Quick & Easy Homemade Butter Chicken Recipe

Butter chicken, a popular Indian dish, is loved for its creamy sauce and tender chicken pieces. This Quick & Easy Homemade Butter Chicken Recipe offers you a delightful meal that you can prepare in no time. With just a handful of ingredients and simple steps, you can recreate this restaurant favorite right in your kitchen. Get ready to impress your family and friends with a rich, flavorful dish everyone will love!

Why Make This Recipe

There are several reasons to try this Quick & Easy Homemade Butter Chicken Recipe. First, it combines the warm, comforting flavors of spices like garam masala and curry powder with a luscious, creamy sauce. The marinated chicken thighs provide tenderness and juiciness, making each bite a delight. Plus, the dish is customizable, meaning you can adjust the heat levels by adding or omitting cayenne pepper according to your taste. Whether you’re hosting a dinner or looking for a quick weeknight meal, this recipe is sure to satisfy.

How to Make Quick & Easy Homemade Butter Chicken Recipe

Follow these simple steps to create a delicious butter chicken dish at home.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized chunks
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
• ½ teaspoon curry powder
• 1 tablespoon Greek yogurt
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 3 tablespoons butter (divided)
• 6 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 2 cups heavy cream
• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional for heat)
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• ½ teaspoon curry powder
• ¼ cup freshly chopped parsley (optional, for garnish)
• Naan bread (for serving)
• Steamed rice (for serving)

Directions

1. Marinate the Chicken: In a bowl, combine chicken chunks, 1 teaspoon salt, garlic powder, paprika, curry powder, and Greek yogurt. Mix well and let it marinate for at least 30 minutes.

2. Cook the Chicken: Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the marinated chicken and cook until browned on all sides, about 6-8 minutes. Remove the chicken and set aside.

3. Prepare the Sauce Base: In the same skillet, add 2 tablespoons of butter. Once melted, add minced garlic and diced onions. Sauté until the onions are translucent and fragrant.

4. Build the Sauce: Stir in tomato sauce, sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, black pepper, and optional cayenne pepper. Mix well and let it simmer for about 10 minutes.

5. Season and Simmer: Return the chicken to the skillet and pour in the heavy cream. Stir in garam masala and additional curry powder. Simmer for 15-20 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce thickens.

6. Finish with Butter: Stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter until melted and well combined.

7. Serve and Enjoy: Garnish with freshly chopped parsley if desired and serve hot with naan bread and steamed rice.

How to Serve Quick & Easy Homemade Butter Chicken Recipe

For the best experience, serve this butter chicken hot, alongside fluffy naan bread for scooping and steamed rice for a filling meal. You can also garnish with fresh parsley to add a pop of color.

How to Store Quick & Easy Homemade Butter Chicken Recipe

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, warm gently on the stove over low heat until heated through. You can also freeze the dish for up to 3 months; thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Tips to Make Quick & Easy Homemade Butter Chicken Recipe

• Use bone-in chicken thighs for more flavor, but note that cooking time may increase.
• Adjust the spices according to your preference for heat and flavor.
• To save time, you can marinate the chicken overnight for a deeper flavor.

Variations

• Vegetarian Option: Replace chicken with paneer or cubed tofu.
• Spicy Version: Add more cayenne pepper or fresh green chilies for extra heat.
• Add Veggies: Include bell peppers or spinach to incorporate more vegetables into the dish.

FAQs

1. Can I use chicken breasts instead of thighs?
Yes, you can use boneless, skinless chicken breasts, but they may cook faster than thighs, so adjust your cooking time accordingly.

2. Is it possible to make this recipe in advance?
Absolutely! You can prepare the dish in advance and reheat it before serving. The flavors actually improve after sitting for a day.

3. Can I substitute heavy cream?
Yes, you can use coconut milk or a lighter cream alternative, but the richness may be slightly reduced.

Enjoy your delicious homemade butter chicken, and impress your loved ones with this quick and easy recipe!

Butter Chicken

A quick and easy recipe for a rich, creamy butter chicken dish that is sure to impress your family and friends.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: Indian

Calories: 650

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

For the Chicken

• 1.5 pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized chunks
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
• 0.5 teaspoon curry powder
• 1 tablespoon Greek yogurt
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil

For the Sauce

• 3 tablespoons butter (divided)
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 0.5 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional for heat)
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• 0.5 teaspoon curry powder
• 0.25 cup freshly chopped parsley (optional, for garnish)

For Serving

• Naan bread For serving
• Steamed rice For serving

Method

 

Preparation

1. In a bowl, combine chicken chunks, 1 teaspoon salt, garlic powder, paprika, curry powder, and Greek yogurt. Mix well and let it marinate for at least 30 minutes.

Cooking Chicken

1. Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the marinated chicken and cook until browned on all sides, about 6-8 minutes. Remove the chicken and set aside.

Preparing Sauce Base

1. In the same skillet, add 2 tablespoons of butter. Once melted, add minced garlic and diced onions. Sauté until the onions are translucent and fragrant.

Building the Sauce

1. Stir in tomato sauce, sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, black pepper, and optional cayenne pepper. Mix well and let it simmer for about 10 minutes.

Finishing the Dish

1. Return the chicken to the skillet and pour in the heavy cream. Stir in garam masala and additional curry powder. Simmer for 15-20 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce thickens.
2. Stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter until melted and well combined.

Serving

1. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley if desired and serve hot with naan bread and steamed rice.

Notes

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, warm gently on the stove over low heat until heated through. You can also freeze the dish for up to 3 months; thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.