Butter Chicken vs Chicken Tikka Masala Key Differences That Make Two Distinct

Butter Chicken and Chicken Tikka Masala are tantalising dishes of Indian cuisine. They have subtle differences in their preparation styles, flavours and spices that render them a somewhat contrasting taste from each other. 

These are two Indian curries with intoxicating aromas and flavours. They have tender meat pieces slathered in a creamy, tomato-based sauce that is widely relished in India and abroad. 

Though these dishes share many characteristics and seem to be similar in presentation, they have notable differences which make them unique in their own subtle ways. 

If you are torn between which one to order on your next restaurant visit, let’s dive deep into the nuances of these two delicacies. Here is a list of things that outlines how Butter Chicken and Chicken Tikka Masala are distant in their flavour. Reading this is sure to make your dish choice the next time you eat out easier. Take a peek. 

• Preparation 

Butter Chicken, traditionally known as ‘Murgh Makhani’, is a sumptuous dish made by marinating chicken pieces in a flavourful blend of ginger, garlic, vinegar and other curry spices that make the chicken chunks juicier, tenderer and tastier.

The preparation of this dish includes a lot of exotic ingredients but worry not as you can always get the scrumptious, authentic taste of this dish using Butter Chicken Masala Paste in its preparation. 

On the other hand, the chicken pieces in Chicken Tikka Masala are marinated in yoghurt and spices to then be heated in a clay oven called tandoor. Next, they are dipped in the delicious tomato gravy to be cooked properly so that the flavour of spices is absorbed to the fullest. 

The key difference between the two is also that Butter Chicken can be cooked with bone-in chicken. But Chicken Tikka Masala is always prepared boneless. 

• Flavour 

Chicken Tikka Masala and Butter Chicken are both loaded with a medley of aromatic spices such as ginger, garlic, chilli, cumin, cloves, black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon and more. 

However, Chicken Tikka Masala is more flavour-forward with heavier spiceS. On the other hand, Butter Chicken is creamier and slightly sweet in taste due to the extra butter or ghee that is incorporated in the dish.  

• Spiciness

Chicken Tikka Masala, as the name suggests, falls more on the spicier side as there is no cream added in its luscious curry. But butter chicken is mildly-spiced and has a rich buttery flavour. 

Which is better among the two? 

Butter Chicken and Chicken Butter Masala are both extraordinarily delicious and appetising dishes with subtle differences in their flavours which you can easily prepare with ready-to-cook curry pastes at home. This way you can render the authentic taste to your servings without much hassle. But the question still remains – which one comes out as a winner in this Indian curry battle? 

Whether you find Butter Chicken mouth-watering or it is Chicken Tikka Masala that stirs your tastebuds, you would find your pick to rely much on your affinity for mild or spicy taste and your preference for bone or boneless chicken. We say that you mix and match and make or order these dishes as per your mood for the evening. Happy dining!