Rich tomato sauce, warming spices, and smoky, charred chicken make this Chicken Tikka Masala a standout homemade curry. Boneless chicken thighs soak up a flavorful yogurt marinade before hitting the grill, then finish cooking in a smooth sauce made with fresh tomatoes, ginger, garlic, serrano peppers, garam masala, paprika, and heavy cream. The result is a comforting Indian-inspired dinner with layers of flavor and a creamy finish.
The secret starts with the marinade. A stainless steel spice grinder is a useful addition to your kitchen for grinding whole spices fresh, helping bring out the aromatic flavors that make homemade Chicken Tikka Masala so delicious. Plain yogurt helps tenderize the chicken, while ginger-garlic paste, salt, and freshly ground black pepper season the meat throughout. Give the chicken at least 30 minutes to marinate, or refrigerate it overnight when you want to get a head start on dinner.
While the chicken marinates, prepare the sauce on the stovetop. Butter and olive oil provide a rich base for the ginger-garlic paste and serrano peppers. Tomato paste cooks until its color deepens, then garam masala and paprika are added to release their aromas. Diced Roma tomatoes simmer with salt and water until the sauce thickens, developing the deep tomato flavor that makes this curry so satisfying.
Grilling the marinated chicken adds a lightly charred exterior before the pieces finish cooking in the simmering sauce. Blend the tomato mixture until smooth, return it to the skillet, and let the chicken cook through. Optional dried fenugreek leaves add another layer of fragrance, while heavy cream softens the spices and gives the sauce its signature creamy texture. Finish with freshly minced cilantro.
For a complete meal, serve Chicken Tikka Masala over steamed rice or alongside warm homemade garlic-cilantro naan to soak up every bit of sauce. A blender or immersion blender is useful for creating the smooth consistency that brings the tomato sauce together.
With its tender grilled chicken and boldly seasoned, creamy sauce, this recipe is a delicious choice for a weekend curry night or a homemade alternative to your favorite Indian restaurant takeout.
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Chicken Tikka Masala
- Total Time: 1:00
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
Marinade
- 1 cup plain yogurt, whisked until smooth
- 3 tablespoons Ginger-Garlic Paste, recipe follows (or 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger and 3 cloves garlic put through a garlic press or finely minced)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, poked with a fork, and cut into large bite-sized chunks
Sauce
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1/3 cup Ginger-Garlic Paste, recipe follows (or 6 cloves garlic and 2-inch thumb ginger minced)
- 2 serrano peppers, minced (seeds removed if you don’t want it spicy)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 8 Roma tomatoes, diced
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 to 2 cups water
- Oil, for grilling
- 1 tablespoon dried fenugreek leaves (optional)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- Minced fresh cilantro, for garnish
- Cooked rice, naan, or crusty piece of bread, for serving
Ginger-Garlic Paste
- 1/2 cup cloves garlic, whole
- 1/2 cup fresh ginger, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch slices
- 1/4 cup canola oil
Instructions
- For the marinade: In a large bowl, mix together the marinade ingredients. Add the chicken and toss to coat. Marinate at least 30 minutes, or in the refrigerator up to overnight.
- For the sauce: When you’re ready to make the curry, place a large skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil and butter. When the butter has melted, add the Ginger-Garlic Paste and serrano peppers. Saute until lightly browned around the edges. Add the tomato paste and cook until the tomato has darkened in color, about 3 minutes. Add the garam masala and the paprika and saute for about 1 minute to draw out their flavors.
- Add the tomatoes, salt, and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil, turn down to a simmer, and cook until thickened, about 20 minutes. You may need more water depending on how much liquid the tomatoes give off.
- Meanwhile, fire up your grill. When it is nice and hot, lightly brush it with oil. Place the chicken on the grill, shaking off some of the excess marinade. Cook until it’s charred, about 2 minutes on each side. (Don’t worry that the chicken will still be a little uncooked, it finishes cooking in the sauce).
- Pour the sauce into a blender or food processor, or use an immersion blender, and process until smooth. Pour back into the skillet and bring back up to a boil. Add the chicken and fenugreek leaves, if using. Take the heat down to a simmer and cook for about 10 minutes. Add the cream and stir through. Garnish with minced fresh cilantro, and serve over rice, with naan, or a crusty piece of bread!
Ginger-Garlic Paste
- Throw the garlic, ginger, and canola oil in a mini-food processor and let it go until it forms a semi-smooth paste. There will still be tiny little pieces in there, but overall, it should resemble a paste.
- Save what you don’t use in a small glass jar. It should last in the fridge for 2 to 3 weeks. It’s a delicious addition to marinades, pasta sauces, stir fry sauces, slow-cooker recipes, gravy etc. We always had a jar of this stuff in our fridge growing up.
- Prep Time: :20
- Cook Time: :20
- Category: Entree
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: Indian