I make these when I just couldn’t be bothered to cook anything complicated, and as an added bonus, my picky eater loves this chicken kebab recipe.
What is Chicken Tikka?
Chicken Tika actually means a chicken nugget, if you will. That’s the closest I can come up with for a translation. So..umm..Indian chicken nuggets? Sounds weird, tastes amazing!
What is the difference between Chicken Tikka and Chicken Tikka Masala?
I have a super simple, very authentic recipe for an Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala. The main difference is that chicken tikka is a dry dish, sort of like a chicken kebab. Chicken Tikka Masala on the other hand, is chicken in a tomato-based gravy or sauce. In that case, the chicken isn’t the star of the dish, as much as it is the gravy. But for Chicken Tikka kebabs? It’s ALL about that Chicken. Traditionally, tikka is a tandoori dish and they’re baked in a clay oven. Since I do not just happen to have a clay oven that reaches 800F in my back yard (if you do, I want to be your best friend), I use a skillet or my air fryer to make these.
What Can I Serve with these delicious little Indian Chicken Nuggets?
Once you learn how to make Chicken Tikka, you will come up with a variety of uses for it.
Make Your Own Ghee
Here’s an easy, food proof way on how to make your own homemade ghee for a fraction of the cost, and in under 20 minutes.
Step-By-Step Photos for Making Chicken Tikka
Step 1: Mix together the yogurt, ginger, garlic, and cilantro. Step 2: Add in all the yummy spices like turmeric, cayenne, paprika, cumin, coriander, garam masala, and salt. Step 3: Add the cut up chicken and allow the mixture to marinate for a while. You can use chicken breast or thighs for this recipe. Step 4: Heat some ghee in a pan. Step 5: Add the chicken to the hot pan and cook, allowing it to sear to mimic the smoky, tandoori-grilled taste you’d get in a clay oven. Step 6: Finish up with a nice, tart squirt of lemon or lime juice for a burst of tang at the end.
Tips and Tricks for Making the Best Chicken Tikka Bites at Home
Marinate that chicken with yogurt for as long as you can, up to 24 hours. The lactic acid in dairy helps to break down the protein and tenderizes it just beautifully. This is especially needed if you’re using chicken breast. But honestly, sometimes I just marinate for 30 minutes and it turns out just fine. If you’re dairy-free or kosher, use lemon juice instead of the yogurt to provide the same tenderizing. You can also substitute oil instead of the ghee. Adjust the cayenne pepper to your family’s taste. Remember you can always add cayenne pepper afterward, and the presence of the ghee coating each piece helps the cayenne adhere to it well, so you can spice up your portion after you’ve dished out portions for the non-spice tolerators in your family.Use ghee if possible as it has a high smoke point, which makes these chicken bites sear like champs. Here’s an EASY recipe to make your own ghee.If you don’t want to make your own ghee, you could try this one. Double up on this recipe and use the leftover chicken in the butter chicken sauce you have leftover.
If you and your family love these delicious Chicken Tikka Bites as much as I do, make sure you share this recipe with your friends on Facebook and Pinterest so you can make them again soon. If you’re looking for more air fryer recipes btw, check out my Air Fryer Cookbook below!
