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Get It NowI’d usually choose my garlic butter chicken over Indian food, but this quick and easy butter chicken recipe won me over toward the Indian version. It was the first dish to disappear when I served it for my friends after one of my recipe testing days — and everyone asked how I made the sauce taste like the takeout they were used to. But the biggest surprise was when my picky kids chose this Indian butter chicken over the sheet pan chicken thighs I made for them. Guess it’s kid-friendly, too!
Why You’ll Love My Easy Butter Chicken Recipe
- Buttery, spiced tomato sauce – This butter chicken sauce… it’s like a warm hug on a plate. It’s the perfect balance of a creamy, velvety texture against tomatoey, warm spiced flavors.
- Tender, juicy chicken – Marinating in a spiced yogurt marinade and then simmering in sauce makes some of the juiciest chicken I’ve ever had. Especially if you use chicken thighs like I did.
- Not too many ingredients – Don’t be fooled by my ingredient list. I use the same spices in the marinade and the sauce, so it’s actually only 12 ingredients total (plus salt). Not an easy feat — most butter chicken recipes need a lot more! But I figured out which spices are essential for that classic Indian flavor, and good news, they are common pantry staples. You’ll just need to pick up garam masala if you don’t cook Indian food often.
- Quick and easy – This dish makes a really quick weeknight meal if you plan ahead for it! You do need at least an hour to marinate the chicken, but other than that, it takes under 30 minutes — but tastes like it’s been simmering for hours.
Ingredients & Substitutions
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for my easy butter chicken recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
Chicken & Marinade:
- Chicken – Either chicken breasts or thighs would work, but I opted for boneless skinless chicken thighs. They are the juiciest!
- Yogurt – The base of the marinade. I used full-fat Greek yogurt, but regular plain yogurt also works.
- Garlic – Fresh garlic tastes the best, but I won’t judge if you use jarred minced garlic. I’m always down for a shortcut!
- Spices – The main spice blend I use for this dish is garam masala. This combination of cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, cumin, black pepper, and coriander gives butter chicken its signature flavor. I also added extra cumin (or you can use an extra teaspoon garam masala instead, since it also contains cumin), ground ginger, chili powder, and sea salt. You can also add turmeric for added depth.
Butter Chicken Sauce:
- Tomato Sauce – This is the base of the sauce and leaves it very smooth. You could use canned diced tomatoes if you want it more chunky.
- Butter – We’re using plenty here, because — hello? — this is butter chicken! I prefer unsalted butter to control the salt myself, but feel free to use salted and just reduce the amount of salt in the recipe.
- Onion – You can use a white, yellow, or sweet onion. My recipe calls for it sliced thinly, but I’ve also made it using diced onions and they work just as well.
- Garlic – It’s in the sauce too, because I can never have enough! 😉
- Heavy Cream – A.k.a. heavy whipping cream. As you might guess, it makes the sauce creamy! Coconut cream or canned full-fat coconut milk (which I use for my coconut chicken curry) would make a great substitute if you need one.
- Spices – To keep it simple, I use the same spices in the sauce that I do in the marinade. So, you will need more garam masala, cumin, ground ginger, chili powder, and salt.
- Fresh Cilantro – It’s optional, but I always garnish my butter chicken with it.
How To Make Butter Chicken
This section shows step-by-step photos together with the instructions, to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
- Marinate the chicken. In a large bowl, stir together the Greek yogurt, garlic, garam masala, cumin, salt, ginger, and chili powder. Add chicken thighs, mix to coat, and marinate. Right before cooking, remove the chicken from the marinade and cut into bite-sized pieces.
- Saute the aromatics. In a large saute pan with tall sides, saute the onions in (plenty of) butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic to the center. Cook until fragrant, then combine with the onions.
- Mix the butter chicken sauce. Stir in the tomato sauce, heavy cream, garam masala, cumin, ginger, chili powder, and salt.
- Cook the chicken. Add the chicken pieces to the pan. Nestle them in the sauce in a single layer and stir to coat. All that’s left for this easy butter chicken recipe is a good simmer to cook the chicken and thicken the sauce! And like I said, I always garnish mine with fresh cilantro.
My Recipe Tips
- Coat the chicken evenly with marinade. The chicken marinade is quite thick, so it helps to use your hands to massage it into the chicken. I didn’t have much luck trying to mix it with a spoon.
- Feel free to dice the chicken before marinating. I cut mine into bite-sized pieces after the marinade step (right before cooking), but there’s really no reason for it. Either way works!
- Marinate for at least an hour, but overnight is even better. Between the marinade and the saucy simmer, this easy butter chicken definitely turns out juicy enough for me after marinating for an hour. But it’s even juicier if you have time to marinate overnight. Just don’t go over 24 hours, or it tends to get mushy.
- Puree if you want the sauce completely smooth. It’s already pretty smooth, but it does have soft onion pieces — which I actually love! If you want no texture to it at all, puree with an immersion blender before adding the chicken.
- Don’t worry if the sauce seems thin — it will thicken as it cools. It thickens after simmering, but gets even more thick after removing from heat.
Common Questions
- What is butter chicken? Butter chicken is an Indian dish of tender chicken pieces marinated in yogurt and cooked in a rich, buttery tomato sauce with spices. Garam masala is the primary spice blend, but many versions include a long list of others. I keep my recipe to just the basics!
- What does butter chicken taste like? As you might expect, butter chicken tastes like pieces of chicken in an Indian spiced tomato sauce. It’s somewhat similar to a curry, but more creamy and a little sweet.
- What is the difference between butter chicken vs. tikka masala? While both dishes are popular in Indian cuisine, butter chicken tends to be mild and creamy, while chicken tikka masala is more bold, spicy, and tangy.
- Is butter chicken spicy? My recipe has a mild kick from the chili powder and garam masala, but it’s not very hot. (Even my picky 6-year-old ate it!) If you want more heat, add a dash of cayenne pepper or black pepper.
Storage Instructions
- Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. The sauce does get very thick when you store it, but it will be right again after you reheat.
- Meal prep: Since you have to marinate the chicken before cooking it anyway, you can do this up to 24 hours in advance. You can also meal prep my entire butter chicken recipe and portion it into individual containers for easy lunches.
- Reheat: This dish reheats very well, since the sauce prevents the chicken from drying out. You can heat it in the microwave (be sure to cover or it splatters all over the place!), or on the stovetop over medium heat.
- Freeze: Cool completely, then transfer to a zip lock bag and freeze for up to 6 months. Let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
Serving Suggestions
I love to serve this easy butter chicken recipe with homemade cauliflower rice (and sometimes even my low carb naan). I usually keep a stash of frozen cauliflower rice in my freezer for a shortcut. You can also opt for jasmine or basmati rice for a more traditional option.
More Easy Indian Chicken Recipes
I’ve got more ways to spice up your cooking routine! Check out some of my other saucy Indian-inspired chicken recipes:
My Favorite Pan For This Recipe
Between the chicken and the sauce, my butter chicken recipe needs a big pan with tall sides, or it will overflow! This saute pan is one of my favorites.
Easy Butter Chicken Recipe
This easy butter chicken recipe has a quick spiced yogurt marinade and a creamy tomato sauce with garam masala. A simple weeknight dinner!
Ingredients
Tap underlined ingredients to see where to get them.
Marinade:
Butter Chicken Sauce:
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
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In a large bowl, stir together all the marinade ingredients. Add the chicken thighs, stir to coat, and cover with plastic wrap. Chill for at least 1 hour, or overnight.
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Remove the chicken from the marinade and use kitchen shears to cut into bite-sized pieces. No need to wipe the marinade off the chicken, but leave behind what isn’t stuck to it.
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Melt the butter in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and saute for 8-10 minutes, until soft and browned.
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Make a well in the center and add the minced garlic. Saute for about 30 seconds, until fragrant, then stir in with the onions.
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Stir in the tomato sauce, heavy cream, garam masala, cumin, ground ginger, chili powder, and sea salt. Adjust salt to taste; other flavors will develop as it cooks afterward.
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Add the chicken pieces to the pan, nestling them in the sauce in a single layer. Spoon additional sauce over the chicken to cover. Increase heat to high and bring to a simmer, then simmer for 8-10 minutes, stirring every few minutes, until the sauce is slightly thickened and the chicken is cooked through. Adjust salt to taste if needed.
Did You Like It?
Leave a rating to help other readers, or get the recipe sent to your inbox.
Recipe Notes
Serving size: 3/4 cup, or 1/6 entire recipe
Nutrition info includes only half of the Greek yogurt in the marinade, because about half is discarded after marinating.
Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.
© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. 🙂
48 Comments
Megan
2I love Indian food and we have an amazing restaurant in our town (rated one of the best in MA)…. but I will say this recipe blows that place out of the water! It was amazing! My husband and I are on the keto diet, so I cut the recipe in half and used chicken breasts (prefer white meat). I also simmered it’s for a couple hours, while I enjoyed my vodka soda (or three) on the deck. I am loving ALL you recipes! Thank you!
Robert Pontius
1Just made this for the first time today (Christmas Day). Delicious and absolutely spectacular! One note: I substituted an *equal* amount of cayenne pepper for the chili powder (in both marinade and sauce) since several in my family don’t care for chili powder. This proved too spicy for everyone but me, so I would recommend using half(?) the cayenne vs. chili powder if anyone else makes this substitution.
Shelli
1My husband and I love authentic Butter Chicken, so we were skeptical of this simplified recipe. It turned out AMAZING! I added a bit more heavy cream to smooth out the tomato tang. I also added a bit more garam masala and some cayenne pepper for some heat. We could not believe how good this was, considering the simplicity and ease of the recipe. This is definitely going into the dinner rotation!
Tina
0Love this recipe …. Made a few times now and always have some for future meals. Freezes well.
My changes ….I use my homemade canned San Marzano Tomatoes and some coconut milk to marinade – I replace the cream with Coconut Milk …. YUM!
Love your recipes! Thank you
Marleigh
1Delicious! I marinated the chicken thighs overnight. I used a dutch oven instead of a saute pan, but otherwise followed your recipe to a T. Very easy to make, and will definitely make again.
Nicole
1Oh how I’ve missed Indian food so badly. This butter chicken recipe is AMAZING!! It was the first time I’ve ever cooked (or ate) organic chicken thighs and let me tell you- do NOT substitute. Chicken thighs come out incredibly tender and taste amazing with the sauce of this recipe. If you like this (or Indian food in general) definitely try the coconut curry chicken. Another fav!
To add: I skipped the cauliflower rice and made a side salad instead. This is delicious no matter what you pair with it.
Jess
0I loved the flavors of this well done! I can’t have cream so I substituted cream for coconut milk. It was a great add.
Krista Burke
0Is this doable in a slowcooker?
This is my go to butter chicken recipe
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Krista, I have never tried that but I think it would work. Let me know the results if you do try it!
Kimberly
0This was absolutely delicious. I didn’t think the marinade would be enough for the chicken but it was. I didn’t have kitchen shears so I just diced up the chicken after it was done marinating. My daughter (my picky teenage daughter) went for seconds and so did my husband! My daughter told me this needs to be a regular recipe in the rotation now. I used to get keto factor meals and her favorite was the butter chicken and she said this is way better. Will make this again!!!
KIm
0Delish!
Pauline geas
0A little too spicy for me but very good I think next time, I’ll cut back on the chili powder, though.
Pauline
0I bought half and half by accident instead of heavy cream. Can I use that instead?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Pauline, Yes, that should work for you.
Juliet
0I had buttered chicken (actually chicken tikka masala) from this one restaurant years ago and I absolutely love it. Everytime I go to an Indian restaurant, I order their buttered chicken or chicken tikka masala hoping to taste the original one I tried before. But it just isn’t the same. I came across a random store that sold garam masala and decided to make some. I have to say, this recipe is the closest to that one unforgettable chicken tikka dish I tried! Even my brother-in-law who does not like trying out new cuisines loved it. I will definitely make this again, adjusting the ratio of spices to my liking (maybe a tad less tomato sauce and a little more garam and/or cream for me). Grateful for finding this recipe!
Susan
0I have seen this recipe & always wanted to try it. SO SO GOOD! Loved it!
Michelle
0How do you eat or what do you eat butter chicken with? It’s good but it’s like a think creamy soup with chicken
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Michelle, I recommend eating this with rice or cauliflower rice, depending on your needs.
Donna Murray
0Wouldn’t it be easier and less messy to chop chicken before adding to the marinade?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Donna, You can do that if you prefer.
Robert Pontius
0I did that and suspect it made the chicken more tender and flavorful after marinating overnight. My theory is that smaller pieces give the chicken more surface area for the marinade to soak in.
Kristen
0Just finished having this for dinner – SO good! I somehow missed that I needed a can of tomato sauce, so I tried to use up the tomato paste I had leftover from another meal (5oz tomato paste and 5oz water) and ended up quite short. I Googled what else I could use and found a recipe that used some tomato sauce and some pumpkin purée which I also happened to have leftover in my fridge (about 1 cup)… then I noticed the sauce would be super thick, so I doubled the amount of heavy cream. Probably not the healthiest/keto-ist meal, but it did the trick and I will absolutely make this again and again (but properly next time!). Thank you for this recipe 🙂
Deborah Sheely
0I made this recipe last night and it was delicious.
Kathleen Powers
0So yummy have made it 4 times!!
Pam Moak
0I made this for the first time last night and it was an immediate keeper! I love Indian food, and my favorite dish is Chicken Tikka Masala. Well, this Butter Chicken tastes and looks just like it! It is so tasty and flavorful, and the cauliflower rice finishes it off perfectly! Even if you’ve never liked Indian food, I encourage you to try this! Im not a fan of spicy food, so I went easy on the chili powder, and it was perfect! There are so many wonderful spices in this recipe, it really won’t matter! I think the Garam Masala is more important. I marinated the chicken thighs overnight, even though it says you could do it for as little as an hour. I wanted the spices to really get into the chicken, and they did! Plus, then the next day half the work is done! Give this recipe a try. You won’t be sorry!
Thanks, Maya!
Brian
0This was fantastic. I had a hard time knowing when the thighs were finished cooking, because they’re so tender it’s too good to be true. But I’m pretty sure I’m not eating raw chicken… I simmered it for 45 minutes or so. Put in LOTS of Garam Masala and Chili Powder, almost triple what the recipe called for. It’s got a ton of flavor!
Elizabeth Hess
0Made your Butter Chicken recipe tonight for the first time. It was delicious. Left out the cumin since neither of us care for the taste of it. Also made your Naan Bread for the first time and it was also delicious. Thank you so much for these wonderful recipes!
Olga
0WOW!!! I did not expect for this to turn out so good! I have been searching for a good recipe for butter chicken for a long time and all of the ones I have tried never turned out this good. Definitely a keeper! Love it
Nasia
0This has got to be one of the best recipes I have ever made. It is absolutely delicious and has become a family favorite!
Roz
0Can I use coconut cream instead of heavy cream?
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Roz, Yes, that will work great!
Sarah
0This is amazing. It tasted really good and it was easy to make.
Hannah Norris
0Hello, can this recipe be made in a slow-cooker? And if so, would you know how long it might need?
Many thanks,
Hannah in England.
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Hannah, I have never made this in the slow cooker, but you would have to cook the dish until the chicken reaches 165 degrees F.
Dominic
0This was excellent. I went a little heavier on the spices (slightly heaping measurements) and put a little ethryol sugar in during the simmer to taste to balance the very acidic can of tomato I got. Also added a thinly sliced small red bell pepper with the onions (non-traditional, but try it!). Something came up, so I had to leave the chicken marinating for 2 days – didn’t hurt it at all and came out very tender and juicy (and well-marinated)! Thank you for another great recipe!
Heather Rogers
0So delicious and so easy to make!
Yvette
0Omg! This was some very tasty! And easy to boot! I love all your recipes Maya!! Thank you!
Sarah
0Delicious!!
Expat Egg
0I cut the chicken into large cubes _before_ marinating overnight.
Added 8oz rough cut button mushrooms to the sauce just before serving over cauliflower rice.
Cindy
0I only used 4 chicken thighs… I am freezing the leftover sauce and putting it on plain chicken at a later date (if I can keep from just spooning it straight into my mouth!!!). This is definitely going in the rotation!!!
Katherine Baynton
0This is delicious, thank you! Our whole family loved it.
Naomi
0Looks amazing! Have you tried it substituting sour cream for the yogurt?
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Naomi, I have not tried this. Yogurt is a staple ingredient in butter chicken recipes, but let me know how it goes if you try sour cream.
Liezel
0Very tasty recipe. But my butter chicken didn’t turn out like your photos. It is not a nice thick rich looking sauce. More like a pale orange/light pink cream sauce and I used everything as per the ingredients. What am I doing wrong 🙁
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Liezel, Did you use the correct amount of tomato sauce? The recipe calls for a 29oz can. It should be enough to create a nice red butter sauce.
Sophie Heath
0The Keto diet is hard for me because I can’t ever find foods that I actually like eating, but this butter chicken recipe is so yummy!
Pam Greer
0No need for takeout with this easy and delicious butter chicken recipe! It’s a family favorite at our house!
Michelle
0This is the most delicious dinner I’ve made in a long time! I used half the amount of the chili powder so the kids wouldn’t complain, a can of crushed tomatoes instead of tomato sauce, and just cut up chicken breast for the marinade so I didn’t have to cut it up after marinating. Fantastic!!