Easy Chicken Tikka with Sautéed Cabbage | Healthy Dinner Recipe
High-Protein Chicken Tikka Recipe with Greek Yogurt and Cabbage
Make chicken tikka with cabbage in 35 minutes! Tender spiced chicken in a creamy tomato sauce with sautéed cabbage. A high-protein, lower-carb dinner.
Chicken Tikka with Cabbage: Easy High-Protein Indian-Inspired Dinner
Looking for a delicious, protein-rich dinner that's full of warming spices and easy to prepare? This Chicken Tikka with Cabbage brings together tender chicken breast, creamy Greek yogurt, aromatic garam masala, paprika, garlic, ginger and a rich tomato sauce.
Served alongside lightly sautéed cabbage, this Indian-inspired chicken dinner is a satisfying alternative to traditional chicken tikka meals served with rice or bread.
The recipe takes approximately 35 minutes, including preparation and cooking, making it a convenient choice for a busy weeknight.
Each serving provides approximately 420 calories and 52g of protein, based on the provisional nutrition estimates.
Why you'll love this chicken tikka recipe
High in protein: Chicken breast and Greek yogurt provide an estimated 52g of protein per serving.
Full of flavor: Garam masala, paprika, garlic and ginger give the sauce its warming, aromatic character.
Lower in carbohydrates: Serving the chicken with sautéed cabbage instead of rice creates a lower-carbohydrate meal.
Simple ingredients: The recipe uses everyday ingredients that are easy to find in most supermarkets.
Great for dinner: A comforting meal that works well for an active lifestyle or balanced weekly meal plan.
What is chicken tikka with cabbage?
Chicken tikka is traditionally associated with chicken marinated in yogurt and spices, often cooked at high heat or grilled.
This recipe is a simplified, Indian-inspired stovetop variation. The chicken is coated in yogurt, garlic, ginger and spices, then simmered in passata to create a flavorful tomato sauce.
Instead of serving the chicken with rice, this version pairs it with tender sautéed cabbage.
The result is a comforting, high-protein dinner with plenty of vegetables and bold flavor.
3. Ingredients
Serves 2 | 15 minutes prep | 20 minutes cooking
You'll also need 30ml water for sautéing the cabbage.
Ingredient tip: Use a mixture of garam masala and paprika within the specified 5g of ground spices. Plain, unsweetened Greek yogurt gives the sauce its creamy texture without adding sweetness.
4. How to make chicken tikka with cabbage
Step 1. Marinate the chicken
Dice the chicken breast into bite-sized pieces. In a bowl, coat the chicken with half the Greek yogurt (60g), the garlic, grated ginger, garam masala and paprika. Mix until evenly covered.
Step 2. Cook the chicken tikka
Heat half the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the marinated chicken and cook for approximately 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Pour in the passata and simmer for 10–12 minutes, until the chicken reaches 75°C (167°F) for 30 seconds.
Remove the pan from the heat before stirring in the remaining 60g of Greek yogurt to create a creamy sauce.
Step 3. Sauté the cabbage
Thinly slice the cabbage. Heat the remaining olive oil in a separate pan, add the cabbage and 30ml water, and sauté for approximately 7–9 minutes until tender.
Step 4. Serve
Divide the chicken tikka and sautéed cabbage between two plates. Spoon the creamy tomato sauce over the chicken and enjoy warm.
5. Calories and nutrition
Provisional nutrition per serving, recipe makes 2 portions
Nutrition figures are provisional estimates supplied with the recipe. Actual values depend on ingredients and brands. Rice, chapati and other optional additions are not included.
6. Is chicken tikka with cabbage good for fitness?
This recipe can be a useful option for people looking to include more protein in their meals.
With an estimated 52g protein per serving, it provides a substantial amount of protein, which supports muscle maintenance and recovery when combined with adequate overall nutrition and training.
The cabbage adds vegetables and fiber, while the chicken and yogurt provide much of the protein.
For more demanding training days, you can add a carbohydrate source to increase the meal's energy content.
7. Is this a low-carb or keto-friendly dinner?
With an estimated 16g of carbohydrates per serving, this recipe is lower in carbohydrates than many chicken tikka meals served with large portions of rice or naan.
It may fit some low-carbohydrate eating plans. Whether it fits a ketogenic diet depends on your individual daily carbohydrate allowance.
8. Higher-carbohydrate option
Serve the chicken tikka with rice or a small chapati if you prefer a more substantial, higher-carbohydrate meal.
These additions will increase the calories and carbohydrate content beyond the estimates above.
9. Storage and reheating
Allergen: Milk, from Greek yogurt.
Cool the cooked chicken and cabbage and refrigerate within two hours.
Store in suitable covered containers and use within 48 hours.
Reheat cooked portions only once, until steaming hot throughout.