This butter chicken recipe came about when I got tired of paying restaurant prices for something I could make better at home. After several attempts that ended up too tangy or not creamy enough, I learned the secrets that make this Indian classic so irresistible - it's all about balancing the tomatoes with cream and getting the spices just right. The chicken gets marinated in yogurt and spices, then simmers in that rich, velvety sauce that makes you want to lick the bowl clean.
Why You'll Love This Butter Chicken Recipe
This Butter Chicken Recipe brings the warmth and comfort of Indian cuisine to your dinner table without requiring a trip to specialty stores for hard-to-find ingredients. The chicken gets tender from the yogurt marinade, and that creamy tomato sauce has just the right balance of spices to make your kitchen smell incredible. It's rich enough to feel special but not so heavy that you can't finish your plate.
What makes this recipe work for busy families is how most of it can be prepped ahead of time. You can marinate the chicken in the morning and have dinner ready in 30 minutes when you get home. The sauce is forgiving too - if it gets a little too thick, just add some water or cream, and if it's too thin, let it simmer a bit longer. Plus, kids who think they don't like "spicy" food often love this because the cream mellows everything out into pure comfort.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Butter Chicken Recipe
- Ingredients for Butter Chicken Recipe
- How To Make Butter Chicken Recipe Step By Step
- Build the Base:
- Smart Swaps for Your Butter Chicken Recipe
- Delicious Twists on Butter Chicken Recipe
- Equipment For Butter Chicken Recipe
- Storing Your Butter Chicken Recipe
- The Dish My Grandmother Taught Me to Love
- Top Tip
- What to Serve With Butter Chicken Recipe
- FAQ
- Indian Comfort Made Simple!
- Related
- Pairing
- butter chicken recipe
Ingredients for Butter Chicken Recipe
For the Chicken Marinade:
- Boneless chicken thighs or breasts (cut into chunks)
- Plain Greek yogurt
- Fresh ginger (minced)
- Garlic cloves (minced)
- Garam masala
- Salt
For the Sauce:
- Butter
- Yellow onion (diced)
- Fresh ginger and garlic
- Canned crushed tomatoes
- Heavy cream
- Tomato paste
- Garam masala
- Cumin
- Paprika
- Salt and black pepper
Optional Seasonings:
- Cayenne pepper for heat
- Fresh cilantro for garnish
- Basmati rice for serving
Basic Equipment:
- Wooden spoon
- Large skillet or Dutch oven
- Mixing bowl for marinade
See recipe card for quantities.
How To Make Butter Chicken Recipe Step By Step
Marinate the Chicken:
- Mix yogurt, minced ginger, garlic, garam masala, and salt in bowl
- Add chicken pieces and coat completely
- Let marinate 30 minutes to 4 hours in fridge
- Remove from fridge 15 minutes before cooking
Start the Sauce:
- Heat butter in large skillet over medium heat
- Add diced onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes
- Stir in fresh ginger and garlic, cook 1 minute more
- Add tomato paste and cook until fragrant
Build the Base:
- Pour in crushed tomatoes and spices
- Simmer 10 minutes to let flavors develop
- Season with salt and pepper to taste
- Stir occasionally to prevent sticking
Cook the Chicken:
- Add marinated chicken to sauce
- Cook 8-10 minutes until chicken is cooked through
- Stir in heavy cream gradually
- Simmer 5 more minutes until sauce thickens
Final Touches:
- Serve over basmati rice
- Taste and adjust seasonings
- Add more cream if too thick
- Garnish with fresh cilantro
Smart Swaps for Your Butter Chicken Recipe
Protein Options:
- Chicken thighs → Chicken breasts (reduce cooking time by 2-3 minutes)
- Fresh chicken → Leftover rotisserie chicken (add during last 5 minutes)
- Chicken → Paneer or cauliflower for vegetarian version
- Regular chicken → Shrimp or fish (cook much less time)
Dairy Changes:
- Heavy cream → Half-and-half or whole milk
- Greek yogurt → Regular plain yogurt for marinade
- Cream → Coconut milk for dairy-free version
- Full-fat → Light versions (sauce will be thinner)
Spice Substitutions:
- Garam masala → Curry powder mixed with cinnamon
- Fresh ginger → Ground ginger (use half the amount)
- Tomato paste → Extra crushed tomatoes
- Cayenne → Paprika for milder heat
Convenience Options:
- Fresh tomatoes → Canned tomato sauce
- Homemade → Store-bought garam masala
- Fresh garlic → Garlic powder
- Regular onion → Onion powder
Delicious Twists on Butter Chicken Recipe
Coconut Butter Chicken:
- Replace heavy cream with coconut milk
- Add curry leaves and mustard seeds
- Creates tropical, South Indian flavors
- Slightly sweet with deeper spice notes
Spicy Version:
- Double the cayenne pepper and add jalapeños
- Include hot sauce or chili paste
- Keep extra cream handy to cool it down
- Perfect for heat lovers
White Butter Chicken:
- Skip the tomatoes and use cashew cream
- Add white pepper instead of regular
- Creates pale, rich sauce
- Elegant presentation for guests
Slow Cooker Style:
- Brown chicken and onions first
- Add everything except cream to crockpot
- Cook on low 4-6 hours
- Stir in cream during last 30 minutes
Healthier Option:
- Still creamy but lighter
- Use Greek yogurt instead of cream
- Add extra vegetables like bell peppers
- Reduce butter and use cooking spray
Equipment For Butter Chicken Recipe
- Large skillet or Dutch oven for cooking
- Sharp knife for chopping
- Cutting board
- Mixing bowl for marinade
- Wooden spoon for stirring
Storing Your Butter Chicken Recipe
Fridge Storage (3-4 days):
- Cool completely before refrigerating
- Store in airtight container
- The sauce gets better after a day as flavors blend
- Reheat gently on stovetop over low heat
Freezer Storage (2-3 months):
- Cool completely before freezing
- Store in freezer-safe containers
- Leave room for expansion
- Thaw overnight in fridge before reheating
Reheating Tips:
- Stovetop works best - heat slowly and stir frequently
- Add splash of cream or water if sauce seems thick
- Microwave works for single portions
- Don't let it boil or the cream might separate
Make-Ahead Strategy:
- Great for entertaining prep
- Can marinate chicken up to 24 hours ahead
- Sauce can be made 1 day before adding chicken
- Combine and finish cooking when ready to serve
The Dish My Grandmother Taught Me to Love
My grandmother never made Butter Chicken Recipe - she was from a small Italian village where curry spices were as foreign as moon rocks. But she taught me something more valuable than any single recipe: how to layer flavors with patience and trust your senses over rigid instructions. Every Sunday, she'd start her tomato sauce at dawn, building layers of flavor with onions, garlic, and herbs, stirring constantly and tasting every step of the way.
When I first tried Butter Chicken Recipe at an Indian restaurant years later, I recognized her technique in every spoonful. The way the onions were cooked until sweet, how the spices bloomed in oil before liquid was added, the careful balance of acid and richness - it was her Sunday sauce method translated into different spices and ingredients. She would have loved watching me make this dish, probably laughing at how I fussed over the cream temperature when she always said "the food tells you what it needs if you listen." The recipe might be different, but the love and patience she taught me to put into every meal lives on in every pot of butter chicken I make.
Top Tip
- The secret to restaurant-quality Butter Chicken Recipe lies in not rushing the sauce development. Many home cooks dump everything in at once, but the magic happens when you build flavors layer by layer. Cook the onions until they're actually soft and slightly golden, let the ginger and garlic get fragrant, and give the tomato paste a full minute to cook out its raw flavor before adding liquids. This creates depth that you can taste in every spoonful instead of a flat, one dimensional sauce.
- Temperature control makes the difference between silky smoothButter Chicken Recipe and a broken, curdled mess. Once you add the cream, keep the heat at medium-low and never let it come to a full boil. The cream proteins will separate if they get too hot too fast, turning your beautiful sauce into something that looks like cottage cheese. If your sauce does start to break, remove it from heat immediately and whisk in a tablespoon of cold butter - this usually brings it back together.
What to Serve With Butter Chicken Recipe
This rich, creamy curry pairs beautifully with dishes that complement its bold flavors without competing for attention. Basmati rice is the classic choice - its long grains and subtle fragrance soak up the sauce perfectly while staying fluffy and separate. Fresh naan bread works beautifully for scooping up every drop of that creamy sauce, while garlic naan adds extra flavor that enhances the spices. For cooling contrast, try cucumber salad with yogurt dressing or pickled onions that cut through all that richness with bright acidity.
The key is balancing the bButter Chicken Recipe creamy richness with fresh, light sides that cleanse your palate between bites. Roasted cauliflower or steamed green beans add texture and earthy flavors without overwhelming the curry's complex spices. Saag (spiced spinach) makes an excellent vegetarian side that shares similar warm spices, while fresh cilantro-mint chutney brings herbaceous brightness. Serve everything in shallow bowls rather than deep ones it makes mixing rice and sauce easier and shows off those beautiful orange-red colors that make butter chicken so appealing.
FAQ
What are the ingredients in Butter Chicken Recipe?
The main ingredients include chicken (marinated in yogurt and spices), butter, onions, garlic, ginger, crushed tomatoes, heavy cream, and spices like garam masala, cumin, and paprika. The yogurt marinade tenderizes the chicken while the tomato-cream sauce creates that signature rich, creamy texture that makes Butter Chicken Recipe so popular.
What is the secret to a good Butter Chicken Recipe?
The secret is building flavors in layers and not rushing the process. Cook the onions until soft, let the spices bloom in the oil, and simmer the tomatoes long enough to concentrate their flavor. Don't add cream too early or at high heat, as it can curdle and break the sauce.
What are some common mistakes when making Butter Chicken Recipe?
Common mistakes include not marinating the chicken long enough, adding cream at too high heat (causing curdling), rushing the sauce base, and using chicken breasts that cook too quickly and become dry. Also, many people make it too sweet or skip the final seasoning adjustments.
Do you put sour cream in butter chicken?
Traditional butter chicken recipe uses heavy cream, not sour cream. However, some recipes substitute Greek yogurt or sour cream for a tangier flavor and lighter texture. If using sour cream, add it off the heat and stir gently to prevent curdling from the acidity.
Indian Comfort Made Simple!
Now you have all the secrets to making perfect butter chicken from proper marinating techniques to controlling that cream so it stays silky smooth. This restaurant-style dish proves that Indian comfort food can be made at home with ingredients from any grocery store, delivering rich, complex flavors that rival your favorite takeout spot.
Craving more comfort food favorites? Try our Delicious Naan Bread Recipe
that's the perfect companion for scooping up every drop of this creamy sauce. Want to end on a sweet note? Our The Best Chocolate Pie Recipe provides the perfect rich finish to balance all those savory spices. Looking for another hearty main dish? Our Easy Creamy Smothered Chicken And Rice Recipe delivers that same comfort food satisfaction with Southern flavors!
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Pairing
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butter chicken recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Mix yogurt, garlic, ginger, garam masala, and salt; coat chicken and marinate 30 min-4 hrs.
- Heat butter, sauté onion until softened, add garlic, ginger, and tomato paste.
- Pour in crushed tomatoes and spices; simmer 10 minutes, season with salt and pepper.
- Add marinated chicken, simmer 8-10 minutes until cooked; stir in cream.
- Simmer 5 minutes, adjust seasoning, serve with rice, garnish with cilantro.
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