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This meal was incredible! We used jasmine rice instead of quinoa because it’s what we had and paired really well with this. Both my husband and I went back for seconds. The combination of flavors is unique and amazing. And the mint sauce totally elevates it. Will definitely be making again!
Natalie
Please make way in your tums and hearts for this terribly addicting, incredibly delicious chicken tikka bowl. Crispy chicken tenders brushed with your favorite tikka masala sauce and roasted to a perfect crisp, fresh cucumber crunch alongside a creamy slaw and some quick pickled onions, all piled on a bed of light, nutty quinoa with a fresh-made drinkable mint sauce that might make you CRY REAL HUMAN TEARS.
It’s here. It’s a go-to lunch/dinner/bedtime snack. It couldn’t be easier and we simply cannot stop eating it. It’s also absolutely flexible and super easy to throw together, so it is very ready to be your new best friend.
This isn’t chicken tikka in the traditional Indian cuisine sense where pieces of marinated chicken are grilled or baked on skewers in a tandoor oven. And it isn’t even full chicken tikka masala, which is a curried version where that chicken tikka then gets simmered in a creamy spiced tomato sauce and served over rice. Instead, we’re borrowing that delicious deeply spiced flavor using our favorite jarred version of masala sauce and giving some easy crispy chicken tenders a little brush and bake. It’s definitely a bit outside the norm, but we are absolutely here for it.
Ingredients You’ll Need To Make These Bowls Happen
The ingredient list is plentiful here, but it’s all bits to add to the flavor parade! And though we’re definitely mixing up that drool-worthy mint sauce from scratch, we’re relying on a lot of pre-made and store-bought for the rest and whoo-boy, you can too!
For the bowl-build:
- crispy breaded chicken (store-bought)
- tikka masala sauce (also store-bought)
- cooked quinoa
- sliced or diced cucumbers
- pickled red onion
- slaw (hi, you guessed it…store-bought mix!)
For the mint sauce:
- fresh mint & cilantro
- mayo or plain Greek yogurt
- salt
- juice of a lime
- garlic
- jalapeño
There are definitely some homemade options for you on the crispy chicken front, the tikka masala sauce, or the slaw, but if you want to get at your lunch/dinner all fast and furious? Well then, grab those chicken tendies from the freezer, crack that sauce jar, rip open that bag of slaw mix, and let’s get to it, ya?
You could even buy a packet of pre-made quinoa and we wouldn’t be mad!
Prefer To Watch Instead Of Read?
Let’s Make Chicken Tikka Bowls
We’re gonna keep this version, our favorite version, reeeeeaaaaaal easy. Some slicing and dicing to maximize your bowl chompiness, a quick sauce zip in the blender, but other than that, this is all pretty much a breeze.
- Crispy Chicken. Cook according to package directions and then brush with the tikka masala sauce and return to oven for an additional 5 minutes.
- Mint Sauce. Throw all the sauce ingredients in the blender/food processor and zip until smooth-ish. I could put this sauce on anything and everything (see: these butter cauli and chickpeas too!).
- Bowl Assembly. Layer your quinoa, crispy chicken, slaw, cucumbers, pickled red onions, and then don’t be shy with that mint sauce over the top!
It’s all going to be so beautiful and colorful when you get it together that for just a teeny tiny second you might want to just admire it for a bit but please, we urge you, do not waste any time staring. GET. AT. IT.
Just Can’t Stop Swooning Over These
Like we said, these bowls are super flexible, so if you don’t want to get on the crispy chicken tender train, that’s totally fine! But we can’t be friends. (Just kidding! Maybe.) Regular skillet-seared chicken breasts totally work, too! We’ve also made it with tofu and sweet potato which were also delicious, so you can swap what you love best. Those crispy little frozen chicken fingies tho…cannot recommend enough.
It’s also so wonderful how easy they can be. Lots of pre-made and store-bought options if you’re short on time and patience (us, always), and everything still feels so fresh and flavorful. But there are also ways to really take your time with it and make it your own. Bread and crisp your own chicken? Get at it. Wanna make your own tikka masala sauce? We’ve got a great one here. If you don’t already have some pickled red onions in your fridge, don’t worry. You can super quick toss them in a jar and get them pickling in no time. Then they’re just ready for the other hundred times you’ll inevitably make these bowls this week.
It’s just all our favorite food adjectives in one! It’s crispy, salty, spicy, briny, cool, and creamy. How could you go wrong?! You truly can’t.
Chicken Tikka Bowls: Frequently Asked Questions
Yay! Awesome!
For the chicken, bread chicken breasts in flour and pan-fry them until they get a golden and crispy exterior. Or make these air fryer cutlets or chicken tenders.
For the slaw, toss a few cups of shredded cabbage and carrots with mayo, vinegar, and salt.
For the tikka masala sauce, check out this recipe for a homemade option.
Instructions can be found in the recipe card here! Besides these Chicken Tikka Bowls, other delicious uses for pickled red onions can be on Brussels Sprouts Tacos, Chipotle Quinoa Burgers, or an Arugula Salad with Grapes and Black Pepper Vinaigrette.
If you make your mint sauce with yogurt, leftovers should be good for 3-4 days. If you make the sauce with mayo, leftovers should be good for about 1 week. Either way, store leftovers in the fridge in a sealed container or jar.
Crispy Chicken Tikka Bowls with Mint Sauce
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 bowls 1x
Description
Bringing you these addicting Chicken Tikka Bowls! Crispy bits of chicken tenders, crispy cucumbers, and briny pickled onions, all on a bed of fluffy quinoa with a swoop of cool mint sauce on top. You absolutely cannot go wrong with these bowls.
Ingredients
Crispy Chicken Tikka Bowls
- 4 pieces of crispy breaded chicken (homemade option, or store-bought)
- 1/2 cup tikka masala sauce (homemade option, or store-bought)
- 3 cups cooked quinoa
- 1 cucumber, sliced or diced
- pickled red onion
Slaw
- 2 cups shredded coleslaw
- 3 tablespoons mayo
- 2 tablespoons vinegar
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
Mint Sauce
- 1/4 cup mint leaves
- 1/4 cup cilantro leaves
- 1/2 cup mayo or plain Greek yogurt
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- juice of a lime
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 hunk of jalapeño
- water to thin the sauce as needed
Instructions
- Cook the chicken according to package directions. Brush with sauce and return to oven for an additional 5 minutes.
- While the chicken is cooking, prep all your other elements (mix your slaw together, slice your cucumbers, etc.).
- For the mint sauce, blend or pulse the ingredients through a food processor to make a smooth-ish sauce.
- Serve bowls with quinoa, slaw, cucumbers, pickled red onions, and sauce over the top. It’s crispy, salty, spicy, briney, cool, and creamy. DROOL.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Bowl
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: Indian-Inspired
Keywords: chicken tikka bowls, chicken tikka, easy chicken tikka recipe
Looking For More Foods with Big Flavors?
- Chicken Tikka Masala (so delicious and made with a homemade masala sauce)
- Thai Yellow Chicken with Potatoes (over 160 glowing reviews, so you know it’s a good one!)
- Chopped Thai-Inspired Chicken Salad (healthy, fresh, and full of crunchiness)
We have been making this every week for months and it never gets old! I sometimes swap the chicken tikka for butter cauliflower and chickpeas but we always make the mint slaw and slaw. It’s so delicious and a great way to eat a ton of veggies. Leftovers keep well, I just separate the hot and cold parts.
This was amazing! My husband made it for us last night for the first time & we loved it. We were a bit skeptical at first, but the sauces compliment each other perfectly. Lots of flavor. To save time…Used the recommended store-bought tikka masala sauce & heated up frozen breaded chicken breast in the air fryer.
So good! The combo of the masala sauce with the mint sauce is delicious. Easy enough for a week night dinner and tastes restaurant quality!
This is another hit in my house. I did end up using some lightly marinated chicken thighs and seared them and finished them in the sauce bc I needed to have leftovers for the next day. Also I wasn’t sure if the tikka sauce would keep well if I didn’t use it right away. I’ll definitely try the chicken tender version at some point but it was great with the thighs too. Love loved all the accompaniments. Overall, 10/10, will scarf again
Would this be good with non-breaded chicken for a healthier twist?
Definitely!
Any sauce recommendations for someone who doesn’t like mint or cilantro? 😅
Just amazing, such a fabulous blend of flavors. Our family uses grilled or sauteed chicken breast rather than crispy strips, works great.
As an Indian person I can tell you that store brought tikka sauce is terrible, I have yet to find one that tastes good or authentic.
Made this today and loved it! We replaced the quinoa with brown basmati rice and the pickled onions with pickled jalapeños. I also used the Shan chicken tandoori masala to marinate the chicken instead of a tandoori paste. It came out delicious!!
Delicious. Fairly quick to assemble as well. Will be making this again.
Enjoyed how quick and delicious this was! More recipes like this please!
I’ve made this many times for my picky kids. They love it! I feel good because they are eating vegetables, they feel good because chicken nuggets. Plus, any recipe with three sauces is a winner in my book. Love it!
Girls, you are my heroes. I can always count on you to take a comfort food I’m craving and add a little zip, a little zing, and turn it into a healthy, nourishing meal.
Only thing I’m changing for next time is using chopped chicken breast instead of the strips. They’re great but the sauce turns the breading into mush and ruins the “worth of calories” crispiness from the strips.
This blew our minds. I made the masala sauce from your recipe, but I used store bought tenders. I say, make and use every component. Live your life and eat the mayo. I added halved cherry tomatoes too, and I’ll be thinking about eating this again. I know it’s completely different food, but something about the flavor balance and how impressed I was brought on a strong memory of the Halal Guys street vendor in NYC. High praise, because I’ll wait so long in that line in bad weather.
Glad to hear it, Christie!
This might be one of the best recipes I’ve ever made. WOW. I love the combination of flavors, hot and cold, textures. Just all around amazing and SUPER easy for a busy week!
If a man masters these amazing recipes, I think he may make a good husband someday for a deserving young lady, whomever she may be! 🙂
I adore the way you provide information, and I am grateful for the amazing thoughts you share.
Holy moly macaroni, this is an awesome recipe. What a fantastic idea to do store bought chickie finished with tikka, and with this sauce?! I can’t say enough great things, truly. I’m DF&GF and did this with the Bell & Evans GF chicken tenders and swapped mayo for the yogurt and have to say it’s inspired recipes like this that make DFGF feel fresh and non-boring! Thanks a mill, our whole family Loved this (inclu. 5 and 2yo). Thanks for making a busy Weds night delicious! xoxo
This recipe is one of my favorites and a regular in our rotation. It’s also great for meal prep. Instead of crispy breaded chicken, I cook chicken thighs in the instant pot with the tikka masala sauce. Super easy!
I had to read this recipe several times because I could not figure out how it was going to all come together but ohmygoodness did it ever! I love a recipe where my two kids can have a deconstructed version but all the same ingredients! Thank you!
Okay, this was incredible! My family was pretty skeptical just looking at the ingredients going in, it doesn’t totally seem like it will work together. But holy cow, it was delicious! Highly recommend.
This was one of the best recipes I’ve made, and I’ve made a lot on POY! Like someone else said, if you prep a bit it’s super helpful. It takes like takeout chicken shawarma 😄 thank you!!
These are soooo tasty! I was skeptical of using breaded chicken but I was happily surprised with the results. Delicious!!
Absolutely loved this one! So easy and incredible flavors. I have remade that mint sauce as a veggie dip 3 days in a row
The crispy chicken tikka bowls recipes is delicious recopies and it perfect healthy recipes. Sometimes I took it on lunch when i lately comeback from office. Thank you for sharing you goods tips and recipes.