Description
Indulge in a restaurant-quality meal right at home with this Easy Indian Butter Chicken recipe. Juicy, marinated chicken is simmered in a luscious, buttery tomato sauce with just the right balance of spice and cream. This dish is perfect for a quick dinner, a healthy yet satisfying weeknight meal, or when you need delicious food ideas to impress your family and friends. It’s a must-try for anyone seeking easy recipes, quick dinner inspiration, or new healthy snack and dinner ideas.
Ingredients
1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or breasts), cut into bite-size pieces
¾ cup plain yogurt
2 tablespoons lemon juice
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
2 teaspoons garam masala
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons butter, divided
1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce or puree
1 cup heavy cream
½ teaspoon black pepper
¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
1. Combine yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, ginger, garam masala, cumin, coriander, turmeric, chili powder, and salt in a bowl. Add chicken and mix well. Marinate in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, or overnight.
2. Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add marinated chicken and sear until golden on all sides. Remove chicken and set aside (it will finish cooking in the sauce).
3. In the same pan, melt the remaining butter. Add a little more garlic and ginger if desired. Pour in tomato sauce and black pepper, then simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Return chicken and any juices to the pan. Cover and simmer for 10–15 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
5. Stir in heavy cream and simmer on low for 3–5 minutes until the sauce is creamy and smooth.
6. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Garnish with fresh cilantro.
7. Serve hot with basmati rice and naan bread.
Notes
Marinate the chicken as long as possible for maximum flavor and tenderness—overnight is best.
Adjust spice level to taste by increasing or decreasing the chili powder.
Leftovers keep well and taste even better the next day as flavors meld together.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Indian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/5 of recipe
- Calories: 470
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 29g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 13g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 150mg
Keywords: easy Indian butter chicken, quick dinner, easy recipe, food ideas, dinner ideas