Butter Chicken Recipe (2024)

35 minutes

Home > Recipes > Dinners > Chicken > Butter Chicken Recipe

4.89 from 60 votes

by Lisa Longley

|

posted: 05/19/21

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy

Jump to Recipe

by Lisa Longley

|

posted: 05/19/21

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy

Jump to Recipe

This Butter Chicken Recipe is so easy and so delicious. It’s the perfect weeknight meal. Better than take out, you’ll love making this Indian Butter Chicken at home!

Butter Chicken Recipe (2)
PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER!

This post was sponsored by Gold’n Plump®.

We are such huge fans of Indian cooking around here, the flavors and spices are always so perfect. Nathan and I love getting chicken dishes, especially the ones that come with a lot of sauce that we can eat with rice and warm pieces of naan. The saucier the recipe, the better.

This take on Indian Butter Chicken is an absolute favorite in our house. Every single person in my family loves it and it is on the menu at least twice every month. That’s truly saying something for a mom that is regularly developing new recipes for work.

While this recipe may vary a little from traditional butter chicken, I am certain it will become a favorite in your house as well.

READER REVIEW

“This recipe has become a go to for my family! My husband loves requesting it. It’s super easy to make and delicious so thank you!”

Butter Chicken Recipe (3)

How to Make Butter Chicken

  1. Sauté the onions in oil. One of the keys to this recipe is to really let the onions cook down first before you add anything else. Allowing them to cook down first prevents the chicken from over cooking and the garlic from burning.
  2. Melt in the butter. After the butter is melted, add in the garlic and ginger and cook until just fragrant.
  3. Add in the chicken. These bite sized pieces of chicken will only need a minute or two. You want them to just cook on the outside but there is no need to cook them all the way through as they will finish cooking with the sauce.
  4. Season the dish. Now add in the garam masala, chili powder, salt and black pepper.
  5. Make the sauce. Stir in tomato puree, tomato paste, lemon juice, yogurt and half and half. Allow the sauce to simmer, cooking down for 10 minutes. There will still be lots of sauce left perfect for covering rice and dipping naan.
Butter Chicken Recipe (4)

Butter Chicken Without Cream

A lot of Butter Chicken recipes call for cream, but I opted out in this version. Instead I used yogurt and half and half, which give you the nice creaminess you are looking for without the heavy cream.

What is Half and Half?

Half and half is a product sold in the United States that is literally just half heavy cream and half whole milk. If you are making this outside of the U.S. you can substitute the 1 cup half and half with 1/2 a cup heavy cream and 1/2 a cup whole milk.

Butter Chicken Recipe (5)

What is Garam Masala?

Garam masala is a spice blend that is used in a lot of traditional Indian cooking. It gives the recipe a little bit of a kick and a delicious signature flavor that really can’t be found using anything else.

What Can I Use Instead of Garam Masala?

I would really encourage you to go out and buy some Garam Masala for this recipe. Without it, the dish won’t have the same flavor. If you can’t find it at your grocery store, you can certainly look for a recipe that will help you make just a small amount.

But to really enjoy this creamy butter chicken recipe, throw in some garam masala!

Is Butter Chicken Spicy?

I didn’t think this dish was spicy, but my kids thought it had a little bit of a kick to it. It is the black pepper in this recipe that gives it the slight kick. If you are making this for picky eaters, I would suggest only adding a pinch of pepper instead of the whole amount.

Butter Chicken Recipe (6)

Other 30 minute Chicken Recipes

  • My Cajun Chicken Alfredo will become another favorite. It is full of delicious yet easy flavors.
  • Our Chicken Salad is a recipe you should double so you have leftovers to take to work the following day.
  • Just like with my butter chicken, these Chicken Lettuce Wraps have the taste of take out in the comfort and ease of your own home.

If you make any of these great chicken recipes, leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

Butter Chicken Recipe (7)

Butter Chicken Recipe (8)

4.89 from 60 votes

Butter Chicken Recipe

Serves: 4 people

(tap # to scale)

Prep: 10 minutes minutes

Cook: 25 minutes minutes

Total: 35 minutes minutes

This Butter Chicken Recipe is so easy and so delicious. It's the perfect weeknight meal. Better than take out, you'll love making this Indian Butter Chicken at home!

print pin it rate

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 yellow onion diced small
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 pound Gold’n Plump Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Fillets diced into bit sized pieces
  • 1 tablespoon garam masala read about garam masala here
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 8 ounces tomato sauce
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup plain yogurt
  • 1 cup half and half read about half and half here

Instructions

  • In a large skillet, heat extra virgin olive oil. Add diced onions and stir regularly, cooking until the onions are translucent – about four minutes.

  • Add the butter and allow it to melt completely. Then stir in the ginger and garlic, cooking for about 30 seconds to a minute or until fragrant. Be careful not to burn it.

  • Add the chicken and cook, stirring often until the chicken is no longer pink on the outside, about 2 minutes. No need to cook it all the way through as it will continue cooking as you add the rest of the ingredients and simmer the recipe.

  • Now stir in the garam masala, chili powder, salt and black pepper. Then pour in the tomato sauce, tomato paste, lemon juice, yogurt and half and half. Stir to combine fully. Bring to a simmer and cook for about 10 minutes to allow the sauce to reduce.

  • The sauce will reduce but still be quite saucy. Serve with rice and naan.

Calories: 401kcal (20%) Carbohydrates: 17g (6%) Protein: 31g (62%) Fat: 24g (37%) Saturated Fat: 13g (81%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g Monounsaturated Fat: 8g Cholesterol: 121mg (40%) Sodium: 435mg (19%) Potassium: 532mg (15%) Fiber: 2g (8%) Sugar: 8g (9%) Vitamin A: 1050IU (21%) Vitamin C: 39.6mg (48%) Calcium: 120mg (12%) Iron: 2.2mg (12%)

Author: Lisa Longley

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Indian

Butter Chicken Recipe (9)

did you make this

Butter Chicken Recipe

I’d love to see what you made! Tag me @lisasimplejoy and hashtag it #simplejoyrecipes!

you might also like

  • Bourbon Chicken Recipe
  • Sticky Chicken
  • Crockpot Butter Chicken
  • Chicken Fried Rice

Butter Chicken Recipe (14)

Butter Chicken Recipe (15)

10EasyDinners

MEAL PLAN LIKE A BOSSdownload my free top 10 easy dinner ebook!

Butter Chicken Recipe (16)

Hi! I'm Lisa Longley, and I am committed to giving you simple dinner ideas and recipes that are easy to make; recipes that will fill your home with joy. I am the owner and author of SimpleJoy.com and I'm so glad that you are here.

Reader Interactions

    LEAVE A COMMENT

  1. RuthD says

    Butter Chicken Recipe (17)
    Never had tried it or made it, wanted something different and this hit it out of the park. Awesome meal for cozy nights at home and for those of us who love to venture out on our tongues. Easy, hearty, spicy, but not hot, and really really great as left overs.

    Reply

    • Butter Chicken Recipe (18)Lisa Longley says

      I’m so glad that you liked this as much as we do!

      Reply

older comments

Butter Chicken Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the sauce in butter chicken made of? ›

You'll be surprised to find that you only need an onion, a can of crushed tomatoes, garlic, ginger and some added spices to achieve those classic Indian flavours. The trick to making a great butter chicken sauce is to let the tomatoes cook off for at least 10-15 minutes, until they are almost dry on your pan.

What thickens butter chicken? ›

For the love of Butter chicken, do not add corn starch. Just put the sauce in the freezer for a few minutes or the fridge for a while, and it will thicken up just fine.

How to fix bland butter chicken? ›

The easiest way to fix a bland and tasteless curry is by adding spices like red chili powder, cumin, coriander, garam masala, curry leaves and turmeric. Just make a quick tempering and pour over the curry to give it a nice punch of spices and herbs.

Why does butter chicken taste so good? ›

Our meal starter spice mix combines salt, sugar, onion, and garlic with a blend of turmeric and other spices. Leading the charge to butter chicken greatness is Garam Masala, a traditional Indian spice blend of citrusy coriander, black pepper, earthy cumin, floral cardamom, and a suite of sweet spices.

Can I use milk instead of cream in butter chicken? ›

I wanted to create a slightly healthier version that still tasted like an authentic butter chicken recipe. First, this recipe only uses 2 tablespoons of butter and a can of evaporated milk instead of heavy cream. You can also use coconut milk, but it will give it a slightly coconut flavor.

What is butter chicken called in America? ›

What Is Butter Chicken? Tikka masala became popular in America as butter chicken after Indian restaurants began serving it with a side of white rice instead of basmati. The dish doesn't always include chicken, but it's called chicken-tikka or chicken-curry when it does.

How do you reduce the bitterness in butter chicken? ›

Easy Ways to Reduce Bitter Taste in Any Food
  1. 1 Balance out bitterness with some fat.
  2. 2 Cover the flavor with sweetness.
  3. 3 Sprinkle some salt over your food.
  4. 4 Try a pinch of baking soda.
  5. 5 Squeeze in some vinegar or lemon juice.
  6. 6 Add some spice to your foods.
  7. 7 Cook with herbs to cut through the bitter taste.
Apr 10, 2024

What is a substitute for tomato paste in butter chicken? ›

How to Substitute Tomato Sauce or Puree for Tomato Paste. You don't have to dash out to the store if you're out of tomato paste; tomato sauce and tomato puree are both an excellent substitute. For every 1 tablespoon of tomato paste needed, use 3 tablespoons of tomato puree or sauce.

Is tikka masala the same as butter chicken? ›

Butter chicken is a traditional Indian dish that is rich and creamy with a subtle smoky flavor. At the same time, tikka masala is a British Indian dish with a more complex flavor profile with tangy and spicy notes. Butter chicken is generally sweeter and milder in spiciness, while tikka masala is tangy and spicy.

Should butter chicken be sweet or spicy? ›

Unlike most Indian curries where the preparation of the base starts with a blend of onion and a ginger garlic paste cooked in oil, butter chicken uses tomato as a base and is cooked in butter, giving it a slightly sweet flavor. Cashews and almonds add to the sweetness and richness of the dish.

Can you overcook butter chicken? ›

Do not overcook because it will continue to cook in the sauce.

Is butter chicken a laxative? ›

The Dish Embraces Dietary Fiber

Consuming high-fiber foods can help promote regularity and ease bowel movements if you have constipation or irregular bowel movements. It helps to remove debris from the body. Butter chicken curry bids have 2 g of dietary fiber to improve the bulk of the waste from your system.

What is butter chicken traditionally eaten with? ›

Butter chicken is a popular Indian dish made with chicken, spices, tomatoes & cream. This creamy & authentic tasting butter chicken is the best you can make at home. Serve butter chicken with Turmeric rice, Cumin rice, basmati rice or naan.

Why does restaurant butter taste so much better? ›

It's brimming with butterfat

“I think restaurant butter often tastes better because it has a higher butterfat percentage,” says Luke Ilardo, head baker and owner of Doppio Pasticceria in Baltimore. “Most grocery stores offer 80% butterfat, but through our distributors, we can pretty easily find up to 86% butterfat.

How to tell if butter chicken is bad? ›

First, if it has a sour or an unpleasant odor, it's a sign that it's past its prime. The same applies if you see any signs of mold or if the chicken appears to be slimy or sticky. Additionally, if you've tasted it and it doesn't quite taste like it should, it's best not to risk it.

What is butter sauce made of? ›

It's basically a sauce made with butter, finely minced garlic, fresh herbs, salt and lemon juice. For extra POW. And to cut through the richness of the butter just a tad. You can leave out the lemon, if you wish but who doesn't love a good Lemon Butter Sauce drizzled on a piece of fish.

Is butter chicken sauce the same as tikka masala? ›

The main difference between butter chicken and tandoori chicken tikka masala is the level of creaminess; butter chicken is much creamier, whereas chicken tikka masala relies on tomatoes and other spices, giving it its earthy and spicy flavor profile.

What makes butter chicken bright orange? ›

Tomato paste.

This is what gives the butter chicken that gorgeous bright colour and the tomatoey flavour. I love using Mutti tomato puree, but just go for what you can find.

What is garam masala made of? ›

Garam masala consists of ground spices like cloves, cinnamon, cardamoms, cumin, coriander, nutmeg, bay leaf, mace and black pepper. Some versions even consist of fennel seeds, red chilies and black cardamoms.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Mr. See Jast

Last Updated:

Views: 6490

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (55 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Mr. See Jast

Birthday: 1999-07-30

Address: 8409 Megan Mountain, New Mathew, MT 44997-8193

Phone: +5023589614038

Job: Chief Executive

Hobby: Leather crafting, Flag Football, Candle making, Flying, Poi, Gunsmithing, Swimming

Introduction: My name is Mr. See Jast, I am a open, jolly, gorgeous, courageous, inexpensive, friendly, homely person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.