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Delicious Easy Chicken Tikka Masala served with rice and garnished with cilantro.

Easy Chicken Tikka Masala

A comforting and easy-to-make chicken tikka masala with a creamy tomato sauce, perfect for weeknight dinners.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Indian
Calories: 450
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Chicken Marinade
  • 1 lbs Boneless chicken, thighs or breasts Thighs are preferred for juiciness.
  • 1/2 cup Plain yogurt For quick marinating and tenderness.
  • 4 cloves Garlic Fresh is best, but paste works.
  • 1 inch Ginger Fresh is best.
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1 tsp Garam masala
For the Sauce
  • 1 large Onion Chopped.
  • 1 can Tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp Tomato paste Optional but gives depth.
  • 1 tbsp Garam masala For seasoning.
  • 1 tsp Cumin
  • 1 tsp Paprika
  • 1 tsp Turmeric
  • 1 pinch Cayenne Adjust heat to taste.
  • 1 cup Heavy cream or coconut milk
  • 1 tbsp Butter or oil For cooking.
  • 1 tbsp Fresh cilantro For topping.
  • 1 tbsp Sugar or honey Just a touch.
  • 1 tsp Salt To taste.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Mix chicken with yogurt, garlic, ginger, salt, and a bit of garam masala. Let it sit while you chop onion for at least 10 minutes.
Cooking
  1. Heat a pan with oil or butter. Sear the chicken pieces until they get some color. They do not have to be fully cooked yet. Scoop them out.
  2. In the same pan, cook chopped onion until soft. Add garlic and ginger and stir for about 30 seconds.
  3. Add spices: garam masala, cumin, paprika, turmeric, and cayenne. Stir so they bloom and smell toasty.
  4. Pour in tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes, plus tomato paste if using. Simmer for 8 to 10 minutes so it thickens and tastes less raw.
  5. Stir in cream (or coconut milk). Add chicken back in and simmer until chicken is cooked through.
  6. Taste and adjust seasoning. Usually, a pinch more salt and sometimes a tiny bit of sugar will balance the tomatoes.
Serving
  1. Finish with cilantro before serving with rice or warm naan.

Notes

Sauce thickness can be adjusted by adding water or broth if too thick, or simmering longer if too thin. This dish tastes better the next day, making for great leftovers.