Why go out for chicken tikka masala with vegetables when you can make your own, easy version at home? This simple tikka masala recipe can be made in less than 30 minutes, in just one pan! With tender, golden pieces of chicken and a colourful, flavour packed curry sauce, simple pantry ingredients create an easy weeknight dinner that your whole family will love.
This creamy tikka masala with vegetables and chicken is so much better (and faster) than takeaway! If you are intimidated by the idea of making your own homemade curry from scratch, then this is the perfect recipe to try first, because it is so easy!
How do you make curry from scratch?
Authentic tikka masala is made with chicken which has been marinated in yoghurt and spices. It is then char grilled and served with a creamy tomato curry sauce.
Adapted to be made in your home, this recipe is quicker and easier than the traditional version. But it still offers tender chicken and amazing flavours.
The creamy tikka masala curry sauce has a combination of punchy pantry spices that are simple, but so delicious!
- Turmeric
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Garam Masala
- Cumin
- Coriander
- Paprika
The chicken is marinated in Greek yoghurt and garlic, ginger, turmeric, garam masala and coriander with a little salt, pepper and lemon juice. If possible, marinate the chicken overnight, or for 2 hours if possible. Then either barbeque the chicken on a HOT grill, or a smoking hot pan to char grill the edges.
To make the tikka masala sauce,
Simply heat garlic and your vegetables of choice with the paprika, cumin and chilli and add canned tomatoes and cream. The sauce will thicken as it simmers, creating an aromatic, rich and flavour packed sauce.
Then, the chicken is tossed back through the sauce to combine all of the amazing flavours.
If you are short on time, the chicken can just be marinated for 15 minutes, or you can skip this step entirely and add unmarinated chicken straight into the curry sauce. For an easier option, try adding a shredded (rotisserie) chicken to the homemade curry sauce.
Vegetables for tikka masala
One of my favourite things about this easy dinner is that it can be served with or without vegetables, depending on what you have in your fridge.
The spices in this dish deliver maximum flavour served with just the chicken alone. But to get some more vegetables into your diet, customise and add 2 cups of any of these chopped veggies;
- Sweet potato
- Potato
- Onion
- Peas
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Carrot
- Red capsicum
- Spinach
You could also add a can of chickpeas or lentils, either with or in place of the chicken.
How to serve tikka masala
Serve this tikka masala with vegetables, steamed basmati rice, pita or naan bread. Top with lemon or lime wedges and some chopped coriander. Garlic naan is perfect to mop up all of the excess curry sauce!
Helpful tips
- Chicken breast can be used in this recipe, but chicken thighs are a better choice, as they stay more tender and juicy. If you are using chicken breast, marinate the chicken for longer (at least 3 hours).
- Prepare the chicken the day before if you can. The yoghurt in the marinade tenderises the chicken pieces, so marinating overnight results in a more tender dish. But I know that this isn’t always possible! Marinate for as long as you can, but if you need a speedy dinner, set it aside for 10 minutes while you prepare the other ingredients and then start cooking.
- A shredded, bbq chicken can also be added to the homemade curry sauce if you are in a hurry.
- This tikka masala recipe is freezer friendly too, perfect to prep for a heat-and-go meal on busy nights. Re-heat in the microwave on low heat to prevent the cream in the curry sauce from splitting.
- When cooking the cream sauce, be sure to simmer over low heat. Too high and the sauce will split.
For more easy, pantry staple meals, check out these recipes;
If you try this easy chicken tikka masala with vegetables, I’d love to hear about it! Feel free to leave a comment or review below, or send me a message. For more food inspiration, tips and to share your own recipes and creations, head over to my Facebook Recipe Group.
Chicken Tikka Masala with Vegetables
Ingredients
For the marinated chicken
- 600 grams chicken thigh fillets cut into smaller chunks
- ½ cup Greek yoghurt unsweetened
- 4 cloves garlic crushed
- 1 tsp fresh ginger finely grated
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp garam masala
- 1 tsp turmeric ground
- ½ tsp salt
- black pepper
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
For the tikka masala sauce
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil or ghee
- 2 cups vegetables of choice finely shredded, see notes below
- 2 garlic cloves crushed
- 5 tsp ground cumin
- 5 tsp ground paprika
- ½ tsp salt
- pepper
- 3 cups canned tomatoes diced (around 600 grams)
- 1 ¾ cups thickened cream 400 ml
- chilli powder (optional) to taste
To serve
- steamed basmati or white rice, or naan bread
- lemon or lime wedges
Instructions
For the chicken
- Place the yoghurt and other marinade ingredients into a small bowl and stir. Add the chicken pieces and cover. Place in the refrigerator for at least 10 minutes. (Overnight or 2-3 hours if ideal, where possible).
- Heat a barbeque grill or large pan/wok until smoking hot. Add a little vegetable oil (2-3 tbsp) and grill the chicken on all sides until slightly charred and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan and place on a plate to rest.
For the tikka masala sauce
- In the same frying pan, the oil or ghee over medium heat. Add the vegetables, garlic, cumin, paprika, salt, pepper and chilli powder and stir until fragrant.
- Stir in the tomatoes and cream. Bring to a simmer and reduce the heat. Cook over LOW heat for ten minutes, stirring until the sauce has reduced and thickened.
- Add the cooked chicken through the thickened sauce and stir to combine.
- Serve immediately over steamed rice or with naan bread and lemon or lime wedges. Enjoy!
Notes
- Sweet potato
- Potato
- Onion
- Peas
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Carrot
- Red capsicum
- Spinach
Nutrition
Are you following us on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest?
Subscribe to The Cooking Collective to have more beautiful recipes, freebies and more delivered straight to your inbox.
Leave a Reply