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Chicken Tikka Masala Pizza

A fusion pizza combining classic chicken tikka masala flavors with a crisp store-bought pizza crust for a quick, crowd-pleasing meal.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Servings: 3 people

Ingredients

  • 10 oz skinless boneless chicken breast cut into 1/2-inch (1 cm) cubes
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/2 jalapeño seeded
  • salt to taste
  • 1 12-inch store-bought pizza crust or three 7-inch (18 cm) mini pizza crusts
  • olive oil for brushing
  • 1/4 cup onion thinly sliced
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese
  • cilantro (coriander) leaves chopped, save some for garnishing
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/2 tsp ground cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 tsp ground garam masala
  • 1/2 tsp fresh ginger minced
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp plain yogurt (for marinade)
  • 1 pinch cinnamon
  • 4 oz tomato sauce
  • 2 tbsp plain yogurt (for sauce)
  • 2 tbsp heavy cream
  • 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 1/2 tsp garam masala

Instructions

  • Combine the chicken, 1 tbsp butter, 2 tbsp plain yogurt (marinade portion), 1/2 tsp ground cumin, 1/2 tsp ground cayenne, 1/2 tsp ground garam masala, 1/2 tsp minced ginger, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp ground black pepper, 1 tbsp lemon juice, and a pinch of cinnamon in a mixing bowl; mix until the chicken is evenly coated.
  • Cover and refrigerate the marinated chicken for at least 1 hour.
  • Preheat the oven grill to 450°F (232°C). Line a baking pan with foil and arrange the marinated chicken in a single layer, discarding excess marinade; grill for 6–7 minutes, flipping once, until cooked through.
  • While the chicken cooks, combine the sauce ingredients: 4 oz tomato sauce, 2 tbsp plain yogurt (sauce portion), 2 tbsp heavy cream, 1/2 tsp cumin, 1/2 tsp paprika, and 1/2 tsp garam masala in a bowl and set aside.
  • Heat a small saucepan over medium heat and melt the remaining butter; sauté the minced garlic and minced jalapeño until fragrant, about 1 minute, then add the spice mix and cook 1–2 minutes more. Remove and discard the jalapeño.
  • Add the prepared tikka masala sauce to the saucepan, season with salt to taste, and simmer until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Turn off the heat and stir in the grilled chicken to coat it in the sauce.
  • Preheat the oven to 450°F (232°C). Place the pizza crust on a pizza pan and lightly brush with olive oil.
  • Spread the chicken tikka masala sauce evenly over the crust, sprinkle with 1/2 cup mozzarella, arrange the sauced chicken on top, add the thinly sliced onions and chopped cilantro, then finish with the remaining mozzarella.
  • Lower the oven temperature to 425°F (218°C) and bake the pizza for 8–10 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the cheese is melted.
  • Remove the pizza from the oven, garnish with the remaining chopped cilantro, slice, and serve.

Equipment

  • Mixing Bowl
  • Baking Pan
  • Saucepan
  • Measuring Spoons
  • Knife
  • Cutting Board
  • Pizza pan or baking sheet

Notes

  • Bake according to your pizza crust's package instructions as times may vary.
  • You can stir-fry the chicken instead of oven-grilling it.
  • Use a 12-inch store-bought crust or three 7-inch mini crusts.
  • Naan can be used as an alternative base if preferred.