Easy Chicken Tikka Masala

Easy Chicken Tikka Masala is an approachable Indian dinner that uses tomato sauce as its base and has multiple layers of flavor. It’s a crowd-pleaser that is sure to be requested frequently!

If you’re new to the world of Indian food, then butter chicken or chicken tikka masala is a great place to start. The flavors are somewhat familiar, but with a twist and the creamy sauce is in one word, addicting.

Full disclaimer that I do not like spicy food. It's not because I don’t like the taste, but more because I just cannot handle the heat! I’ve really tried to challenge myself too – thinking my tolerance for spicy food is like a muscle. But alas, this usually ends up in me reaching for milk and tissues. So I’ll be over here in the forever mild section, picking out every flake of red pepper in my Thai take-out.

This is all relevant because Indian food (much like Thai food) is all pretty spicy! But this is one of the few dishes I hang on to because it is very mild. The flavor is more garam masala and tomato than cayenne. And the sauce itself might be the definition of creamy. Maybe where it gets its other name of butter chicken? Anyway, it does have cayenne in it which you can adjust if you like spicy food!

TIKKA MASALA

Growing up without eating any Indian food I have to say that the basis for the sauce recipe reminds me of vodka sauce. They both have very similar approaches except the seasonings are obviously different. Both sauces start with sauteing aromatic ingredients in butter (traditionally tikka masala uses ghee), then the tomatoes get added, followed by the cream.

A tomato sauce is one of the cornerstones of cooking since so many recipes develop from it. So this notion makes sense. This curry and vodka sauce being two of them. A creamy tomato sauce then is essentially a tomato-based sauce with cream in it.

THIS RECIPE

I first started eating this dish when I started working after grad school. We would get Indian food catered for meetings and their Chicken Tikka Masala was amazing. Even after all the chicken was gone, we would all sop up the rest of the sauce with naan and rice. Truly incredible and addicting flavors.

This dinner has multiple steps but yields lots of food. It's actually a favorite to meal prep too because of that. It also reheats really well, so there are no worries with it going to waste!

AS ALWAYS, IF YOU MAKE THIS – PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW!

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Easy Chicken Tikka Masala

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Servings 6

Ingredients

FOR THE MARINADE

• 1 cup plain nonfat yogurt
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 1 tbsp finely grated ginger
• 1 tsp cumin
• ½ tsp paprika
• 2 tsp garam masala
• 1 tsp turmeric
• 1 tsp sea salt
• ½ tsp ground black pepper
• 1 lb boneless skinless, chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces

FOR THE SAUCE

• 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• 3 garlic cloves minced
• 1 tbsp finely grated ginger
• 1 large yellow onion diced
• 1 tsp garam masala
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp turmeric
• 1 tsp coriander
• ¼ tsp cayenne more for preference
• ½ tsp sea salt
• ½ tsp ground black pepper
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 2 cups crushed tomatoes sauce
• 1 ½ cups nonfat half and half
• 2 tbsp fresh cilantro minced, optional

Instructions

1. MAKE MARINADE: in a large bowl, combine yogurt, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, ginger, cumin, paprika, garam masala, turmeric, sea salt, and pepper. Add chicken and let marinate overnight or a minimum of 30 minutes
2. MAKE SAUCE: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the butter. Sauté the garlic, ginger, and onion in the butter. Cook about 3 minutes, until the onions are translucent.
3. Add garam masala, cumin, turmeric, coriander, cayenne, salt, and pepper to the onions. When fragrant, stir in tomato paste. Allow to cook for 1 minute.
4. Add tomato sauce, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for 15-20 minutes.
5. MAKE THE CHICKEN: Preheat the broiler to high. Place chicken on a baking sheet with tin foil greased with nonstick spray. Cook under the broiler for 8-12 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through. Pieces should begin to char.
6. FINISHING TOUCHES: Slowly stir the half and half into the sauce, raise heat and heat thoroughly. Toss the chicken into the sauce.
7. Make rice and serve chicken over it. Top off with cilantro.

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?

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