Chicken Tikki Masala is a classic Indian dish now with a gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo, and allergy-friendly recipe! With a creamy tomato and coconut yogurt sauce, this comforting dish will make a great healthy weeknight dinner that packs in the flavor!
Really, there’s no one that could turn down tikki masala…no one! My own heart always goes to chana masala, but this…this comes in at a close second for my favorite Indian dish! There are just so many beautiful flavors and dishes to love in Indian cuisine, I just love it all! Have I ever had authentic Indian cuisine? No, I still have not. Do I need to have authentic Indian cuisine to make homemade Indian dishes? No, and neither do you!
MY LATEST VIDEOSIf you’ve never had tikki masala, chicken or otherwise, the tikki masala part is the creamy, tomatoey sauce. It’s typically made with thick yogurt, tomato, and loads of fragrant spices. It can be spicy or mild depending on your preferences (I made it mild!) The chicken is marinated in yogurt before being cooked in the thick tomatoey sauce. You can serve it over a bed of rice some naan, or anything you’d like to soak up all that extra goodness!
Chicken tikki masala is one of those ultra-cozy and comforting, fragrant and mouth-watering recipes you’ll just need to be making at home and not waiting for a rare Indian outing. It’s stunning to look at (I think so!) and those smells…always those smells! And did I tell you? I made this right in that trusty cast iron! There is never a failed dish when you get out that heavy iron pan (even for Indian cooking)! With the coconut yogurt and the magic pan, the chicken comes out so tender, moist, and delicious!
Yes, there are a lot of spices used in this recipe to get that authentic full-flavored dish, but that’s just another reason why I personally love Indian cuisine. Each dish keeps your taste buds guessing and distinguishing between all the spices (i.e. bucket list item #33 stroll through an Indian spice market…and buy everything). You know they sell premade curries, sauces, and spice mixes in the store? Blasphemy! Never take the easy way out when it comes to cooking a cuisine like this! You’re just cheating yourself out of one amazing homemade chicken tikki masala experience!
Chicken Tikki Masala (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Paleo)
- 2 Large Skinless Chicken Breasts
- ¾ Cup Unsweetened Coconut Yogurt
- 1 Tsp Lemon Juice
- Tikki Masala Sauce:
- 1 Cup Unsalted Tomato Sauce
- ½ Cup Lite Culinary Coconut Milk
- ¼ Cup Unsweetened Coconut Yogurt
- 2 TB Tomato Paste
- 1 Tsp Dried Cilantro
- 1 Tsp Garam Masala
- ½ Tsp Minced Garlic
- ½ Tsp Pureed Ginger
- ½ Tsp Turmeric
- ½ Tsp Onion Powder
- ¼ Tsp Coriander
- ¼ Tsp Cumin
- ¼ Tsp Smoked Paprika
- ⅛ Tsp Cardamom
- Fresh Cilantro (to top)
- Cut the chicken breasts into cubes and place them in a large plastic bag or bowl with the coconut yogurt and lemon juice. Let marinate in the fridge for 3-4 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- In a large seasoned cast iron skillet, place the entire contents of the marinated chicken bag in the skillet and bake for 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, mix together the tikki masala sauce ingredients in a large bowl.
- After the chicken has baked for 20 minutes, remove the skillet and pour in the tikki masala sauce. Give everything a stir and place back in the oven to bake for another 10 minutes.
- Remove and serve with fresh cilantro, rice, naan, etc.
I don’t blame you if you want to lick the screen 😉 Haha! It’s such a great hearty meal for these prolonged winter months too! “Stick to your ribs” and will fill you up for sure, while still being real and healthy! Now let’s go grab our cast iron skillets and preheat that oven!
So tell me:
+ Have you ever had chicken tikki masala (or “chickpea” tikki masala)?
+ Do you have an authentic Indian restaurant near you? No 🙁
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Oh wow, that looks divine!! 🙂 Lisa
Thanks!
Love Tikki Masala and can’t wait to try your recipe!
Thank you! Enjoy!
Your chicken tikki masala looks delicious, Rebecca. Putting this on my to try list.
Thank you! Enjoy!
I definitely want to try this recipe. My husband and I love it, but I’ve only ever made it by using a jarred simmer sauce (cheating :)) Pinned for later!
This is easy to make at home! You’ll be addicted!
We will really enjoy your Chicken Tikki Masala.
I know “we” did!
Yum! This is hands down my favorite dish. Can’t wait to make it. Thanks for sharing!
Awesome! I hope you enjoy my version!
Wow, this looks amazing. Pinning.
Thank you!
This looks yummy! I love Tikki Masala, and honestly use the jarred sauce, so I am excited to try it from homemade- I need the Garam Masala and then I am good to go!
You will love it 100% more homemade! You can’t beat the deep flavors!
This looks really good. I like that the ingredients are readily available. Pinning. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
Awesome! I hope you can try it yourself soon!
Looks delicious!! I’m going to have to try to this!!
I hope you do 🙂
This looks absolutely delicious! I love Indian food.
Thank you! Me too 😉
I usually use just coconut milk, not coconut yogurt–I bet this makes a big difference–good idea!
Well yea, haha, tikki masala is yogurt based.
This is a delicious recipe to try. I do love a curry but often cheat with a supermarket sauce. I shall give this a try. Thanks for sharing!
Make this one all homemade! So worth it!
Looks delicious!
Thanks!
Wow, Rebecca! This looks amazing!!! I love Chicken Masala — can’t wait to try your allergy free recipe! Thanks for sharing!
I hope you mean tikki masala.
Indian is always a tricky cuisines for food allergy folks. So nice that you have created a recipe so that no one can miss out on all the spicy yumminess.
I’d never let anyone miss out on my favorite!
This looks better than in a restaurant Rebecca! Who needs dairy or gluten for this delicious dish?
Exactly! Never miss out on a thing!
yummmmy I love Tikki masala. Great recipe Rebecca
Thank you, Mary!
Chana masala & Tikka masala are my top two favs as well! This recipe looks delish – I’ll definitely have to give it a try!
PS – I didn’t know “coconut yogurt” was a thing…that sounds amazing!
Thank you!
Totally love experimenting with Indian cuisine. This sounds delicious. Love the spices…perfect for leftovers too. Curries always taste better the next day.
Yes they! Once the flavors have had time to develop!
Its really sad that I have never had any indian food! I really gotta change that! My brother loves indian food and tells me about how good it is all the time and he loves tikka masala. This version looks amazing and love that it’s made in a skillet 🙂
Tikki masala and chana masala are my favorites <3
Wow!! Dairy-free, gluten-free and paleo!! This looks so yummy.
Thank you!
I’ve been wanting to make dairy free chicken tikki masala for my family. Now I have the perfect recipe to use!
Get out all the coconut yogurt and milk!
I love that you made this allergy friendly! SO helpful and love the colorful photos!!
Thank you!
Love all the bold flavors of the herbs and spices in the recipe!
Thank you!
This Tikka masala looks so good! Really a great Paleo version! I have never tried coconut yoghurt yet – I have been on a paleo diet for the last one year.
Coconut yogurt is fantastic!
I’ve never made tikki masala before, but it looks and sounds delicious!
You have to give it a try!
Tikki Masala is one of my very favorite meals! Just looking at those photos makes me want it.
It is so yummy!
Tikki Masala is one of my favorite dishes! I’m pinning this one!
Thank you, Kristina!
Yum! I love tikka masala–and I adore that this recipe calls for cardamom. Definitely going to have to try this soon!
Fantastic! Thank you!
I am with you on the cast iron skillet, you just can’t fail when you use it! This recipe looks like it has incredible flavors, we actually have an Indian Restaurant near us, but I’ve never been :(, it may need to go on my list, but until then, I can totally make this at home!
I’d say save the money and cook it up in the kitchen!
This dish will surly wake my taste buds up! Love this recipe and beautiful photos.
Thank you so much!
I LOVE chicken tikki masala – simply delicious and I love how you used spices and not a curry paste for this, Rebecca.
Yea! Gotta keep it as “real” as possible!
Such a comforting dish. Love all the spice you have used, so authentic
That’s what I aim for!
i love indian food, but have never attempted to make it myself – this looks doable!
Go for it, girl! Always so special when it’s made with love at home!