Easy Butter Chicken Recipe, my take on the classic Indian chicken curry that is popular all over the world. With a rich and heavenly creamy sauce and a fantastic blend of spices, this dish is one of the must-try easy family dinner recipes.
Few are the dishes that make such an impression on me from the very first time I try them. It wasn’t until I moved to the UK some 12 years ago that I first tried a restaurant-style chicken curry. Coming from a country where strong spices are not really a thing, this was certainly different. Good different.
It did take me a while to get used to the heat, since I used to eat food that’s rather plain. I knew I had to cook it myself, and so this easy chicken curry was created. My recipe is a well simplified one, and although I have used the basic spices, I decided to play safe and keep it mild, just the way I like it.
Now, the authentic Indian chicken curry may use a different cooking technique, and a lot more spices, but I must admit I’m kind of rubbish at buying a large variety of spices.
Still Romanian to the bones, I’m cautious not to add to much heat to my dishes, I really don’t think I can handle spiciness too well. Maybe if I have spicy food for a while, I might get used to it a lot quicker, but I don’t really eat spicy that often.
How TO make Indian butter chicken
Although the name could make you think this recipe has butter in it, in actually hasn’t. The chicken pieces are marinated in yogurt and spices, and the sauce is made with cream. Still, you get a superbly rich and delicious homemade chicken curry that tastes exactly like the one you get in a restaurant.
THE MARINADE
- In a bowl, add the yogurt, garlic, ginger and spices, add the chicken pieces, and mix well to coat.
THE COOKING
- Cover with a clingfilm and refrigerate for at least one hour, ideally overnight.
- Heat up the oil in pan, add the chicken pieces and cook for about 6-7 minutes, until the chicken is no longer pink and is cooked through.
THE BEST SAUCE FOR BUTTER CHICKEN
Once the chicken is cooked, add the tomato passata, ginger, garlic, sugar, garam masala, and leave to cook for about 20 minutes until the sauce is reduced and it coats the chicken well.
Add the double cream, give it a good stir, garnish with coriander or parsley, and remove from the heat. Serve it with rice, or flatbread for a true Indian feast experience.
BEST CURRIES
You can go for more spiciness if you like, depending on your family’s taste buds. My little ones don’t handle spicy food very well, so my curries are usually mild. But mild does not mean less taste, all on the contrary, I think there is a perfect balance between spices, at least for me.
By the way, did you know that in the UK curry has been adopted as a national dish? Not at all surprising, since it’s so delicious. Although the term curry is a Western one, usually referring to a spiced dish cooked in sauce.
From tikka masala, to rogan josh, korma, balti, to vindaloo and so many more, curries are ever so popular. And rightly so. And by the way, there is no butter is this creamy butter chicken, how funny, isn’t it?
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Easy Butter Chicken Recipe, my take on the classic Indian chicken curry that is popular all over the world. With a rich and heavenly creamy sauce and a fantastic blend of spices, this dish is one of the must-try easy family dinner recipes. The sauce doesn't have any butter in it actually, just double cream, and the spices are earthy and give deep flavours to this chicken recipe. Quick and easy, a big hit with the whole family. The best chicken curry recipe!
- 3 chicken breasts
- 1/3 cup Greek yogurt
- 1 tsp Garam masala
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp ground coriander (cilantro)
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 tsp ginger paste
- 2 cups tomato passata
- 1/2 cup double cream (heavy cream)
- 1 tsp garlic paste
- 1 tsp ginger paste
- 1 tsp garam masala
- 1 tsp brown sugar
- freshly-chopped coriander (cilantro) to garlish
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
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To make the mariande, combine all the ingredients together, toss the chicken pieces in and mix well to coat.
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Cover the bowl with clingfilm, and refrigerate for at least one hour, ideally longer.
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Heat up the oil in a large pan, and fry the chicken pieces on a medium heat for about 5-6 minutes until cooked through.
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Add the tomato passata, garlic and ginger paste, sugar and garam masala and give a good stir.
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Leave to cook on a low to medium heat for 20 minutes, until the sauce is reduced by almost a quarter, and it coats the chicken pieces well.
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Add the cream, mix well and cook for a further 5 minutes.
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Remove from the heat and garnish with freshly-chopped coriander leaves.
Recipe Video
- To see the measurements in cups and ounces, please click on the US CUSTOMARY link.
- The amount of ingredients listed can be adjusted depending on the number of servings you need, just click on the number next to SERVINGS.
This is another Indian recipe I have been wanting to make. Your recipe sounds spicy to me and looks like it has most if not all the necessary ingredients. This kind of dish can always be made to taste and you certainly have done that. Happy Fiesta Friday and have a great weekend.
Thank you! It certainly is tasty, and I am glad you like it! 🙂
I’ve always wanted to make my own butter chicken. I am a little afraid, though coz I haven’t tasted an authentic one. You inspire me to try. This looks absolutely fantastic!
Thank you, Jhuls! Worth trying, l loved it!
This curry looks so good. The ingredients and spices you have used in this chicken curry can definitely make it tasty. Thanks for sharing it with Fiesta Friday.
Thank you 😊
Looks amazing!!!! 😍😍😍
Wow what a great recipe! Very easy to follow the instructions. The balance of heat coming from all the spices is just perfect! Absolutely delicious! Thanks Daniela!
Thank you, l’m glad you like the recipe.
can you use regular yougurt in place of greek yougurt
Absolutely! I like the Greek one for its creaminess, but the plain one will work just fine.
Thank you i was worried because i grab the wrong yougurt
Not a problem! Let me know how it goes!
You should update this to not say “paste” in the parentheses for tomato passata. I’m not sure what the intent was, but 2 cups of tomato paste is an absurd amount. My rookie cooking skills didn’t know any better. Had to trash the chicken unfortunately.
I’m sorry if the term was misleading, l should have specified tomato puree instead of tomato paste. The thing is, for different countries the terms tomato passata, tomato puree and tomato paste will have different meanings. I’m sorry if you felt you had to throw the chicken away. I do use the thick tomato paste if don’t have passata on hand, and l don’t think it tastes bad at all. Especially that the butter chicken also uses cream which makes the sauce thinner, and balances well the sharpness of the tomato sauce and spiciness of the dish. I’ll take the tomato paste off then.
Daniella, thank you for sharing this post regarding Butter Chicken recipe alongwith pictures so that a thorough impression is made on the readers as well. In India, families with kids who are still not accustomed to hot and spicy food choose Butter Chicken from the restaurant menu. It is a creamy delight.
Thank you, it’s one of my favourite curry recipes, and always a big hit with us!
Can you use coconut milk instead of yogurt?
Yes, it can be used the same way.
My favourite butter chicken recipe! I was just wondering if anybody has made this in a instant pot, I just received one as a gift and I’d love to make this in it.
The recipe seems easy to follow. However when it gets to combine the sauce, it’s not clear when you add the chicken .
The chicken is already in the pan, once it’s cooked, you add the ingredients for the sauce over it.
This was a great recipe. We enjoyed the flavors and will be making this easy butter chicken dish again and again. Thanks for sharing this.
I am glad you enjoyed it!