Quick Indian Chicken Tikka Masala – Ready in 20 Minutes
Unlike popular belief, the Indian Chicken Tikka Masala is simple and quick to make! The process is as simple as adding all ingredients in a bowl and cooking. This is a great recipe cooked in a pan and served over a bowl or rice or threaded over skewers served with Chapati or Naan. An absolute treat in summer or winter.
Quick Indian Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe
To most of my non-Indian friends, Indian food is Chicken Tikka, Tandoori Chicken, Biryani and those exotic Indian dishes. Right? My friends honestly believe these are so difficult to make at home until I tell them of course.
The truth is Indian cooking can be easy but time-consuming. We Indians love food so much that we spend a lot of time fussing over it. Back in the day moms would stay at home and make elaborate meals for the rest of the family to come home to. Today we do not have that luxury of time. So we make the same dishes just using the fast forward or quick methods.
For example:
- If my mom made this recipe she’d start the day before and she’d be marinating the chicken in stages. First, the salt and pepper, then just the yogurt. A couple hours later the rest of the spices. An hour before cooking she’d add the lemon juice and oil. Then, she’d very carefully sit in front of her television and skewer each piece of meat making sure easy and everyone was coated well in the marinade.
- If I make this dish – I just add all ingredients in a bowl – all at once. The most marinade time I think I ever give my chicken is maybe half an hour. Either a quick stir-fry or skewer and it’s done.
Now I will be honest, my chicken tikka taste absolutely delicious and everybody raves about it. And yet, I miss mom’s Chicken Tikka Masala. It’s all that extra love and care she put into it that made every single dish extra delicious. Those of you that have moms will know what I mean when I say. You can follow mom’s recipes to the ‘t’ but there will still be that little something missing! It’s never the same!
The sad part often we realize it long after mom’s gone!!
Let’s talk ingredients and substitutes (Save/Pin)
- Chicken – You know I’m not a big fan of chicken breast so I always use thighs but chicken breast works just as well. Just don’t cook it too long. The chicken breast will usually cook in about 5 to 6 minutes. Overcooking chicken breast will make it dry and tough.
- Plain Yogurt – It’s always best to use regular whole milk yogurt (about 3% works). Do not use skimmed or low fat these just create too much gravy and do not give that yogurt texture. Also, do not use sweetened yogurt! Trust me!
- Sour Cream – if you don’t want to use sour cream you can use more yogurt. But just taste it first; if the yogurt is too sour reduce the lemon juice in the recipe.
- Spice mix – For those of you that have Indian spices, I encourage you to use these. Alternatively, you can use curry powder.
Curry powder is a good blend of these spices that work great in any simple Indian dish. - Fenugreek Powder – This is an Indian Spice that usually won’t be in curry powder but is quite authentic to Chicken Tikka Masala. Again it can be omitted! The dish will still be very tasty just with that little unique flavor missing. Living abroad for so long I have had difficulty finding this as well but never stopped me from making Chicken Tikka.
Can you see how soft and tender that is? Just melts in the mouth.
Recipe – Quick Chicken Tikka Masala (Save/Pin)
Tools
Quick Indian Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe
Ingredients
- Boneless chicken 450 grams / 1 lb (thigh or breast)
- Plain yogurt – 1/2 cup
- Ginger – 1 tbsp grated
- Garlic paste – 1 tbsp minced
- Lemon juice – 1 tbsp
- Cooking oil – 2 tbsp
- Red food color – few drops (optional)
- Tomato paste – 1 tbsp (do not use for skewers)
- Sour cream – 2 tbsp (do not use for skewers)
Ground spices or 2 tbsp curry powder (see substitutes)
- Chily powder or cayenne – 1 tsp
- Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp
- Garam masala – 1/4 tsp
- Coriander powder – 1 tsp
- Cumin powder – 1 tsp
- Pepper powder – 1/2 tsp
- Dry fenugreek / kasoori methi – 1/2 tsp
- Salt to taste
Method
- Clean, wash, cut chicken pieces into small cubes.
- Drain water well and pat dry.
- Season with salt and pepper.
Prepare Marinade
- In a glass plastic or ceramic bowl prepare marinade (do not use metal).
- Add the yogurt, all the dry spices including salt and pepper.
- Add the chicken pieces and coat well.
- Lastly, add the lemon juice and oil.
- If using food color add now (not above I have not used any food color).
- Again mix well to coat.
Quick Indian Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe
Pan Cooking Method
- Heat a saute pan on medium-high heat.
- Add the chicken piece with all the marinade.
- Toss and stir the pieces around while keeping the heat on medium to high.
- The chicken will release the juices and the high heat will reduce it immediately giving the yogurt that smoked flavor.
- Continue to cook on medium – stirring often until chicken is cooked (6 to 10 minutes) and the pan juices are soaked up.
- Lastly, add the tomato paste and sour cream – Cook for two more minutes and turn the heat off.
- Sprinkle with cilantro leaves if desired.
Skewer Cooking Method
- Alternatively, you can skewer the chicken pieces over soaked bamboo or satay sticks.
- Grill them on high for 5 to 8 minutes until cooked with beautifully charred marks.
Serving Suggestions
- In summer I use the grilled skewer method and serve them with Indian chapati or naan.
- In Winter I usually use the pan cooking method and serve them with either chapati or steamed rice.
- The leftovers make great treats for snacks – add them to sandwiches and wrap with salad.
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Quick Indian Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe
Recipe Card – Quick Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe
Quick Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe
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Ingredients
- 450 grams (0.99 lb) Boneless chicken thigh or breast
- 1/2 cup (0.5 cup) Plain yogurt
- 1 tbsp (0.52 oz) Ginger grated
- 1 tbsp (0.52 oz) Garlic paste minced
- 1 tbsp (0.5 floz) Lemon juice
- 2 tbsp (1 floz) Cooking oil
- Red food color - few drops optional
- 1 tbsp (0.5 floz) Tomato paste do not use for skewers
- 2 tbsp (1 floz) Sour cream do not use for skewers
Ground spices (or 2 tbsp curry powder) - see substitutes
- 1 tsp (1 tsp) Chily powder or cayenne
- 1/4 tsp (0.25 tsp) Turmeric powder
- 1/4 tsp (0.25 tsp) Garam masala
- 1 tsp (1 tsp) Coriander powder
- 1 tsp (1 tsp) Cumin powder
- 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) Pepper powder
- 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) Dry fenugreek / kasoori methi
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Clean, wash, cut chicken pieces into small cubes.
- Drain water well and pat dry.
- Season with salt and pepper.
Prepare Marinade
- In a glass plastic or ceramic bowl prepare marinade (do not use metal).
- Add the yogurt, all the dry spices including salt and pepper.
- Add the chicken pieces and coat well.
- Lastly, add the lemon juice and oil
- If using food color add now (not above I have not used any food color).
- Again mix well to coat.
Pan Cooking Method
- Heat a saute pan on medium-high heat.
- Add the chicken piece with all the marinade.
- Toss and stir the pieces around while keeping the heat on medium to high.
- The chicken will release the juices and the high heat will reduce it immediately giving the yogurt that smoked flavor.
- Continue to cook on medium - stirring often until chicken is cooked (6 to 10 minutes) and the pan juices are soaked up.
- Lastly, add the tomato paste and sour cream - Cook for two more minutes and turn the heat off.
- Sprinkle with cilantro leaves if desired.
Skewer Cooking Method
- Alternatively, you can skewer the chicken pieces over soaked bamboo or satay sticks.
- Grill them on high for 5 to 8 minutes until cooked with beautifully charred marks.
Serving Suggestions
- In summer I use the grilled skewer method and serve them with Indian chapati or naan.
- In winter I usually use the pan cooking method and serve them with either chapati or steamed rice.
- The leftovers make great treats for snacks - add them to sandwiches and wraps with salad.
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Do you love Indian Food?
Well then you must check out some of my other Indian recipes from slow-cooked curries to quick and easy as well as Indian Biryani and desserts
A Collection of Modern Indian Recipes by Veena Azmanov
Molly Kumar
Tikka Masala is a complete comfortfood for me and this is so yummmm!!! I love how easy the recipe is.
Veena Azmanov
I agree Molly, absolute comfort food.
Julie
Chicken tikka masala is one of our favorites to make at home — I love making “take out” type food right in our own kitchen!
Veena Azmanov
Absolutely Julie. Often it’s so easy to make these at home. Like this one.
Jessica Pinney
Wow, I am blown away by how thoroughly written this recipe is! I will definitely be giving it a try as I love tikka masala but have never made it myself.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Jessica. I think you will love how easy this recipe is.
Karyl Henry
I love Indian food, but don’t make it at home nearly enough. This chicken recipe looks incredibly flavorful and simple, and I’ll definitely give it a try
Veena Azmanov
This one is really very easy Karyl – you must ty.
Jagruti Dhanecha
This dish hugely popular here in Britain and your quick recipe sounds so delicious, I make with paneer and tofu 🙂
Veena Azmanov
Thanks, Jagruti. Yes, my kids love this one too. But often it’s kinda too much work on a busy day. This one is really quick.
Kim @ Berly's Kitchen
I’ve never tried tikka masala, but I keep seeing the recipe everywhere. This is something I need to make. Your recipe sounds so good, and looks so easy. This may just be dinner one night this week. 🙂
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Kim. You must try tikka masala. It’s really delicious. Very creamy and melts in the mouth.
Chelsey
Love Indian food and especially Chicken Tikka Masala! This looks fabulous, can’t wait to try!
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Chelsey. I hope you try this one.
Lorie
Really really wishing this was on our menu tonight but adding it to next week’s meal planning! This is one of my favorite dishes!
Veena Azmanov
Thanks, Lorie. Yes these are so easy to make.
Jordan
Yayyyyy! A new Indian recipe to try out at home. There are literally no Indian restaurants near us which is SO sad. But I guess that just means more experimenting at home!
Veena Azmanov
Thanks, Jordan. I have the same problem. I don’t like any Indian restaurant near me. I hope you try this one, it’s super easy.
Tammy
My mouth is watering! This looks so amazing, Venna! Such amazing flavors in this dish. I have never had tikka masala but I’d love to try this ^_^
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Tammy. You will love this if you like Indian food.
Dawn
How good does this look?! So much better than any take out and I can actually stay home with my comfy clothes on with a big plate of this deliciousness 😉
Veena Azmanov
Absolutely Dawn. This one is so easy and quick it beats take away any time.
Gloria
This looks like something you can whip up any night of the week. We enjoy trying foods of the world. Love the fact you can make this at home and avoid take-out.
Veena Azmanov
Absolutely, Gloria. Does not take long at all.
Caitlya
I made Chicken Tikka Masala for the first time and I tried your recipe because I always have success with your cake recipes. And this worked great too! Thanks
Veena Azmanov
Thank you Caitlya, So happy to hear you had success with this recipe and love my cake recipes too. Thank you for coming back to write this feedback, appreciate it very much. Always a great feeling to read such success and positive comments. Thank you.
Rochelle
You may already know this, Veena, but in Israel, fenugreek is the well known Yemenite spice Hilbeh. You can find it in a shuk spice store.
Veena Azmanov
Thanks Rochelle. I do actually know this but I usually buy mine at the Indian grocery store. Thanks
Marisa Franca @ All Our Way
I’ve got to get more adventuresome in my cooking. I’ve been meaning to make more exotic dishes and this one looks easy enough to make. I do have curry powder that isn’t 10 years old (lol) and I think I’ll make some this week. Now, Hubby always has to have some kind of starch with it. What do you think about rice? And mom’s cooking is so good because of all the love she puts into it. Oh, lots of love goes into mine but she just perfected it!! Great sounding recipe.
Veena Azmanov
Steamed rice is perfect for curry. I grew up eating steamed white rice with curry! This one is great in wraps too! yup tortilla wrap.. a side of salad and it’s perfect dinner.
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy
I LOVE cooking Indian food. I know I am not a pro at it, but the aroma of all those spices is always so inviting. This sounds and looks delicious. With comfort food season just around the corner, I will have to give this a try. I will make a HUGE batch and give some to the kids to take home too.
Veena Azmanov
OH you don’t need to be a pro in Indian cooking Gloria.!! It’s so easy. Especially with all the spices so easily available now a days.