There are actually several differences. The biggest being that chicken tikka is a tandoori-style dish with a simple yogurt marinade made with lemon, garlic, ginger, and some chili powder. It’s usually enjoyed straight from the grill on skewers. Chicken Tikka Masala is made with garam masala, a blend of cumin, coriander, cardamom, pepper, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. You’ll find that chicken tikka masala generally has more spices than chicken tikka. It’s also served in the creamy tomato sauce.