This Trader Joe’s Tikka Masala Sauce is a creamy and authentic recipe, which is made with ghee and cumin. It’s a restaurant-quality dish, ready in about 45 minutes.
Jump to RecipeTrader Joe’s Tikka Masala Sauce Recipe Ingredients
For the Chicken:
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into bite-size pieces
- ½ teaspoon curry powder
For the Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons ghee (clarified butter)
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt, or more to taste
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 (14 ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 tablespoon white sugar, or more to taste
- 2 teaspoons paprika
How To Make Trader Joe’s Tikka Masala Sauce
- Sauté the Aromatics: Heat the ghee in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook, stirring, for about 5 minutes until translucent. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute until fragrant.
- Bloom the Spices: Add the cumin, salt, ginger, cayenne, cinnamon, and turmeric to the skillet. Stir constantly and cook for about 2 minutes, until the spices are fragrant.
- Create the Sauce: Stir the tomato sauce, heavy cream, sugar, and paprika into the onion and spice mixture. Bring the sauce to a simmer and let it cook gently while you prepare the chicken.
- Cook the Chicken: While the sauce simmers, heat the vegetable oil in a separate large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken pieces with the curry powder, salt, and pepper. Add the chicken to the hot skillet and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.
- Combine and Finish: Add the cooked chicken to the simmering tikka masala sauce. Stir to combine and let it simmer together for at least 10 more minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Serve hot.
Recipe Tips
- How to adjust the spice level? The heat in this dish comes from the cayenne pepper. For a milder sauce, reduce the cayenne to 1/4 or 1/2 teaspoon. For a spicier sauce, increase it to your liking.
- Can I make this vegetarian? Absolutely. This sauce is delicious with paneer (Indian cheese), chickpeas, or a medley of roasted vegetables like cauliflower and potatoes instead of chicken.
- What is ghee and can I substitute it? Ghee is clarified butter, which has a higher smoke point and a nutty flavor. You can substitute it with an equal amount of unsalted butter or a neutral oil like vegetable or canola oil.
- Can I make this dairy-free? Yes. Use oil instead of ghee, and substitute the heavy cream with full-fat canned coconut milk for a delicious dairy-free version.
What To Serve With Tikka Masala
This rich and creamy curry is a classic that pairs perfectly with traditional Indian side dishes.
- Steamed basmati or jasmine rice
- Warm naan bread or roti for scooping up the sauce
- A cooling cucumber raita (yogurt dip)
- A simple side salad of sliced cucumber, tomato, and onion
How To Store Tikka Masala Sauce
- Refrigerate: Let the tikka masala cool completely, then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The flavors are often even better the next day.
- Freeze: This sauce (with or without the chicken) freezes very well. Let it cool and transfer to a freezer-safe container or bag. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Tikka Masala Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Protein: 35g
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Sugar: 12g
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
They are very similar, but generally, Tikka Masala has a more prominent tomato flavor and can be spicier, while Butter Chicken is typically richer, more buttery, and milder.
Yes, for an even more flavorful result, you can marinate the chicken pieces in a mixture of yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, ginger, and spices for at least an hour before cooking. This is the traditional “tikka” method.
Yes. Sauté the onions, garlic, and spices on the stovetop as directed. Transfer this mixture to your slow cooker and add the tomato sauce and cream. Add the raw chicken pieces, stir, and cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours.
Try More Recipes:
Trader Joe’s Tikka Masala Sauce Recipe
Course: DinnerCuisine: British-IndianDifficulty: Easy6
servings15
minutes30
minutes480
kcalA rich, creamy, and aromatic chicken tikka masala that tastes just like the restaurant favorite but is easy to make at home.
Ingredients
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 (14 oz) can tomato sauce
Spices: 1 tbsp cumin, 1 tsp ginger, 1 tsp cayenne, ½ tsp cinnamon, ¼ tsp turmeric, 2 tsp paprika, ½ tsp curry powder.
2 tbsp ghee (or butter)
Directions
- In a large skillet, heat ghee and sauté the onion until soft (5 min), then add garlic (1 min).
- Stir in all the ground spices (except curry powder) and cook for 2 minutes until fragrant.
- Stir in the tomato sauce, heavy cream, sugar, and paprika. Let the sauce simmer gently.
- In a separate skillet, cook the chicken pieces seasoned with curry powder until browned and cooked through.
- Add the cooked chicken to the simmering sauce.
- Let the chicken and sauce simmer together for at least 10 minutes. Serve hot with rice and naan.
Notes
- Toasting the dry spices in the hot ghee for a minute or two before adding the liquids is a key step that “blooms” their flavor.
- For the creamiest sauce, use full-fat heavy whipping cream.
- Don’t be afraid to let the sauce simmer; this helps all the complex flavors to meld together beautifully.
- Adjust the salt and sugar at the end of cooking to perfectly balance the flavors to your liking.
