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Indian pizza combines classic pizza toppings with Indian flavors, like this Chicken Tikka Masala Pizza. The cheesy topping with flavorful chicken tikka masala creates a one-of-a-kind fusion dish. It's a fantastic homemade pizza recipe, perfect for anyone craving a spicy kick.
What Is Indian Pizza
I’ve always wanted to make pizza at home, so I recently invited my friend to join me in baking. We decided to get creative and make an Asian-style pizza, settling on the idea of Indian pizza with chicken tikka masala as the pizza topping.
The end result is a delicious blend of creamy, flavorful sauce, tender chicken, and melted cheese on a crispy pizza crust. This recipe is absolutely delicious, and we can’t get enough of it.
Common Toppings For Indian Pizzas
Popular toppings for Indian-style pizza often include a variety of flavorful and aromatic ingredients reflecting India’s diverse cuisine. For this recipe, I chose chicken tikka masala, one of the most delicious Indian recipes that makes a killer pizza topping. The exotic blend of spices and tender chicken perfectly complements the cheesy pizza.
Here are some common pizza toppings for Indian pizzas:
- Chicken Tikka Masala: The exotic flavors of spices and chicken pair beautifully with cheesy pizzas.
- Butter Chicken: A delightful pizza topping similar to chicken tikka masala.
- Tandoori Chicken: Marinated tandoori chicken cubes with a red hue are loved by pizza enthusiasts.
- Tandoori Vegetables: A blend of onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes, and jalapenos with tandoori sauce is perfect for veggie lovers.
- Paneer Tikka: Cubes of spiced paneer seasoned with aromatic spices make a great topping option for vegetarians.
What Goes Into This Recipe
This Indian pizza recipe calls for a store-bought pizza crust and various spices and topping ingredients.
- Pizza crust: use a regular 12-inch (30-cm) store-bought pizza crust or three 7-inches (18-cm) mini pizza crusts. You can also use naan as the base for this recipe.
- Mozzarella cheese: for the signature cheese pull on the pizzas.
- Chicken
- Marinade: cayenne pepper, ginger, black pepper, garam masala, cinnamon and lemon juice.
- Spice mix: cumin, paprika and garam masala.
- Tikka masala sauce: tomato sauce, yogurt and heavy cream.
Please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of this recipe for complete information about the ingredients.
How To Make Chicken Tikka Masala Pizza
It does take some time to make this recipe but trust me, you won’t find this kind of pizza anywhere else. It’s worth it!
Step 1. Chicken Marinade: In a bowl, marinate the chicken with the Marinade ingredients, for at least an hour in the refrigerator.
Step 2. Line a baking pan with aluminum foil for oven grilling. Arrange the marinated chicken in a single layer on the pan, discarding any leftover marinade. Grill the chicken at 450°F (232°C) for 6-7 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking.
Step 3. Tikka Masala Sauce: While the chicken is cooking, prepare the Tikka Masala Sauce and Spice Mix in separate bowls. Once the chicken is done, remove it from the pan and discard any juices.
Step 4. Heat a small saucepan and melt the butter. Sauté the garlic and jalapeno until aromatic. Add the Spice Mix and sauté until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes over medium heat. Remove the jalapeno and discard it.
Step 5. Add the Tikka Masala Sauce and stir well to combine. Sprinkle salt to taste and continue simmering until the sauce thickens, about another 2 minutes. Turn off the heat and add the chicken meat to the sauce, mixing well.
Step 6. Assemble Pizza Toppings: Preheat the oven to 450°F (232°C). Place the pizza crust on a pizza pan and lightly brush with olive oil. Spread the sauce or gravy on the pizza crust. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of cheese. Arrange the chicken on the pizza, then top it with sliced onions, chopped cilantro, and the remaining cheese. Lower the temperature to 425°F (218°C) and bake the pizza for 8-10 minutes. Once done, remove it from the pan and garnish with the remaining chopped cilantro.
Frequently Asked Questions
Indian pizzas differ from traditional pizzas because they incorporate toppings and flavors from Indian cuisine, such as chicken tikka masala and paneer tikka, rather than typical Italian ingredients. Although they share common components like pizza crust and mozzarella cheese, their toppings and sauce are distinctly different.
Typically, tikka masala is a sauce made with heavy cream and tomatoes, infused with a variety of spices. Describing its flavor, it’s earthy, creamy, and slightly spicy.
Garam masala differs from curry as it doesn’t contain turmeric. It tends to have a sweeter flavor profile and includes various spices like nutmeg and cinnamon.
Yes, you can freeze homemade pizzas. If they’re assembled but not baked, you may wrap them with a sheet of heavy aluminum foil before freezing. For leftover baked pizzas, cool them completely, wrap tightly with plastic wrap or store inside a sealable plastic bag, and freeze. Reheat in the oven when you’re ready to eat them.
This recipe has 357 calories per serving.
What To Serve With This Recipe
This pizza is best served as an appetizer. For a wholesome Indian meal and easy weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes.
I hope you enjoy this post as much as I do. If you try my recipe, please leave a comment and consider giving it a 5-star rating. For more easy and delicious recipes, explore my Recipe Index, and stay updated by subscribing to my newsletter and following me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for new updates.
Other Recipes You Might Like
Chicken Tikka Masala Pizza
Ingredients
- 10 oz (280g) skinless and boneless chicken breast, cut into 1/2-inch (1cm) cubes
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 jalapeno, seeded
- salt , to taste
- 12- inch (30cm) store-bought pizza crust , three 7-inches (18cm) mini pizza crusts
- olive oil, for brushing
- 1/4 onion, thinly sliced
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese
- cilantro leaves, coriander leaves, chopped, save some for garnishing
Marinade:
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon ground garam masala
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons plain yogurt
- 1 pinch cinnamon
Tikka Masala Sauce:
- 4 oz (120g) tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons plain yogurt
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
Spice Mix:
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
Instructions
- In a bowl, marinate the chicken with the Marinade ingredients for at least an hour in the refrigerator.
- Line a baking pan with aluminum foil for oven grilling. Arrange the marinated chicken in a single layer on the pan, discarding any leftover marinade. Grill the chicken at 450°F (232°C) for 6–7 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking.
- While the chicken is cooking, prepare the Tikka Masala Sauce and Spice Mix in separate bowls. Once the chicken is done, remove it from the pan and discard any juices.
- Heat a small saucepan and melt the butter. Sauté the garlic and jalapeño until aromatic. Add the Spice Mix and sauté until fragrant, about 1–2 minutes over medium heat. Remove the jalapeño and discard.
- Add the Tikka Masala Sauce and stir well to combine. Sprinkle in salt to taste and continue simmering until the sauce thickens, about 2 more minutes. Turn off the heat and add the chicken to the sauce, mixing well.
- Preheat the oven to 450°F (232°C). Place the pizza crust on a pizza pan and lightly brush it with olive oil. Spread the sauce on the pizza crust and sprinkle with 1/2 cup of cheese. Arrange the chicken on top, followed by the sliced onions, chopped cilantro, and the remaining cheese. Lower the temperature to 425°F (218°C) and bake the pizza for 8–10 minutes. Once done, remove it from the pan and garnish with the remaining chopped cilantro.
Notes
- Bake according to the instructions on your pizza crust. Depending on the type of crusts you buy, the time and temperature may be slightly different.
- If you prefer, you can stir fry the chicken instead of grilling it in the oven.
- Pizza crust: use a regular 12-inch (30-cm) store-bought pizza crust or three 7-inches (18-cm) mini pizza crusts. You can also use naan as the base for this recipe.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Delicious! I’ve never broiled chicken before and turns out it’s really simply and foolproof. I didn’t have heavy cream but we subbed 2% without any problems. I will definitely make these again.
Thank you for this amazing recipe! I had my first Indian pizza outside of Seattle, WA, while on a work trip. I was determined to have it again when I returned home to Chicago. Your recipe was spot on – so flavorful with the perfect amount of kick. At first glance, it looks like a lot of steps and ingredients, but it was surprisingly manageable and well worth it. Looking forward to making it again.
Hi Christina, thanks so much for trying my chicken tikka masala pizza. Please try more recipes on my site: https://rasamalaysia.com/recipe-index-gallery/
Lovely pics . This topping has been really popular in indian pizza shops for ages . They also do an insanely delicious chilli chicken topping too
What type of tomato sauce does this call for? is it tomato paste? Or marinara?
Hi,can you please tell me what tomato sauce you used.. thanks
Any brand is fine.
Hi can u give the pizza dough recioe
Easiest pizza dough ever!
1. 150 grams plain yoghurt
2. 200 grams self-raising flour
salt & pepper to season
Combine these into a dough ball and then roll out to form pizza base. Then just dress up with whatever toppings you want. (Yoghurt replaces the yeast, so no wait time needed for rising. Pizza rises in the oven.)
Thanks for your recipe.
So delicious! Definitely longer prep time if you include the hour for marinating, but overall delicious! Added thinly sliced red peppers and extra cilantro… will make again!
Omg, looks amazing! You made me hungry and it’s still breakfast time here! Love love loves all your recipes, you are truly inspirational, I don’t know how you do it. Thanks, Keep it up.
I made this Pizza and it was finger licking. Thank you for the recipe.
Thank you for your comment!
I love chicken tikka masala. I love pizza. I’m OBSESSED with this recipe! This is the perfect solution for leftovers or for crazy cravings!
Hi Karly, thanks so much for your comment. Yes, this is a great recipe!
This looks soooo good. I just found a naan bread recipe and I am thinking that the naan bread would be great for the crust. Gotta try it! Thanks so much for the post.