Butter Chicken
This quick and easy homemade butter chicken recipe features rich flavors and a creamy texture, perfect for cozy family dinners or festive occasions.
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
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups heavy cream Use low-fat cream for a lighter dish.
- 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)
- Naan bread and steamed rice (for serving)
Instructions
Preparation
- In a bowl, combine chicken chunks with salt, garlic powder, sweet paprika, and curry powder. Stir in Greek yogurt to coat the chicken and let marinate for at least 30 minutes.
Cooking
- In a large skillet, heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Cook the marinated chicken pieces for about 6-8 minutes, or until browned and cooked through. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet, reduce heat and add 1 tablespoon of butter. Sauté the minced garlic and diced onion until the onion becomes translucent.
- Stir in the tomato sauce, sugar, salt, and black pepper. Allow it to simmer for a couple of minutes.
- Add the heavy cream, cayenne pepper (if using), garam masala, and half a teaspoon of curry powder. Add the cooked chicken back to the pan and simmer on low for about 10-15 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
- Just before serving, stir in the remaining butter for that rich and creamy finish.
- Garnish with chopped parsley if desired and serve alongside naan and rice.
Notes
For optimal freshness, store your butter chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 3-4 days. To save for later, freeze the sauce (without the cream) and reheat by adding fresh cream before serving.