Indian Butter Chicken Recipe:
If you love Indian food, you are going to love this butter chicken. It is rich, creamy, flavorful, and aromatic. And tastes like take-out. Serve it with Naan for the complete experience.
Chicken thighs or chicken breasts cooked to perfection in a creamy spiced tomato sauce and topped with cilantro. This delicious dish, similar to tikka masala, and spiced with Indian spices, is sure to be a family favorite in no time. And did I mention it comes together super quickly?
Easy butter chicken is perfect for any meal. The perfect blend of Indian spices and flavors combine for a well balanced meal. Just serve over rice for an easy and delicious meal in no time. Serve it with Best Ever Roasted Broccoli for a nice vegetable side.
After a visit to Delhi in India, I knew I had to learn to make butter chicken. I love this Easy Butter Chicken recipe as it is quick and simple, but when I want more indulgent, rich, and fantastic butter chicken, this is the recipe for me. I also created a Low Carb Butter Chicken. So, I’ve got you covered on all platforms.
A delicious recipe in no time
Okay, I want to clear one thing up really quickly…this is not an authentic recipe. The chicken does not have bones in it. It does not start with dry chicken. And it doesn’t actually have any butter, except the bit you cook the chicken in. It might be closer to a Tikka Masala than an Indian Butter Chicken. I have no intention of offending any kind of culture or cuisine type. I just love food, and this version of this recipe tastes delicious.
Indian Butter Chicken is full of Indian spices like tumeric and garam masala, and one of those foods that you eat so fast you practically inhale because that creamy, buttery, spicy, tomato sauce is seriously delicious and you can’t stop eating it.
Indian food is an experience
I clearly remember the first time I went to an Indian restaurant to eat. I have never been picky, but I wasn’t super adventurous with food either. That has changed significantly, especially after visiting Markets in Israel, and Lake Como, Italy Cooking Class. Basically, now food is my passion. But before that, I was quite timid about new foods.
My (now ex) husband and I decided to try a local Indian restaurant, and when we opened our car doors my nose was assaulted with those rich spices. All the way in the parking lot I could smell the food. I was a little worried. But, my mouth instantly started watering. And the food did not let me down.
I have been hooked since.
We went home after eating, and the scent clung. I kept sniffing myself. Hahahah. I didn’t even want to wash my clothes, the smell made me happy. And hungry.
Trying Indian recipes at home
I have always been a little hesitant to try any recipes at home because I didn’t want to make my whole house smell. I am happy to report that the scent, while delicious, fades quickly and won’t leave you feeling like you are living in an Indian restaurant kitchen.
These are all great options.
Rich and full flavors layered upon each other make for a rich spice filled experience
You will enjoy every bite of Indian Butter Chicken. Every spicy and delicious bite. And when I say spicy, I don’t mean hot, heat, make your mouth burn spicy. I mean layer upon layer of flavor–spicy.
Often when I am recipe testing, I make the same recipe over and over with slight tweaks, and my family gets sick of it fast. This recipe is one of the few they still want to eat. Sure, they don’t want it every single night. But I made Indian Butter Chicken a week ago, and they gobbled it right up.
Butter Chicken Needs:
- The basics: Chicken, Rice, Tomatoes, and spices you probably have on hand.
- Tumeric– A spice you can pick up at most grocery stores, but you may not regularly keep it on hand.
- Garam Masala- I use this one, I got on Amazon, and it is awesome.
- Heavy Cream- This is what makes it so rich and creamy.
- Cilantro- This is a garnish, but it adds a depth of flavor, so don’t skip it!
Take a look at some other chicken recipes that you may want to try:
- Pollo Saltado (Chicken Stir Fry)
- Chicken Enchilada Meal Prep Bowls
- Kung Pao Chicken ( Pressure Cooker)
- Chicken Sausage and Peas Alfredo-Pesto Skillet Pasta
- Sticky Chicken Bites
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Indian Butter Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs chicken thighs boneless and skinless or chicken breast (boneless and skinless) cut into pieces.
- Salt and Pepper
- ½ cup sour cream or plain greek style yogurt
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp turmeric powder
- 2 tsp Garam Masala
- ½ tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 Tbs ginger paste
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 2 Tbs Butter
- 1 Tbs vegetable oil
- 1 cup pureed tomatoes
- 1 Tbs white granulated sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Cut chicken into pieces, and season with a little salt and pepper. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the sour cream or plain yogurt with the lemon juice, tumeric, garam masala, chili powder, cumin, ginger paste, minced garlic, and toss with chunked up chicken.
- Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour. Preferably longer.
- Heat the vegetable oil and butter over high heat in a large fry pan.
- Add the chicken coated in the Marinade and cook for 3-4 minutes. Flipping once.
- Add the pureed tomato, sugar and salt. Stir to combine.
- Turn down to low and cover with lid. Let simmer for 20 minutes if using chicken thighs, 15 minutes if using chicken breasts.
- Add the cream, and stir well.
- Garnish with cilantro leaves.
- Serve over rice and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Our recipe card software calculates these nutrition facts based on averages for the above ingredients, different brands, and quality of produce/meats may have different nutritional information, always calculate your own based on the specific products you use in order to achieve accurate macros for this recipe.
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Kristin says
Making this tonight. After reading the suggestions I’m going to buy some naan bread and some cauliflower. Roasted cauliflower is delicious!!!!
Kym Z says
This came out with the sauce as thin as water, what happened?
Rachael says
I wish I could tell you. I am not sure. You may have needed to cook it longer. I have made and tested this recipe extensively, so I know it works as written. You could add some corn starch to it to thicken in the future, or let it cook down longer.
Shaheen says
My chicken was still a little frozen so my sauce was a little watery. I added cornstarch and let it cooks down more than the 15 minutes. Also the type of pan you use will play a factor. I doubled the recipe and one of my pans cooked better than the other.
Brenna says
Made this exactly as written a couple of months ago with rave reviews from husband and 3 kids. Trying it today with chicken breasts in the slow cooker. Hoping it turns out just as good as the original! Such an awesome recipe!! Thanks!
Rachael says
Oh Brenna, thanks for letting me know. I would guess it will turn out, but I haven’t tried it that way. Please let me know!
Gloria says
We made this yesterday and it is absolutely delicious!! We stepped up the heat a. A little with some cayenne which didn’t change the flavor. Also added 1 tab sugar to make it a little less tart. Thank you so much for sharing!! Spot on!!
Curtis says
I’m sorry but this came out watery and very weird tasting for me. I followed the recipe 100% so I’m confused.
Rachael says
I am confused too. I make it regularly so I know the recipe is correct. What I can say is that maybe we used a different brand of greek yogurt, or you didn’t let it cook down enough (stoves often heat differently, so maybe mine runs hotter). I am so sorry that it didn’t turn out for you, I hope you can find something else you like better.
Cindy says
Amazing recipe! This has become a favorite for my whole family. Follow the recipe exactly and comes.out perfect every time. I have it cooking now and smells delicious!
Janis emerton says
I can’t have heavy cream. Can you recommend a good substitution? Thanks, Janis
Lorelei Marcell says
hey there Janis! I’m a sophomore in high school but cooking is my passion! I would recommend a good half and half, whole milk, or creamer if you have any! Coconut milk works particularly well if you’re trying to go for a richer vegan alternative. Hope that helps! Fyi be sure to reply back i’d love to get to know you
rakhiinindia.in says
Thank you very much, your Butter Chicken Recipe was very tasty. Your recipe is very easy to follow. Certainly I will share this relationship with my relatives. My family will enjoy it Thanks
Rachael says
Glad to hear it! Thanks for taking time to comment.
Abby says
Do you put all of the marinade into the pan with the chicken to cook or just fish out the chicken pieces to cook? Thanks!
Rachael says
I put it all in. THanks for asking.
Beth says
This recipe was delicious and easy! I can’t have dairy so I used unsweetened coconut yogurt and replaced the cream with almond milk with a little cornstarch to thicken. My husband loved it too! Looking forward to making it again.
Rachael says
So glad you liked it, and that sounds like a great substitution.
Lorelei Marcell says
hey there Janis! I’m a sophomore in high school but cooking is my passion! I would recommend a good half and half, whole milk, or creamer if you have any! Coconut milk works particularly well if you’re trying to go for a richer vegan alternative. Hope that helps! Fyi be sure to reply back i’d love to get to know you
Emily says
Mine also came out watery. I’m pretty good at following recipes so I’m not sure what went wrong.
Rachael says
Emily, I am so sorry your sauce was not thick. I have found that sometimes chicken will have a higher water content than other times, and depends on if you used thighs or breasts. One thing you can do is use corn starch to thicken at the end. This is one of my family’s favorite recipes and I make it frequently, and so I do know that the thickness is not always consistent. I wish I had a better solution for combatting that. I will add a note for future makers. Thanks!
Arun Jolly says
Nice Dish
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Birthday party says
Nice Dish
Steen McQueen says
Total time did not include refrigeration… so I f-ed up.
FML.
On the bright side it’s delicious.
Rachael says
Oh shoot, I am so sorry! I will alter that now. Sometimes when I import the recipes into the recipe card they don’t copy over perfectly and I miss things. My apologies.
Lorelei Marcell says
hey it’s lores and i loved ur recipe! me and my bf tried it our and it was soooo fab
Libbi Ellwood says
I like the recipes and the way you cook… the Indian butter chicken recipe I was never ever eaten before but after making, I love India food…
Minke says
My pan doesn’t have a lid…can I simmer it uncovered?
Traci says
I think it was the best Butter Chicken recipe I have made from Pinterest and it was easy… I used chicken thigh meat and only marinated it an hour if that.. We like a bit more spice so I added about 1/4 tsp of cayenne pepper, maybe more until it tasted the right amount of spiciness that we like… Thanks so much it was perfect!.