Short answer
Butter chicken has a smooth, mild, buttery tomato sauce. Chicken tikka masala has a spicier, more savory sauce built on onions and tomatoes, with chargrilled chicken pieces.
Butter chicken and chicken tikka masala look almost the same in the bowl: orange-red sauce, pieces of chicken, a swirl of cream. The difference is in the sauce. Butter chicken is smooth, mild and a little sweet. Tikka masala is spicier and more savory, with onions in the base and a stronger grilled flavor from the chicken.
The quick comparison
| Butter chicken | Chicken tikka masala | |
|---|---|---|
| Sauce base | Tomato, butter, cream | Onion, tomato, cream |
| Texture | Silky, strained smooth | Thicker, often slightly chunky |
| Heat | Mild | Medium |
| Sweetness | Noticeable | Low |
| Chicken | Tandoori chicken, often on or off the bone | Boneless chargrilled tikka pieces |
| Usual origin story | Delhi, 1950s | Britain, 1960s to 1970s |
What is butter chicken?
Butter chicken, or murgh makhani, is tandoor-cooked chicken simmered in a sauce of tomatoes, butter and cream. The sauce is usually blended and strained, which is why it feels so smooth. Dried fenugreek leaves, called kasuri methi, give it a faint maple-like aroma that many people recognize without being able to name.
The dish is most often credited to the Moti Mahal restaurant in Delhi in the 1950s, where leftover tandoori chicken was said to be revived in a rich tomato gravy. Who exactly created it is disputed between restaurant families, but the Delhi origin is not.
What is chicken tikka masala?
Chicken tikka masala starts with chicken tikka: boneless pieces marinated in yogurt and spices, threaded on skewers and grilled until the edges char. Those pieces go into a sauce built on fried onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic and ground spices, finished with cream.
Its origin is argued over. The best-known claim places it in Glasgow in the 1970s, and it is widely described as a British-Indian dish. Others trace it to Punjab. What is agreed is that it became the most popular curry in Britain and then spread everywhere else.
How do they taste different?
Take a spoonful of sauce without any chicken. Butter chicken tastes of tomato and dairy first, with gentle spice in the background. Tikka masala tastes of spice first: cumin, coriander, garam masala and often a little chilli heat, with the cream rounding it off.
The chicken differs too. In tikka masala the charred edges of the grilled pieces stand out against the sauce. In butter chicken the meat is softer and takes on the flavor of the gravy.
Which one should you order?
- Order butter chicken if you are new to Indian food, eating with children, or want something rich and mild to go with naan.
- Order chicken tikka masala if you like a bit of heat and a sauce with more depth.
- Vegetarian? Paneer butter masala and paneer tikka masala are the same two sauces with paneer in place of chicken.
Both are best with naan or plain rice. A sour or spicy side dish balances the richness.
Both dishes at Swadeshi Plaza in Irving
Swadeshi Plaza lists both on its online ordering page, at the same price as of November 2026:
| Dish | Online price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Butter Chicken Curry | $19.99 | Marked #1 most liked |
| Chicken Tikka Masala | $19.99 | |
| Paneer Butter Masala | $19.99 | Vegetarian |
| Paneer Tikka Masala | $19.99 | Marked #3 most liked, vegetarian |
The ordering page says entrées come with two sides, with choices such as bagara rice, plain rice and naan. Since most of this kitchen’s menu is Andhra-style and runs hot, these two are the mild end of the list. Prices in the store can differ from online prices, and the rest of the dishes are on the menu page.
Is one healthier than the other?
Neither is a light dish. Both rely on cream, and butter chicken adds butter on top. Recipes vary so much between kitchens that a general calorie comparison would not mean much. If that matters to you, a tandoori or grilled dish without the sauce is the leaner choice.
Common questions
Which is spicier, butter chicken or tikka masala?
Chicken tikka masala is usually spicier. Butter chicken is one of the mildest curries on most Indian menus.
Which is sweeter?
Butter chicken. Its sauce leans on butter, cream and tomato, and many kitchens add a little sugar or honey.
Are butter chicken and tikka masala made with the same chicken?
Both traditionally start with chicken that has been marinated in yogurt and spices and cooked in a tandoor. Tikka masala uses boneless grilled chunks called chicken tikka.
Which should a beginner order?
Butter chicken, if you want the gentlest introduction. Choose tikka masala if you like more spice and a more savory sauce.
This article is general information from an independent guide, not from Swadeshi Plaza itself. For the store’s current details see hours and location.