Chicken Tikka Masala: compare the 2 variations
Time, effort, key ingredients, diets, nutrition and cleanup side by side, so you can pick the one that fits tonight.
Which should I make?
- Fastest StovetopReady in 1 hr 35 min; the other takes 4 hr 30 min.
- Easiest Slow CookerEasy, where the other is medium.
- Least cleanup Slow Cooker2 things to wash: slow cooker, mixing bowl.
Side by side
| Stovetop | Slow Cooker | |
|---|---|---|
| Total time | 1 hr 35 min | 4 hr 30 min |
| Prep | 20 min | 15 min |
| Level | Medium | Easy |
| Steps | 14 | 7 |
| Serves | 6 | 6 |
| Key ingredients | plain yogurt, boneless skinless chicken thighs and crushed tomatoes | boneless skinless chicken thighs, crushed tomatoes and heavy cream |
| Only in this one | plain yogurt, unsalted butter and sugar | cornstarch and cooked basmati rice or naan |
| Dietary | ||
| Calories | 430 | 450 |
| Protein | 35 g | 42 g |
| Carbs | 19 g | 20 g |
| Fat | 25 g | 23 g |
| Cleanup | 3/5 3 things to wash | 4/5 2 things to wash |
| Kid helper | No | No |
Nutrition is per serving. Estimate from USDA FoodData Central; not medical or dietary advice. Dietary: Based on the ingredient list and estimated nutrition; check labels; not medical advice. Cleanup score: 5 means one thing to wash, 1 means six or more. We count pots, pans, bowls and appliances, not the knife, board and spoons.
How we pick
- Fastest: the shortest total time, at least 10 minutes ahead of the next.
- Easiest: the lowest level (easy, medium, hard), then at least 2 fewer steps.
- Lightest: the fewest estimated calories a serving, at least 15% and 40 calories under the next (only when two or more have an estimate).
- Kid helper: the variation where a child can do the biggest share of the steps (no knife, no heat), when that's not all of them equally.
- Least cleanup: the best cleanup score, a point ahead of the next.
- Make it ahead: the only variation whose notes say how to make it ahead.
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free or dairy-free: the variation that fits a diet the others don't, from the ingredient lines.
A pick needs a clear winner; close calls are left out.