Pan-Seared Chicken Thighs with Garam Masala and Tomato Curry
Juicy pan-seared chicken thighs simmered in a fragrant tomato curry infused with warm garam masala spices. This Indian-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 45 minutes, pairs boneless skinless chicken thighs, ground garam masala, olive oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 4 pieces (about 1.5 lbs) boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 2 tsp ground garam masala
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium, diced yellow onion
- 3, minced garlic cloves
- 1 tbsp, minced fresh ginger
- 1 can (14 oz) canned crushed tomatoes
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup, chopped for garnish cilantro leaves
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Pat dry 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs and season evenly with 2 tsp ground garam masala, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
- Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken thighs and sear for 5-6 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Step 3: Reduce heat to medium and add 1 diced medium yellow onion to the skillet. Sauté for 4-5 minutes until translucent.
- Step 4: Stir in 3 minced garlic cloves and 1 tbsp minced fresh ginger, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Step 5: Pour in 1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes and simmer for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally until thickened.
- Step 6: Lower heat and stir in 1/4 cup heavy cream, then return the chicken thighs to the pan. Simmer for an additional 5 minutes so the chicken absorbs the curry flavors.
- Step 7: Garnish with 1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves before serving over rice or naan.







