Butter Chicken

5 from 2 votes

If you've never had butter chicken, you're in for a treat! This classic Indian dish takes chicken thighs and simmers them in a creamy tomato sauce packed with spices until the chicken is irresistibly tender. Serve over steamed jasmine rice with some warm naan bread!

Prep Time1 10

Cook Time35

Total Time1 45

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Indian

Keyword: butter chicken, indian chicken

Servings: people

Author: Alyssa Rivers

Cost: $25

Equipment

Cast iron skillet

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 cup plain whole-milk yogurt
2 tablespoons garam masala
1 teaspoon cumin
2 teaspoons coriander
1 teaspoon tumeric
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons fresh ginger, minced
1/2 lemon, juiced
2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons tomato paste
½ cup tomato sauce
¼ cup butter
1 tablespoon brown sugar, or to taste
1 cup heavy cream

Instructions

In a medium-sized bowl, add the yogurt, garam masala, cumin, coriander, turmeric, salt, garlic, ginger, and lemon juice.
Add the chicken pieces to a large sealable ziplock bag. Add the marinade to the bag and massage the marinade into the chicken. Marinate for 1-3 hours.
Add 2 tablespoons of oil to a pan and cook your chicken over high heat. Cook until it has some browning and is cooked through. Do not overcook it because it will continue to cook in the sauce. Set aside.
In a saucepan over medium-high heat add the tomato paste and cook for about 2-3 minutes until it darkens. Add the tomato sauce, heavy cream, butter, and sugar. Whisk until smooth and cook for 3-5 minutes or until the sauce starts to thicken.
Add the chicken to the sauce and mix to combine.
Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve with jasmine rice and naan bread.

Notes

Originally posted on August 17, 2020

Updated on June 17, 2023

Nutrition

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