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 13 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.
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Ingredients used
- chicken breasts - they can be swapped for chicken thighs or legs
- Greek yogurt - it can be swapped for plain yogurt
- Indian spices - you can go for more heat if you want, I quite like a mild version
- garlic - minced garlic works better for this dish, as the sauce needs to be smooth and creamy
- ginger paste - as with the garlic, minced works better
- tomato passata - it adds creaminess to the sauce, if you use chopped tomatoes,
Step-by-step photos and instructions
The marianade
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.
- 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.
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.
Tips and FAQ
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.
When you add the cream to the sauce, make sure it's hot cold from the fridge, as the texture of the sauce might change - it is best to add a bit of the sauce to the cream, mix it together, then add the cream to the pan.
Marianate the chicken for as long as you can, the longer, the better, as the chicken will soak up all the flavours.
Butter chicken is supposed to be spiced, but not spicy. The curry sauce is mild and creamy, which makes it stand out from other curry sauces.
Butter chicken is amazing with rice, flatbread of any kind or poppadom.
In doesn't. The butter chicken sauce contains double cream / heavy cream, which makes it smooth, rich and creamy.
Other chicken curry recipes
If you’ve tried my EASY INDIAN BUTTER CHICKEN RECIPE or any other recipe on the blog then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, and PINTEREST to see more delicious food and what I’m getting up to.
Easy Butter Chicken Recipe (Indian Style)
Ingredients
For the marinade
- 3 chicken breasts
- ⅓ cup Greek yogurt
- 1 teaspoon Garam masala
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon ground coriander (cilantro)
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ginger paste
For the sauce
- 2 cups tomato passata
- ½ cup double cream (heavy cream)
- 1 teaspoon garlic paste
- 1 teaspoon ginger paste
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- freshly-chopped coriander (cilantro) to garlish
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Instructions
- To make the mariande, combine all the ingredients together, toss the chicken pieces in and mix well to coat.
- Cover the bowl with clingfilm, and refrigerate for at least one hour, ideally longer.
- 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.
- Add the tomato passata, garlic and ginger paste, sugar and garam masala and give a good stir.
- 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.
- Add the cream, mix well and cook for a further 5 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and garnish with freshly-chopped coriander leaves.
Video
Notes
- 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.
- 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.
- When you add the cream to the sauce, make sure it's hot cold from the fridge, as the texture of the sauce might change - it is best to add a bit of the sauce to the cream, mix it together, then add the cream to the pan.
- Marianate the chicken for as long as you can, the longer, the better, as the chicken will soak up all the flavours.
Nutrition
cookingwithauntjuju.com
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.
Daniela Anderson
Thank you! It certainly is tasty, and I am glad you like it! 🙂
Jhuls
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!
Daniela Anderson
Thank you, Jhuls! Worth trying, l loved it!
Paige
This is a very tasty dish. I have made it several times and the whole family loves it. The only critique is that the recipe does not call for any salt at all. I always season with a little salt in the marinade and while cooking the chicken in sauce. It needs it to bring out all the flavors and savoriness of the rest of the spices.
sadhna grover
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.
Daniela Anderson
Thank you 😊
Jay
Looks amazing!!!! 😍😍😍
Adina
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!
Daniela Anderson
Thank you, l’m glad you like the recipe.
Brittney
can you use regular yougurt in place of greek yougurt
Daniela Anderson
Absolutely! I like the Greek one for its creaminess, but the plain one will work just fine.
Brittney
Thank you i was worried because i grab the wrong yougurt
Daniela Anderson
Not a problem! Let me know how it goes!
Zach
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.
Daniela Anderson
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.
shrikant sharma
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.
Daniela Anderson
Thank you, it's one of my favourite curry recipes, and always a big hit with us!
Angela
Can you use coconut milk instead of yogurt?
Daniela Apostol
Yes, it can be used the same way.
Kailey
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.
Angela
The recipe seems easy to follow. However when it gets to combine the sauce, it's not clear when you add the chicken .
Daniela Apostol
The chicken is already in the pan, once it's cooked, you add the ingredients for the sauce over it.
Jessica
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.
Daniela Apostol
I am glad you enjoyed it!
Zau
Hi
Was wondering if I missed it but do add salt to the chicken??
Thanks
Daniela Apostol
It's usually a matter of taste, I would say you can add up to half a teaspoon to begin with and see how it goes.
Robyn Warnes
Can you freeze this recipe, as I am looking for an easy one for the school canteen I lease.
Daniela Apostol
Absolutely! It can be frozen without problems.
Marg
If freezing, I’m wondering if the cream should be left out and included back later when defrosted….or does the cream freeze withought curdling. I’m making your recipe this week….sounds delicious… thankyou..
Daniela Apostol
You could try adding the cream later, it sounds like a good idea. I hope you like the curry.
Christine
Absolutely Fantastic!!
This is my go-to recipe every time now, and everyone who tastes it says it’s the best they’ve ever had!
For those who don’t like it too spicy, I only add 1/4-1/2 the amount of Cayenne pepper!
I also add 3 tbsp of butter to the Butter Chicken at the end, blending it in just with a spatula.
SOOO GOOD!!
Daniela Apostol
I am very happy that you like my recipe!