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Chicken Tikka Masala

Name: Chicken Tikka Masala
Total time: 300 s
Yield: 1
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients: Chicken thighs; Ground cumin; Toasted paprika; Ground coriander; Ground turmeric; Cayenne pepper; Garlic cloves; Fresh ginger; Yogurt; Lemons; Butter; Onion; Tomatoes; Heavy cream

25 Feb 2026

Fine Dining Lovers

Editorial Staff

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Difficulty

Medium

Total Time

5H 0MIN

Cuisine

Indian

Ingredients

Chicken thighs: 8, bone-in and skinless

Ground cumin: 3 tbsp

Toasted paprika: 3 tbsp

Ground coriander: 2 tbsp

Ground turmeric: 2 tsp

Cayenne pepper: 1 tsp

Garlic cloves: 10, grated

Fresh ginger: 3 tbsp, grated

Yogurt: 15 oz

Lemons: 4, freshly juiced

Butter: 4 tbsp

Onion: 1, sliced

Tomatoes: 28 oz, whole and mashed

Heavy cream: 8 oz

Chicken tikka masala is a classic curry with a hearty mix of ingredients including spicy marinated chicken and a mouthwatering tomato-based sauce. Discover our best chicken tikka masala recipe below

Serves 4

01.

Score the chicken thighs and place into a baking dish. Combine the ground cumin, toasted paprika, ground coriander, turmeric, and cayenne pepper in a bowl and mix well. Set aside 3 tbsp of the spice mixture for the sauce.

02.

Add 6 tbsp spice mixture, 8 garlic cloves, 2 tbsp fresh ginger, yogurt, and the majority of the lemon juice to a large mixing bowl and whisk. Pour over the chicken thighs and rub in the spice mixture to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours.

03.

Heat the butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat until melted. Add the sliced onion, remaining garlic cloves, and ginger. Cook for 10 minutes stirring regularly. Add the rest of the spice mixture and cook, until fragrant, for 30 seconds. Add the mashed tomatoes and simmer for 15 minutes. Purée then stir in the heavy cream and remaining lemon juice. Set aside the sauce while cooking the chicken.

04.

Cook the chicken under the broiler in an oven-safe pan lined with aluminum foil. Wipe any excess marinade off the chicken and broil on high until charred for 8 minutes. Transfer to a chopping board and let rest for 10 minutes.

05.

Remove the meat from the bone using a sharp knife and cut into bite-sized chunks. Transfer the chicken to the Dutch oven and simmer over medium heat until the chicken is cooked through and tender. Serve warm from the stovetop.

Tips & Tricks

When cooking chicken tikka masala, use bone-in chicken to add more flavor to the dish. Boneless chicken will cook faster but can dry out easily during the cooking process. You can use a variety of different cuts of chicken for this recipe depending on your preference, but we’ve suggested using chicken thighs for the most flavorful cut.

Adding heavy cream at the end of cooking and a touch of yogurt during the cooking process, adds a welcome richness to the curry sauce and creates the signature smooth texture chicken tikka masala sauce is known for.

Marinating the Chicken

Marinating the chicken is a key part of making chicken tikka masala, to stop the chicken from drying out in the sauce. As in the recipe above we’ve suggested using a mixture of yogurt, ginger, garlic, and a selection of spices to infuse flavor into the meat. For marinating, check that the meat is all evenly coated. For more tips and tricks on this step take a look at our ultimate guide to chicken marinade.

Don’t leave the chicken marinating for more than four hours, otherwise you’ll end up with dry and stringy meat in your curry. After marinating, broil or grill the chicken to add a smoky flavor to the sauce.

Sauce Preparation

To build the sauce, start by sautéing the onions and garlic cloves until golden. From there, you can add the rest of the classic chicken tikka masala ingredients, with your tailored spice mix and mashed tomatoes. The sauce needs time to simmer to develop its richness and you should taste and adjust the sauce as you go to ensure the flavors are all balanced.

How to Serve Chicken Tikka Masala

Chicken tikka masala is best served hot with a side of fresh naan or steamed rice. Garnish with chopped cilantro to bring a freshness to the dish, or an extra drizzle of heavy cream for added indulgence.

Chicken is an incredibly versatile ingredient, and any leftovers can be easily used in a number of popular dishes, from chicken with roasted vegetables to a simple chicken green salad.