Chicken tikka alfredo is a delicious combination of tender chicken marinated with yogurt and tikka masala paste tossed with rich and creamy alfredo pasta. Incredibly delicious and easy to make, this flavor-packed chicken alfredo pasta will always be a family favorite!

If you love flavorful chicken or turkey recipes you will definitely love these recipes: Instant pot turkey stew, Air fryer turkey cutlets and Trader Joe’s pesto chicken air fryer recipe.

You'll love this chicken tikka masala pasta recipe, and it's definitely a meal that your family will request again and again! Chicken breasts are marinaded in a flavorful tikka masala sauce then pan-fried and cooked in a cheesy homemade alfredo sauce. Serve over top cooked fettuccine pasta with fresh cilantro. It's impressive but very easy to make for weeknight meals!

This Indian-inspired pasta dish isn't too spicy or overwhelming, so even your kids will enjoy this recipe. Chicken alfredo with tikka masala is actually very easy to make but don't skip the marinating process. It really helps to tenderize the chicken and gives it much more flavor!

How to make chicken tikka Alfredo recipe

Begin by preparing the marinade for the chicken. In a mixing bowl, blend the yogurt with the tikka masala paste until they are well combined. Add chicken pieces to this mixture, thoroughly mixing to coat each piece with the marinade.

To allow the flavors to meld, marinate the chicken for a minimum of one hour; for optimal flavor penetration, marinating overnight in the refrigerator is recommended.

When ready to cook, place a large skillet on the stove and set the heat to medium-high. Drizzle olive oil to coat the base of the skillet. Once the oil shimmers, carefully lay the marinated chicken pieces into the skillet.

Cook the chicken, turning occasionally, until they achieve a nice golden-brown hue and are fully cooked, which typically takes about 5-7 minutes. Once done, transfer the chicken to a plate or bowl and set aside.

Using the flavorful remnants in the same skillet, proceed to add the chopped onion and minced garlic. Stir these ingredients frequently, allowing them to sauté until the onions turn a soft, translucent shade and the garlic releases its aromatic scent, approximately 2-3 minutes.

Now, turn the heat to low and gently pour in the heavy cream, mixing it with the sautéed onion and garlic. Allow this blend to simmer gently, which will cause the cream to thicken a bit.

While continuously stirring, start introducing the grated Parmesan cheese bit by bit into the cream mixture. Continue this process until all the cheese has been added and has melted into the sauce, resulting in a velvety smooth texture. Season your sauce with salt and pepper according to your preference.

It's now time to reintroduce the cooked chicken to the skillet. Merge the chicken with the Alfredo sauce, stirring to coat each piece evenly. Allow the combined ingredients to simmer for 2-3 minutes so the chicken warms up in the sauce.

For serving, ladle the Chicken Tikka Alfredo over a bed of freshly cooked fettuccine or a pasta of your preference. Finish off the dish with a sprinkle of freshly chopped cilantro for an aromatic touch. Enjoy your fusion meal!

Recipe ingredients

Chicken. Boneless skinless chicken breasts. Cut them into bite-sized pieces so they will marinate and cook faster. Also try this chicken crumbles recipe, with ginger and sesame!

Yogurt. Used to marinate the chicken, make sure you are using plain yogurt. Adds extra richness and tenderizes the meat making it even more flavorful and juicy.

Tikka masala paste. Used in the yogurt marinade to infuse extra flavor into this Indian-inspired meal. It is a blend of garam masala herbs and spices such as ground cardamom, turmeric, cumin, and cinnamon, blended tomatoes or tomato paste, and ginger. Chili peppers are often added as well.

Olive oil. Used to fry the chicken pieces and other aromatics.

Onions and garlic. Adds a rich sweet and savory depth of flavor to the sauce.

Heavy cream. To create the alfredo part of this chicken alfredo pasta along with the freshly grated parmesan cheese.

Parmesan cheese. Freshly grated and added to the cream to make the alfredo sauce.

Salt and ground black pepper. Season to taste.

Garnish. Fresh chopped cilantro or parsley.

Cooked pasta. Fettuccine or the pasta of your choice.

Substitutions

Chicken. Use boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into bite-sized pieces instead, if you prefer the flavor better than chicken breasts.

Tikka masala paste. Can be substituted for a garam masala dry spice blend.

Cooked pasta. This recipe is made with fettuccine noodles, but linguine, spaghetti, or any other pasta shapes can be used instead!

Olive oil. Use butter or a neutral-flavored vegetable oil.

Yogurt. Use full-fat plain yogurt or Greek yogurt.

Parmesan cheese. Use freshly grated parmesan cheese or Parmigiano Reggiano for the best flavor.

Variations

Ginger and tomatoes. If you aren't using the tikka masala paste your sauce might be missing a bit of flavor, try adding minced or grated ginger and chopped tomatoes or tomato paste to your sauce for a deeper savory flavor.

Chili peppers. Tikka masala sauce tends to be on the milder side in terms of spice. If you prefer a spicier tikka masala pasta, try adding chopped serrano peppers or cayenne pepper to the sauce for a kick of heat.

Dairy-free alternatives. If you are dairy-free use non-dairy parmesan cheese, full-fat coconut cream or milk, and non-dairy full-fat yogurt instead!

Frequently asked questions

Expert tips

1. The longer you marinate the chicken, the more flavor it will have. Overnight is ideal, but if you're short on time, a minimum of 1 hour will still give good results.
2. Using full-fat yogurt and heavy cream will yield a creamier, richer sauce. If you're trying to cut back on fat, you can use alternatives, but the consistency and flavor might slightly differ.
3. When adding the heavy cream, make sure the heat is low to avoid curdling. Dairy can be sensitive to high heat, especially when combined with acidic ingredients.
4. While the recipe recommends cilantro for garnishing, you can also sprinkle some freshly chopped basil or parsley. These herbs can add a refreshing contrast to the rich Alfredo sauce.
5. Chicken, especially breast pieces, can become dry if overcooked. Monitor the chicken closely when frying to retain its juiciness.
6. If you find your Alfredo sauce is too thick, you can thin it out by adding a splash of milk or pasta water. Conversely, if it's too thin, let it simmer a bit longer, or add a bit more grated cheese.

Storage suggestion

Store the Chicken Tikka Alfredo in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When reheating, do so gently in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of milk or chicken broth to maintain the sauce's creaminess.

Avoid using a microwave as it can separate the sauce and overcook the chicken. Always ensure the chicken is reheated to a safe temperature before consuming.

Alfredo sauce tends to thicken upon cooling. When reheating leftovers, you might want to add a touch of milk or chicken broth to achieve the desired sauce consistency.

You may also like

• Chicken marinade with dill
• Golden Corral pot roast recipe
• Elk stroganoff
• Turkey liver recipe
• Peruvian turkey
• Chicken lollipop air fryer recipe
• Trader Joe’s breaded chicken air fryer recipe

Hope you will like this chicken tikka alfredo recipe as much as we do. Please rate the recipe if you made it and leave a comment below if you have any questions or suggestions.