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butter chicken recipe.

🍗 Authentic Butter Chicken Recipe | Creamy Indian Chicken Curry

This easy and authentic Butter Chicken recipe features tender chicken in a creamy, spiced tomato sauce. A classic Indian curry that's rich, comforting, and better than takeout — ready in just 30 minutes!

📌 Why You’ll Love This Butter Chicken

  • Rich, velvety tomato and butter-based sauce
  • Balanced flavors — mildly spicy, tangy, and a touch sweet
  • Perfect with naan, basmati rice, or jeera rice
  • Kid-friendly and crowd-pleasing
  • Easily adapted for dairy-free or low-carb diets

🛒 Ingredients

For the Chicken Marinade:

  • 500g boneless chicken thighs or breast, cut into chunks
  • ½ cup plain yogurt
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp garam masala
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1 tsp salt

For the Sauce:

  • 2 tbsp butter (or ghee)
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
  • 1½ tsp ground cumin
  • 1½ tsp ground coriander
  • 1 tsp chili powder (adjust to taste)
  • 1½ cups pureed tomatoes or tomato passata
  • ½ cup heavy cream or full-fat coconut milk
  • 1 tbsp sugar (optional, balances acidity)
  • ½ tsp fenugreek leaves (kasuri methi), crushed
  • Salt to taste
  • Fresh cilantro/coriander leaves for garnish

🍳 Instructions

1. Marinate the Chicken

  • In a bowl, combine chicken with all marinade ingredients.
  • Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (overnight for best flavor).

2. Cook the Chicken

  • Heat a tablespoon of oil in a skillet or grill pan.
  • Cook chicken pieces until browned on all sides and fully cooked. Set aside.

3. Prepare the Sauce

  • In a large pan, melt butter over medium heat.
  • Add chopped onions and sauté until golden.
  • Stir in ginger-garlic paste, cumin, coriander, and chili powder.
  • Cook spices for 1 minute until fragrant.

4. Add Tomato Base

  • Add pureed tomatoes and cook for 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Sauce should reduce and thicken slightly.

5. Blend (Optional)

  • For a smoother sauce, use an immersion blender or regular blender to puree the sauce, then return to pan.

6. Finish the Curry

  • Stir in cream, sugar, crushed fenugreek, and salt to taste.
  • Add the cooked chicken back to the sauce. Simmer for 5 minutes.
  • Garnish with fresh coriander and a drizzle of cream.

🍽 Serving Suggestions

  • Serve hot with steamed basmati rice, jeera rice, or buttery naan
  • Pair with a side of cucumber raita or kacha salad
  • Add a squeeze of lime for brightness

🧊 Storage Tips

  • Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 4 days
  • Freeze for up to 3 months — reheat gently on stove with a splash of water
  • Tastes even better the next day as flavors deepen!

🧠 Expert Tips for the Best Butter Chicken

  • Use chicken thighs for juicier results
  • Toast fenugreek leaves (kasuri methi) before crushing for maximum aroma
  • Use pureed fresh tomatoes for a lighter, natural sauce, or passata for consistency
  • Adjust spice to your taste — butter chicken is meant to be mild

🔄 Variations

  • Dairy-Free Butter Chicken – Use coconut cream or cashew cream instead of dairy
  • Low-Carb Version – Skip sugar and serve with cauliflower rice
  • Paneer Makhani – Swap chicken for paneer (Indian cottage cheese) for a vegetarian twist
  • Instant Pot Butter Chicken – Cook marinated chicken and sauce together under pressure

🙋 Frequently Asked Questions

Is butter chicken spicy?
Not typically. It’s mildly spiced and very creamy — a perfect beginner-friendly Indian curry.

What’s the difference between butter chicken and chicken tikka masala?
Butter chicken is creamier, sweeter, and less spicy. Tikka masala tends to have a bolder, tangier tomato base and more heat.

Can I use store-bought tomato puree?
Yes! Tomato passata or canned pureed tomatoes work perfectly.

⭐ Reader Review

💬 “This butter chicken is AMAZING! So rich and flavorful — tastes just like my favorite Indian restaurant. And the leftovers were even better the next day!” – @foodieinspired

📌 Final Thoughts

This homemade Butter Chicken recipe is everything you want in a cozy, comforting curry — rich, flavorful, and surprisingly simple to make. Whether you're new to Indian cooking or a seasoned home chef, this dish is guaranteed to become a favorite.


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