Quick Indian Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe

Name: Quick Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 450 grams Boneless chicken (thigh or breast); 1/2 cup Plain yogurt; 1 tbsp Ginger (grated); 1 tbsp Garlic paste (minced); 1 tbsp Lemon juice; 2 tbsp Cooking oil; Red food color - few drops (optional); 1 tbsp Tomato paste (do not use for skewers); 2 tbsp Sour cream (do not use for skewers); 1 tsp Chily powder or cayenne; 1/4 tsp Turmeric powder; 1/4 tsp Garam masala; 1 tsp Coriander powder; 1 tsp Cumin powder; 1/2 tsp Pepper powder; 1/2 tsp Dry fenugreek / kasoori methi; Salt to taste

September 30, 2012 *Updated* September 27, 2018 By Veena Azmanov 32 Comments

Recipe Print

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)

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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.

Don’t forget to save this recipe on Pinterest for later.
You can find a collection of my tutorials and recipes here on Pinterest.

Quick Indian Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe

Recipe Card – Quick Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe

Quick Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe

Author: Veena Azmanov

5 from 15 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course - Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine - Indian

Prep Time: 5 mins

Cook Time: 10 mins

Total Time: 15 mins

Calories: 141

Adjust Servings Here: 4 servings

Description

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.

Ingredients

450 grams Boneless chicken thigh or breast
1/2 cup Plain yogurt
1 tbsp Ginger grated
1 tbsp Garlic paste minced
1 tbsp Lemon juice
2 tbsp Cooking oil
Red food color - few drops optional
1 tbsp Tomato paste do not use for skewers
2 tbsp Sour cream do not use for skewers

Ground spices (or 2 tbsp curry powder) - see substitutes

1 tsp Chily powder or cayenne
1/4 tsp Turmeric powder
1/4 tsp Garam masala
1 tsp Coriander powder
1 tsp Cumin powder
1/2 tsp Pepper powder
1/2 tsp Dry fenugreek / kasoori methi
Salt to taste

Metric - US customary

ADJUST SERVINGS HERE - 4 servings

Conversions - Switch between Metric & US for other measurement options