Indian Butter Chicken Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

Indian Butter Chicken Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (1)

By: Becky Hardin

This post may include affiliate links that earn us a small commission from your purchases at no extra cost to you.

If you want to make a delicious curry at home, this easy Indian butter chicken recipe is for you! Start with a perfectly-spiced yogurt marinade, then cook up juicy chicken in a creamy, buttery, tomato sauce in just 30 minutes! The sweet, buttery chicken melts in your mouth, and the sauce is pretty mild, so your entire family will be able to enjoy it.

Indian Butter Chicken Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2)

Table of Contents

What’s in this Easy Butter Chicken Recipe

Gather your ingredients and make this Indian Butter Chicken in just one pan. The chicken will need some time to marinate, but cooking time is less than 30 minutes!

  • Chicken: Chicken thighs work best for this recipe because they stay super tender, juicy, and flavorful. Use boneless, skinless thighs, and cut into bite-sized cubes. You can substitute chicken breast if you like.
  • Yogurt: A full-fat plain yogurt creates the base for the yogurt marinade. Greek yogurt works great!
  • Butter: You’ll need about 3 tablespoons of butter to cook the chicken in. You can use Ghee as a substitute. If you want a richer sauce, stir in more butter at the end.
  • Spices: There are so many delicious spices in butter chicken, including a garam masala blend, turmeric, cumin, and cayenne pepper.
  • Tomato Sauce & Paste: Use both for the base of the tomato curry sauce.
  • Heavy Cream: This adds a creaminess to the sauce. You can use half and half instead of heavy cream.

Make this Butter Chicken Ahead of Time

This simple Indian butter chicken needs at least 3 hours to marinate in the fridge, but you can let it marinate longer (up to 24 hours). So the easiest way to prep this dish ahead of time is to make the marinade (step 1) and let it sit overnight. That way it’s ready to cook at dinner time!

You can also freeze it for up to a month. When ready to cook, allow it to thaw and reheat it in a saucepan over medium-low heat for best results.

Indian Butter Chicken Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (3)

Indian Butter Chicken Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (4)

Email This Recipe

Enter your email and we’ll send the recipe directly to you!

By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from The Cookie Rookie.

What is butter chicken?

Butter chicken, also known as murgh makhani, is an Indian dish made from chunks of chicken cooked in a spiced tomato and butter sauce.

What’s the difference between butter chicken and chicken tikka masala?

Butter chicken and chicken tikka masala are very similar. However, tikka masala tends to be a bit spicier and juicier, whereas butter chicken tends to be more mild and creamy.

Is butter chicken spicy?

Nope! Butter chicken is a very mild, yet flavorful dish! There is a little bit of cayenne pepper, but you can leave that out if you’re concerned about it being too spicy!

What is garam masala?

Garam masala is an Indian spice blend that includes cinnamon, peppercorns, cardamom, mustard seeds, coriander seeds, cloves, mace, and nutmeg. You can find it in the spice aisle of most grocery stores.

Indian Butter Chicken Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (5)

How to Store and Reheat

Store leftover Indian butter chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the microwave or on the stovetop.

How to Freeze Butter Chicken

Freeze leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

What to Serve with Indian Butter Chicken

Tender chunks of chicken is the most delicious, creamy butter sauce is a great way to start a meal. It’s best served with rice to soak up the curry sauce, and some fresh naan to scoop it up.

If you want to add some veggies, make cauliflower fried rice, mashed sweet potatoes, or crispy Air Fryer broccoli.

Indian Butter Chicken Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (6)

If you make this recipe be sure to upload a photo in the comment section below or leave a rating. Enjoy! You can also jump to recipe.

Recipe

Indian Butter Chicken Recipe

4.78 from 18 votes

Author: Becky Hardin

Prep: 5 minutes minutes

Cook: 25 minutes minutes

Total: 3 hours hours 30 minutes minutes

Indian Butter Chicken Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (7)

Serves4

Print Rate

Save Shop our store

This easy Indian Butter Chicken is so creamy, tender, and delicious!

Indian Butter Chicken Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (8)

Email This Recipe

Enter your email and we’ll send the recipe directly to you!

By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from The Cookie Rookie.

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup full-fat plain yogurt
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice from ½ lemon
  • 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
  • 1 tablespoon Garam Masala Indian spice
  • 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper or more to taste
  • pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (⅜ stick)
  • 8 ounces tomato sauce (1 can)
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • ½ tablespoon granulated sugar
  • Fresh cilantro optional, for serving

Instructions

  • Add the yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, ginger, garam masala, turmeric, cumin, salt, and peppers in a large Ziplock bag. Gently smush the spices into the yogurt to combine, then add the chicken pieces to the bag, massaging to coat it in the spiced yogurt.

    ¾ cup full-fat plain yogurt, 2 cloves garlic, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger, 1 tablespoon Garam Masala Indian spice, 1 teaspoon ground turmeric, ½ teaspoon ground cumin, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper, 1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs

    Indian Butter Chicken Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (9)

  • Seal the Ziplock bag and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, or overnight.

  • In a large skillet, melt the butter (or ghee) over medium-high heat. Working in batches, cook the coated chicken pieces in the skillet for 2-4 minutes, flipping once, until the outside of the chicken is a light golden brown.

    3 tablespoons unsalted butter

    Indian Butter Chicken Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (10)

  • Add the tomato sauce, cream, tomato paste, and sugar to the skillet, then stir until well combined. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened. Taste and adjust seasonings as desired.

    8 ounces tomato sauce, 1 cup heavy cream, 1 tablespoon tomato paste, ½ tablespoon granulated sugar

    Indian Butter Chicken Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (11)

  • Serve garnished with cilantro.

    Fresh cilantro

Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!

Becky’s tips

  • You can use full-fat Greek yogurt in place of regular yogurt.
  • If you don’t have fresh ginger, you can use ¼ teaspoon of ground ginger instead.
  • Feel free to leave the cayenne pepper out if you don’t like a little spice.
  • You can use boneless, skinless chicken breasts in place of thighs.
  • You can use ghee in place of the butter.
  • You can use half-and-half in place of the heavy cream.
  • Let the chicken marinade for at least 3 hours or up to overnight.
  • If you’d like a richer sauce, feel free to stir in some more butter or ghee at the end.
  • Serve with basmati rice or naan bread!
  • Nutritional information does not include optional ingredients.

Storage:Store Indian butter chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 543kcal (27%) Carbohydrates: 11g (4%) Protein: 37g (74%) Fat: 39g (60%) Saturated Fat: 22g (138%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g Monounsaturated Fat: 11g Trans Fat: 0.4g Cholesterol: 257mg (86%) Sodium: 783mg (34%) Potassium: 794mg (23%) Fiber: 2g (8%) Sugar: 8g (9%) Vitamin A: 1586IU (32%) Vitamin C: 8mg (10%) Calcium: 129mg (13%) Iron: 3mg (17%)

Did You Make This?I want to see! Be sure to upload an image below & tag @thecookierookie on social media!

Indian Butter Chicken Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (12)

Indian Butter Chicken Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (13)

Upload A PhotoTag on
Insta
Leave A Rating

More Indian-inspired Recipes We Love

  • Vegetarian Tikka Masala with Cauliflower
  • Curry Chicken Hand Pies
  • Skillet Tandoori Chicken
  • Dairy-Free Chicken Curry
  • Chicken Tikka Masala Wings
  • Naan Rolls

Indian Butter Chicken Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (14)

Claim your free ebook!

Subscribe to have posts delivered straight to your inbox!! PLUS get our FREE ebook!

Sign Me Up

Indian Butter Chicken Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

FAQs

How is butter chicken different from curry? ›

Butter chicken tends to be creamier and sweeter than chicken curry, with heavier spices. On the other hand, Tikka masala tends to focus more on heat and spice. The two dishes often use similar ingredients: tomatoes, onions, garlic, ginger, and different types of chilies—but they're not quite interchangeable.

What are the ingredients in Kitchen of India butter chicken? ›

Ingredients. Tomato Paste, Sunflower Oil, Onions, Water, Spices, Garlic, Gram Flour, Salt, Sugar, Skim Milk Powder, Ginger, Melon Seeds, Cashews And Paprika Oleoresin. Contains Milk And Cashews. May Contain Mustard Seeds, Peanuts, Sesame Seeds, Soy, Tree Nuts And Wheat.

Is Indian butter chicken supposed to be sweet? ›

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.

Why is butter chicken so tasty? ›

Another aspect that makes butter chicken such a flavorful dish is its sauce. The westernized version of butter chicken uses cornstarch or flour for thickening the sauce. However, in India, groundnuts are used as thickeners. They also give the dish an additional depth of flavor.

Which is healthier, butter chicken or tikka masala? ›

Regarding nutrition, Butter Chicken and Tikka Masala are high in calories, fat, and sodium. Butter Chicken has more fat and calories than Tikka Masala due to the use of cream and butter in the sauce. However, Tikka Masala has more sodium than Butter Chicken due to the use of canned tomato puree.

Why does my butter chicken taste like curry? ›

Butter chicken is a curry

At its very core, a curry is a dish cooked using a blend of spices and aromatics. There are, like, hundreds of spices in Indian cuisine, and it still blows my mind how restaurants expertly balance all of these nuanced flavors.

What do Indians eat butter chicken 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 is it called Indian butter chicken? ›

The dish originated in northern India, in Amritsar, to be exact. Legend has it that chefs there made chicken tikka with heavy amounts of butter to stay true to their Punjabi roots. But they didn't stop there: They added more butter as a garnish and called it butter chicken (or murgh makhani).

How do you thicken Indian butter chicken? ›

Cornstarch or Arrowroot
  1. Use cornstarch or arrowroot starch to thicken your curry. Prepare a slurry with starch and cold water/ curry. If you add the starch directly to your curry, it can clump.
  2. Add this at the very end of the cooking process. Once the slurry is added and the sauce comes to a boil, it will thicken.
Jun 21, 2022

What is butter chicken sauce made of? ›

Water, Tomato, Cream, Unsalted butter, Vegetable oil, Sugar, Modified corn starch, Concentrated tomato purée, Spices, Dried onion, Ginger, Garlic, Salt, Lactic acid (acidulant), Paprika extract, Citric acid (acidulant), Dried fenugreek leaf.

What does authentic butter chicken taste like? ›

Butter chicken is made with a spiced tomato and butter sauce, which does in fact give it the sweet, creamy and buttery taste. But most recipes add in copious amounts of butter, which can make you feel bloated and can be quite unhealthy.

What is garam masala made of? ›

Garam masala is a spice blend widely used in Indian cuisine, from curries and lentil dishes to soups. Whole spices of cinnamon, mace, peppercorns, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, and cardamon pods are toasted in a pan to release their aromatic flavors, then ground to a powder.

What is butter chicken called at Indian restaurants? ›

The Delhi-born Indian dish butter chicken also called murgh makhani, is a sort of curry cooked with chicken in spicy tomato and butter sauce. For its thick texture, its sauce is renowned.

Why is my butter chicken rubbery? ›

Overcooking might play a role in your chicken's tire-like texture. Leaving chicken in a pan, oven, or grill for just a little too long can suck the moisture right out and leave you with a dry, rubbery bird. Without moisture, the protein fibers in the chicken become elastic.

What is an interesting fact about butter chicken? ›

Did you know that authentic Butter Chicken is prepared in a tandoor, a traditional Indian clay oven? The chicken is first cooked in the tandoor, giving it a smoky and charred flavor, before being added to the luscious tomato-based curry.

What does butter chicken taste similar to? ›

Created by Kundan Lal Gujral, you may notice that Butter Chicken (known as murgh makhani — chicken with butter), is similar to British tikka masala. Prepared in a buttery gravy with the addition of cream gives the curry sauce a silky smooth rich texture.

What curry is most similar to butter chicken? ›

Butter Chicken

It will suit most people who like it's British invented counterpart Chicken Tikka Masala, but is probably a little spicier depending on the chef. Generally a mild to medium dish though.

Why is butter chicken called butter chicken? ›

The dish originated in northern India, in Amritsar, to be exact. Legend has it that chefs there made chicken tikka with heavy amounts of butter to stay true to their Punjabi roots. But they didn't stop there: They added more butter as a garnish and called it butter chicken (or murgh makhani).

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Gregorio Kreiger

Last Updated:

Views: 6388

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (77 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Gregorio Kreiger

Birthday: 1994-12-18

Address: 89212 Tracey Ramp, Sunside, MT 08453-0951

Phone: +9014805370218

Job: Customer Designer

Hobby: Mountain biking, Orienteering, Hiking, Sewing, Backpacking, Mushroom hunting, Backpacking

Introduction: My name is Gregorio Kreiger, I am a tender, brainy, enthusiastic, combative, agreeable, gentle, gentle person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.