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Best Butter Chicken Recipe

Butter Chicken Recipe

Author: Olivia Ross
A creamy, flavor-packed Indian butter chicken with tender marinated chicken simmered in a rich tomato and cream sauce. Easy to make and perfect for cozy weeknight dinners.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Indian
Servings 4 servings
Calories 402 kcal

Ingredients
  

Marinade

  • ½ cup plain full-fat yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 2 teaspoons garam masala
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder or cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
  • 2 cloves garlic crushed
  • 1.5 lb boneless chicken thigh fillets cut into bite-sized pieces

Curry

  • 2 tablespoons ghee or butter or 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 cup tomato passata or pureed tomatoes
  • 1 cup heavy or thickened cream
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 ¼ teaspoons salt

To Serve

  • 1 Basmati or white rice for serving
  • 1 handful fresh coriander or cilantro optional, for garnish

Instructions
 

  • In a large bowl, mix the yogurt, lemon juice, turmeric, garam masala, chili powder, cumin, ginger, and garlic. Add the chicken pieces and coat them well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight for the best flavor.
  • Heat ghee or butter in a large skillet over high heat. Add the marinated chicken, letting the extra marinade drip off before it hits the pan. Cook for about 3 minutes until the chicken turns white on the outside.
  • Pour in the tomato passata, cream, sugar, and salt. Add any leftover marinade from the bowl. Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer gently for around 20 minutes until the sauce thickens and deepens in color.
  • Check the seasoning and adjust if needed. Once the sauce is silky and the chicken is tender, remove it from the heat. Garnish with fresh coriander if desired and serve over basmati rice.

Notes

  • Marinate longer for deeper flavor — ideally overnight for tender and flavorful chicken.
  • Use chicken thighs instead of breasts for juicier results.
  • Simmer low and slow to avoid cream splitting and to allow flavors to blend.
  • Add cream after reducing heat to prevent curdling.
  • Adjust spice and sweetness to taste by adding more chili or sugar if needed.

Nutrition

Serving: 310gCalories: 402kcalCarbohydrates: 9.8gProtein: 39.8gFat: 23.4gSaturated Fat: 9.3gCholesterol: 193mgSodium: 928mgFiber: 0.9gSugar: 6.5g
Keyword Butter Chicken
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