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–+ servings

Stupid Easy Chicken Tikka Masala

This Tikka Masala recipe is sure to give you authentic, take-out vibes! It may seem like a lot of ingredients, but it is super easy and impossible to mess up! Your whole family will surely love this.
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Prep Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Indian
Servings 6

Ingredients
  

Marinade Ingredients:

  • 2 lbs boneless organic chicken thighs cut into bite-size pieces (don't use breasts, they're not as good in this recipe)
  • 1 cup plain coconut milk yogurt or plain organic whole milk yogurt
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon ground ginger
  • 2 teaspoons garam masala
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric or curry powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

Sauce Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil
  • 1 tablespoon ghee or butter
  • 1 large onion diced
  • 1 tablespoon garlic finely minced or grated
  • 1 tablespoon ginger finely minced or grated
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 14 oz. can of organic tomato puree
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1-2 teaspoons of salt
  • 1 1/3 cup organic half and half OR 1 14 oz. can of coconut milk
  • Fresh cilantro to garnish (optional)

Instructions
 

Marinade Process:

  • In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients, minus chicken until well combined.
  • Add chicken pieces, and stir to combine.
  • Pour into a large zip lock bag to save fridge space, or cover bowl with plastic wrap.
  • Marinade for 30 minutes or up to overnight.

Sauce Process:

  • Heat oil in a large skillet to medium-high. When sizzling, add chicken pieces in batches. Don't crowd the pan or chicken will not brown.
  • When chicken is browned, place in a large bowl and set aside. You will cook it the rest of the way in the sauce.
  • Melt the ghee or butter in the same pan on medium-high heat. Fry the onions until quite soft (2-3 minutes. Scrape up any brown bits as they cook.
  • Add ginger, and garlic and saute with onions until fragrant (about 1 minute).
  • Add the garam masala, cumin, and coriander. Fry for 20-30 seconds until very fragrant. (This step is VERY important to develop the flavors properly)
  • Pour in the canned tomato sauce, cayenne pepper, and salt. Let simmer and stir occasionally for about 10 minutes until sauce thickens a bit. The sauce will become a deep brown/red color.
  • Stir the cream through the sauce. Add the chicken and its juices back into the pan and cook for 10 minutes on low-medium heat.
  • Serve with fresh cilantro (if desired) and enjoy
Keyword chicken curry, chicken tikka masala, homemade, homemade tikka masala, indian, indian food, tikka masala
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