Indian Butter Chicken Recipe
A classic Indian Butter Chicken recipe featuring tender chicken pieces simmered in a rich, creamy tomato-based sauce flavored with aromatic spices like garam masala, cumin, and chili powder. This comforting dish is perfect served over basmati rice or with warm naan bread.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Marinade
- 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into chunks
Sauce and Seasonings
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 teaspoon ginger, minced
- 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Prepare the base: Heat the vegetable oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the diced onions and cook until they become lightly golden, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in the minced ginger and garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds to release their aroma.
- Cook the chicken with spices: Add the chicken chunks into the skillet along with tomato paste, garam masala, chili powder, cumin, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to coat the chicken and spices evenly. Cook the mixture for 5-6 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked and no longer pink inside.
- Simmer the sauce: Pour in the heavy cream and reduce the heat to low. Let the sauce simmer gently for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens to a rich and creamy consistency.
- Serve: Remove from heat and serve the butter chicken hot, ideally over steamed basmati rice or with warm naan bread for a complete meal. Enjoy your flavorful dish!
Notes
- For best results, use fresh ginger and garlic to enhance the flavor.
- If you prefer a less spicy dish, reduce the chili powder to ½ teaspoon.
- Heavy cream provides the signature richness; you can substitute with coconut cream for a dairy-free alternative, though flavor will vary.
- Chicken thighs can be used instead of breasts for a juicier texture.
- Make sure the chicken is fully cooked before adding the cream to avoid any raw chicken texture.
Keywords: Butter Chicken, Indian Butter Chicken, Chicken Curry, Indian Cuisine, Creamy Chicken, Easy Butter Chicken Recipe
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