Best Homemade Chicken Tikka Masala

This recipe is one of the best Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe to make your favourite Indian take out at home. The homemade version is easy to make and the result is very tasty, restaurant style, smoky chicken tikka masala made in an authentic way. Chunky pieces of chicken simmered in a creamy onion tomato gravy which is infused with smoke flavour, this dish is a must try. Here is How to make Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe at home.

If there is one dish we Indians hold steadfast to, it is tikka masala. Don’t you agree with me? Be it Veg Tikka Masala or Chicken Tikka Masala, it never fails to satiate our taste buds. This is probably why it makes its way into every menu card of every Indian restaurant.

This Restaurant Style Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe helps you achieve that restaurant-made taste in a few simple steps. Follow the steps and you will get a fabulous result at home.

This recipe is one of the Best Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe that you can try at home. You will get the same smoky flavour that you get in restaurants at the comfort of your home and at a much lesser price.

Of course, the magic of your hands adds on the extra oomph to the dish! So let’s waste no time and know all about this tasty homemade restaurant style chicken tikka masala recipe.

What is Chicken Tikka Masala?

Chicken Tikka Masala is a creamy and rich curry made using marinated and grilled pieces of chicken which are simmered in a rich onion tomato based gravy. In restaurants, the chicken is grilled in a tandoor giving it a smoky flavour, but at home, you can smoke the curry later using the method I have mentioned below and achieve the same restaurant like taste at home.

Butter Chicken Vs Chicken Tikka Masala

Butter chicken is a mild curry made mostly using tomatoes however in Chicken Tikka Masala, the curry has good amount of onion added to it. The amount of spices that goes in Chicken Tikka Masala is more than that goes in Butter Chicken.

Butter Chicken has a lot of butter going into it which gives it a typical flavour however in Tikka Masala Gravy, we use a mix of oil and butter and the amount of fat used is less as well.

Chicken Tikka Masala Ingredients

To make Chicken Tikka Masala Curry Recipe, you will need hung yogurt to marinate the chicken. Hung yogurt is nothing but thick yogurt. Take some yogurt in a muslin cloth, tie a knot in the cloth and hang it for 1-2 hours for the water to drip down. You will be left with thick curd in the cloth. If you have access to greek yogurt, you can use it too.

Boneless chicken works best for this recipe, however you can use curry cut chicken too. I prefer using boneless chicken thighs as they are more juicy, but you can use chicken breast as well. Soak the chicken breast in salty water for 30 minutes. They will be more juicier when cooked.

You will need ginger garlic paste, lemon juice, salt, vegetable oil and tikka masala spice mix to marinate the chicken. I have a perfect recipe to make Tikka Masala Spice Mix at home if you are looking to make your own however you can use readymade spice mix too if you are short of time.

To make the Tikka Masala Curry, you will need whole spices, chopped onion, ginger garlic paste, chopped tomatoes, green chillies and tomato puree. I recommend using readymade tomato puree as it has a bold flavour and is much concentrated.

Along with the above mentioned ingredients, you will need the regular spice powders like Kashmiri red chilli powder, turmeric powder, roasted cumin powder and more tikka masala spice powder.

Lastly, a whole lot of cream makes the gravy rich and yummy. Do not forget to add honey and kasuri methi for that perfect restaurant like taste.

Now to give your Chicken Tikka Masala Curry a restaurant like smoky flavour, you will need charcoal piece and some ghee. In Indian, ask your iron guy to get some charcoal for you. You can also use the cubes that come for Hukkah. Make sure they are plain ones and not the flavoured ones to smoke your food.

This step is totally optional. If you are not up for the extra work, feel free to skip it.

Chicken Tikka Masala Origin

The origin of Chicken Tikka Masala is quite complicated and many have laid claim to discover the dish. Being an Indian and looking at the history of Chicken Tikka which was discovered during the rule of  Babur, I would like to believe that Chicken Tikka Masala originated in Indian to use the leftover tandoori chicken pieces.

Here is an interesting article which brings in different perspective about the origin of this dish.

http://fooddetectivesdiary.blogspot.com/2011/02/brief-history-of-chicken-tikka-masala.html

How do you make Tikka Masala Paste?

There are many sellers selling tikka masala spice mix but you can easily make it at at home. Check out my quick and easy recipe to make Tikka Masala Spice Mix which you can use in this recipe and any other tikka recipes.

All you have to do is to use this spice mix along with the ingredients listed to marinate the chicken to make tikka masala paste.

If you are pressed with time and have no inclination to make your Tikka masala Spice Mix, you can always buy the packaged one. I personally like Everest and Suhana brand tikka masala. You can get these in any Indian store or can order online as well.

Is Chicken Tikka Masala Gluten Free?

Since there is no flour that goes in this homemade recipe, this recipe is perfectly gluten free. However, if you are eating out, make sure to confirm with the restaurant.

Can Chicken Tikka Masala be frozen?

It can be frozen easily in freezer safe box. Just thaw on counter for 2 hours and then microwave or cook in a pot until the gravy simmers.

What to serve with Chicken Tikka Masala?

You can serve any Indian breads like Lachcha Paratha, Garlic Naan or Plain Naan with Chicken Tikka Masala. It also goes well with  steamed basmati rice or Jeera Rice.

How to make Chicken Tikka Masala in slow cooker?

To make chicken tikka masala in a slow cooker, you will have to cook it in two steps. The masala needs to be fried on the stove top so that it gets the depth of flavours and then chicken and other ingredients are cooked together in the slow cooker along with the cooked masala. The Kitchen have a lovely recipe to make Chicken Tikka Masala in Slow Cooker. Do check it out.

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Paneer Butter Masala

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Dal Tadka

How to make Chicken Tikka Masala Step by Step

Mix all the ingredients for marinating the chicken in a bowl. Cover the bowl with a cling film or a plate and refrigerate for 10-12 hours. If you are pressed with time, marinating the chicken for one hour is also good.

Pre heat the oven to 400 Degrees F (200 degrees C). Transfer the chicken pieces along with the marinade in a baking tray. Spread the chicken pieces in a single layer on the tray.

Bake for 20-25 minutes until it is charred from the top.

Heat butter and oil in a karahi.

Slightly crush the cardamom, cloves, cinnamon stick and black peppercorn and add them in the hot oil. Crushing the spices make sure all their flavours are released in the oil. Let them crackle for a few seconds.

Add onion and fry until it turns translucent.

Add ginger garlic paste and fry for a minute.

Now add tomato and cook for 3-4 minutes until the tomatoes are mushy.

Add green chilli, tomato puree, Kashmiri red chilli powder, turmeric powder, cumin powder, tikka masala and salt and cook for 3-4 minutes.

Add grilled chicken and 1/2 cup of water and cook for 2-3 minutes.

Now add fresh cream, honey and kauri methi and cook for another minute.

Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe Video

Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe

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Best Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe

This recipe is one of the Best Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe to make your favourite Indian take out. It tastes very close to your favourite restaurant's version. 

Course Main Course

Cuisine Indian

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes

Total Time 50 minutes

Servings 4 people

Calories 465 kcal

Author Neha Mathur

Ingredients

For Marinating the Chicken

• 500 g Chicken Boneless, Cut into small cubes
• 1/4 cup Hung Curd
• 2 tsp Ginger Garlic Paste
• 1 tbsp Lemon Juice
• 2 tbsp Tikka Masala Spice Mix
• 2 tsp Salt
• 2 tbsp Vegetable Oil
• 1 pinch Red Food Colour Optional

For the Gravy

• 2 tbsp Butter
• 2 tbsp Vegetable Oil
• 2-3 Cardamom
• 3-4 Cloves
• 1 inch Cinnamon
• 3-4 Black peppercorn
• 1/2 cup Onion Finely Chopped
• 1 tsp Ginger Garlic Paste
• 1 cup Tomato Finely Chopped
• 1-2 Green Chilli Slit into half
• 1/4 cup Tomato Puree
• 2 tsp Kashmiri Red Chilli Powder
• 1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder
• 1/2 tsp Roasted Cumin Powder
• 2 tbsp Tikka Masala Spice Mix
• Salt to taste
• 1/2 cup Fresh Cream
• 1 tsp Honey
• 2 tbsp Kasuri Methi

For the smoky Flavour

• Piece of charcoal
• 1 tsp Ghee / Oil

Instructions

1. Mix all the ingredients for marinating the chicken in a bowl.

2. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 10-12 hours.

3. Pre heat the oven to 200 degrees C.

4. Transfer the chicken pieces along with the marinade in a baking tray.

5. Bake for 25-30 minutes until it is charred from the top.

6. Heat butter and oil in a pan.

7. Slightly crush the cardamom, cloves, cinnamon stick and black peppercorn and add them in the hot oil.

8. Let them crackle for a few seconds.

9. Add onion and fry until it turns translucent.

10. Add ginger garlic paste and fry for a minute.

11. Now add tomato and cook for 3-4 minutes until the tomatoes are mushy.

12. Add green chilli, tomato puree, Kashmiri red chilli powder, turmeric powder, cumin powder, tikka masala and salt and cook for 3-4 minutes.

13. Add grilled chicken and 1/2 cup of water and cook for 2-3 minutes.

14. Now add fresh cream, honey and kauri methi and cook for another minute.

15. Heat the piece of charcoal over direct flame until it is red hot.

16. Keep a bowl in the centre of the karahi with the chicken and keep the hot charcoal piece in the bowl.

17. Pour ghee on top of the charcoal and immediately cover the karahi with a lid.

18. Let it rest for 15 minutes for the smoke to incorporate in the masala.

19. Serve hot with naan or laccha paratha.

Recipe Notes

You can also grill the chicken over stone top in a  pan. 

Smoking the curry is optional. 

Nutrition Facts

Best Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 465 Calories from Fat 360

% Daily Value*

Fat 40g62%

Saturated Fat 24g150%

Cholesterol 101mg34%

Sodium 1331mg58%

Potassium 398mg11%

Carbohydrates 15g5%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 7g8%

Protein 14g28%

Vitamin A 1310IU26%

Vitamin C 13.4mg16%

Calcium 75mg8%

Iron 1.7mg9%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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