Name: Easy Chickpea Tikka Masala Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 5
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients: 1 onion, chopped; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 1 tablespoon + 2 teaspoons garam masala; 1 cup (8 oz.) tomato sauce; 1 14 oz. can crushed tomatoes; 2 14 oz. cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed; 1/2 cup full-fat coconut milk; juice of 1/2 lemon + more to taste; 1/2-1 teaspoon salt, or to taste; Large handful of cilantro, minced + more for garnish

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Made with a rich tomato base and flavorful garam masala, this incredibly easy Chickpea Tikka Masala will quickly become a family staple!

a bowl piled high with vegan chickpea tikka masala

We love chickpeas in our house.

They are hearty, protein-packed and make for quick, weeknight dinners.

We love Crispy Oven Roasted Chickpeas.

Vegan Chickpea "Tuna" Salad is a staple in our house.

And we especially love Easy Chickpea Tikka Masala!

Made with mostly pantry-staple ingredients, it's a flavorful, quick and easy recipe that our entire family enjoys!

Let me show you how to make it!

coconut milk being stirred into chickpeas for chickpea tikka masala

Ingredient You Need for Vegan Chickpea Tikka Masala

This recipe relies mostly on pantry-friendly ingredients, making it great for those nights when you have no fresh groceries in the house.

To make this recipe, you'll need the following ingredients:

Onion
Garlic
Garam masala, organic if possible!
Tomato sauce
Crushed tomatoes
Chickpeas
Full-fat coconut milk
Lemon juice
Salt
Cilantro

What is Tikka Masala?

If you hear "tikka masala" you'll almost always hear the word "chicken" before it.

Chicken tikka masala is a popular Indian dish where chicken is simmered in a flavorful curry sauce.

The chicken for this dish is marinated in yogurt beforehand in order to tenderize the meat. To season the sauce, the yogurt is usually mixed with spices like garlic, ginger, turmeric, cumin, garam masala and coriander and when added to the sauce, these spices provide the bulk of the flavor.

Tomatoes make up the base of the curry sauce and lastly, fresh cream and cilantro are stirred in towards the end to add richness and extra flavor.

It really is one of the most amazing dishes you'll ever taste!

But of course, since this is a plant-based food blog, there is no chicken involved in my seitan tikka masala recipe or this chickpea tikka masala.

While I love making my seitan tikka masala for more special occasions where I want to wow my friends with meat-like goodness, I've been wanting to create a simplified recipe for a chickpea-based tikka masala.

This chickpea tikka masala couldn't be easier or more delicious and it's all thanks to garam masala!

creamy tomato based chickpea tikka masala

What is garam masala?

So, what is garam masala?

If you've never heard of or used garam masala you need to jump in your car and drive to the closest indian market and pick some up ASAP. (Or you can just hop on-line and order some).

It's that good.

Garam masala may actually be my favorite spice. While not every garam masala is the same, it often contains some combination or variation of the following spices: cumin, coriander, black pepper, cardamom, cloves, ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon.

While "garam" means hot, not all garam masala is spicy. I personally love when my garam masala provides a kick, but you can always try out a few different brands to find one which provides the level of spiciness you desire.

Like I said, garam masala is the star of this recipe. While I cut out quite a few of the ingredients and steps used to make traditional chicken tikka masala, this chickpea tikka masala is just as delicious and flavorful.

Since this recipe is meat-free, there is no need to marinate any meat in yogurt. This allowed me to swap out the yogurt for full-fat coconut milk, which I simply stir in at the end along with a squeeze of lemon juice which adds a nice tangy flavor.

Unsweetened yogurt would also be incredible, but in trying to make a quick and easy version of tikka masala, I opted for what most people already have on hand: coconut milk and lemon juice!

I really hope this chickpea version of tikka masala seems doable to you and that you give it a try.

We are in love with the flavor of this dish and I couldn't be happier with how easy it is to make and how few ingredients it requires.

If you do give this recipe a try, please leave a comment down below letting me know your thoughts! If you enjoy it, please leave a star rating and be sure to share it with others!

fresh cilantro on top of chickpea tikka masala

How to Store Leftover Chickpea Tikka Masala

Chickpea tikka masala is one of those dishes that tastes better the longer it sits in the fridge.

If you have any leftovers of this dish, simply place them in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days.

You can also freeze the extras by placing them in an airtight container or freezer-safe zip-lock bag and storing them in the freezer for up to 2 months.

More Vegan Indian Dishes

I don't have a ton of authentic indian dishes on my blog (yet!), but I do have enough to help you make a full-on Indian inspired meal!

If you want a more meaty tikka masala, be sure to check out my Seitan Tikka Masala...it's amazing!

Then on the side you can impress your friends with some traditional Indian flatbread called Chapati.

Lastly, pair your dessert with some dairy-free chai!

Get all the recipes below!