Baked Coconut Chicken Tikka Masala.

Effortless, one pan Baked Coconut Chicken Tikka Masala. Indian-inspired tikka masala made with a variety of spices and creamy coconut milk. This dish has just the right amount of spice and cream, plus it’s filled with warming Indian-inspired flavors. Made in the oven, in just one pan, in under an hour. It has a rich and creamy butter sauce that is so flavorful. Serve this creamy masala chicken over bowls of basmati rice with golden turmeric chili butter and cucumber ginger salad.

When I have family I’m cooking for, an Indian-inspired dish is always on the table as an option. I learned a few years ago that my brothers adore butter chicken, chicken curry, and anything with harissa sauce.

They love a little spicy! I make my butter chicken recipe all of the time, but Chicken Tikka Masala always gets forgetten about. Honestly, the two dishes are very similar. Generally butter chicken is sweeter with less spice and less tomato. Chicken Tikka is usually is a bit spicy with a chunkier sauce and more tomato.

I make my butter chicken pretty spicy, so they end up being a similar. BUT this Chicken Tikka is unique, it’s not traditional.

I bake the chicken and the sauce in the oven. It’s completely no fuss. In return you get a rich, creamy sauce. This could not be easier!

I love to serve this Chicken Tikka Marsala over rice, with naan, a cucumber salad, and homemade tumeric chili butter. It’s all so good!

These are the details

Chicken Ingredients 

• small chicken breast or thighs
• plain Greek Yogurt

• fresh grated ginger, or use pickled ginger

• garam masala, turmeric, cayenne pepper

• tomato paste

• salted butter

• onions

• canned coconut milk

• sesame seeds

• steamed rice and naan, for serving

Cucumber Salad Ingredients

Turmeric Butter Ingredients

• salted butter
• chili flakes
• turmeric

I know this feels like a lot of ingredients, but I promise it will come together quickly!

Special Tools

Just a great baking dish, bowl, and small skillet.

Steps

Step 1: season the chicken

I use a mix of boneless, skinless chicken thighs and breasts. Make sure the chicken is evenly sized to prevent different cooking times.

In a baking dish, toss the chicken with Greek yogurt and all of these spices: garam masala, cumin, turmeric, cayenne, garlic, and ginger.

You can marinate the chicken for 30 minutes, or if you have time, overnight in the fridge. Ideally, overnight, but I pretty much never do and the chicken is still great!

Step 2: – add everything else

Now add the onions, the tomato paste, and the coconut milk. Arrange the cold butter slices over the chicken and add the sesame seeds.

Start baking. I don’t usually stir the chicken during the baking process. Just bake for 30 minutes, and it should be just perfect!

Step 3: the cucumber salad

This is pretty straightforward but so delicious. Cucumbers with sushi-style ginger, cilantro, jalapeños, and lemon juice.

Step 4: the turmeric butter

I mixed up a quick turmeric butter using butter, chili flakes, and turmeric. It makes the dish just a touch more special. Plus extra sauce and spice are always welcome with my family.

Step 5: serve

First, I make rice, then the chicken tikka, and then the sauce. Next comes the cucumber salad. I then spoon over extra tikka sauce and add that turmeric butter.

And I always finish with naan. I like to squish it into the rice and add a sprinkle of fresh cilantro. Oh, lemon juice can be great too.

Absolutely DELICIOUS!

Looking for other Indian-inspired dinners? Here are my favorites: 

30 Minute Spicy Indian Butter Chicken

30 Minute Butter Chicken Meatballs

Super Simple Coconut Chicken Tikka Masala

Gingery Coconut Sweet Potato and Rice Stew with Chili Oil

Lastly, if you make this Baked Coconut Chicken Tikka Masala, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!