Trader Joe’s Chicken Tikka Masala
EDITOR’S NOTE: Updated for 2026.
Ever since my husband introduced me to Indian food when we were dating years ago, I’ve been hooked. Indian food is best when it’s purchased from a restaurant, as grocery store Indian generally doesn’t have the same intense and complex flavors. That doesn’t stop me from trying Indian food from grocery stores, though.
Aldi sells several Indian options of varying quality, including butter chicken sauce, korma sauce, and tikka masala sauce.
Aldi’s cousin Trader Joe’s also sells a few Indian options, including butter chicken, paneer tikka masala, and lamb vindaloo. Many of the Indian selections at TJ’s are found in the freezer aisle. That is the case for a chicken tikka masala meal I’m looking at today.
The package describes this as “roasted chicken breast in a robust cream sauce with cumin-flavored basmati rice.”
Trader Joe’s Chicken Tikka Masala cost $4.79 for 8.5 ounces in 2026. That’s up some from $3.99 when we first bought and reviewed it in 2021. One package is one serving.
Ingredients and Nutrition Facts:
If you’re looking out for allergens, this contains milk and cashews. It is gluten free.
Ingredients are pretty easy to recognize: chicken breast, tomatoes, onions, water, canola oil, yogurt, cream, various spices, and rice, to name a few.
One package contains one serving (241 grams), which will net you 360 calories, 14 grams of total fat (22% DV), 2.5 grams of saturated fat (13% DV), 50 mg of cholesterol (17% DV), 580 mg of sodium (24% DV), 39 grams of total carbohydrates (13% DV), 1 gram of dietary fiber (5% DV), and 21 grams of protein.
Heating Directions:
This meal can be prepared in the microwave or in a conventional oven.
To microwave, remove the tray from the carton and puncture the film 2-3 times. Heat on high for 3 minutes. Carefully peel back the film enough to gently stir the sauce. Heat for an additional 1 to 1 1/2 minutes or to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Carefully remove the film and serve.
To heat in the oven, preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Place the tray on a baking sheet on the center rack of the oven. (Do not place the tray directly on oven rack.) Heat for approximately 20-25 minutes or to 165 degrees. Carefully remove the film and gently stir before serving.
I opted to microwave this for a quick and easy lunch. It cooked exactly according to the directions and came out of the microwave at just the right temperature.
How it Tastes:
As is often the case with Indian food, this is aromatic and smells good. In terms of how it tastes, it’s decent. It’s not restaurant quality, though, and I don’t think it’s the most flavorful Indian-inspired food Trader Joe’s sells. It’s not spicy either. It would be nice to have a little more sauce in this meal. I thought the rice itself didn’t have much special flavoring to it, despite it being “cumin-flavored,” and it tasted a lot like regular basmati rice.
The Verdict:
Trader Joe’s Chicken Tikka Masala is okay but not our favorite frozen meal at TJ’s. It’s not bad, but it’s a little on the bland side, and it could use more sauce.
