Butter chicken has two components: tandoori chicken and a luscious makhani sauce. The chicken is marinated and grilled before adding to a rich gravy made with cream, tomatoes, cashew, ginger, garlic, an aromatic spice blend, and of course, butter.
This dish also has two components: chicken tikka and a rich tomato curry. Boneless pieces of chicken are marinated in spice and herb-based yogurt, then char-grilled. The cooked chicken chunks are added to a flavorsome tomato and onion sauce.
Tikka Masala can be spicy hot, or mild, whereas butter chicken is always mildly spiced. Many people also describe the flavor of butter chicken as slightly sweet and the flavor of tikka masala as hot and tangy.
Butter chicken is made with cream, butter, yogurt, and cashew nut paste, making it very smooth and luscious. Tikka masala is way thicker and drier due to the tomato-and-onion base.