconut milk in place of the cream.
This recipe first appeared on Bowl of Delicious on December 13, 2014. It’s been updated to include more information, updated photos, a video, and some small recipe adjustments.
The provided nutrition information does not include any added sodium from seasoning to taste, any optional ingredients, and it does not take brands into account. Feel free to calculate it yourself using this calculator or by adding the recipe to Yummly.

Video

Nutrition

Nutrition Information Disclaimer

The provided nutrition information is my best estimate and reflects one serving of the recipe (total servings indicated at top of recipe card). It does not include any added sodium from seasoning to taste, any optional ingredients, and it does not take brands into account. I use an automatic API to calculate this information. Feel free to calculate it yourself using one of these tools:

Very Well Fit Nutrition Information Calculator My Fitness Pal Recipe Nutrition Calculator Add the recipe to Yummly

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