Experience a delicious dish with this easy to make butter chicken recipe.
This delicious Indian dish combines tender, marinated chicken in a creamy, spiced tomato sauce that's sure to satisfy your taste buds.
Perfect for a cozy dinner, it’s simple to make and irresistibly delicious.
Try it tonight and enjoy the rich flavors of this beloved classic.
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Our butter chicken recipe brings the rich, aromatic flavors of Indian cuisine to your home.
This beloved dish features succulent pieces of chicken marinated in a spiced yogurt mixture and cooked in a creamy, buttery tomato sauce.
The result is a perfect balance of tangy, mildly spicy, and sweet flavors that make it a favorite worldwide.
Originally known as "Murgh Makhani" in Hindi, butter chicken was created in India, by mixing leftover tandoori chicken with a rich, buttery tomato gravy.
This delicious combination quickly gained popularity for its unique taste and has since become a staple in Indian cuisine.
This recipe starts with marinating the chicken in a blend of yogurt and spices, ensuring it's flavorful and tender.
The sauce, made with tomatoes, butter, cream, and a mix of spices like garam masala, cumin, and coriander, is simmered to perfection.
When combined, the chicken absorbs the sauce, creating a mouthwatering dish that's both rich and aromatic.
Serve this butter chicken with rice, naan, or a simple salad, and you have a meal that’s perfect for any occasion.
It's easy enough for a weeknight dinner but special enough to impress your guests. Enjoy the delightful journey of making and savoring this classic butter chicken recipe.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- This butter chicken recipe features a rich and creamy curry sauce with tender chicken.
- A favorite for family dinners or festive occasions.
- Great for meal prep as flavors develop over time.
- Budget-friendly with simple pantry ingredients.
- Freezes well for future meals without compromising taste.
Ingredients
Please note that below is a guide for some of the ingredients we used in the recipe. The printable recipe further down the page has the complete list of ingredients, including quantities and step-by-step instructions.
- Plain Yogurt
- Lemon Juice
- Turmeric Powder
- Chili Powder
- Ground Cumin
- Garam Masala
- Minced Garlic
- Grated Ginger
- Boneless Chicken Thigh FIllets: Or you could use chicken breast. Cut into bite sized pieces.
- Butter: Or ghee.
- Tomato Puree
- Thickened Cream: Or heavy whipping cream.
- Sugar
- Salt
Instructions
This recipe for butter chicken serves 4. The ingredient quantities can easily be adjusted to suit how many serves you need to make.
Step One: Combine all marinade ingredients in a mixing bowl with the chicken.
Coat the chicken well in the marinade and then cover and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes (for better flavor, refrigerate overnight).
Step Two: Once the chicken has been marinated, heat butter in a large fry pan over high heat.
Place chicken pieces into hot pan and cook until the chicken is fully cooked.
When adding chicken to the pan, use tongs to transfer it directly from the marinade. Avoid pouring excess marinade from the bowl into the pan; this helps the chicken retain its marinade while cooking.
Step Three: Reduce the heat to low medium, add the tomato puree, cream, sugar, salt, and any remaining marinade left in the bowl. Mix well. Taste for seasoning and add more salt if necessary.
Step Four: Turn off heat. Serve.
You might like to serve this butter chicken recipe with a bowl of white rice, naan bread, pulao, or a fresh salad.
Tips for Success
- Finish the dish with a swirl of heavy cream for a velvety texture and added richness.
Cost To Make
Estimated cost = $6.55 or $1.63 a serve
Substitutions / Variations
- Creamy Coconut Butter Chicken: Use coconut milk instead of heavy cream for a lighter, tropical flavor.
- Smoked Butter Chicken: Infuse a smoky flavor by using smoked paprika or chipotle peppers in adobo sauce in the marinade.
- Butter Chicken Tikka Masala: Blend the butter chicken sauce with a creamy tomato-based tikka masala sauce for added depth.
- Butter Chicken Curry Pot Pie: Use the butter chicken filling as a base for individual pies topped with puff pastry.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve over steamed basmati rice or with warm naan bread for soaking up the sauce.
- Garnish with fresh cilantro (coriander) and a squeeze of lemon juice for brightness.
Storage
This butter chicken recipe can be stored in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 4 to 5 days.
Made this recipe? Let us know how it went in the comments below! We'd love to hear how it turned out.
Recipe
Butter Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
Marinade
- ½ cup (120 grams, 4.14 ounces) plain yogurt
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon (1 – 2 cloves) minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon ginger grated
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 750 grams (1.50 pounds) boneless chicken thigh fillets or chicken breast, cut into bite sized pieces
Curry
- 2 tablespoons (30 grams, 1.06 ounces) butter or ghee
- 1 cup tomato puree tomato passata
- 1 cup (250ml/grams, 8.81 ounces) thickened cream (or heavy whipping cream)
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 ¼ teaspoon salt or to taste
Instructions
- Combine all marinade ingredients in a mixing bowl with the chicken. Coat the chicken well in the marinade and then cover and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes (for better flavor, refrigerate overnight).
- Once the chicken has been marinated, heat butter in a large fry pan over high heat. Place chicken pieces into hot pan and cook until the chicken is fully cooked. (see note 1).
- Reduce the heat to low medium, add the tomato puree, cream, sugar, salt, and any remaining marinade left in the bowl. Mix well. Taste for seasoning and add more salt if necessary.
- Turn off heat. Serve.
Notes
- When adding chicken to the pan, use tongs to transfer it directly from the marinade. Avoid pouring excess marinade from the bowl into the pan; this helps the chicken retain its marinade while cooking.
Wendy says
Yum, yum, yum! Definitely going to make this again.
Luna says
I didn't realise butter chicken was so easy to make. I'm so glad I tried this recipe, will definitely make again. Cheers.