This easy keto chicken tikka masala needs only 25 minutes to cook! It's a simple yet impressive low carb dinner that the whole family will enjoy, whether they're following a keto diet or not. Creamy, spicy and extra large on flavor.
Do you cook for for people who like to eat keto AND others who are not bothered about watching their carbs (like my two picky teenagers)? Well, this chicken tikka masala recipe is the perfect solution. It's absolutely delicious ketogenic comfort food that the whole family will love.
All you need to do is serve it with cauliflower rice or Keto Naan instead of basmati rice to keep it keto!
Even though the dish has a lot of ingredients, it's actually super easy to make. First, marinate the chicken and prepare the sauce and then mix the two together.
Keto tikka masala is actually very similar to butter chicken (which I also love). The difference is that butter chicken has a creamier sauce, while the tikka masala sauce contains onions and more tomato.
Don't worry if you don't have all the spices. As long as you use the garam masala, which is a popular Indian spice mix, you can miss out on one or the other and it will still taste great.
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you'll need:
Chicken: I used chicken breast, but skinless chicken thighs will work just as well (and are a little cheaper). If possible, go for free range organic.
Yoghurt: The yoghurt helps make the chicken more tender and gives a nice fresh kick. Use either plain full fat yoghurt or Greek yogurt (or sour cream). If you are dairy free, choose a coconut yoghurt instead.
Butter and heavy cream: To add scrumptiousness to this dish! For a dairy free option, gor for coconut oil/olive oil and coconut milk instead.
Tomato passata and tomato puree: Choose a good quality passata or chopped tomatoes. Here in the UK, the Mutti brand is just wonderful (aff link).
Onion, garlic, ginger, spices: It's the spices that make a dish! Fresh garlic and ginger will ALWAYS taste superior to dried.
Instructions
This section contains step-by-step instructions and photos that show how to make this recipe. See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities
Add the diced chicken to a large bowl with the chicken marinade ingredients and mix to combine. Leave to marinade for 15 minutes or ideally overnight, covered in the fridge.
Heat 1 tablespoon of butter or oil in large non-stick frying pan. When hot, add the chicken.
Fry for about 3 minutes per side, or until golden and almost cooked through. This takes about 8 minutes in total. Remove from the pan.
Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter to the pan and fry the onions for 3 minutes on a medium heat until golden. Add the garlic, ginger and spices and fry for 1 more minute until fragrant.
Now, add the passata. Turn the heat down to a simmer (medium / low). After a further 10 minutes cook time the tikka masala sauce should have thickened.
Time to finish off the keto chicken masala sauce! Stir in the heavy cream / coconut cream and optional low-carb sweeter (I used a golden erythritol / monk fruit blend).
Add the chicken back in the pan and cook for about 5 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked through and warm.
Serve with
Serve with chopped fresh coriander and optional cauliflower rice.
Alternatively, make Creamy Keto Mashed Cauliflower! I love this dish with cauliflower mash when it's cold outside. It just ups the comfort factor.
And last but not least, it also works so well with my Keto Naan.
Recipe tweaks
Adjust the chili. Depending on how hot you like your curries, feel free to crank up the chili - or use cayenne pepper. Start with ½ teaspoon. Adjust the chili when you put the chicken back in the pan. Adding it here will allow the first spices to concentrate before adding more.
Adjust the salt to your taste at the same time as the additional chili if required.
I don't have an instant pot - YET!!! - but I'd imagine this would be a PERFECT recipe for an instant pot!
Storage
Store in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
This chicken tikka recipe is great for meal prep. Once you have tried it once (and I'm certain you'll end up loving it), double or triple the dish and freeze in portions.
More keto chicken recipes
Keto Chicken Curry- This is another Indian chicken dish that my whole family loves. Check out the secret ingredient that takes this keto recipe to the next level!
Keto Chicken Pot Pie - Chicken pieces in an extra creamy sauce, covered with crisp low carb pastry. Perfect comfort food.
Keto Ramen- This makes a wonderful light low carb lunch or dinner.
Low Carb Chicken Teriyaki - A super easy stir fry that comes together in no time at all.
Tried this recipe? Give it a star rating below!
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Recipe
Keto Chicken Tikka Masala
from Sugar Free LondonerNote: The servings slider only changes the first amount in each line and not any subsequent amounts. Please make your own calculations where necessary.
Ingredients
- 5 skinless chicken breasts 750g, diced into 2cm cubes
- ½ cup plain yogurt 120g
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger grated (6g)
- 2 teaspoon garam masala
- 1 tsp each cumin, paprika
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice optional
Sauce
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 1 small yellow onion diced (70g)
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger grated (6g)
- 1 tsp each garam masala, cumin, ground coriander
- ½ tsp each turmeric, paprika, chili powder
- 1.5 cups passata sauce (360g)
- 1 tablespoon tomato puree
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup heavy cream 240ml
- ¾ teaspoon golden erythritol optional
- water to thin
Instructions
- Add the diced chicken to a large bowl with the chicken marinade ingredients and mix to combine. Leave to marinade for at least 15 minutes or ideally overnight, covered in the fridge.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of butter or oil in large non-stick frying pan. Fry the chicken for about 3 minutes per side, or until golden and almost cooked through. About 8 minutes in total. Remove from the pan.
- Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter to the pan and fry the onions for 3 minutes on a medium heat until golden. Add the garlic, ginger and spices and fry for 1 more minute until fragrant. Add the passata and tomato puree. Turn the heat down to a simmer and cook for a further 10 minutes or until thick.
- Add the cream and optional low carb sweeter. Put the chicken back in the pan and cook for about 5 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked through and warm.
Sigrun Kullik
Absolutely phenomenal!
Allen Foster
Looking at this I see you have garam masala in the recipe which contains Paprika, Cumin, Garlic, Coriander and Ginger but you also have each of those ingredients in the recipe as well. would it not make sense to just use more of the Marsala?
Katrin Nürnberger
I do not recommend it. Masala contains more ingredients than the ones you mention and not garlic and ginger, and you'll end up changing the flavour of the dish.
Kerri
This was delicious! I didn’t have regular yogurt so I used vanilla ratio yogurt and used some tomato paste and diced tomatoes as I didn’t have Passata.
I took a mission low carb tortilla and put it in a frying pan with a little butter and garlic salt to accompany it! Will definitely make again
Gary
I made this dish today. She said that the taste was better than takeaway! The taste, the spices, garlic - it was brilliant. I would recommend it! You can't go wrong - good luck.
Erinn
This is absolutely delicious!!! Followed it exactly. My kids said it is a keeper and I agree. Will be making this again for sure. So flavorful
Carmen Tourte
Hello! Chicken Tikka Masala is my absolute favorite so I am really looking forward to making your recipe - it looks divine. But can you tell me where the tablespoon of tomato puree is supposed to go? It's on the ingredient list but I do not see it in the actual recipe. I searched the other comments to see if this was addressed elsewhere but did not find it. Apologies if I just missed it! 🙂
Katrin Nürnberger
Hi Carmen, thank you for pointing this out. I add the tomato puree with the pasta. I have added it into the recipe description.
marion harmening
This sounds sooo good and for me nothing can top a good Indian meal! But I‘m vegetarian, or at least I don’t eat anything with legs. I wonder if I could use soy instead of chicken.
Katrin Nürnberger
Yes, you can absolutely use something like tofu.
Marion
Thank you! Can‘t wait to try the recipe!
Karen
Excellent taste and easy to cook. Really really good
Mike
Even without marinating it overnight, it still tasted amazing!
Very good recipe.
DaisyMae
Wow, just made this and it's now in the family recipe book. Got told it tasted better than the curry house. Very easy to make and recipe easy to follow. Thank you.
Val
I make this all the time it's lovely 🙂
Jessica L’Esperance
I skipped the sweetener, and used thighs (instead of breasts) and it still came out divine! I had it over kale while the family had it with rice. Everyone loved it and we want to make it again. My 7 year old asked if he could have it for breakfast. Total win. Thank you!