This keto chicken masala recipe is made with an authentic blend of herbs and spices that rivals chef-made dishes. This is a fantastic break from ordinary chicken recipes!
What Is Tikka Masala
It has an unmistakably vibrant orange color that sets is apart from other chicken dishes. Many people think that it comes from India, but that’s not entirely true. It actually became popular by Indian cooks that lived in Great Britain.
This Indian and British dish always consists of marinated chicken that simmers in a fragrant and spiced sauce.
There are different variations of tikka masala too. You might find paneer tikka masala or butter chicken or even chicken curry.
They are all similar to each other with slight differences in spices or sauce. In fact, I have a keto curry chicken recipe that you should make if you enjoy this one.
It wasn’t difficult for me to make traditional chicken masala into a keto-friendly dinner. In fact, one of the only differences is that I didn’t add sugar to it.
Chicken Masala
There are two parts to this delicious recipe – the spiced chicken and the aromatic sauce. Both use similar spices, so don’t be overwhelmed by the long list of ingredients.
It’s best if you use chicken thighs and marinate them for at least a few hours. As they cook, the chicken thighs will retain more juices than drier chicken breasts might.
It’s also best if you cut the chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces. You could marinate bone-in thighs too, but it will cook faster and be easier to eat if you cut them up first.
Keto Chicken Tikka Masala
There are just 5 grams net carbs in each serving of this fantastic chicken recipe. To keep it low-carb, always use plain Greek yogurt that is unsweetened. The sour cream will give it tangy bottom notes.
If you want the chicken to taste spicier, just add a little more cumin. For the sauce, I used unsweetened coconut milk.
Use canned coconut milk. It will make the sauce extra thick and creamy, which is how it’s traditionally made.
What To Eat With Chicken Tikka Masala
Naan is one of the most traditional side dishes for chicken masala. You can make this keto pesto flatbread recipe and just don’t add the pesto or the chicken.
If you enjoy rice with India recipes, then make a keto cauliflower rice to go with this masala dish. Or serve it with keto curry cauliflower rice for even more flavor.
Indian Keto Recipe
For the boldest and best flavors, I suggest using fresh spices. The older they are, the less flavor that will have. Cumin, garam masala, coriander, and tumeric are all spices you’ll commonly find in Indian recipes.
Keto Chicken Masala Recipe
Here are the ingredients to make this delicious keto chicken masala recipe. The exact measurements and instructions are located in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 6
Net Carbs: 5 net carbs per serving
Ingredients:
Boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into bite sized pieces
Plain Greek yogurt
Sour cream
Minced garlic
Ground ginger
Cumin
Garam Masala
Turmeric
Salt and pepper
For the sauce:
Butter
Onion
Ginger paste
Minced garlic
Ground coriander
Cumin
Turmeric
Garam masala
Tomato sauce
Unsweetened coconut milk
Salt and pepper
Instructions:
Place the chicken into a large mixing bowl, and add the yogurt, sour cream, 2 tsp minced garlic, ground ginger, ½ tsp cumin, 1 tsp garam masala, ½ tsp turmeric and salt and pepper to taste. Toss to combine all of the ingredients well.
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.
Add the chicken to the heated oil, and sear for 4-5 minutes per side.
Remove the chicken and set aside and wipe out the pan. Reduce the heat to medium, and add the butter to the skillet.
Saute the onions in the butter until beginning to soften.
Add the coriander, garlic, cumin, turmeric, garam masala and salt and pepper to taste to the skillet, and saute for 1 minute.
Stir in the ginger paste, tomato sauce and coconut milk until well combined.
Return the chicken to the skillet, and toss to coat in the sauce.
Reduce the heat to medium low, and simmer for 20 minutes.
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Keto Chicken Tikka Masala
Equipment
- Skillet
Ingredients
Chicken Marinade
- 2 cups Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1/4 cup Plain Greek Yogurt
- 1/2 cup Sour Cream
- 2 tsp Minced Garlic
- 1/4 tsp Ground Ginger
- 1/2 tsp Cumin
- 1 tsp Garam Masala
- 1/2 tsp Turmeric
Masala Sauce
- 2 tbsp Butter
- 1/2 Onion chopped
- 2 tsp Ginger Paste
- 2 tsp Minced Garlic
- 1/2 tsp Ground Coriander
- 1/2 tsp Cumin
- 1/2 tsp Turmeric
- 2 tsp Garam Masala
- 8 ounces Tomato Sauce
- 1 cup Unsweetened Coconut Milk
Instructions
- Place the chicken into a large mixing bowl, and add the yogurt, sour cream, 2 tsp minced garlic, ground ginger, ½ tsp cumin, 1 tsp garam masala, ½ tsp turmeric and salt and pepper to taste. Toss to combine all of the ingredients well.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.
- Add the chicken to the heated oil, and sear for 4-5 minutes per side.
- Remove the chicken and set aside.
- Wipe out the pan.
- Reduce the heat to medium, and add the butter to the skillet.
- Saute the onions in the butter until beginning to soften.
- Add the coriander, garlic, cumin, turmeric, garam masala and salt and pepper to taste to the skillet, and saute for 1 minute.
- Stir in the ginger paste, tomato sauce and coconut milk until well combined.
- Return the chicken to the skillet, and toss to coat in the sauce.
- Reduce the heat to medium low, and simmer for 20 minutes.
Notes
Net Carbs: 5 Net Carbs Per Serving The nutritional information for this recipe is calculated as a courtesy and is an approximate only. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipes on this site.
Keto Chicken Dinners
If you enjoyed making this keto chicken tikka masala recipe, here are some more keto-friendly chicken dinners you should make next. They are some of my family’s favorites.
