Creamy Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe
This Chicken Tikka Masala recipe is a flavorful and creamy Indian-inspired dish featuring tender, marinated chicken chunks seared to a perfect char and simmered in a rich spiced tomato cream sauce. Ideal for a comforting dinner, it balances the aromatic spices of garam masala, garlic, and paprika with the smoothness of heavy cream and yogurt.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Indian
- Diet: Halal
Ingredients
Scale
Marinade Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 7-ounce container plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon garam masala
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
Sauce Ingredients
- 15-ounce can tomato sauce
- 1.5 cups heavy whipping cream
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 teaspoons garam masala
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon table salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Marinate Chicken: In a large bowl, combine the Greek yogurt, 1 tablespoon garam masala, fresh lemon juice, ground black pepper, and ground ginger. Pat the chicken breasts dry and cut into bite-sized chunks about 1/2 to 1 inch. Stir the chicken into the marinade ensuring all pieces are well-coated. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to infuse.
- Sear Chicken: Heat a nonstick pan over high heat without adding oil. Add half of the marinated chicken chunks along with any marinade clinging to them, spreading them evenly in the pan. Cook for several minutes, stirring and flipping occasionally, until the chicken is golden brown and slightly charred on all sides. Transfer the cooked chicken to a large plate. Repeat the process with the remaining chicken pieces.
- Simmer Sauce: Reduce the heat to medium. Pour the tomato sauce, heavy cream, minced garlic, 4 teaspoons garam masala, paprika, salt, and cayenne pepper into the now-empty pan. Stir the sauce mixture for about a minute to blend the spices. Add the seared chicken chunks to the sauce, submerging them without stirring. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 20 minutes, adjusting the heat to maintain a light simmer. The chicken should be fully cooked, and the sauce thickened and slightly orange in color. Once done, turn off the heat and serve immediately.
Notes
- The marinade can be prepared up to 24 hours in advance for deeper flavor.
- Using boneless skinless chicken breasts ensures quick cooking and tender meat.
- No oil is needed to sear the chicken as the marinade contains yogurt which helps in browning.
- Adjust the amount of cayenne pepper to control the heat level of the dish.
- Serve the Chicken Tikka Masala with basmati rice or warm naan bread for a complete meal.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or a coconut cream alternative.
Keywords: Chicken Tikka Masala, Indian chicken recipe, creamy tomato chicken, garam masala chicken, stovetop chicken curry
Find it online: https://tastewithamy.com/creamy-chicken-tikka-masala-recipe/
