A made-from-scratch Chicken Tikka Masala recipe with the signature yoghurt marinated chargrilled chicken smothered in an incredible spice infused curry sauce. It’s astonishingly straightforward – and no hunting down hard to find ingredients!
Chicken Tikka Masala is an Indian favourite along with Butter Chicken and Biryani. Serve with Basmati Rice, else add a side of chewy and fluffy Naan or basic Homemade Flatbreads to mop up the sauce!
Chicken Tikka Masala
There are various tales about the origins of Chicken Tikka Masala, and most are along the lines of the following: That a British aristocrat was served Chicken Tikka (chicken on skewers chargrilled in a tandoor) and sent it back to the kitchen, complaining it was dry. In response to which the enterprising chef added a curry sauce and sent it back out again where it was well received.
And thus, one of the most popular curries in the world was born. 🙂 And even though it’s not a traditional Indian dish, the roots of it certainly are!
Proper Chicken Tikka Masala served at good Indian restaurants is made with yoghurt marinated chicken which is then chargrilled so it has that gorgeous smokey flavour.
Regretfully, I don’t have a tandoor sitting in the middle of my kitchen. So this recipe aims to replicate the flavour using my good old stove.
How to make Chicken Tikka Masala
We start off with a Chicken Tikka yoghurt marinade for chicken thighs. Thighs, my friends. Not breast! We need juicy meat for this recipe because we’re going to blast it with some serious heat to replicate the char grilled flavour of Chicken Tikka!
Leave it to marinade for at least 3 hours, preferably overnight. Then heat your pan until it’s smoking hot – and I mean smokin’ hot!! – then cook those chicken pieces so the yoghurt coating gets chargrilled.
After that, we make the sauce, then toss the chicken back in to bring all the flavours together. And this is the vision that you will be bestowed with – your very own homemade Chicken Tikka Masala, made from scratch. With the signature deep orangey red sauce, wafting with aromatic curry flavour, smothering chicken with a beautiful chargrilled flavour.
Tikka Masala is deceptively easy!
This isn’t your everyday mid week meal. The ingredients list in the recipe looks alarmingly long, but it’s deceptive because there are duplicate ingredients. And we’re making a serious curry here! We can’t skimp on flavour!
And though the list might be long, here’s the best news – no hunting down unusual ingredients. You can get every single ingredient from the major supermarkets here in Australia (Woolies, Coles, Harris Farms, most Aldi’s and large IGA’s).
RECIPE REFERENCES
This recipe is the result of a mountain of reading, researching, tasting and cooking we did in pursuit of the ultimate Tikka Masala recipe for the home cook.
We visited some of our favourite Indian restaurants in Sydney just to taste the chicken tikka masala, and recounted our memories of curries we experienced in the UK and India.
We looked at existing recipes by authors both well known (Madhur Jaffrey and Heston Blumenthal) and unknown, including many Indian food bloggers. We even watched Youtube videos in Hindi and went to the library and dug up faded old Indian cookbooks!
We pulled out the best bits from every source of inspiration as well as adding our own ideas to come up with this recipe!
Difference between Chicken Tikka Masala and Butter Chicken
In case you are wondering about the difference between Chicken Tikka Masala and Butter Chicken, the main thing is the char grilled flavour of the chicken which Butter Chicken does not have. Also, the sauce of Tikka Masala is more intense and complex. 🙂
For curry lovers everywhere, it’s truly worth making your own curry from scratch at least once in your life. Like Thai Red Curry, a store bought curry paste (even a really great one) simply doesn’t compare. If I were to make this using a jar of paste, I would pimp it up quite a bit with fresh garlic, ginger and spices, and it would be not much less effort than making it from scratch!
I really hope you love this. This is a recipe that my brother and I developed together, tag teaming with the recipe until we “got it right” (meaning, as close as possible to good Indian restaurants). Hope you enjoy! – Nagi x
MORE GREAT CURRIES OF THE WORLD!
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Butter Chicken – one of the most popular curries in the world
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Rogan Josh – fall apart lamb in a rich creamy tomato sauce
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Biryani (it’s amazing!)
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Dal (Indian lentil curry)
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Goan Fish Curry (Indian) – an amazing seafood curry from the tropical beaches of Goa
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Browse the Curry Collection
ON THE SIDE
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Samosas – The perfect appetiser / starter. Or snacks and lunch tomorrow!
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Pakoras – Spiced Indian vegetable fritters
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Refreshing Cucumber with Lemon Yogurt Dressing
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Give this Everyday Cabbage Salad an Indian spin by sauteing garlic and cumin seeds in oil before mixing up with other Dressing ingredients
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Real Naan! Chewy, stretchy, fluffy – the ultimate homemade naan recipe right here
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No Yeast Easy Soft Flatbread. Perfect to use as naan, but simpler and without yeast so you can get it on the table fast!
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
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Chicken Tikka Masala
Ingredients
Chicken Tikka Marinade:
- 600g/ 1.2lb chicken thigh (boneless, skinless), cut into 3cm / 2.2" cubes (Note 1)
- 1/2 cup plain yoghurt, full fat best (Greek is fine)
- 6 cloves garlic , minced (~1.5 tbsp)
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger , grated
- 1 tsp garam masala (Note 2)
- 1 tsp each salt, cumin, ground coriander, paprika (sweet, normal or smokey)
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- Pinch black pepper
- 2 tsp lemon juice
Cooking Chicken:
- 1 - 2 tbsp oil (Note 3)
Curry Sauce Spices:
- 2 tsp turmeric
- 1 tbsp garam masala (Note 2)
- 2 tsp coriander
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/8 tsp cardamom powder
- 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
Curry Sauce:
- 3 tbsp (65ml) vegetable oil (Note 3)
- 30g / 2 tbsp unsalted butter OR ghee
- 1 onion, finely chopped (brown, white or yellow)
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp fresh ginger , grated
- 6 cloves garlic , crushed or grated
- 1 tbsp paprika (not smoked)
- 1 2/3 cups (400ml) tomato passata (tomato puree)
- 1 2/3 cups (400ml) water
- 100 ml (1/3 cup + 1 tbsp) cream (thickened or pure is fine)
- 1 tsp sugar
- 50g / 3 tbsp unsalted butter OR ghee
Serving
Instructions
Chicken Tikka:
- Combine all ingredients except chicken in a bowl and mix. Add chicken and turn well to coat.
- Cover with cling wrap and leave in fridge to marinate overnight (3 hours minimum).
- Heat 1 tbsp oil in a non stick pan over high heat until smoking. Add half the chicken and spread out. Leave for 2 minutes or until charred. Turn each piece and cook the other side until charred - don't worry if not cooked inside. (Note 4, also Video helpful here) Remove into bowl.
- Scrape out charred bits left in pan and discard. Add more oil if required and cook remaining chicken.
Sauce:
- Wipe skillet with paper towels (or do this part in a pot as you need a lid). Turn heat down to medium high.
- Add oil and butter. When butter is melted, add onions, ginger and salt.
- Cook, stirring constantly to ensure it doesn't burn, until the ginger is starting to turn golden and the onions smell sweet, about 5 - 7 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to medium. Add the garlic and paprika, and cook for 2 minutes.
- Add the Curry Sauce Spices, and cook a further 2 minutes, stirring.
- Add tomato passata and water, and mix. Bring to a simmer, then cover and reduce heat to low.
- Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Pour curry into a bowl, then use a stick blender to puree until smooth (Note 5).
- Return sauce to skillet. Add cream, sugar and butter. Stir to melt the butter.
- Add chicken, stir. Simmer for a few minutes until the chicken is cooked through.
- Optional: Sprinkle with a pinch of extra garam masala at the end.
- Serve over basmati rice, sprinkled with coriander/cilantro if desired. Try this No Yeast Flatbread as a quick naan!
Recipe Notes:
* Indian cooking uses a lot of oil. Don't be tempted to skimp on the butter and oil for this recipe, it really affects the resulting richness of the dish at the end. We were quite surprised at the difference it made. AT MOST you can reduce the cooking oil by 1 tbsp and omit the butter at the end (but taste it first!). And even using the full amount of butter + oil, it only works out at about 1.7 tbsp per serving which isn't as obscene as one might expect. 🙂
* You can use ghee instead of the oil/butter used to sauté the onion. I find oil + butter produces a similar end result. I do use ghee sometimes - if I have it on hand (which I usually don't).
* The dish is deliberately saucy because it's SO GOOD!
* The salt level looks high but curries need it. Generally, intense flavours = more salt required. 5. Storage / make ahead - Chicken can be marinated for up to 48 hours in the fridge, or pop it straight into the freezer then it will marinate while defrosting overnight in the fridge. Cooked curry will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days, or freezer for 3 months (defrost then reheat in microwave or on stove with splash of extra water). However, unlike stews, curries are at their prime freshly made, when the spices are at their most aromatic. A good trick to freshen up curries is to add a pinch of garam masala when reheating. 6. Recipe references: See in post. 7. Nutrition per serving, assuming 5 servings (excludes rice, naan etc).
Nutrition Information:
More Curry For Curry Lovers
Thai Red Curry | Chickpea Potato Curry (Chana Aloo) | Beef Rendang | Vegetable Curry | Cauliflower Chickpea Curry | Queema (Indian Curried Beef Mince) | Chicken Satay Curry
LIFE OF DOZER
Miserable, sulky post-swim hose down. No feeling sorry for him! He just spent the last hour swimming and rolling in sand!!!
Hi Nahi,
Unfortunately, I can’t have any diary in my diet. Do you think this will still work with ‘vegan’ replacements?
I made this tonight with dairy free alternatives (coconut yoghurt, nut butter, and coconut cream) as my son cannot have dairy. You wouldn’t even know it was dairy free it tastes that good!!
Amazing, thank you! 🙏🏽
This dish was incredible! I served it with your naan recipe which was also a HUGE hit! I doubled the chicken and did two cups of rice, which fed the four of us two full servings! Thanks for the recipe 🙂
This was a huge hit with my family, It tastes amazing and I would definitely recommend it.
Hi, is there any alternative for fresh cream?
For tomato passata, can I use tomato pasta sauce
The vindaloo was great! Can I double or quadruple the recipe?
Nagi, what type of April’s do you use in this recipe when you make it, I feel the different types would result in totally different tastes! Thanks
Sorry, autocorrect! I mean paprika!!
I use regular sweet paprika in my recipes unless I specify to use a smoked one Gemma! N x
Hi Nagi! I’m a big fan of your recipes. I’m just recently getting into cooking Indian food for myself. I am not the biggest fan of tomato sauce, any suggestions of what I can use as an alternative (if that’s even possible)? Thank you.
Sorry J – this one needs the tomato! Maybe try my Qeema Beef as it is tomato free! https://www.recipetineats.com/qeema-indian-curried-beef/#wprm-recipe-container-22386 N x
It’s the second time I made the dish upon your recipe and it’s really
W O N D E R F U L
with rich and deep flavors.
THANKS so Very Much!
Woohoo!! That’s great Joty – enjoy!! N x
my email is published in the above comment, I guess something went wrong? Could you please replace it with ‘joty’? Thanks!
All sorted Joty!! N x
Stop what you are doing. Make this NOW! It’s that good.
I bloody love this! I never have any luck charring the thighs in a pan, so I fan grill – can get some lovely char happening that way!!
Only other thing I add is dried fenugreek at the end – seems to add that l’il bit of extra oomph!
Just finished making it for dinner tonight and it tastes like I BOUGHT IT!!!! 😂 💃 woohoo 🥳 😁
Sounds wonderful! Got most ingredients, never have cream!
Can’t wait to try.
I hope you enjoy it Cher! N x
Nagi!!! You are amazing! Thank you for sharing your expertise with us. And for all the tips and guidance. Everything I have tried is exceptional. I share your website with all the people that ask for my (your) recipes. I say it’s my friend Nagi. 😉
Awww! Thanks Lina! N x
As always, with your recipes, this was delicious..
I did add some chilli flakes to the sauce and found your salt quantity quite right . Thank you
Salt is the hardest thing to get right in a recipe! N x
Hii is it possible to use chicken breast and instead cook after marinade in the oven. Thank you
Nagi, Your CTM was absolutely wonderful. So much flavour. After I marinated the chicken pieces I actually put them in the Air Fryer which cooked the pieces perfectly. Then I followed your recipe to the “T”. Another winner. Thanks Nagi
I’m testing some air fryer recipes soon Sharon so will try this one and see! Thanks for the tip! N x
Sounds wonderful! Got most ingredients, never have cream!
Can’t wait to try.
Thank you for this amazing recipe ! I was wondering if somehow I could prepare it in a slow cooker ? Thanks!
Delicious!! Partner who doesn’t normally comment on my cooking, said it tasted bloody good.
Would love to do it as a vegetarian dish at some point too but not sure what protein to use.
Could maybe try paneer? It’s like an indian cheese (it doesn’t melt).
This recipe is the real deal! Authentic and delicious. I followed it exactly as written.
Hi Nagi,
Thank you so mucb for all your wonderful recipes.
I wanted to try my hand at this one and was wondering if I could replace the meat with prawns instead?
I’ve made this a couple of times now and it’s a real problem – my brother and I always end up eating way too much of it, IT’S SO GOOD! As with most curries it takes a bit of time but it is so worth it in the end. I add a couple of green chilis and bit of extra chili powder/cayenne because I like my food to have a bit of heat but even without your ratios result in an absolutely delicious end product!
Amazing chicken tikka masala! So much better than the bright red stuff from the takeaway. Enjoyed here in S. London, by all the family 😍