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+ servings

Butter Chicken

A creamy and flavorful homemade butter chicken that is quick to make, perfect for weeknight dinners.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 22 minutes
Total Time 52 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Indian
Calories: 600

Ingredients
  

For Marinating the Chicken
  • 1.5 pounds skinless boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized chunks
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
  • 0.5 teaspoon curry powder
  • 1 tablespoon Greek yogurt
For Cook and Sauce
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 3 tablespoons butter (divided)
  • 6 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 0.5 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional) for heat
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • 0.5 teaspoon curry powder
  • 0.25 cup freshly chopped parsley (optional, for garnish)
To Serve
  • Naan bread
  • Steamed rice

Method
 

Marinating the Chicken
  1. In a bowl, mix chicken chunks with salt, garlic powder, sweet paprika, curry powder, and Greek yogurt. Let it marinate for at least 30 minutes for better flavor.
Cooking the Chicken
  1. In a large pan, heat vegetable oil over medium heat. Add the marinated chicken and cook until browned on all sides, about 5-7 minutes. Remove and set aside.
Preparing the Sauce Base
  1. In the same pan, add 1 tablespoon of butter. Add minced garlic and diced onion. Cook until the onion is soft and translucent.
Building the Sauce
  1. Pour in tomato sauce, sugar, salt, and black pepper. Stir well and let it simmer for 5 minutes.
Seasoning and Simmering
  1. Return the chicken to the pan. Add heavy cream, cayenne pepper (if using), garam masala, and an extra ½ teaspoon curry powder. Mix everything together and let it simmer for another 10 minutes.
Finishing with Butter
  1. Stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter until melted and combined for extra richness.
Serving
  1. Remove from heat and garnish with fresh parsley if desired. Serve your butter chicken with naan bread and steamed rice.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 600kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 35gFat: 45gSaturated Fat: 25gSodium: 800mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5g

Notes

To store leftovers, let the butter chicken cool completely. Transfer it to an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months. When reheating, add a splash of cream or water to keep the sauce creamy.

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