This Butter Chicken Recipe has so much flavor, and Indian recipes like this are meant to be shared. You’ll love this easy recipe because it’s one of the best weeknight dinners that still tastes delicious the next day. Plus, you can add some Side Dishes, and you’re set.
Tender chicken recipes are always popular! Be sure to check out another Indian recipe, this Chilli Chicken.
This Bacon Wrapped Chicken Thighs as well as my Chicken Street Tacos for more fun and simple chicken dinner recipes.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It tastes like authentic Indian cuisine: It’s so good you’ll be ready to make it a second time.
- Simple to make: You’ll love that you can whip this up your first time and have it taste perfect.
- It’s versatile: This is a simple recipe that can easily be turned into a vegetarian option by cutting out the protein and adding in vegetables instead.
Ingredients Needed
I’ve highlighted a couple of ingredients below with some relevant notes. Aside from this, the ingredients needed are pretty basic.
- Butter – We use unsalted for this recipe, but you can use salted if you prefer. Just remember that you may want to reduce the amount of salt the recipe calls for if using salted butter.
- Cream – Double (heavy) cream is best. Make sure it’s at room temperature. If added in when cold, it will cause the caramel to split.
- Skinless Chicken Thighs – This type of chicken is needed to keep it tender and juicy, however, chicken breast could be used as well.
- Tomato Sauce – This is used to help add acidity to the dish. If you don’t have tomato sauce, a tad bit of tomato paste could be an option.
- Basmati Rice – The texture of the rice pairs so well with the curry texture. If you don’t have Basmati, white rice or brown rice can be a good pairing, too.
Substitutions
Sometimes substitutions are necessary because of ingredients that are unavailable or needed for dietary restrictions. Here are some suggestions that can help:
- White Onion – Sweet onions or scallions can be an option, too. Scallions would be a great topping for this simple dish.
- Chicken Breasts – Any cut of chicken will work for this dish as long as there is no added skin or bones.
- Naan Bread – While this is optional to add, it’s a fun dipper to this dish. If you don’t have Naan bread, any type of bread will work.
Variations
If you love recipes but like to change them up, this Creamy Butter Chicken Recipe is very forgiving.
- Main Ingredient – Even though chicken is the star of the recipe, you can easily make it without the chicken added. Using vegetables like broccoli, zucchini, onions, and cauliflower are great options for making a simple and healthy dish with wonderful curry flavors.
Equipment
- Large saucepan
- Measuring tools
- Mixing tools
- Cutting board
- Knife
How to Make Butter Chicken Recipe Without Garam Masala
This easy recipe has easy-to-follow steps. Just be sure to gather all the needed ingredients before starting.
*Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full ingredients list & instructions!*
You’ll start the basis of the recipe by adding butter to a pan over medium heat on the stove.
STEP 1. Cook the onion. Add the diced onion and garlic to the pot and saute for 3-5 minutes. (Image 1).
STEP 2. Add the spices. Add the cumin, ground coriander, ground ginger, allspice, turmeric, and sea salt and stir to combine. (Image 2)
STEP 3: Add the chicken. Put the diced chicken into the pan and cook until the chicken is browned. (Image 3)
STEP 4: Stir. Make sure that the chicken is stirred in with the rest of the ingredients. (Image 4)
STEP 5: Add the tomato sauce. Pour in the tomato sauce with the cooked chicken and other ingredients. (Image 5)
STEP 6: Simmer. Reduce the cooking heat to low and cover. (Image 6)
STEP 7: Add the cream. Once the simmering time has passed, pour in the cream. (Image 7)
STEP 8: Add butter. Add the rest of the butter and garnish. (Image 8)
Tip: Make sure that the chicken is cooked all the way. You can use a meat thermometer to test some of the chicken pieces before stirring into the rest of the ingredients. Fully cooked chicken should have an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees.
Once you serve this in a bowl, add some homemade naan bread as the perfect pairing. You can also pair it with cauliflower rice as well. This is a great way to add more veggies to the dish.
Recipe Pro Tips
- Allow to fully cool. The flavor of this dish does intensify as it cools. If you can let it cool down slightly, the outcome is incredible.
- Add some spice. You can take this best butter chicken recipe and crank up the heat. Add some red chili powder, and enjoy.
Recipe FAQs
While both are popular Indian food items at Indian restaurants, there is no difference between the two. Butter chicken is made with a makhani sauce and may be called by either name. Both are considered authentic Indian butter chicken recipes and can be called by either name.
This is one of the most popular curries to be eaten with Naan bread or rice. People will also add extra sauce and top with fresh cilantro for a truly delicious flavor. A lot of butter chicken recipes are served with bite-sized pieces of Naan bread for dipping.
You just need to add a teaspoon of salt or other species if you feel like this recipe is bland. You’ll find that a lot of butter chicken recipes need to be altered a bit to find the perfect flavor. This is why recipe testing of the sauce recipe is so important to do! You want to end up with a 5 star rating flavor once you make it.
The great thing about making this simple chicken recipe is that the ingredients aren’t hard to find at all. You more than likely have most of them already in your fridge and pantry. See the recipe card below for the full list of needed ingredients.
The biggest difference between the two is the flavor. Butter chicken has a creamier taste and texture while Tikka Masala has a bit of spice to it.
The added spices like turmeric are what help to give this delicious dish its golden coloring.
When made, there is not only butter added as an ingredient but butter is also added as another garnish, too. More butter, please!
What to Serve with Creamy Butter Chicken
This butter chicken recipe ingredients go well with Easy Italian White Bread as well as Naan bread. You can also serve this simple dish with The BEST Side Salad Recipe as well.
Storage
You can store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge.
If you decide that you need to store it longer than that, simply freeze it for up to 2 months.
When you’re ready to reheat and eat, thaw it overnight in the fridge and reheat in a saucepan over low heat. Stirring occasionally until it’s heated all the way.
More Simple Recipes You’ll Love
Did you make this? I’d be so grateful if you left a “star” rating below to let me know what you thought! Then, the next time you need a quick and easy recipe, come back to Fantabulosity to browse all of my easy recipes!
Recipe
Butter Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons butter salted
- 1 white onion medium and chopped
- 1½ tablespoons minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons cumin
- 1 tablespoon ground coriander
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons allspice
- 1½ teaspoons turmeric
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 package chicken thighs boneless and skinless, about 2 pounds, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 can tomato sauce 15 ounces
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- fresh cilantro chopped, optional
- basmati rice steamed, optional
- naan bread optional
Instructions
- Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Add the chopped onion into the pan and saute for 3-5 minutes. The onion should be transulcent.
- Add the minced garlic and stir. Cook for 1 minute.
- Add the the cumin, ground coriander, ground ginger, allspice, turmeric and sea salt and stir to combine.
- Cook everything for about 30 seconds.
- Add in the diced chicken and stir. Cook for 2-4 minutes and make sure that it's fully coated with the spices. The chicken should be browned on all four sides from the heat and cooking.
- Add the tomato sauce. Stir, and then simmer.
- Put the heat on low, add a lid and simmer for about 12 minutes., or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
- Stir in the heavy cream and let simmer for 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in 1 tablespoon of butter.
- Garnish with the optional items. Serve and enjoy.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
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