Quick & Easy Homemade Butter Chicken Recipe
This Quick & Easy Homemade Butter Chicken recipe offers a creamy, flavorful Indian-inspired dish that’s perfect for a weeknight dinner. Juicy marinated chicken thighs are cooked to perfection and simmered in a rich tomato and cream sauce, seasoned with traditional spices. Served with warm naan bread and steamed rice, this dish is sure to become a family favorite.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken Marinade
- 1 ½ pounds skinless boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized chunks
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
- ½ teaspoon curry powder
- 1 tablespoon Greek yogurt
For the Butter Chicken 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
- 1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional for heat)
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- ½ teaspoon curry powder
- ¼ cup freshly chopped parsley (optional, for garnish)
To Serve
- Naan bread
- Steamed rice
Instructions
- Marinate the Chicken: In a bowl, combine the chicken chunks with salt, garlic powder, paprika, curry powder, and Greek yogurt. Mix well to coat all the pieces evenly. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes to let the flavors infuse.
- Prepare the Butter Chicken Sauce: Heat the vegetable oil and 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and diced onion, sautéing until they become fragrant and translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in the tomato sauce, sugar, salt, black pepper, heavy cream, cayenne pepper if using, garam masala, and additional curry powder. Allow the sauce to simmer gently for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally to meld the flavors.
- Cook the Chicken: While the sauce simmers, heat another pan over medium-high heat. Add the marinated chicken pieces and cook until they are browned and cooked through, roughly 6-8 minutes, turning occasionally for even cooking.
- Combine Chicken and Sauce: Transfer the cooked chicken into the skillet with the simmering sauce. Stir well to coat all pieces in the creamy tomato sauce. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, stirring until melted and incorporated. Let the combined dish simmer for an additional 3-5 minutes to blend the flavors fully.
- Serve: Garnish the butter chicken with freshly chopped parsley if desired. Serve hot, accompanied by warm naan bread and steamed rice for a complete and satisfying meal.
Notes
- You can adjust the cayenne pepper amount or omit it altogether depending on your preferred spice level.
- Use boneless chicken thighs for juicier, tender meat; chicken breasts can be substituted but may be less moist.
- Marinating the chicken longer than 15 minutes, ideally up to 2 hours, enhances flavor and tenderness.
- For a richer sauce, you can substitute some cream with coconut milk for a slightly different twist.
- Garam masala can be found in most grocery stores or international markets; it adds authentic flavor to the dish.
Keywords: Butter Chicken, Indian Butter Chicken, Easy Butter Chicken, Chicken Curry, Creamy Chicken Curry, Indian Cuisine, Weeknight Dinner
