Description
Enjoy a classic Spicy Chicken Tikka Masala, featuring tender chicken in a rich, creamy tomato sauce infused with aromatic Indian spices. This recipe is perfect for a flavorful and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp grated fresh ginger
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp garam masala
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp turmeric
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (or to taste)
- Salt to taste
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine yogurt, lemon juice, ginger, garlic, cumin, garam masala, paprika, turmeric, cayenne pepper, and salt.
- Add the chicken pieces to the marinade and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours.
- Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
- Add the marinated chicken in batches and cook until browned on all sides. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Add the chopped onion to the skillet and cook until softened and translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in the crushed tomatoes and bring to a simmer.
- Return the chicken to the skillet. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
- Stir in the heavy cream and cook for another 5 minutes, until the sauce is heated through and slightly thickened. Do not boil.
- Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Garnish with fresh cilantro before serving.
Notes
- For a milder flavor, reduce the amount of cayenne pepper.
- If you don’t have yogurt, you can use buttermilk or sour cream for the marinade.
- Serve with basmati rice or naan bread.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Pan-Frying and Simmering
- Cuisine: Indian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1/6 of recipe)
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 150mg