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Quick & Easy Homemade Butter Chicken

Quick & Easy Homemade Butter Chicken
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This Quick & Easy Homemade Butter Chicken recipe delivers a rich, creamy, and flavorful Indian-inspired curry in under 30 minutes. Using simple pantry staples, tender chicken thighs, and a luscious tomato-cream sauce infused with warm spices, it’s perfect for busy weeknights or meal prepping. Customize spice levels or ingredients easily, and enjoy a comforting dish that pairs wonderfully with rice or naan.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken & Marinade

  • 500g chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 tbsp plain yogurt (optional, for marinating)
  • 1 tsp ginger and garlic paste
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp garam masala
  • Salt, to taste

Sauce

  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 tbsp ginger and garlic paste
  • 400g tomato puree
  • 1 tsp cumin powder
  • 1 tsp coriander powder
  • 1 tsp garam masala
  • 1/2 – 1 tsp chili powder or paprika (adjust to taste)
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 120 ml (1/2 cup) heavy cream

Garnish

  • Fresh cilantro, chopped

Instructions

  1. Prepare and Marinate the Chicken: Cut the chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces. In a bowl, combine yogurt, ginger-garlic paste, chili powder, salt, and garam masala. Marinate the chicken pieces in this mixture for 15-20 minutes to tenderize and infuse flavor.
  2. Sauté the Aromatics: Melt butter in a large pan or skillet over medium heat. Add ginger-garlic paste and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant, stirring constantly to build the curry’s flavor base.
  3. Cook the Chicken: Add the marinated chicken pieces to the pan. Cook for 5-7 minutes until lightly browned on all sides but not fully cooked through, locking in juices and developing caramelization.
  4. Create the Sauce: Pour in the tomato puree, then add cumin powder, coriander powder, garam masala, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Stir well and simmer on low heat for 10 minutes to thicken the sauce and bloom the spices.
  5. Add Cream and Finish Cooking: Slowly stir in the heavy cream, allowing the sauce to become silky and rich. Cook for an additional 5-7 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked and the flavors meld.
  6. Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh cilantro over the curry for a vibrant finish. Serve immediately with basmati rice, naan, or your preferred sides.

Notes

  • Use chicken thighs for a juicier, more tender result compared to chicken breast.
  • Marinating even briefly in yogurt adds depth and softness to the chicken.
  • Use unsalted real butter for the best creamy flavor.
  • Simmer the curry gently after adding cream to prevent curdling.
  • Adjust chili powder gradually to control spice level.
  • Fresh cilantro adds a bright, balancing note to the rich sauce.

Nutrition

Keywords: butter chicken, Indian curry, quick butter chicken, creamy chicken curry, easy Indian recipe, weeknight dinner

Find it online: https://jamescookes.com/quick-easy-homemade-butter-chicken/