Savor the deliciousness of butter chicken skewers.
These flavorful bites feature marinated chicken grilled to perfection, capturing the essence of traditional butter chicken in a fun, easy-to-eat form.
Perfect for appetizers, finger food, or a light meal, these skewers are a must-try for any food lover.
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Butter chicken skewers offer a delightful twist on the classic butter chicken, transforming this beloved dish into a fun and easy-to-eat form.
These skewers feature tender chicken pieces marinated in a flavorful yogurt and spice mixture, then grilled to perfection.
Each bite captures the essence of butter chicken, making them perfect for appetizers, parties, or a light meal.
To prepare butter chicken skewers, marinate the chicken in a blend of yogurt, garlic, ginger, and spices like garam masala, cumin, and coriander.
Once the chicken is infused with flavor, thread the pieces onto skewers and grill them until they are juicy and slightly charred.
The grilling process adds a smoky depth to the already rich and creamy flavor.
Serve these butter chicken skewers with a side of cooling yogurt dip, naan, or a fresh salad for a complete and satisfying meal.
They are easy to make, delicious, and sure to be a hit with anyone who loves the classic flavors of butter chicken.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Bursting with butter chicken flavors in a convenient, portable form.
- Perfect for parties, BBQs, pot lucks, or casual gatherings.
- This recipe for butter chicken skewers is budget friendly. Making it perfect for feeding a crowd.
- Easy to prepare in advance and cook on the grill.
- If you don’t have an outdoor grill you could always make it on the stovetop with a grill pan.
- Versatile—can be served as an appetizer or main dish.
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.
- Butter: Melted.
- Minced Garlic
- Lemon Juice
- Fresh Parsley: Chopped.
- Salt and Pepper
- Plain Yogurt
- Lemon Juice
- Turmeric Powder
- Ground Cumin
- Chili Powder
- Minced Garlic
- Minced Ginger
- Garam Masala
- Boneless Chicken Thigh Fillets: Or you could use chicken breast. Cut into bite sized pieces.
Instructions
This recipe for butter chicken skewers serves 4. The ingredient quantities can easily be adjusted to suit how many serves you need to make.
Butter Sauce
Step One: Combine all butter sauce ingredients in a bowl. Mix well, taste for seasoning and adjust as desired. Set aside.
Cooking The Chicken
Step One: Combine all marinade ingredients (apart from the oil for frying) in a bowl with the chicken. Coat the chicken well in the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes (for better flavor, refrigerate overnight).
Step Two: If using wooden skewers, soak them in hot water while the meat is marinating. By doing this, it helps to stop the meat from sticking to the skewers when cooked. Alternatively, you could use metal skewers.
Step Three: Once marinated, place the chicken pieces on the skewers. Lightly brush each skewer with a neutral flavored oil.
Step Four: Cook the chicken in a preheated grill pan or an outdoor grill over medium to high heat until the chicken is golden brown on all sides and cooked through.
Make sure you turn your chicken regularly. Brush the butter sauce over the chicken during the last 2 minutes of cooking.
Step Five: Remove from grill and allow to rest for 2 minutes, then serve.
Tips for Success
- Marinate the chicken overnight for deeper flavor.
- Serve with a side of cooling yogurt sauce to balance the richness of the butter chicken.
Cost To Make
Estimated cost = $6.50 or $1.62 a serve
Substitutions / Variations
- Vegetarian Butter Paneer Skewers: Substitute chicken with paneer (Indian cottage cheese) cubes marinated in butter chicken sauce.
- Spicy Butter Chicken Skewers: Add extra cayenne pepper or chili powder to the marinade for a spicier version.
Serving Suggestions
- Arrange skewers on a platter and serve with basmati rice or naan bread for a complete meal.
- Provide a side of cucumber raita or mint chutney for a cooling contrast to the spices.
Storage
Store these butter chicken skewers in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 3 to 4 days.
FAQ
Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are typically the best choice for skewers.
They stay juicy and flavorful when grilled or cooked quickly over high heat, making them perfect for skewers.
Curry chicken refers to a broad category of dishes where chicken is cooked with various spices, herbs, and a sauce made from tomatoes, coconut milk, or yogurt.
Butter chicken, on the other hand, specifically refers to a creamy and mildly spiced dish where marinated chicken is cooked in a sauce made from tomatoes, cream, butter, and spices like garam masala.
Butter chicken has a richer and smoother texture compared to most traditional curry dishes.
No, butter chicken is not the same as korma. Korma is a separate dish originating from Mughlai cuisine, where meat (typically chicken or lamb) is braised with yogurt or cream, nuts (such as almonds or cashews), and aromatic spices.
It has a rich and creamy sauce similar to butter chicken but has distinct flavors and cooking methods, including the use of ground nuts for thickness and flavor.
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 Skewers
Equipment
- Skewers metal or wooden
Ingredients
Butter Sauce
- ¼ cup (60 grams, 2.12 ounces) butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon (1-2 cloves) minced garlic
- 2 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Marinade
- ½ cup (120 grams, 4.14 ounces) plain yogurt
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon minced ginger
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 750 grams (1.50 pounds) boneless chicken thigh fillets or chicken breast, cut into bite sized pieces
- Oil for frying
Instructions
Butter Sauce
- Combine all butter sauce ingredients in a bowl. Mix well, taste for seasoning and adjust as desired. Set aside.
Cooking The Chicken
- Combine all marinade ingredients (except for the oil for frying) in a bowl with the chicken. Coat the chicken well in the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes (for better flavor, refrigerate overnight).
- If using wooden skewers, soak them in hot water while the meat is marinating. (see note 1). Alternatively, you could use metal skewers.
- Once marinated, place the chicken pieces on the skewers. Lightly brush each skewer with a neutral flavored oil.
- Cook the chicken in a preheated grill pan or an outdoor grill over medium to high heat until the chicken is golden brown on all sides and cooked through. Make sure you turn your chicken regularly. Brush the butter sauce over the chicken during the last 2 minutes of cooking.
- Remove from grill and allow to rest for 2 minutes, then serve.
Notes
- By doing this, it helps to stop the meat from sticking to the skewers when cooked.
Nadia says
I love skewers and was looking for a new recipe. So glad I came across this recipe!
Cathy says
These were a hit at my BBQ!