Easy Butter Chicken
Butter Chicken, a popular Indian dish known for its rich and creamy sauce. This easy butter chicken recipe is perfect for a cozy dinner at home and can be whipped up with minimal effort. Let’s dive into this delectable dish that’s sure to become a favorite in your household!
Servings: 6
Calories: 1.065kcal
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter divided
- 1 onion minced
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 15 ounces tomato sauce
- 3 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 Tabelspoon Garam Masala
- 2 pounds chicken thighs boneless skinless thighs, cut into bite-sized chunks
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 cup Greek Yogurt plain
- 1 Tablespoon Cilantro for garnish
Spice Rub
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 Tablespoons garam masala divided
- 1/2 Tablespoon Cumin
- 1 teaspoon Fenugreek
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Gather all ingredients and preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Caramelize Onions and Garlic: Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the minced onion and garlic, and cook slowly until the onion caramelizes to a dark brown, about 15 minutes.
- Simmer Sauce: While the onions and garlic are done cooking, combine the heavy cream, tomato sauce, remaining butter, salt, cayenne pepper, and 1/2 Tablespoon garam masala with them and bring to a simmer.
- Simmer with Caramelized Onions: Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes.
- Prepare Chicken: Toss the chicken pieces with greek yogurt and spice mixture until coated. And spread out onto a baking sheet that is coated in the vegetable oil.
- Bake Chicken: Bake the chicken in the preheated oven until no longer pink in the center, about 12-15 minutes.
- Combine and Serve: Add the cooked chicken to the sauce and simmer for 5 minutes before serving.
- Top with cilantro before serving.
Notes
Caramelization: Take your time to caramelize the onions properly. This adds a deep, rich flavor to the sauce.
Quality Chicken: Use skinless, boneless chicken thighs for a juicier and more flavorful dish.
Simmering: Allowing the sauce to simmer on low heat helps the flavors meld together beautifully.
Spice Level: Adjust the cayenne pepper to your taste preference. You can add more for extra heat or reduce it for a milder dish.
Substitutions
Chicken: Substitute chicken thighs with chicken breasts if preferred, but note that thighs tend to be more flavorful and juicy.
Cream: For a lighter version, use half-and-half or coconut milk instead of heavy cream.
Tomato Sauce: Use crushed tomatoes or tomato puree as an alternative to tomato sauce.
Butter: Substitute ghee for butter for a more authentic flavor.
Quality Chicken: Use skinless, boneless chicken thighs for a juicier and more flavorful dish.
Simmering: Allowing the sauce to simmer on low heat helps the flavors meld together beautifully.
Spice Level: Adjust the cayenne pepper to your taste preference. You can add more for extra heat or reduce it for a milder dish.
Substitutions
Chicken: Substitute chicken thighs with chicken breasts if preferred, but note that thighs tend to be more flavorful and juicy.
Cream: For a lighter version, use half-and-half or coconut milk instead of heavy cream.
Tomato Sauce: Use crushed tomatoes or tomato puree as an alternative to tomato sauce.
Butter: Substitute ghee for butter for a more authentic flavor.
Nutrition
Calories: 1.065kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 100g | Saturated Fat: 54g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 29g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 366mg | Sodium: 1.518mg | Potassium: 743mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 3.271IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 160mg | Iron: 2mg