Chicken Tikka Masala Soup
Updated Jun 14, 2026
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Chicken Tikka Masala Soup combines the bold flavors of chicken tikka masala with a rich, creamy tomato-based soup. Made with warm spices, shredded chicken, and heavy cream, it’s a cozy dinner that’s perfect with garlic naan for dipping.
If you enjoy fusion-inspired comfort food, try my Chicken Tikka Masala Pasta or Butter Chicken Orzo next.
🐝 Quick Look: Chicken Tikka Masala Soup
- What it is: A rich and creamy chicken tikka masala-inspired soup made with shredded chicken, tomatoes, heavy cream, and warming spices.
- Why you’ll love it: All the flavors of chicken tikka masala in an easy one-pot soup.
- Time: 15 minutes prep, 45 minutes cook time, 1 hour total.
- Main ingredients: Chicken, tomatoes, chicken broth, heavy cream, ginger, garlic, garam masala.
- Best for: Weeknight dinners, meal prep lunches, and cozy comfort food.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- All the flavors of chicken tikka masala: Warm spices, tomatoes, chicken, and cream in soup form. Try my Chicken Tikka Masala Pasta or Chicken Tikka Masala Pizza next!
- Great for meal prep: Leftovers reheat beautifully. Try my Classic Beef Chili for another easy meal prep soup.
- Rich and comforting: Perfect for chilly nights. Pair it with warm garlic naan.
- Easy to make: Uses rotisserie chicken to keep prep simple. If you have extra chicken, make BBQ Chicken Sliders or Easy Green Chicken Enchiladas.
Table of Contents
Key Ingredients
See the recipe card below for the complete list of ingredients with exact quantities.
- Garam Masala: Garam masala is the key spice blend that gives this soup its signature warm, aromatic flavor. It adds notes of cinnamon, coriander, cumin, and other spices commonly found in chicken tikka masala.
- San Marzano Tomatoes: Whole peeled San Marzano tomatoes create a rich tomato base and blend into a smooth, velvety soup.
Tips and Substitutions
- Use rotisserie chicken: Rotisserie chicken is a great shortcut, but any cooked, shredded chicken can be substituted.
- Adjust the spice level: Reduce or omit the cayenne pepper for a milder soup, or add extra cayenne for more heat.
- Make it dairy-free: Substitute full-fat coconut milk for the heavy cream and use oil instead of ghee.
- Serve with naan: I highly recommend serving this soup with warm naan or garlic naan for dipping.
How to Make Chicken Tikka Masala Soup
See the recipe card below for full instructions and exact amounts.
- Cook the ginger, garlic, and onion until softened and fragrant.
- Stir in the spice mix and cook until fragrant.
- Add the tomatoes and chicken broth, then simmer for 30 minutes.
- Immersion blend until smooth.
- Stir in the heavy cream and shredded chicken.
- Serve with cilantro and garlic naan.
Recipe FAQs
Yes. This recipe was developed using rotisserie chicken, making it a great shortcut for busy weeknights. You’ll need about 3 cups shredded chicken, which is roughly the amount of meat from 1 rotisserie chicken.
Yes. Substitute full-fat coconut milk for the heavy cream and use oil instead of ghee. The soup will have a slightly different flavor but will still be rich and creamy.
Yes. Carefully transfer the soup to a blender and blend until smooth before stirring in the chicken and cream.
Yes. Let the soup cool completely, then freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat gently on the stovetop.
More Cozy Soup Recipes
Chicken Tikka Masala Soup
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons Ghee, or neutral oil
- 1 tablespoon Ginger, grated or minced
- 6 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 White Onion, chopped
- 1 tablespoon Kosher Salt, divided
- 28 ounces San Marzano Whole Peeled Tomatoes, 1 can
- 2½ cups Chicken Broth
- 1 cup Heavy Cream
- 3 cups Shredded Chicken
- Fresh Cilantro, for serving
Spice Mix
- 2 teaspoons Garam Masala
- 2 teaspoons Paprika
- 2 teaspoons Coriander
- 1 teaspoon Cumin
- 1 teaspoon Turmeric
- 1 teaspoon Chili Powder
- ½ teaspoon Cayenne
- ½ teaspoon Cinnamon
Instructions
- Build the base: Heat the ghee in a Dutch oven or large pot over medium heat. Add the ginger, garlic, onion, and a pinch of salt. Cook until softened and fragrant, about 7 minutes.
- Toast the spices: Sprinkle in the spice mix and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Simmer: Stir in the tomatoes and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes.
- Blend and finish: Remove from the heat and blend until smooth using an immersion blender or carefully transfer to a blender. Stir in the heavy cream and shredded chicken. Season to taste with salt.
- Serve: Garnish with cilantro and serve with garlic naan, if desired.
Video
Notes
- Chicken: Rotisserie chicken works great here. You’ll need about 3 cups shredded chicken, which is roughly the meat from 1 rotisserie chicken.
- Ginger: I used 3 frozen crushed ginger cubes from Trader Joe’s, which is about 1 tablespoon. Freshly grated ginger can be substituted.
- Tomatoes: Whole peeled tomatoes create the smoothest texture once blended. Crush them with a spoon as they cook if needed
- Adjust the spice level: This soup has a mild-to-medium heat level. Reduce or omit the cayenne pepper for a milder soup.
- Heavy cream: Heavy cream creates the richest texture, but half-and-half can be substituted for a lighter soup.
- Serving suggestion: Serve with warm naan or garlic naan for dipping.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Carol, your Chicken Tikka Masala Soup recipe was an absolute revelation! The innovative twist on a classic dish by turning it into a soup was genius. It was comforting, flavorful, and the perfect meal for a chilly evening. The spices were spot on, creating a rich and aromatic experience. Thank you for sharing this creative and delicious recipe!
Thank you for such a nice review! It’s definitely a perfect recipe for a chilly day!
Okay wowwww I was very skeptical because Indian food is so hard to replicate at home but this came out AWESOME. I night try using coconut milk instead of heavy cream but otherwise it is so. Good.