• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The Every Kitchen

Telling food stories, one kitchen at a time

  • Home
  • About Me
    • About Me
    • Life in the Kitchen
    • Kitchen Philosophy
  • Healthy Recipes
    • gluten free
    • lightened up
    • sugar free
    • vegan
  • All Recipes
    • bread and breakfast
    • lunch
    • dinner
    • desserts
    • drinks
    • snacks & appetizers
    • favorites
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Healthier Chicken Tikka Masala with Turmeric Cauliflower Rice

January 5, 2017 by theeverykitchen@gmail.com 9 Comments

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Healthier Chicken Tikka Masala has the warmth and spice that will make your tongue do a happy dance. This recipe was lightened with nonfat Greek yogurt and still has spectacular flavor.

turmeric Healthier Chicken Tikka Masala with Turmeric Cauliflower Rice | www.theeverykitchen.com
Admittedly, it’s a little late to be talking about Christmas. But my family believes in celebrating Christmas until 12th Night. [Which just so happens to be a good excuse for leaving the tree up, kissing under the mistletoe, and blogging about Christmas food until January 6th.] So let me tell you about Cushing Christmas traditions and Healthier Chicken Tikka Masala.Actually, let’s just talk about one tradition. But my favorite. My newest favorite because it’s only been done twice.


Two years ago, my brother spent his first Christmas with the in-laws, someone (me) couldn’t afford Christmas presents, someone (me) was moving cross-country, my parents were working overtime and never got the tree up… So we said, forget it. Let’s change up all the LIFE LONG traditions – traditions that literally define Christmas for me – and do it differently. And ya know what? Change is good.

Let’s first just look at some 2016 Christmas pics, mmmKay?

Emerald Isle, NC, sound side | www.theeverykitchen.com

I mean, for real? This is my parent’s backyard. Our first Christmas in their new house. [Emerald Isle, NC]


Christmas Tree Chihuahua | www.theeverykitchen.com

Christmas Tree Chihuahua AKA the coolest, cutest (most patient) dog that ever lived.


Danielle of The Every Kitchen cooks with her mama | www.theeverykitchen.com

Mom and me killing it in the kitchen, with wine and margs, as per usual.


Jalapeno-Lime Infused Tequila | www.theeverykitchen.com

I was tasked with making jalapeno-lime infused tequila. Necessities.


Danielle of The Every Kitchen with her fur-loving family | www.theeverykitchen.com

Annual Christmas pic with the kids, minus KitKat. (Not sure why this is so fuzzy, but I love it anyway!)

We changed our Christmas Eve food tradition big time. For as long as I can remember, we’ve had traditional Polish meal on Christmas Eve. Mom has made other suggestions over the years, but the rest of the family has always banded together and demanded (gently because Mom please we love your Polish food and you are such a good cook) that we have sour mushroom soup and pierogie and creamed herring. But last year we decided that, from then on, we would go to early mass (not midnight mass, another lapsed tradition), come home to PJ’s and cocktails, and make dinner as a family. International cuisine only.

2015: Chinese. 2016: Indian.

Healthier Chicken Tikka Masala with Turmeric Cauliflower Rice | www.theeverykitchen.com
And so here we have Healthier Chicken Tikka Masala with Turmeric Cauliflower Rice. [Mom is rolling her eyes at me because I try to healthify everything. And WHY NOT.] [We did not healthify the December 24 version.]

Healthier Chicken Tikka Masala with Turmeric Cauliflower Rice | www.theeverykitchen.com

Let’s take a peek inside my notes from the kitchen:

The first thing you love is the smell. My whole house smells like an Indian restaurant. (Don’t worry, it will go away). I must be doing this right. I’m gonna put garam masala on everything. It smells spectacular.

I just burned my tongue and I DON’T CARE because I burnt it on Healthier Chicken Tikka Masala. My tongue and I are doin’ a little happy dance with this warmth and spice. The good kind of spice. The kind of heat that starts in your cheeks and makes you blush. You’re giddy with it. You’re smiling and almost giggling. Eventually, you feel the heat creep down your neck, loosen your shoulders, tingle in your fingertips. I know it works like this because I’m eating it right now as I type. In fact, this typing has got to stop because it’s interfering with my moment.

Healthier Chicken Tikka Masala with Turmeric Cauliflower Rice | www.theeverykitchen.com

And Here’s the deal with Turmeric Cauliflower Rice:

It’s totally optional. You can totally eat Tikka Masala with basmati or naan, but I had some riced cauliflower that needed using. I added turmeric to make it interesting and also, I think turmeric is trending? I feel like it’s been popping up everywhere because –> health.

According to WebMD, turmeric is maybe or maybe not good for just about anything. There’s good evidence that turmeric is possibly beneficial for those with high cholesterol or triglycerides, osteoarthritis, and chronic kidney disease.

And then there’s insufficient evidence that turmeric is good for a bajillion things like Alzheimer’s, cancer, Crohn’s, depression, diabetes, IBS, general pain, acne, headache, menstrual problems, and so on and so forth until we’ve covered all that ails you.

Healthier Chicken Tikka Masala with Turmeric Cauliflower Rice | www.theeverykitchen.com
The cauliflower is a little crunchy (perfect against that creamy Tikka Masala) and the turmeric is a little bitter (perfect against that spicy warm Tikka Masala) and all in all, this dish hits the nail on the head. I think “spectacular” is the word I used.

Healthier Chicken Tikka Masala with Turmeric Cauliflower Rice | www.theeverykitchen.com
4 from 3 votes
Print

Healthier Chicken Tikka Masala with Turmeric Cauliflower Rice

Healthier Chicken Tikka Masala has the warmth and spice that will make your tongue do a happy dance. This recipe has spectacular flavor.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 330 kcal
Author Danielle Cushing

Ingredients

For the marinade

  • 16 ounces boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
  • 1 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon garam masala*
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
  • 2- inch piece peeled ginger grated

For the dish

  • 1 medium yellow onion minced
  • 1 tablespoon butter or spread, I prefer Brummel & Brown
  • 1 jalapeno optional, seeded and diced
  • 5 garlic cloves minced
  • 15 ounce can tomato sauce
  • 3/4 plain plain nonfat Greek yogurt
  • 3/4 cup 1% milk
  • 4 teaspoons garam masala
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon salt

For the cauliflower rice

  • 1/2 head cauliflower green parts removed
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric

Instructions

Marinate the chicken:

  1. In a medium-sized bowl, combine chicken with Greek yogurt, garam masala, lemon juice, black pepper, and ginger. Place in the refrigerator for 1 hour or overnight.

To prepare:

  1. Heat a large, deep-rimmed skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, chicken, and marinade and cook until chicken is mostly done, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium. Add butter, jalapeno, and garlic and saute about 1 minute until garlic becomes aromatic. Add the tomato sauce, yogurt, milk, garam masala, paprika, and salt. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer. Simmer about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce has thickened and chicken is cooked through. Best served over cauliflower rice, basmati rice, or with naan bread.

For the cauliflower rice:

  1. Use a medium to large grater or use the grater attachment on your food processor to rice your cauliflower. Place a large skillet over medium heat. Add cauliflower and water and cook until the water has evaporated or until the cauliflower is slightly softened, 3-4 minutes. Add an extra tablespoon of water if needed. Stir in turmeric.

Recipe Notes

*Can't find garam masala? Get it here or mix the following together and store in a glass jar: 2 tablespoon ground cumin, 2 tablespoon ground coriander, 4 teaspoons ground pepper, 4 teaspoons ground cardamom, 2 teaspoons ground cloves, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon.

 


Garam masala and turmeric can be hard to find, so just in case:

Healthier Chicken Tikka Masala has the warmth and spice that will make your tongue do a happy dance. This recipe has spectacular flavor. | theeverykitchen.com

More from my site

  • Broccoli Chicken Pizza with Sun-Dried TomatoesBroccoli Chicken Pizza with Sun-Dried Tomatoes
  • Easy Oven Tandoori Chicken + Life ThingsEasy Oven Tandoori Chicken + Life Things
  • 7-Layer Sheet Pan Nachos7-Layer Sheet Pan Nachos
  • Better-For-You Beef StroganoffBetter-For-You Beef Stroganoff
  • Lemon Herb Chicken SkewersLemon Herb Chicken Skewers
  • One-Pot Chipotle Sweet Potato ChiliOne-Pot Chipotle Sweet Potato Chili

Filed Under: dinner, gluten free, healthy, lightened up, meat and poultry, sugar free Tagged With: butter chicken, cauliflower rice, chicken, chicken tikka masala, indian, indian food, tikka masala, tumeric

Previous Post: « Roasted Fennel, Italian Sausage, and Ricotta Pizza
Next Post: Citrus Avocado Quinoa Salad with Honey Walnuts »

Reader Interactions

Lemon Feta Chicken Sliders

The secret to my recipe for Guinness Chocolate Cake with Bailey's Buttercream is to reduce the stout first to give you a deeply malted and moist crumb. The frosting adds just enough excitement without stealing the show and the end result is a cake you can't resist eating... even for breakfast! | theeverykitchen.com

Guinness Chocolate Cake with Bailey’s Buttercream

My recipe for Sheet Pan Salmon, Bok Choy, and Sweet Potato Noodles takes only 20 minutes, start to finish. Tender, buttery, perfectly prepared salmon will make you salivate before it melts in your mouth. | theeverykitchen.com

Sheet Pan Salmon, Bok Choy, and Sweet Potato Noodles

Toasted Pistachio Orange Biscotti is well-balanced with citrus notes. Toasty, a-little-bit-salty pistachios really steal the show. This recipe pairs well with a large pot of coffee. | theeverykitchen.com

Toasted Pistachio Orange Biscotti

Rum Pumpkin Praline Pie is the perfect combination of light and boozy, sweet and salty. A store-bought crust makes this recipe practically effortless. #boozy #pie #dessert | theeverykitchen.com
Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip with Candied Pecans is the perfect appetizer recipe for all your fall gatherings. It takes just 10 minutes to prep and makes enough to feed a crowd. #glutenfree #appetizer #holidayrecipe | theeverykitchen.com
Easy Oven Tandoori Chicken has a sweet and smoky slow heat. The flavors may be complex, but the recipe is quite easy! #paleo #glutenfree #sugarfree | theeverykitchen.com
Make breakfast healthier, tastier, and more satisfying with simple swaps. Sweet Potato, Kale, Mushroom Hash features cholesterol-free corn oil. #ChooseMazola | theeverykitchen.com
The best thing about this recipe for Air Fryer Falafel Burgers? Toss up between that crisp crumb and the tender, hot chickpea exploding inside. | theeverykitchen.com

Comments

  1. David

    March 6, 2017 at 7:56 pm

    5 stars
    I love that you guys made this on Christmas. What a fun idea.

    Reply
    • Mike

      April 2, 2018 at 7:44 pm

      2 stars
      although I made this and it wasn’t really bad, it doesn’t taste anything like chicken tikka masala like I’ve ever had. To be honest I was a little disappointed šŸ™

      Reply
      • Danielle

        April 4, 2018 at 3:49 pm

        Hi Mike, I’m sorry to hear you didn’t enjoy it. To be honest, I’ve only ever had chicken tikka masala once and it was a very similar (just not ā€œlightenedā€) recipe. Comparing the two, there wasn’t much difference. So perhaps my first recipe wasn’t all that authentic. I’ll have to order in some real Indian food soon!

        Reply
  2. Mary

    November 18, 2018 at 4:48 pm

    5 stars
    My favorite chicken tikka masala recipe! Way better than the freezer version from Trader Joe’s šŸ˜‰

    Reply
    • theeverykitchen@gmail.com

      November 18, 2018 at 10:21 pm

      Mary! Thank you so much for the compliment. I’m so glad you like the recipe. Hopefully it isn’t too much more work than the TJ’s version though. šŸ™‚

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Food Advertising by logo
Food Advertising by logo

About Danielle

Danielle is a registered dietitian and the story teller behind The Every Kitchen. Three things that inspire her: Her parent's kitchen table, the way food nurtures relationships and nourishes souls, damn good chocolate chip cookies. EVERY KITCHEN has a story and Danielle shares them, one kitchen at a time. Read More…

Food Advertising by logo

Copyright © 2025 · Foodie Pro & The Genesis Framework