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The Best Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe

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This is the best Chicken Tikka Masala recipe you'll ever have. And the best part? You get to use your Instant Pot to cook it perfectly time and time again. If you're looking for a hearty meal, this is the one for you.

chicken tikka masala

Make certain to check out our Chicken and Rice Burrito Bowl as well! It's another super simple chicken dish that tastes amazing.

The Best Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe

There's nothing quite like the flavors that you find in this Chicken Tikka Masala recipe. It's a light flavor that adds a warm comfort to your heart and soul.

And if your family is anything like my family, we eat a ton of chicken but are constantly looking for new ways to put a spin on it to get new flavor and taste.

This is why this simple chicken recipe needs to be on your radar. It's an easy way to make a delicious meal that will have everyone loading their bowls for round two.

Kitchen Supplies We Used to Make Chicken Marsala WITH Pot-in-Pot Rice

  • Glass meal prep freezer containers | We used these meal prep glass containers to marinate the marsala chicken for this recipe in the refrigerator overnight AND to store leftovers in the freezer for a quick heat and go meal later in the month.
  • Non-stick inner pot | This is my go-to inner pot to use when cooking any type of meat. It really does prevent a bunch of stuck on food and is easier to clean.
  • High trivet | We used this trivet to put over the chicken marsala in this recipe and cooked a pan of rice on top of it at the same time as the chicken was cooking.
  • 7-inch pan for pot-in-pot rice | While technically a cake pan, this 7-inch pan comes in handy for all our pot-in-pot cooking. It's such a time savings to be able to cook two recipes at one time, like we did for this chicken marsala and rice recipes.
delicious tikka masala recipe

Chicken Tikka Masala Ingredients

  • Greek yogurt
  • Fresh ginger
  • Garlic powder
  • Ground cumin
  • Ground coriander
  • Cayenne pepper
  • Sea salt and black pepper
  • Skinless chicken breast
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Yellow onion
  • Garlic
  • Fresh ginger
  • Jalapeño
  • Tomato paste
  • Crushed tomatoes
  • Garam masala
  • Honey
  • Heavy cream
  • Fresh cilantro leaves
  • Basmati rice

Is Chicken Tikka Masala an Indian dish?

It is. The flavors added to this dish are the flavors that you'll find in many traditional Indian dishes as well.

What does tikka mean in Indian?

The word tikka means actually means "a cut of meat" which is why we choose to use chicken in this recipe.

The chicken pairs perfectly with the Indian spices and the added rice.

What is the difference between butter chicken and chicken tikka masala?

People will actually get these two recipes confused and while they can be similar, they have major differences in flavor. Butter chicken uses more cream in the recipe and tends to have a lighter color while tikka masala is more tomato-based and will be a darker sauce.

How to Eat This Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe

There are many ways that you can enjoy this simple Chicken Tikka Masala recipe so it's really up to you.

Some people don't like to mix together rice and chicken and that is fine to eat them separately. The other option would be to mix it all together and have all the ingredients in each and every bite.

And if you're trying to cut out some of the carbs, you can omit the rice altogether, too. Just replace with some sauteed veggies or steamed veggies or even just eat from a bowl on its own.

How To Clean Your Instant Pot

Sprinkle some Bar Keepers Friend in the bottom of the pot, add a touch of water, and give it a scrub with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. This simple combination really does work wonders!

Yield: 6 servings

Best Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe

chicken tikka masala

This is literally the Best Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe. It has so much flavor!

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Additional Time 10 minutes
Total Time 33 minutes

Instructions

    1. Start by adding in the Greek yogurt, ginger, garlic powder, cumin, coriander, and cayenne pepper to a bowl. Stir in some salt and pepper as well.
    2. Put the cut up chicken into the yogurt mixture that you just made and let marinate for at least an hour at room temperature. You can also go longer with the marinade so covering it up and put it in the fridge overnight words, too. If you do decide to do so overnight, just set it out 30 minutes prior to using it to get to room temperature.
    3. Put the olive oil into the Instant Pot and hit sauté. Set the setting to medium.
    4. Once it gets hot, add in the onion, garlic, ginger, and jalapeño. Stir and cook for 2-3 minutes.
    5. Put the paste in, the crushed tomatoes, garam masala, and honey. Stir for 1-2 minutes. Set the Keep Warm button.
    6. Add in the chicken and put on the lid. Lock the lid in place and set the vent to sealing. Hit the manual button and adjust the setting to high. Cook for 8 minutes.
    7. Once the cooking time is done, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes. Then quick release the rest of the pressure.
    8. You're going to want to prevent curdling by tempering the cream. To do this, add in 2-3 tablespoons of the hot liquid from the Instant Pot. Stir.
    9. Taste and adjust seasonings as well.

Notes

Set a high trivet in the inner pot over the chicken marsala ingredients and then add a 7-inch pan for pot-in-pot rice. Simply add the rice and water to the pan, set on the trivet, and cook both the chicken marsala and rice at the same time!

FAQs

  • Can my dog have Chicken Tikka Masala? It is better that you do not give this dish to your dog. Spicy foods can be toxic to dogs and can cause stomach problems such as pain, diarrhea, and gas. It also contains other ingredients that can dislike and make your dog sick, such as garlic, onion, and heavy cream
  • Can my cat have Chicken Tikka Masala? Unfortunately, the answer is no. It's best not to let your cat indulge in this highly spiced food recipe because it could upset their stomach and make them feel sick. Spicy foods can cause serious gastrointestinal and digestive problems. which can cause stomach pain, diarrhea, vomiting, etc. You can give your pet chicken or turkey without salt or any seasoning, as they must have protein from meat for a strong heart, good vision, and a healthy reproductive system.

Nutrition Information

Yield

6

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 553Total Fat 18gSaturated Fat 7gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 9gCholesterol 153mgSodium 432mgCarbohydrates 40gFiber 4gSugar 11gProtein 56g

Did you make this recipe?

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Author

  • Jessica McCoy

    Jessica McCoy is a seasoned food blogger with 14+ years of experience in the industry. As a self-taught home cook, she enjoys creating and finetuning easy recipes that are fool proof and simple for anyone to make. Her expertise is in all things kitchen: cooking tips, air fryer recipes, Instant Pot and other pressure cooking recipes, and slow cooker recipes. Jessica was the previous owner of AllSheCooks, where she focused on easy every day recipes including budget friendly dinner recipes and desserts.

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One Comment

  1. Hi! This looks so good. I've been missing Indian food and don't have an Indian place nearby and don't always love the frozen version... I also notice you don't include turmeric in your recipe. Just wondering if there is a reason for that? Most of the recipes I've seen have both the garam masala and the turmeric. I have a ninja foodi and I'm assuming you can make this with any pressure cooker? Thank you and I appreciate the recipe! CC

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