Best 20 Masala Chicken Recipes

THE BEST CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA

Steps:

• For the chicken marinade: Whisk together the yogurt, ginger, salt, chili powder, garam masala, pepper, turmeric and garlic in a large bowl until combined. Toss the chicken in the spiced yogurt marinade until evenly coated. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 3 hours and up to 24. (Overnight works best.)
• For the sauce: Melt the ghee in a large Dutch oven or wide heavy pot over medium heat. Add the onions and serrano, season with 1 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are golden and beginning to caramelize, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the ginger and garlic and cook, stirring, until very fragrant and the ginger starts to turn golden and sticks to the bottom of the pot, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the fenugreek leaves, garam masala, chili powder and paprika and cook, stirring occasionally, until very fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, breaking them up into pieces with a spoon, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has reduced by half and the tomatoes are very tender, about 30 minutes.
• Let the hot sauce cool for about 5 minutes or so, then transfer it to a blender filling no more than halfway. (If your blender is small, you may need to work in batches.) Remove the center cap from the lid and place it on the blender. Cover the lid with a kitchen towel to catch splatters, and pulse until smooth. Add 1/4 cup heavy cream and puree until creamy. Pour into a clean pot and bring to a simmer. Season with salt.
• Meanwhile, position a rack directly under the broiler and preheat to high. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and set a wire rack inside.
• Arrange the chicken in a single layer on the rack. Broil until the chicken starts to brown in spots, 3 to 6 minutes per side (it will not be cooked through). Remove from the broiler. When cool enough to handle, cut the chicken into 1-inch pieces. Add the chicken to the simmering sauce, cover and cook until the chicken is cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Top the chicken and sauce with cilantro. Serve with rice and naan.

CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA

Steps:

• For the marinade: In a large bowl, mix together the marinade ingredients. Add the chicken and toss to coat. Marinate at least 30 minutes, or in the refrigerator up to overnight.
• For the sauce: When you're ready to make the curry, place a large skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil and butter. When the butter has melted, add the Ginger-Garlic Paste and serrano peppers. Saute until lightly browned around the edges. Add the tomato paste and cook until the tomato has darkened in color, about 3 minutes. Add the garam masala and the paprika and saute for about 1 minute to draw out their flavors.
• Add the tomatoes, salt, and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil, turn down to a simmer, and cook until thickened, about 20 minutes. You may need more water depending on how much liquid the tomatoes give off.
• Meanwhile, fire up your grill. When it is nice and hot, lightly brush it with oil. Place the chicken on the grill, shaking off some of the excess marinade. Cook until it's charred, about 2 minutes on each side. (Don't worry that the chicken will still be a little uncooked, it finishes cooking in the sauce).
• Pour the sauce into a blender or food processor, or use an immersion blender, and process until smooth. Pour back into the skillet and bring back up to a boil. Add the chicken and fenugreek leaves, if using. Take the heat down to a simmer and cook for about 10 minutes. Add the cream and stir through. Garnish with minced fresh cilantro, and serve over rice, with naan, or a crusty piece of bread!
• Throw the garlic, ginger, and canola oil in a mini-food processor and let it go until it forms a semi-smooth paste. There will still be tiny little pieces in there, but overall, it should resemble a paste.
• Save what you don't use in a small glass jar. It should last in the fridge for 2 to 3 weeks. It's a delicious addition to marinades, pasta sauces, stir fry sauces, slow-cooker recipes, gravy etc. We always had a jar of this stuff in our fridge growing up.

INDIAN CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA

Steps:

• Combine tomatoes, yogurt, garlic, and ginger in a blender and process until smooth.
• Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add onion and fry until soft, 3 to 4 minutes, stirring constantly. Stir in curry paste and fry until fragrant, 1 minute more, stirring once or twice. Add the tomato mixture and chicken to the pan and mix together. Season with salt and pepper. Remove pan from heat.
• Mix water and flour together in a bowl. Stir into the chicken mixture in the frying pan. Return pan to the heat and bring to a boil, stirring constantly, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook until thickened, about 15 minutes more. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve immediately.

GARAM MASALA CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place the chicken breasts in the hot oil and cook until browned on one side, about 3 minutes. Flip the chicken and add the onions; cook another 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes, garlic salt, and water to the chicken; stir. Season with 1 1/2 teaspoon garam masala. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Stir the remaining 1/2 teaspoon garam masala through the mixture. Raise heat to medium and bring mixture to a boil. Cook until the chicken no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 5 minutes more. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

SLOW COOKER CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA

Steps:

• Stir tomatoes, onion, garam masala, garlic, ginger, salt, brown sugar, cumin, and coriander together in a slow cooker until well-mixed. Place chicken thighs in tomato mixture.
• Cook on High for 3 to 4 hours (or on Low for 6 to 8 hours). Stir yogurt and cilantro into chicken mixture.

CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA

Steps:

• In a 5-qt. slow cooker, combine the first 13 ingredients. Add chicken, jalapeno and bay leaf. Cook, covered, on low 4 hours or until chicken is tender. Remove jalapeno and bay leaf., In a small bowl, mix cornstarch and cream until smooth; gradually stir into sauce. Cook, covered, on high 15-20 minutes or until sauce is thickened. Serve with rice. If desired, sprinkle with cilantro.

SLOW-COOKER CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA

Steps:

• Combine first 12 ingredients in a 3- or 4-quart slow cooker. Add chicken thighs and stir gently to coat. Cook, covered, on low 3-4 hours or until chicken is tender., Preheat broiler. Using a slotted spoon, transfer chicken to a broiler-safe baking pan lined with foil. Broil 4-6 inches from heat for 3-4 minutes on each side or until lightly charred. , Meanwhile, transfer cooking juices from slow cooker to saucepan. Cook, uncovered, over medium-high heat until slightly thickened, 6-8 minutes. Remove from heat and gently stir in yogurt and butter. Serve chicken with sauce. If desired, garnish with chopped cilantro, lemon zest and additional yogurt. Serve with hot cooked rice.

CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA

Steps:

• Combine garlic, ginger, turmeric, garam masala, coriander, and cumin in a small bowl. Whisk yogurt, salt, and half of spice mixture in a medium bowl; add chicken and turn to coat. Cover and chill 4-6 hours. Cover and chill remaining spice mixture.
• Heat ghee in a large heavy pot over medium heat. Add onion, tomato paste, cardamom, and chiles and cook, stirring often, until tomato paste has darkened and onion is soft, about 5 minutes. Add remaining half of spice mixture and cook, stirring often, until bottom of pot begins to brown, about 4 minutes.
• Add tomatoes with juices, crushing them with your hands as you add them. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, stirring often and scraping up browned bits from bottom of pot, until sauce thickens, 8-10 minutes.
• Add cream and chopped cilantro. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens, 30-40 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat broiler. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and set a wire rack inside sheet. Arrange chicken on rack in a single layer. Broil until chicken starts to blacken in spots (it will not be cooked through), about 10 minutes.
• Cut chicken into bite-size pieces, add to sauce, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until chicken is cooked through, 8-10 minutes. Serve with rice and cilantro sprigs.
• DO AHEAD: Chicken can be made 2 days ahead. Cover; chill. Reheat before serving.

CHICKEN IN CREAMY TOMATO CURRY: CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA

Steps:

• For the marinade: In a large bowl, mix together the marinade ingredients. Add the chicken and toss to coat. Marinate at least 30 minutes, or in the refrigerator up to overnight.
• For the sauce: When you're ready to make the curry, place a large skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil and butter. When the butter has melted, add the Ginger-Garlic Paste and serrano peppers. Saute until lightly browned around the edges. Add the tomato paste and cook until the tomato has darkened in color, about 3 minutes. Add the garam masala and the paprika and saute for about 1 minute to draw out their flavors.
• Add the tomatoes, salt, and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil, turn down to a simmer, and cook until thickened, about 20 minutes. You may need more water depending on how much liquid the tomatoes give off.
• Meanwhile, fire up your grill. When it is nice and hot, lightly brush it with oil. Place the chicken on the grill, shaking off some of the excess marinade. Cook until it's charred, about 2 minutes on each side. (Don't worry that the chicken will still be a little uncooked, it finishes cooking in the sauce).
• Pour the sauce into a blender or food processor, or use an immersion blender, and process until smooth. Pour back into the skillet and bring back up to a boil. Add the chicken and fenugreek leaves, if using. Take the heat down to a simmer and cook for about 10 minutes. Add the cream and stir through. Garnish with minced fresh cilantro, and serve over rice, with naan, or a crusty piece of bread!
• Throw the garlic, ginger, and canola oil in a mini-food processor and let it go until it forms a semi-smooth paste. There will still be tiny little pieces in there, but overall, it should resemble a paste.
• Save what you don't use in a small glass jar. It should last in the fridge for 2 to 3 weeks. It's a delicious addition to marinades, pasta sauces, stir fry sauces, slow-cooker recipes, gravy etc. We always had a jar of this stuff in our fridge growing up.

CHICKEN MASALA CURRY

Steps:

• Heat the vegetable oil in a dutch oven or other large pot.
• Cook the onions over medium heat until softened.
• Add garlic and ginger, continue to cook until fragrant and softened.
• Remove from heat, add Curry powder, cumin, and coriander.
• Pour 1/2 cup water into a blender. Add cooked vegetables and blend on high until very, very smooth. Add additional water if necessary.
• Pour sauce back into pot and stir in tomato paste and Chilis, if using.
• Cover and cook for at least 30 minutes, but no more than an hour. -Note- Sauce will bubble and gloop violently all over your range if you do not cover.
• Add chicken pieces, cook until tender and 160 - 170 degrees F.
• Remove from heat, stir in cilantro and yogurt and serve over rice.

CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA BY JAMIE OLIVER

Steps:

• Grate the garlic and ginger and put to one side in a bowl. Chop the chillies as finely as possible and mix them in with the garlic and ginger. Heat a good splash of oil in a pan and add the mustard seeds. When they start to pop, add them to the ginger and garlic mixture along with the paprika, cumin, ground coriander and 2 T of the garam masala. Put half of this mix in a bowl, add the yogurt and the chicken pieces to it, stir and leave to marinate for about a half an hour.
• Melt butter in the same saucepan the mustard seeds were in and add the sliced onions and the remaining half of the spice mix. Cook gently for about 15 minutes without browning too much. Add the tomato puree, ground nuts, 2 1/2 C of water and 1/2 t of salt. Stir well and simmer gently for a few minutes. Let this sauce reduce until it thickens slightly and then place to one side.
• Put the marinated chicken on a hot griddle pan and sear until cooked through.
• Warm the sauce and add the cream and the other T of garam masala. Taste and correct the seasoning if necessary. As soon as it boils, take off the heat and add the grilled chicken. Check the seasoning again and serve sprinkled with the chopped cilantro and the lime juice.

FRENCH CHICKEN LIVER AND GREEN BEAN SALAD WITH GARAM MASALA

Steps:

• For the vinaigrette: Mix the vinegar, mustard and garlic in a small bowl. Add a little salt and pepper, and whisk in the oil.
• Cook the green beans in boiling salted water until barely tender, about 2 minutes. Drain, cool and set aside.
• Pat the livers dry with paper towels, then season on both sides with salt and the garam masala.
• Heat the butter or oil in a wide skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned livers in one layer and let them brown, about 2 minutes. Turn them over and cook 1 minute more, leaving them pink at the center. Remove from heat.
• Dress the beans and tomatoes, if using, with half the vinaigrette, and add a little salt and pepper. Dress the greens with the rest of the vinaigrette, and pile them on a platter or individual plates. Top the greens with the beans, the tomatoes, if using, and the warm chicken livers.

MASALA-SPICED ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Place chicken upright on a rack in a roasting pan. Cut 10 slits in the skin using a sharp knife, pull the skin away from the meat; slip a garlic clove into each slit. Rub the masala powder over the whole chicken. Squeeze the juice of the lime over the chicken, turn the chicken breast side down in the roasting pan, and place the rind in the chicken cavity.
• Roast the chicken in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Lower the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C), and bake until no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 45 more minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh should read 180 degrees F (82 degrees C). Remove the chicken from the oven, cover with a doubled sheet of aluminum foil, and allow to rest in a warm area for 10 minutes before slicing.

EASY CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA

Steps:

• Combine yogurt, lemon juice, 2 t cumin, cinnamon, cayenne, black pepper, ginger, and chicken in a large bowl.
• Refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Thread chicken onto soaked skewers.
• Grill until pink is gone on high heat, about 10 minutes each side.
• Set chicken aside.
• In a large heavy skillet, melt butter and saute garlic and jalepeno for 1 minute over medium heat.
• Season with 2 t cumin and paprika.
• Stir in tomato sauce and cream, simmer on low for 20 minutes.
• Add grilled chicken, simmer for 10 additional minutes.
• Salt to taste, and garnish with chopped cilantro.

SHRIMP AND CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA

Steps:

• For a double recipe.
• Sauce.
• Medium dice onion and saute in olive oil for 5 minutes. Add all spices except bay leaves and saute for 5 minutes, adding small amounts of chicken broth as needed to keep spices from burning. Add finely minced or grated garlic. Add tomato sauce and stir. Add cream. Simmer for at least an hour. The longer the better. Add water or broth as needed to thin out. Cut chicken into bite size pieces.Marinate chicken and shrimp (separately) in spices and oil for at least 30. Cook chicken under broiler until done add to sauce. Cook shrimp under broiler until just pink. Add to sauce. Serve over basmati rice with naan.

GRILLED MASALA CHICKEN WITH VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Mix the olive oil, 4 teaspoons garam masala, garlic, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until combined. Tear four sheets (12x18 inches each) of Reynolds Wrap® Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil. Center one chicken breast half on a sheet of foil; sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon garam masala on both sides.
• Place the squash and onion slices on top of the chicken. Drizzle evenly with one-fourth of the olive oil mixture. Bring up foil sides. Double-fold top and ends to seal packet, leaving room for heat circulation inside. Repeat to make four packets.
• Grill over medium-high heat in covered grill 20 to 25 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and an instant-read thermometer inserted into chicken registers 165 degrees F.
• Open packets carefully by cutting along top fold with a sharp knife, allowing steam to escape; then open top of foil packet. To serve, top with yogurt and sprinkle with cilantro, if desired.

CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA

Steps:

• Whisk together the yogurt, spices, garlic and ginger in a large baking dish. Add the chicken and turn to coat in the mixture. Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours and up to 24 hours.
• Preheat the broiler. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil and brush with some of the ghee. Remove the chicken from the marinade, and wipe off excess marinade. Brush the breasts with ghee and season both sides with salt and pepper, to taste. Arrange on the baking sheet in an even layer. Broil until golden brown on both sides, about 4 minutes per side.
• Remove the chicken from the heat and to a cutting board. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes and cut it into 1-inch thick slices. Transfer the chicken to a platter and serve.

GREEN MASALA CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a large bowl, stir together the chicken, chutneys, garlic and ginger pastes, and yogurt. Stir in 2 tablespoons of the oil and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Proceed right away, or cover and marinate in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
• Add the remaining 3 tablespoons oil to a large, 12-inch lidded skillet. Warm the oil, uncovered, over high heat until shimmering, then decrease the heat to medium-high and add the chopped onion and garlic. Season with a pinch of salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion softens, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium, put the lid on the skillet and cook for an additional 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion has gone from translucent to lightly golden, shrunken and soft.
• Return the heat to medium-high, scrape in the chicken along with all the marinade, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 4 minutes. Put the lid back on, and cook for 2 more minutes. Uncover the skillet; the chicken should be just about cooked through and the sauce bubbling and thick. Cook for 2 to 4 more minutes to thicken the sauce (it shouldn't be soupy), but be careful not to overcook the chicken.
• Serve over rice or other whole grains, or with flatbread like chapati on the side.

INDIAN MASALA CHICKEN WINGS

Steps:

• Combine coriander, cumin, cardamom, chile powder, pepper, and cloves in a dry pan over low heat. Stir until fragrant. Remove from heat, add oil and water, and stir until combined. Set spice paste aside.
• Rub salt over wings in a shallow dish, then rub spice paste all over. Cover and refrigerate, 4 hours to overnight.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat and lightly oil the grate. Add wings and cook, turning halfway, until well browned, 15 to 20 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

AUTHENTIC CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA

Steps:

• Combine yogurt, 2 teaspoons garam masala, paprika, black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon salt, cayenne pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon coriander in a large bowl. Add chicken strips and toss to coat. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Grease a baking sheet.
• Place chicken strips on the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each piece, and bake in the preheated oven until browned and no longer pink inside, about 10 minutes. Remove and set aside.
• Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir cumin seeds until lightly toasted and aromatic, about 3 minutes. Add onion; cook and stir until onion begins to soften, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in garlic, ginger, and green chiles and continue to cook until onion is browned, 15 to 20 minutes. Cook and stir tomatoes, tomato paste, and water into onion mixture until tomatoes begin to break down and incorporate into the onion mixture, about 10 minutes.
• Cook and stir 1 teaspoon garam masala, 1/2 teaspoon coriander, and turmeric into the tomato mixture. Mix in the cooked chicken, add cream, and stir to coat. Cover and let simmer for 10 minutes. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and garnish with cilantro.