The Best Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe The Curry Mommy

This one-pot easy Chicken Tikka Masala recipe will replace your Indian restaurant favorite! A creamy tomato sauce mixed with various different chili powders and boneless skinless chicken, that can be meal prepped or frozen for days ahead. It is the most perfect and highly rated Indian food recipe for kids and the whole family. Want to try another authentic recipe with chicken? Give my Indian Chicken Kheema Recipe a try! Chicken Tikka Masala

How I came up with this Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe?

History: I absolutely love Chicken Tikka Masala (CTM)! It is the one dish I always order at Indian Restaurants. Whether I eliminate the chicken or not, it is the creamy sauce I crave over and over again. Am I making you drool yet? After eating it for years, I knew I had to learn how to make it. Lucky for me, my aunt owns an Indian restaurant! A very popular, award-winning, and tasty one for that matter. When I visited her during a work trip, I asked her one simple question “What’s the difference between Butter Chicken and Chicken Tikka Masala?” That conversation triggered the origination of this dish. You see, my aunt was born in India, grew up in Africa, and moved to London to marry her sweet and loving British husband afterwards. Can you imagine the flavors in her restaurant? It truly is a paradise of food! Although she didn’t share every detail of her CTM recipe, I put together what I thought might work well with the dish and this recipe was born… in year 2007!

What is the difference between Chicken Tikka and Chicken Tikka Masala?

Chicken Tikka is a flavorful boneless chicken recipe that is enjoyed with a squeeze of lemon and garnishments whereas Chicken Tikka Masala has an Indian inspired creamy tomato gravy which pairs well with rice or naan.

Chicken Tikka Masala vs Butter Chicken

Both recipes are different and delicious. The biggest difference in my recipes is that Chicken Tikka Masala Spices includes multiple different types of peppers where as Butter Chicken Masala includes Kasoori Methi. I sometimes make both for dinner when I really feel like indulging. Be sure to check out my follower favorite Butter Chicken Recipe Here.

Where did Chicken Tikka Masala originate?

The origination of Chicken Tikka Masala dates back to the UK. When India was ruled by the British, many of the spices were imported back to London. In addition to spices, people would also be transported to become servants, cooks, etc. With that came a big influx of spices and fusion foods. In fact, most UK individuals pick Indian Food when choosing to eat out. Hence the popularity of CTM grew and grew throughout the years.

What is Kashmiri Chili Powder?

Kashmiri Chili Powder is a milder heat pepper that is used for flavor and color more than its spice. It has a distinct taste that pairs well with many North Indian or Fusion dishes.

Is this Easy One Pot Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe spicy?

Since most of the pepper powders used in this dish is mild in heat, the spice level is very tolerable. Making this Easy Chicken Tikka Masala recipe is also an Indian food recipe that is kid-friendly.

Chicken Tikka Masala is definitely a dish I recommend for kids. In addition to this, my kids love Palak Paneer, Fish Curry, and Chicken Curry.

What brand Garam Masala do you use?

I prefer to use one that is homemade in India by my grandparents. However, regular garam masala is available at almost every grocery store in the US. Check your local grocery store’s spice aisle and pick one up that meets your standards (organic, non-gmo, or country of origin). If you would like to make it at home, then I recommend checking out Spice Craving’s Recipe here.

Can I use chicken breast instead of chicken thighs?

I recommend using boneless skinless chicken thighs because you really can’t mess it up. Meansing, the meat will be very tender. However, if you want to save some calories and are comfortable cooking chicken breast without overcooking it, then by all means-GO FOR IT! I use what I have on hand and either way the dish comes out just as tasty!

If you want to skip chicken or meat altogether, then give paneer a try. Chop it into small cubes and just substitute for chicken. You can also substitute extra firm tofu that is patted dry or soya chunks.

Tomato Sauce, Crushed Tomatoes, or Tomato Puree

I highly recommend using crushed tomatoes for this recipe. Here is why…

Tomato Puree is hard to find sometimes but it is a great alternative to Crushed Tomatoes if you have it on handTomato Sauce will give you a runny/soup like gravyCrushed Tomatoes gives you a little bit of tomato puree with tomatoes giving you a perfect creamy sauce that is dunkable!

Fresh tomatoes or canned tomatoes?

Canned tomatoes save you time and give you a flavor that will take some to achieve with fresh. Meaning, that using the right tomatoes and condensing them down to a similar consistency will take some effort. For that reason, I recommend using canned.

Can I substitute heavy cream for a healthier option?

If you are looking for a Healthy Chicken Tikka Masala recipe then be sure to check this healthy chicken tikka masala recipe of mine out. It is guilt-free, keto-friendly, and tasty!