Sheet-Pan Tikka Masala Recipe
This Sheet-Pan Tikka Masala recipe combines tender, marinated chicken thighs and crispy baby potatoes roasted together and topped with a rich, creamy masala sauce. It features vibrant pickled onions and aromatic spices, all cooked on a single baking sheet for an easy yet flavorful Indian-inspired meal.
- Author: Clara
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Indian-Inspired
Pickled Onions
- 1 medium red onion, very thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
- Kosher salt, to taste
Chicken & Potatoes
- 1 cup whole-milk yogurt
- 1 Tbsp sweet paprika
- 1 tsp garam masala
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- Kosher salt, about 1 Tbsp plus more to taste
- 3 lb bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs and/or drumsticks
- 1 1/2 lb baby yellow potatoes, halved or quartered if large
- 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Sauce & Assembly
- 1 Tbsp vegetable oil
- 1/2 small yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 serrano chile, seeded and finely chopped, plus more for serving
- 1 (2″) piece fresh ginger, peeled and grated
- 3 cloves garlic, grated
- 2 Tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp garam masala
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- 1 (14-oz) can crushed tomatoes or fire-roasted crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Chopped fresh cilantro, for serving
- Pickle the onions: In a medium bowl, toss the thinly sliced red onion with fresh lime juice and a few large pinches of kosher salt until well combined. Let sit at room temperature to pickle while you prepare the rest of the dish.
- Marinate the chicken: Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). In a large bowl, mix whole-milk yogurt with sweet paprika, garam masala, ground turmeric, and 1 tablespoon kosher salt. Add the chicken thighs and/or drumsticks and toss them thoroughly in the marinade. Let the chicken marinate at room temperature for at least 15 minutes or cover and refrigerate for up to 2 hours for deeper flavor.
- Prepare and start roasting potatoes: Meanwhile, toss the halved or quartered baby yellow potatoes with 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil on a large baking sheet. Season generously with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Roast in the preheated oven for 10 minutes to begin cooking.
- Roast chicken and potatoes together: Carefully nestle the marinated chicken pieces onto the baking sheet with the potatoes. Continue roasting for 35 to 45 minutes more, tossing the potatoes halfway through, until the chicken is golden brown, cooked through with internal temperature of at least 165°F, and potatoes are tender and crisp at the edges.
- Make the masala sauce: While the chicken and potatoes roast, heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add finely chopped yellow onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 7 minutes. Add the finely chopped half serrano chile, grated ginger, and grated garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant and soft. Stir in tomato paste, garam masala, and ground turmeric, cooking and stirring constantly for about 1 minute more until aromatic.
- Simmer the sauce: Add the canned crushed tomatoes and bring the sauce to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 cup heavy cream. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste, then keep warm.
- Blend the sauce: Use an immersion blender directly in the saucepan to blend the sauce until smooth, about 1 minute. Alternatively, carefully transfer the sauce to a blender and blend until smooth. Return to low heat to keep warm if needed.
- Assemble and serve: Spoon some of the warm masala sauce over the freshly roasted chicken and potatoes right on the baking sheet or serving platter. Top with the pickled onions, extra serrano chiles if desired, and chopped fresh cilantro. Serve with the remaining sauce on the side for dipping or extra flavor.
Notes
- Marinate chicken up to 2 hours in advance to deepen flavor but bring to room temperature before roasting for even cooking.
- Adjust the heat by adding more or fewer serrano chiles according to your tolerance.
- Using bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs enhances juiciness and flavor.
- The baby potatoes can be swapped for fingerlings or small Yukon golds.
- For a lighter sauce, substitute heavy cream with full-fat coconut milk to keep it dairy-free and add mild coconut flavor.
- This dish is best served immediately but leftover sauce can be refrigerated up to 3 days and reheated gently.
Keywords: Sheet-Pan Tikka Masala, Chicken Tikka Masala, One-Pan Dinner, Indian Chicken Recipe, Roasted Chicken and Potatoes, Easy Tikka Masala