Easy Grilled Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe (2024)

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Looking for a simple Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe? This recipe for Grilled Chicken Tikka Masala is easy to make and tastes amazing. This recipe is easily customized for your love of spicy foods so that anyone can enjoy it.

Easy Grilled Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe (1)

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Easy Grilled Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe

love Indian food, it is so flavorful and delicious. I found this recipe for Chicken Tikka Marsala several years ago and never looked back. Chunks of chicken breast marinated in spices and yogurt then grilled to perfection and simmered in a flavorful creamy tomato sauce. My husband and I agree that this recipe is even better than the local Indian restaurant in town. I personally like my Indian food really spicy, however, my husband cannot handle the heat so I usually cut down on the cayenne pepper and jalapeno for him. Otherwise, he would be sitting at the dining room table sweating and in pain! If you like it spicy though, go ahead and add an extra teaspoon of cayenne pepper and the whole jalapeno pepper.

No Indian meal is complete without some garlic naanand to help you handle the heat, go ahead and make somebaba ghanoush which is perfect to help cool down your mouth!

Easy Grilled Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe (2)

What do I Serve With the Best Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe?

Whenever you are serving Chicken Tikka Masala you want to make sure you have naan. This is a classic addition to almost any Indian meal that you definitely want to include. You can also serve this with rice. It can be a great addition for the heat of this recipe.

Can This Be Cooked In The Oven Instead of a Grill?

If you wanted to bake this in the oven instead of a grill you certainly can. You can bake the skewers or you can bake the chicken in a pan with some of the marinades. No matter what you make these, you are going to love them.

Can These Be A Freezer Meal?

I love to make an extra batch of a recipe whenever I can. Freezer meals are great when you want home-cooked meals but do not have time to cook. Pull your freezer meal out, bake it and you have a fresh dinner that is better than anything you can order in. Chicken Tikka Masala is a great freezer meal. Add everything together and bake the chicken instead of grilling it on skewers. This will let you be able to add it to a freezer bag after baking and then have it for another night.

Ingredients for Chicken Tikka Masala

  • Plain yogurt
  • Lemon juice
  • Ground cumin
  • Ground cinnamon
  • Cayenne pepper
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • Fresh ginger
  • Salt
  • Boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • Butter
  • Jalapeno pepper
  • Paprika
  • Garam masala
  • Tomato sauce
  • Heavy cream
  • Fresh cilantro

How to Make Chicken Tikka Masala

In a large bowl, combine yogurt, lemon juice, cumin, cinnamon, cayenne, black pepper, ginger, and salt. Stir in chicken, cover, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.

Preheat a grill for high heat.

In a large heavy skillet over medium heat melt butter. Saute garlic and jalapeno for 1 minute. Stir in cumin, paprika, salt, and garam masala. Stir in tomato sauce and cream. Simmer on low heat until sauce thickens, about 20 minutes.

Lightly oil the grill grate. Thread chicken onto skewers, and discard marinade. Grill until juices run clear, about 5 minutes on each side.

Add grilled chicken to the sauce mixture and simmer for 10 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter, and garnish with fresh cilantro. Serve withgarlic naan.

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Chicken Tikka Masala

Looking for a simple Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe? This recipe for Grilled Chicken Tikka Masala is easy to make and tastes amazing. This recipe is easily customized for your love of spicy foods so that anyone can enjoy it.

Easy Grilled Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe (4)

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Ingredients

Marinade:

  • 1 cup plain yogurt

  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice, from 1 lemon

  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin

  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

  • 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger

  • 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste

  • 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces

Sauce:

  • 4 long skewers

  • 1 tablespoon butter

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1/2 jalapeno pepper, finely chopped

  • 2 teaspoon ground cumin

  • 2 teaspoons paprika

  • 1 teaspoons salt, or to taste

  • 1 teaspoon garam masala

  • 1 8 ounce can tomato sauce

  • 1 cup heavy cream

  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

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Instructions

  • In a large bowl, combine yogurt, lemon juice, cumin, cinnamon, cayenne, black pepper, ginger, and salt. Stir in chicken, cover, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.

  • Preheat a grill for high heat.

  • In a large heavy skillet over medium heat melt butter. Saute garlic and jalapeno for 1 minute. Stir in cumin, paprika, salt, and garam masala. Stir in tomato sauce and cream. Simmer on low heat until sauce thickens, about 20 minutes.

  • Lightly oil the grill grate. Thread chicken onto skewers, and discard marinade. Grill until juices run clear, about 5 minutes on each side.

  • Add grilled chicken to the sauce mixture and simmer for 10 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter, and garnish with fresh cilantro. Serve withgarlic naan.

Notes

Source:adapted fromallrecipes.com

Author: Laura

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Want More Chicken Recipes

If you love this recipe for chicken tikka masala, you will also love myEggplant Curry with Chickpeas recipe. If you love cooking with chicken

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Instant Pot Orange Chicken – Wait until you see how easy and delicious this orange chicken recipe is. With a fresh flavor, it simply does not get easier than Instant Pot Orange Chicken Recipe!

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January 1, 2011

  • Chicken
  • Gluten Free
  • Grilling
  • Mains
  • Mediterranean
  • Recipes
  • Stovetop

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Easy Grilled Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Can I use yogurt instead of cream in chicken tikka masala? ›

However, when it comes to adding it to a curry, I just can't. My brain just won't allow that addition. So, instead of cream, I use yogurt and butter (cream's close cousin) to get that rich and velvety tomato gravy for my Chicken Tikka Masala.

What makes tikka masala taste good? ›

If you want to make the best possible curry base, you need to be using fresh garlic cloves. This is just one example, but the same could be said for your spices, onions, tomatoes, and more. Using high-quality ingredients will be the difference between a good and a great tikka masala.

Is chicken tikka masala healthy or unhealthy? ›

It's one of the most-ordered entrees at Indian joints. But like many Indian dishes that were originally low fat, the modern recipe for chicken tikka masala is anything but. An average portion has whopping 1,249 calories and 90.8 grams of fat. A lot of that comes from the ghee and heavy cream.

What is a substitute for heavy cream in tikka masala? ›

Chicken tikka masala is usually made with heavy cream, but I like to use coconut milk instead; its subtle sweetness works beautifully with the spices in the dish. Serve with steamed rice.

What can you substitute heavy cream with in Indian food? ›

Here Are 5 Best Substitutes For Heavy Cream:
  • Use butter and milk. A combination of butter and milk makes a great alternative if you run out of heavy cream. ...
  • Coconut cream. ...
  • Sour cream. ...
  • Use cornstarch and milk. ...
  • Use olive oil and soy milk.
Sep 20, 2023

What's the difference between masala and tikka masala? ›

Tikka is grilled or roasted meat marinated in yoghurt or spiced base before being cooked on skewers. Masala is a sauce made with cream, yoghurt, tomatoes, or spices to add flavour to the food.

What is the difference between chicken tikka masala and chicken tikka curry? ›

Recipes for both use the same seasonings, and appear pretty much interchangeable, except that curry often has coconut-something in it, and tikka masala is heavy on butter and cream.

What's the difference between chicken tikka and chicken tikka masala? ›

One of the main differences between chicken tikka and tikka masala is the way they are prepared and served. Chicken tikka is a dry dish, whereas tikka masala is a sauce-based dish. Chicken tikka is typically served as an appetizer or snack, whereas tikka masala is served as a main course.

What does tikka masala mean in English? ›

Tikka refers to grilled or roasted pieces of meat that are either marinated in yogurt or spiced water before being cooked on skewers. Masala refers to a sauce made with cream, yogurt, or tomatoes; or a mixture of spices used to flavor food.

What do you eat with chicken tikka masala? ›

Let's jump right in.
  1. Pulao Rice. Rice is generally considered the best side for dishes like tikka masala. ...
  2. Garlic Naan. ...
  3. Roasted Cauliflower. ...
  4. Cucumber Mint Salad. ...
  5. Cachumber (Kachumbar) salad. ...
  6. Baingan ka bharta (Roasted Eggplant Mash) ...
  7. Pooris. ...
  8. Dal Tadka (spicy and tempered lentil gravy)
Sep 26, 2022

Why is my tikka masala bitter? ›

Your curry can taste bitter if the spices and garlic are burnt or if you've added too much fenugreek to the dish. You see, the secret to cooking a delicious curry recipe is to create a spicy paste and slowly cook it before adding your meat.

Is chicken tikka masala bad for blood pressure? ›

Chicken Tikka Masala has many health benefits. The primary source of protein in Chicken Tikka Masala is chicken. It also helps control blood pressure and weight loss and reduces harmful cholesterol levels.

What is the healthiest Indian dish? ›

Dishes like daal (lentil curry), chana masala (chickpea curry), and rajma (kidney bean curry) are excellent vegetarian options that provide essential nutrients while keeping calorie counts reasonable.

What is better than chicken tikka masala? ›

Butter chicken is a healthier option than tikka masala. Tikka masala has a shocking 400–500 calories per serving on average, but a serving of butter chicken may have 438 calories. If you're concerned with the amount of fat it has, you can always switch to low-fat substitutes for butter and heavy cream.

Can I use yogurt instead of heavy cream in curry? ›

While cream and Greek yogurt are both dairy products, they have different textures and flavors, so substituting one for the other can affect the taste and consistency of the dish. In Tikka Masala, Greek yogurt is often used to provide a tangy and creamy base for the sauce, while cream adds richness and sweetness.

Can you use yogurt instead of cream? ›

Greek yogurt and milk

It's thicker than heavy cream, but you can add milk to thin it out and achieve a texture similar to that of heavy cream. Blend together equal parts Greek yogurt and whole milk and use it in place of the same amount of heavy cream.

Can yogurt be used in place of cream? ›

You can add extra protein to a recipe by using Greek yogurt as a stand-in for heavy cream. It's often a bit too thick on its own, so for best results, try mixing equal parts whole milk and plain Greek yogurt to add to sauces and soups.

Can you use yoghurt instead of cream in a sauce? ›

Our creamy, tangy Greek Yogurt is a great substitution for sour cream or other high-fat cream in soups, sauces and stews. But heat can cause yogurt to separate, so whisk it in off the heat at the end, gently re-warming the dish over low heat if necessary, but not letting it simmer or boil.

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