Why Make This Recipe
Butter chicken is a flavorful and comforting dish that many love. With its rich and creamy sauce, this Quick & Easy Homemade Butter Chicken Recipe lets you enjoy this restaurant classic right at home. It’s perfect for busy weeknights when you want something delicious without spending hours in the kitchen.
How to Make Quick & Easy Homemade Butter Chicken
Ingredients:
- 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
- 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)
- Naan bread
- Steamed rice
Directions:
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Marinate the Chicken: In a bowl, mix the chicken pieces with salt, garlic powder, sweet paprika, curry powder, and Greek yogurt. Let it marinate for at least 30 minutes.
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Cook the Chicken: Heat the vegetable oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the marinated chicken and cook until browned and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside.
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Prepare the Sauce Base: In the same pan, add 2 tablespoons of butter. Sauté the minced garlic and diced onion until they are soft and fragrant.
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Build the Sauce: Pour in the tomato sauce, sugar, salt, black pepper, and heavy cream. Stir well to combine all the ingredients.
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Season and Simmer: Return the chicken to the pan and add cayenne pepper, garam masala, and curry powder. Let the mixture simmer for about 10-15 minutes until the sauce thickens.
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Finish with Butter: Stir in the remaining tablespoon of butter for extra richness.
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Serve and Enjoy: Enjoy your butter chicken with warm naan bread and steamed rice. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley if desired.
How to Serve Quick & Easy Homemade Butter Chicken
Serve the butter chicken hot on a plate with a generous helping of sauce. Pair it with warm naan bread or steamed rice. You can also add a side of cucumber salad or yogurt for a refreshing contrast.
How to Store Quick & Easy Homemade Butter Chicken
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, gently warm in a pan over low heat until heated through. You can also freeze the butter chicken for up to 3 months. Thaw it overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Tips to Make Quick & Easy Homemade Butter Chicken
- For more flavor, let the chicken marinate overnight.
- Use a mix of chicken thighs and breasts for a different texture.
- If you like it spicy, add more cayenne pepper or some chopped green chilies.
- Don’t skip the butter at the end; it adds a wonderful richness to the sauce.
Variation
You can easily make this recipe vegetarian by replacing the chicken with chickpeas or paneer. The cooking time for paneer will be shorter, so just add it towards the end!
FAQs
Can I use chicken breast instead of thighs?
Yes, you can use chicken breast, but thighs are more flavorful and tender.
Can I make this recipe dairy-free?
To make it dairy-free, substitute the heavy cream with coconut cream and use oil instead of butter.
How can I thicken the sauce?
If you want a thicker sauce, let it simmer longer or add a tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with water.
Enjoy making and sharing this quick and easy butter chicken dish!
Butter Chicken
Ingredients
For the Chicken Marinate
- 1.5 pounds skinless boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized chunks
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
- 0.5 teaspoon curry powder
- 1 tablespoon Greek yogurt
For Cooking
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 3 tablespoons butter divided
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt adjust to taste
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 0.5 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional for heat
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- 0.5 teaspoon curry powder
For Serving
- 0.25 cup freshly chopped parsley optional, for garnish
- Naan bread
- Steamed rice
Instructions
Preparation
- In a bowl, mix the chicken pieces with salt, garlic powder, sweet paprika, curry powder, and Greek yogurt. Let it marinate for at least 30 minutes.
Cooking
- Heat the vegetable oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the marinated chicken and cook until browned and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside.
- In the same pan, add 2 tablespoons of butter. Sauté the minced garlic and diced onion until they are soft and fragrant.
- Pour in the tomato sauce, sugar, salt, black pepper, and heavy cream. Stir well to combine all the ingredients.
- Return the chicken to the pan and add cayenne pepper, garam masala, and curry powder. Let the mixture simmer for about 10-15 minutes until the sauce thickens.
- Stir in the remaining tablespoon of butter for extra richness.
Serving
- Enjoy your butter chicken with warm naan bread and steamed rice. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley if desired.