Chicken Tikka Masala is an Indian-restaurant favorite rich-creamy tomato-based chicken curry. Made with tender cooked chicken marinated in yogurt, red chili powder, turmeric, and garam masala, this EASY recipe is cooked in just 30 minutes using the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker.
This Recipe originally published in 2018 has been updated with new photos, a video, and tips.
This homemade Chicken Tikka Masala uses just a few basic Indian spices and is so easy and flavorful that you will definitely love it over the restaurant takeout option.
What is Chicken Tikka Masala
Chicken Tikka Masala is a curry with marinated chicken that is cooked in the tandoor clay oven (chicken tikka) and simmered in an onion and tomato-based creamy tangy sauce. Many places like Northern India, Scotland, and the United Kingdom claim to be the birthplace of this curry. It has also been declared Britain's National Dish and is popularly known as Tiki or Tikki Masala in the USA.
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Ingredients
- Chicken Breasts - Boneless skinless chicken breasts are traditionally used. You can also use chicken thighs instead with the same pressure cooking time as that for the chicken breasts
- Ground Spices - Kashmiri red chili powder, turmeric, garam masala, and salt for marinating the chicken as well as in the sauce. These basic Indian spices add the perfect amount of heat, flavor, and a beautiful red hue to the dish
- Ginger and Garlic - fresh ginger and garlic are used for both the chicken marinade and the sauce
- Lemon Juice - adds brightness and helps with marination
- Yogurt - unsweetened plain yogurt is traditionally used to marinade. You can also use plain greek yogurt
- Onion - I use yellow onions for most Indian curries as it lends to a mildly sweet flavor when cooked, you can also use red onion instead
- Tomatoes - Ripe plum tomatoes are perfect to make the gravy or you can substitute them with good quality boxed chopped/diced/pureed tomatoes. Storebought diced or pureed tomatoes will add more vibrant color to the curry
How to Make Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala
Marinate the Chicken
- Using paper towels dry any excess moisture on the chicken. Make 2 to 3 slits in the chicken breasts and apply salt and lemon juice (photo 1)
- Mix yogurt, red chili powder, garam masala, ginger, and garlic. Apply evenly to the chicken breasts and allow them to marinate for at least 20 minutes or refrigerate overnight if marinating ahead of time. Marinating chicken for 4-5 hours or overnight is recommended (photo 2)
- Set the Instant Pot to Sauté mode and melt butter or oil (photo 3)
- Add onions and saute for 2 minutes (photo 4)
- Next, add ginger, and garlic and mix well, followed by tomatoes, turmeric, salt red chili powder, and garam masala (photo 5)
- Mix well, and then press Cancel. Add 2 tablespoons of water. Deglaze the pot if needed (photo 6)
- Place the tall trivet in the main pot and the marinated chicken over the trivet (photo 7)
- Baste the chicken with oil. Close the Instant Pot with the pressure valve to sealing. Pressure cook for 8 minutes followed by 10 minutes of natural pressure release (photo 8)
- Open the Instant Pot and take the chicken and the trivet out. Optional step - broil the cooked chicken in a preheated oven for 5 minutes to get some char marks. Cut the chicken into 2-inch chunks (photo 9)
- Using an immersion blender, blend the sauce until smooth and bring the sauce to a boil on saute mode. Stir in cream and fenugreek leaves (photo 10)
- Add the chicken to the sauce (photo 11)
- Set the Instant Pot to saute mode and bring the sauce to a gentle boil. The sauce will thicken further as it cools down. Garnish with cilantro (photo 12)
Serving
Serve with roti, Parathas, or naan (love trader joes and whole foods naan). For a gluten-free Indian meal, serve it with Cumin Rice, Steamed Basmati rice, or Brown rice. Pair it with cooling Beet Raita or cucumber raita to make a complete meal. And don't forget the super-easy Mango Lassi drink to make it a 5-star meal!
How to Store
Chicken Tikka Masala is a perfect dish to make ahead as the flavors continue to develop. Any leftovers can be refrigerated for 2 to 3 days or can be frozen for 2 months. I would also recommend making a double batch of the sauce and freezing half of it for later.
Tips for Best Chicken Tikka Masala
- Use plain, full-fat, or greek yogurt to marinate the chicken
- Pat dry the chicken to avoid extra liquids in the marinade
- Marinate for 4 hours or overnight
- Discard any leftover marinade or brush it on the chicken for a spicier curry
- Can substitute 1.5 cups of pureed or diced tomatoes for fresh tomatoes
- Homemade garam masala brings out the authentic flavors
- Can substitute any mild red chili powder for Kashmiri red chili powder
Why Make Chicken Tikka Masala In Instant Pot
✔️ Cooked in under 30 minutes
✔️ Juicy tender cooked chicken every single time
✔️ No more multiple steps or pots and pans
✔️ Cook the sauce and the chicken at the same time using the pot-in-pot method! HUGE TIME SAVER!!
✔️ Puree the sauce directly in the main pot using an immersion blender. No need to transfer the hot curry into a blender
✔️ Miss the smoky char-grilled marks? Go ahead and broil the cooked chicken in the oven for a few minutes
Don't have an Instant Pot?
If you don't own an Instant Pot I've got you covered with stove top and slow cooker recipe
Stove Top
- Marinate the chicken and then cook it in the oven (400 F for 15 to 20 minutes) or an air fryer (380 F for 10 to 15 minutes). Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes and then cut it into 2-inch chunks.
- In a large skillet or dutch oven heat oil. Add onions and saute for 10 minutes. Add ginger, and garlic and mix well. Add tomatoes, turmeric, salt red chili powder, and garam masala. Mix well. Add ½ cup of water and cook covered for 15 minutes. Puree the sauce.
- Add the cooked chicken to the sauce. Stir in cream and fenugreek leaves. Mix well and cook until everything is heated through. Garnish with cilantro.
Slow Cooker
Here's my easy Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe.
More Indian Curry Recipes You'll Love
- Butter Chicken
- Prawn Masala
- Chicken Korma
- Mom's Chicken Curry
- Fish Curry
- Kheema Curry
- Mughlai Chicken Korma
- Homestyle Chicken Karahi
Looking for vegetarian options or trying to include more plant-based meals in your diet? Then check out my easy vegetarian recipes for dinner.
Recipe
Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe
Ingredients
Marinate
- 1½ pounds chicken breasts
- 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons plain yogurt
- 2 teaspoons Kashmiri red chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- 2 teaspoons ginger grated
- 2 teaspoons garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon oil for basting
Sauce/Curry
- 2 tablespoons butter or oil
- 2 medium yellow onions diced
- 1 teaspoon ginger grated
- 1 teaspoon garlic minced
- 3 plum tomatoes chopped or 1.5 cups diced or pureed tomatoes
- ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 to 2 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder
- ½ to 1 teaspoon garam masala
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
Garnish
- 1 tablespoon dried fenugreek leaves kasoori methi
- ½ cup cilantro chopped
Instructions
- Make 2 to 3 slits in the chicken breasts. Apply salt and lemon juice to the chicken breasts. Mix yogurt, red chili powder, garam masala, ginger, and garlic. Apply evenly to the chicken breasts and allow to marinate for 20 minutes or refrigerate if marinating ahead of time. Marinating chicken for 4-5 hours or overnight works well.
- Set the Instant Pot to Saute mode and heat butter or oil. Add onions and saute for 2 minutes. Add ginger, garlic and mix well. Add tomatoes, turmeric, salt red chili powder, and garam masala. Mix well. Press Cancel. Add 2 tablespoons of water. Deglaze the pot if needed.
- Place the tall trivet in the main pot. Place the marinated chicken over the trivet. Baste the chicken with oil. Close the Instant Pot with the pressure valve to sealing. Pressure Cook for 8 minutes followed by 10-minute natural pressure release.
- Open the Instant Pot. Take the chicken and the trivet out. Using an immersion blender, blend the sauce until smooth.
- Stir in cream and fenugreek leaves.
- Broil the cooked chicken in a preheated oven for 5 minutes to get some char marks (Optional). Cut the chicken into 2-inch pieces and add them to the sauce.
- Set the Instant Pot to saute mode and bring the curry to a gentle boil. The sauce will thicken further as it cools down. Garnish with cilantro.
Video
Notes
- Use plain full-fat or greek yogurt for the marinade. You can also use dairy-free yogurt if you like
- Pat dry the chicken to avoid extra liquids in the marinade
- Discard any leftover marinade or brush it on the chicken for a spicier curry
- 1 cup of pureed tomatoes can be substituted for fresh tomatoes
- Homemade garam masala brings out the best flavors
- Any mild red chili powder can be substituted for Kashmiri red chili powder
- Dair free cream can be used in place of heavy whipping cream
Nutrition
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Anokhee says
Hi Archana,
Thank you so much for the recipe. Flavors were amazing but chicken was too dry. I followed the exact recipe. It's not your recipe but every time I make chicken in Instant Pot, It gets very dry and not tendered. I am not sure what I am doing wrong? Do I need to put in for 8 minutes for High pressure or low pressure? Thank you so much!
Archana says
Hi Anokhee, Thank you for the review. You def want to check the chicken on high pressure for 8 minutes. Make sure to do at least 10 minutes of natural pressure release or even a full NPR. Many organic chicken breasts get dry after cooking. Try switching brands. I like Bell and Evans chicken breasts.