Chicken Tikka Masala vs Butter Chicken — Calories & Nutrition
A restaurant-style serving of chicken tikka masala has about 420 calories, while a home-style serving of butter chicken (murgh makhani) runs closer to 290 calories. Both are creamy tomato-based curries; the cream and butter content, not the chicken itself, decides which one costs more.
🍛 Chicken Tikka Masala
Calories per 100g: ~105 kcal
Per 1 restaurant portion with sauce (400g): ~420 kcal
Protein: 28g · Carbs: 28g · Fat: 22g (per 100g)
Fiber: 3g per 100g
Best for: a filling restaurant-style curry night
🇲 Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani)
Calories per 100g: ~116 kcal
Per 1 serving (250g): ~290 kcal
Protein: 22g · Carbs: 10g · Fat: 18g (per 100g)
Fiber: 1.5g per 100g
Best for: a lighter home-style curry
chicken tikka masala vs butter chicken: side-by-side comparison
| Factor | Chicken Tikka Masala | Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani) | Better choice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calories (per 100g) | ~105 kcal | ~116 kcal | Chicken tikka masala (slightly leaner per gram) |
| Calories (typical serving) | ~420 kcal (400g) | ~290 kcal (250g) | Butter chicken |
| Protein (per serving) | 28g | 22g | Chicken tikka masala |
| Carbs (per serving) | 28g | 10g | Butter chicken |
| Fat (per serving) | 22g | 18g | Butter chicken |
| Fiber (per serving) | 3g | 1.5g | Chicken tikka masala |
| Typical serving size | 400g with sauce | 250g | — |
| Weight loss suitability | Good in a measured portion | Good — smaller default serving | Butter chicken |
| Muscle gain suitability | Very good — higher protein total | Good | Chicken tikka masala |
| Satiety / fullness | High — larger portion size | Moderate to high | Chicken tikka masala |
| Best use case | Curry night with rice, portion-controlled | Everyday home-cooked curry | Depends on occasion |
Values come from the CalorieMetrica nutrition database — the same data behind the Food Compare tool and Meal Planner. Both figures are for curry with sauce only, before rice or naan; restaurant versions vary widely depending on how much cream, butter or ghee is used.
Calories: chicken tikka masala vs butter chicken
Both curries start from a similar base — marinated chicken in a tomato and spice gravy — but butter chicken leans harder on butter and cream for its signature richness, while chicken tikka masala's calories come more from sauce volume and the tandoor-charred chicken itself. In CalorieMetrica's database, a typical restaurant tikka masala portion (400g with sauce) runs about 420 kcal, while a standard butter chicken serving (250g) comes in lower at about 290 kcal.
Restaurant portions are the biggest wildcard for either dish. A curry finished with extra cream or a knob of butter stirred in at the end can add 100–150 kcal without changing how the dish looks on the plate. Naan (250–300 kcal each) and rice (roughly 240 kcal per cup) usually add more calories to the meal than the curry itself.
Neither curry is "light" in the diet sense, but eaten in a single, reasonably sized portion with a vegetable side or salad, either fits comfortably into a normal day's calories.
Nutrition comparison
Chicken tikka masala's bigger typical portion gives it a protein edge in absolute terms (28g versus 22g), though butter chicken is not far behind and is often made with a higher ratio of chicken to sauce in home cooking. Butter chicken carries noticeably fewer carbs per serving (10g versus 28g), since tikka masala's sauce tends to include more onion, tomato and occasionally a touch of sugar or honey for balance.
Fat is the main shared concern for both: 22g in tikka masala and 18g in butter chicken per serving, largely from cream, ghee or butter rather than the chicken. A lighter home version made with yogurt instead of cream and less added butter cuts this considerably while keeping the flavour.
Both curries are a reasonable source of protein for a meal, though check your daily target with the Protein Calculator to see how one serving fits your day.
Which is better for weight loss?
Butter chicken's smaller standard serving and lower carb count make it slightly easier to fit into a calorie-controlled day, but the real lever for either curry is the cream and butter, not the chicken. Asking for a lighter sauce, using low-fat yogurt instead of cream at home, and pairing the curry with extra vegetables rather than a full portion of rice all cut calories without losing the meal's satisfaction. Check your daily number with the TDEE Calculator and plan the rest of the day in the Meal Planner.Which is better for muscle gain?
Chicken tikka masala's larger typical portion and slightly higher protein total make it a solid post-training meal, especially paired with rice for extra carbs to refill glycogen. Butter chicken works just as well if you add extra chicken or a side of daal to push the protein higher. Either curry with a big scoop of rice and a side of raita or yogurt gets you close to a well-rounded 600–700 kcal muscle-gain meal. Set your target with the Protein Calculator and build the week in the Meal Planner.Which is healthier overall?
Neither dish has a clear health advantage over the other — both are chicken in a rich, spiced sauce, and the cream, butter and ghee content decides most of the difference, not the name of the curry.
Cooking method matters more than which curry you choose: a home-cooked version with yogurt instead of cream, modest added fat and generous tomato and onion base is meaningfully lighter than a restaurant version of either dish finished with extra butter. If you are managing cholesterol or blood pressure, a lighter homemade sauce and smaller added-salt habit help more than switching between these two curries; check specifics with your doctor or dietitian.
Chicken tikka masala and butter chicken in South Asian and UK menus
Butter chicken (murgh makhani) originated in Delhi and remains a staple across Pakistan and India, usually served with naan or rice at home and in restaurants alike. Chicken tikka masala, while inspired by South Asian tandoori cooking, is best known as a British curry-house favourite and one of the UK's most popular takeaway dishes. Both travel well: a smaller home portion with extra vegetables and a modest rice serving keeps either dish a reasonable regular meal rather than an occasional splurge.
Practical meal examples
Weight-loss plate (~430 kcal): Butter chicken (~290 kcal) + ½ cup rice (~120 kcal) + cucumber-tomato salad (~20 kcal).
Muscle-gain plate (~660 kcal): Chicken tikka masala (~420 kcal) + 1 cup rice (~240 kcal).
Balanced daily plate (~530 kcal): Butter chicken (~290 kcal) + 1 roti (~120 kcal) + side salad (~40 kcal) + raita (~80 kcal).
Build any of these in the Meal Planner or the South Asian Meal Planner.
FAQs: chicken tikka masala vs butter chicken
Which has fewer calories, chicken tikka masala or butter chicken?
A standard butter chicken serving (about 250g) has roughly 290 calories, while a restaurant chicken tikka masala portion with sauce (about 400g) has roughly 420 calories. Butter chicken is typically the lighter dish, largely because the serving size tends to be smaller.
Which has more protein, chicken tikka masala or butter chicken?
Chicken tikka masala has slightly more protein in total (about 28g per serving versus 22g for butter chicken), mainly because its typical restaurant portion is larger.
Is butter chicken healthier than chicken tikka masala?
They are similar dishes nutritionally. Butter chicken tends to have a smaller standard serving and fewer carbs, but both rely heavily on cream, butter or ghee for their richness, so cooking method matters more than the name of the curry.
Can I eat curry every day and still lose weight?
Yes, with portion control. Choose a lighter, yogurt-based sauce where possible, measure your rice or naan separately, and add vegetables to bulk up the meal without adding many calories.
Which curry is better for a gym diet?
Chicken tikka masala's larger typical portion gives more total protein and carbs for post-workout refuelling, though either curry works well with extra chicken or daal added for protein.
Is chicken tikka masala British or Indian?
It is widely considered a British invention inspired by South Asian tandoori cooking, and it remains one of the UK's most popular curry-house dishes, while butter chicken has deep roots in Delhi-style Indian and Pakistani cooking.
Related pages
Keep going
Compare any two foods instantly in the Food Compare tool, build a full day around your choice in the South Asian Meal Planner, or check protein needs with the Protein Calculator.
📊 Values are practical estimates from the CalorieMetrica database. Restaurant and homemade portions vary widely by cream, butter and ghee content. See Data Sources.