Chef John's Chicken Tikka Masala
Chef John's Chicken Tikka Masala features tender spiced chicken simmered in a rich coconut-tomato sauce layered with garam masala, ginger, and garlic. The sauce is gently reduced for a lush, balanced heat with aromatic depth, perfect for spooning over rice or scooping with warm naan. A weeknight-friendly curry that still feels special enough for guests.
- Prep25 mins
- Cook45 mins
- Serves4
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Chef John's Chicken Tikka Masala, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 46 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 11 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 91 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 28
- Heart Health
- 73
- Metabolic
- 31
- Digestive
- 23
- Inflammatory
- 56
- Performance
- 46
- General Wellness
- 1
Gather all ingredients. Place the chicken in a bowl. Drizzle vegetable oil over the chicken and toss to coat.
- 2
Whisk salt, garam masala, cumin, coriander, paprika, turmeric, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and cardamom together in a small bowl. Sprinkle the mixture over the chicken and turn to coat evenly.
- 3
Melt clarified butter in a large, heavy skillet over high heat. Cook the chicken thighs in the hot butter until browned on all sides, 5 to 10 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate. When cool enough to handle, cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
- 4
Make the sauce: Set the skillet with the chicken drippings over medium-high heat. Add the onion to the skillet and cook, stirring, until it softens and turns translucent, 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and cook until it caramelizes, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and ginger to the tomato-onion mixture and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- 5
Pour the crushed tomatoes into the skillet. Bring to a boil, scraping the browned bits from the bottom with a wooden spoon. Add the coconut milk and chicken broth; bring to a simmer, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the flavors blend and the sauce slightly reduces, about 15 minutes.
- 6
Stir the chicken and any accumulated juices into the sauce. Add the cilantro and red pepper flakes; bring to a simmer, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until the chicken is cooked through and tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper.
- Calories 486.41 kcal High 24%
- Protein 37.34 g Good Source 75%
- Carbohydrate 18.54 g 7%
- Total Fat 30.85 g High 40%
- Saturated Fat 12.36 g High 62%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 171.27 mg High 57%
- Sodium 424.49 mg Moderate 18%
- Dietary Fiber 3.81 g Moderate 14%
- Total Sugars 7.93 g --
- Added Sugars 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 259.62 mg Moderate 20%
- Iron 5.08 mg Good Source 28%
- Potassium 500.04 mg Moderate 11%
- Vitamin A 98.83 mcg Moderate 11%
- Vitamin C 10.26 mg Moderate 11%
- Vitamin D 1.1 mcg Low Source 6%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Tomatoes 🍅
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Chef John's Chicken Tikka Masala is an Indian dinner recipe made with 22 ingredients. It takes about 1 hr 10 mins, serves 4, and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Black Pepper, Boneless Chicken Thigh, Cayenne Pepper, and Chicken Broth. Each serving provides about 486.41 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Chef John's Chicken Tikka Masala?
- It is an Indian recipe made with 22 ingredients, usually served for dinner or lunch.
- What is Chef John's Chicken Tikka Masala made of?
- The main ingredients are Black Pepper, Boneless Chicken Thigh, Cayenne Pepper, Chicken Broth, Coconut Milk. The full list of 22 is above.
- What goes well with Chef John's Chicken Tikka Masala?
- Explore these Indian side-dish recipes.
- How long does it take to make Chef John's Chicken Tikka Masala?
- About 1 hr 10 mins in total: 25 mins to prepare and 45 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 486.41 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Chef John's Chicken Tikka Masala easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 22 ingredients and 6 steps.
- Is Chef John's Chicken Tikka Masala healthy?
- Chef John's Chicken Tikka Masala has an easyChef Pro health score of 48/100. Per serving, it provides 486.41 calories and 37.34 g of protein, or 75% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of iron. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 424.49 mg (18% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 12.36 g (62% of the Daily Value). It contains Tomatoes, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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