This Easy Butter Chicken is rich, creamy, and packed with warm Indian spices! It’s a restaurant-quality dish made at home in 30 minutes—perfect with naan or rice.
Ingredients
For the Chicken Marinade:
- 1 lb boneless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- ½ cup plain yogurt
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp garam masala
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste (or 1 tsp each minced garlic & ginger)
For the Butter Chicken Sauce:
- 2 tbsp butter (or ghee for authenticity)
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp ginger, grated
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp garam masala
- 1 tsp coriander
- ½ tsp chili powder (adjust for spice level)
- 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce (or puréed tomatoes)
- ½ cup heavy cream (or coconut milk for dairy-free)
- ½ tsp salt, or to taste
- 1 tbsp honey (optional, balances acidity)
Instructions
1. Marinate the Chicken
- In a bowl, mix chicken, yogurt, lemon juice, and spices. Let it marinate for 15-30 minutes (or overnight for deeper flavor).
2. Cook the Chicken
- Heat a large pan over medium-high heat. Add butter and cook chicken for 5-6 minutes, until browned. Remove from the pan.
3. Make the Sauce
- In the same pan, add onion, garlic, and ginger. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until fragrant.
- Stir in cumin, garam masala, coriander, and chili powder. Cook for 30 seconds.
- Pour in tomato sauce and let it simmer for 5 minutes.
4. Blend & Finish
- (Optional) Use an immersion blender for a smooth sauce.
- Stir in heavy cream and honey, then add chicken back to the pan.
- Simmer for 5 more minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Serve & Enjoy
- Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve with basmati rice, naan, or roti.
Tips & Variations
✅ Make it Dairy-Free: Use coconut milk instead of cream & ghee.
✅ Extra Creamy: Blend in soaked cashews for richness.
✅ Spicier Kick: Add chopped green chilies or extra chili powder.
✅ Low-Carb/Keto: Serve with cauliflower rice instead of regular rice.
Would you like a slow-cooker or Instant Pot version? 😊
