Easy Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe

What is Murgh Tikka Masala?

Chicken Tikka is the 'chunks of chicken' cooked in a form of curry paste. It's a famous roasted chicken recipe cooked with creamy gravy that makes it more tempting and lip-smacking. Many people compare it with butter chicken but it's entirely different from this recipe. More or less the ingredients are the same, but the cooking style and method are a little different which makes a big difference in taste and aroma.

It's a popular recipe of Pakistani and Indian restaurants and local people call it Murgh Tikka Masala. It's a simple yellow-orangish creamy curry with roasted chicken pieces. Most of the ingredients are the same that we use to make curry sauce so it's easy and simple to make at home kitchen.

The chicken tikka masala was invented by Pakistan's origin chef Ali Ahmed Aslam who was running the restaurant Shish Mehel in Glasgow London. It was the best recipe of Chicken that went viral and the whole world is making this easy chicken tikka masala recipe.

To give an authentic touch use BBQ chicken tikka to make this recipe but as I am making it at home so using skillet or pot to make this recipe which is equally simple, easy, and time saving.

To make this recipe with easy steps, first, we need to marinate the chicken to absorb the spices that make the chicken bites so tasty and scrumptious. Then the process of roasting comes up. Here in this recipe, I pan-fried the chicken in oil to give it a golden roasted color. Then the process of making curry comes up. It's a nice creamy textured curry that makes with caramelized onion and a blending of local spices. And then the assembling part comes up and chicken added to this creamy curry and simmer for few minutes. Garnish with cilantro/fresh coriander and serve with rice or naan.

How to select chicken for tikka masala?

From the grocery store, you can take boneless chicken without skin. I preferred to take the breast portion as it’s more tender and juicier and adds a perfect meaty flavor to the masala. Many people make it with thighs, but it takes a long time to marinate. Best to cut the breast in 2 inches pieces. As we are making on the pan so roasting with small pieces will give you the perfect taste combined with curry sauce.

Chicken tikka masala is popular all around the world and every Indian and Pakistani restaurant have in its menu. Authentic chicken tikka masala cooked with charcoal chicken with curry sauce. If you are making at home, then it’s easy to roast the chicken in the oven or simply pan-fried it to give the roasted texture.

Ingredients

The best thing to make this damn delicious chicken tikka masala recipe using a handful of ingredients that are available in local Pakistani and Indian grocery stores all around the world.

Chicken: Used 1.5" cut of Chicken breast without skin.
Oil: Used canola oil to roast chicken on skillet and to cook masala.
Ginger Garlic: Freshly peeled and made paste.
Yogurt: Used to marinate chicken chunks.
Seasoning: Salt, Red Chili Powder, Turmeric Powder, Coriander Powder, Garam Masala, Black Pepper
Tomato Paste: Use paste of fresh tomatoes.
Butter: Will add a lustrous look in chicken.
Cream: Added fresh cream to add rich and creamy flavor.
Cilantro / Fresh Coriander for garnishing

How to Make Chicken Tikka Masala

Marinate the Chicken

1. In a bowl, place the chunks of chicken.
2. Add ginger garlic paste and yogurt.
3. Season the chicken will all the marinated ingredients (Red Chili Powder, Turmeric Powder, Coriander Powder, Garam Masala Powder, Black Pepper Powder).
4. Mix all the ingredients and wrap with plastic film. Overnight marination is good. Minimum time is 30 minutes.

Roast Chicken and Masala Preparation

5. In a pan, pour oil and roast the chicken pieces. Make sure to have even brown color on the pieces. Take out all the pieces.
6. Now in same pan, add onion and fry it to get light brown color. Add ginger garlic and saute for few minutes.
7. Add all the spices (salt, red chili, turmeric, and coriander powder). Cook well on medium heat to get rid with spice odor. Use splash of water if it's required.
8. Now add freshly made tomato paste and give it a good mix on high temperature.

9. As the tomato paste blended with curry and showed a one tone texture then add fresh cream on low heat. Quickly stir the pan to avoid cream curdling. Cook it for about 4 to 5 minutes on medium heat to make a homogenous texture of curry.
10. Add roasted chicken tikka pieces in masala. Give it a good mix.
11. Cover and simmer the chicken for about 5 to 10 minutes on low heat.
12. After 10 minutes, check the chicken tenderness with spoon or fork. If the chicken is tender the add butter in chicken and give it a good mix on high flame.

Garnish the chicken with freshly chopped cilantro.
Chicken tikka masala is ready to serve!

Easy Tips

Here are a few tips and tricks for beginners and bachelors to make this damn delicious easy chicken tikka masala recipe.

To get the best result, marinate chicken using tikka masala before night. Overnight masala easily penetrates into the chicken and makes it more tasty, tender, and juicy in taste from inside.
Roast the chicken on high heat to give it a roasting color. Make sure when you roasting chicken, it should not release water.
You can also BBQ the chicken or simply roast it in the oven.
Prefer to use homemade garam masala to make this chicken.
Make sure the onion is fully blended in the curry.
Remove tomato skin when making a paste otherwise, the curry will not smooth in texture.
Avoid adding cream on high heat.
After adding cream, give it a good whisk to make a creamy homogenous curry texture.
Choose the right pot or skillet to cook masala. It will really add a big difference in look and taste.

Chicken Tikka Masala Video

I don't know why but my heart feels so good whenever I cook this Murgh tikka masala recipe. The tempting creamy texture of tikka curry always compels me to crave. It's delicious, easy, and quick one pot dinner idea for foodies to try at home kitchen. Here is a step-by-step video recipe that you can easily cook at home kitchen. So if you are a beginner and looking for how to make this quick one pan tikka masala recipe then watch this quick tutorial.

Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe [Video]

You can find the recipe card down below this post.

Serving

Chicken tikka masala has a rich, creamy, and smooth texture and pairs up well with plain tandoori Naan, garlic naan or roti/chapati. It also gives you the perfect taste with steamed rice or with Garlic Butter Rice. Give it a try and share your experience.

Q & A

What is Tikka?

asically, tikka is a chunk of chicken that we used in this recipe. It's boneless, prepared with chicken breasts.

Is it Indian or British?

Yes, it's a royal Indian recipe most popular in the subcontinent, especially in Pakistan and Bangladesh. People love to make this recipe at special events. In Indian chicken tikka masala, you will find the sweet, tart and tangy taste of fresh tomatoes while in British, you will find the dominating umami taste of canned tomatoes in curry sauce.

Is it Spicy?

Yes, it's a little spicy in taste.

Is it Healthy?

It's higher in calories as it includes cream and oil. To make it healthy and reduce calories, you can substitute cream and butter with yogurt and also use olive oil. Chicken breasts are low in fats so much recommended chicken part for this recipe.

Is Masala a Curry?

Yes, masala is a form of curry/gravy. As it's a curry so it's loaded with gravy. Masala is prepared using onion, ginger garlic, tomato paste, and cream with the seasoning of local spices like red chili, coriander, turmeric, and garam masala.

How to Make Chicken Tikka Masala Spicier?

Simply increase the quantity of red chili powder both in marination and curry. It will make the chicken tikka masala spicier.

Difference between Chicken tikka masala and butter chicken?

Butter chicken is more buttery, lustrous and less spicy compared with chicken tikka masala. Both are king of curries.

How to make easy chicken tikka masala with coconut milk?

An authentic recipe of chicken tikka masala is prepared with heavy cream but you can use coconut milk to replace cream. I tried it once and it was good in taste. Follow the same recipe, just replace cream with coconut milk. That's it! It will give the same rich, creamy, and smooth texture after using coconut milk. There will be little difference in taste but you will love it.

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