Super easy and creamy butter chicken that tastes better than any Indian takeout. Butter Chicken is one of the most popular curries in the world, and yet it happens to be one of the easiest. You don’t need to be an expert to make this flavorful butter chicken, so get the ingredients and make this family-friendly recipe in just 30 minutes.
Butter Chicken, also known as Murgh Makhani, is one of the most loved Indian dishes around the world. This rich and creamy chicken curry originated in North India and has become a favorite in homes and restaurants alike. What makes butter chicken so special is its perfectly balanced flavor, mildly spicy, slightly sweet, and incredibly comforting. Tender pieces of chicken are cooked in a smooth tomato gravy, finished with butter and cream to create a dish that feels both indulgent and satisfying.
This butter chicken recipe is designed for home cooks who want authentic restaurant-style taste without complicated steps or hard-to-find ingredients. Whether you are cooking for your family or preparing a special weekend meal, this dish always impresses. It pairs beautifully with naan, roti, or steamed basmati rice, making it a complete and filling meal.
In this article, you will learn how to make butter chicken step by step, along with useful tips to enhance flavor and texture. From marinating the chicken to achieving a silky smooth gravy, every detail is covered so you can get perfect results every time. If you enjoy classic Indian comfort food, this butter chicken recipe is one you’ll want to make again and again.
Ingredients(Serves 3 People)
Marinade
🔰1.5 lb / 750 g chicken thigh fillets, cut into bite size pieces
🔰1/2 cup plain yoghurt
🔰1 tsp tumeric powder
🔰1 tbsp lemon juice
🔰1 tsp ground cumin
🔰2 tsp garam masala
🔰1/2 tsp chilli powder or cayenne pepper powder
🔰2 cloves garlic, crushed
🔰1 tbsp ginger, freshly grated
Curry
🔰1 cup heavy cream
🔰2 tbsp (30 g) butter
🔰1 tbsp sugar
🔰1 cup tomato passata
🔰1 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
Step 1:
For an extra smooth sauce, combine the Marinade ingredients (except the chicken) in a food processor and blend until smooth.
Step 2:
Marinade: Combine the Marinade ingredients with the chicken in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate overnight, or up to 24 hours (minimum 3 hrs).
Step 3:
Cook chicken: Heat the butter over high heat in a large fry pan. Take the chicken out of the Marinade, but do not wipe or shake off the marinade from the chicken.
Step 4:
Place chicken in the fry pan and cook for around 3 minutes, or until the chicken is white all over (it doesn’t really brown because of the Marinade).
Step 5:
Sauce: Add the tomato passata, cream, sugar, and salt. Also, add any remaining marinade left in the bowl. Turn down to low and simmer for 20 minutes. Do a taste test to see if it needs more salt.
Step 6:
Garnish with coriander/cilantro leaves if using, and serve with basmati rice or naan bread.
What to serve with Butter Chicken
To make a proper Indian feast, sides and starters are essentials! Because every curry needs papadums for dunking and naan to scoop up the sauce with,
Plain fluffy Basmati Rice: probably the most traditional way and the most delicious.
Tandoori Naan: to eat all of the sauce and not miss a drop
Paratha: One of the greatest combinations of all time.
Recipe Notes
1. Tomato passata is pureed tinned tomatoes. Nowadays, it is readily available in supermarkets, usually alongside pasta sauces. It costs just a tiny bit more, sometimes the same, as canned tomatoes. Called Tomato Puree in America. If you can’t find it, puree canned tomatoes using a blender. This will also work with what is called “Tomato Sauce” in America (Australia! Don’t use what we call Tomato Sauce!)
2. Garam Masala is a spice mix that is readily available at supermarkets nowadays. You will find it in the spice section, and it costs around the same as other spices.
3. Ghee is a clarified butter used in Indian cooking (see this Movie Popcorn Butter recipe for more info). For this recipe, butter or almost any neutral-flavored cooking oil can be substituted.
4. For a lighter version, use 3/4 cup light cream + 1/4 cup milk (full-fat or low-fat)
5. Pure chilli powder. This is not chili powder as Americans know it! American Chili Powder contains things other than ground dried chili. Use pure chili powder or cayenne pepper to add a spice kick. The spiciness is very mild.
Success Tips
🔖Passata, tomato sauce, fresh tomatoes that are blended, or a can of crushed tomatoes that are blended and sieved, can be used in this recipe. So use any of these options, whichever you have available (I used plain passata).
🔖You can make your own garam masala mix at home. I have the recipe on my website. Making your homemade seasonings at home is much cheaper and healthier, as store-bought seasonings usually contain added sugar. If you can’t make it at home, you can buy garam masala from Amazon.
🔖You can substitute the whipping cream with full-fat canned coconut milk for a dairy-free version.
🔖Traditionally, a little bit of sugar is added to the sauce to make it sweeter. I personally don’t add any sugar to my butter chicken, and it tastes great. But feel free to add 1 teaspoon of granulated or brown sugar to the sauce.
Nutrition Information
Serving:310g | Calories:402cal (20%) | Protein:39.8g (80%) |Carbohydrates:9.8g (3%) | Fat:23.4g (36%) | Saturated Fat:9.3g (58%) | Cholesterol:193mg (64%) | Fiber:0.9g (4%) | Sugar:6.5g (7%)
Indian cuisine offers something for every mood, from rich celebration dishes to light everyday meals. If you’ve already enjoyed our creamy butter chicken, exploring flavorful biryani and comforting poha rice next is a great way to experience the diversity of Indian home cooking.
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