Butter Chicken

So flavorful and creamy, this Butter Chicken is easy enough to make on a weeknight! No marinating means it’s a great last minute dinner idea.

Course Main Dish

Cuisine Indian

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 35

Total Time 45

Servings servings

Calories 629kcal

Author Deborah Harroun

Ingredients

Chicken

2 tablespoons butter
2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into bite-sized pieces

Sauce

2 tablespoons butter
1/2 onion chopped
5-6 cloves garlic minced
1 tablespoon ginger minced or grated
1 tablespoon garam masala
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons tomato paste
8 oz tomato sauce
1 cup heavy cream
Freshly chopped cilantro and cooked rice for serving

Instructions

Place a large skillet over medium-high heat and add 2 tablespoons of the butter. Once the butter has melted, add the chicken in 2 batches, cooking until browned. Remove from the skillet to a plate and keep warm.
2 tablespoons butter, 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs
In the same skillet, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Add the onion and cook until softened. Add the garlic and ginger, and cook an additional 30 seconds, until fragrant.
2 tablespoons butter, 1/2 onion, 5-6 cloves garlic, 1 tablespoon ginger
Add the garam masala, smoked paprika, curry powder, cumin and salt and stir for 30 seconds.
1 tablespoon garam masala, 1 tablespoon smoked paprika, 1 tablespoon curry powder, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon salt
Stir the tomato paste into the mixture, followed by the tomato sauce. Add the cooked chicken back in and stir to coat. Stir in the cream. Let the mixture simmer for 20 minutes, being careful to not boil the sauce.
2 tablespoons tomato paste, 8 oz tomato sauce, 1 cup heavy cream
Serve the chicken and sauce over rice, sprinkled with cilantro, if desired.
Freshly chopped cilantro and cooked rice

Notes

Substitutions:
CHICKEN: I like chicken thighs the best, but you can use chicken breasts.
CREAM: Using heavy cream will give you the most luxurious results, but you can sub in plain yogurt or creme fraiche. Coconut milk can also be used, but it will alter the flavor somewhat.

Nutrition information provided as an estimate only. Various brands and products can change the counts. Any nutritional information should be used as a general guide. Nutrition information does not include rice or cilantro.

Nutrition