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Quick & Easy Homemade Butter Chicken

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 600
A comforting and quick butter chicken recipe that delivers rich flavors with minimal fuss, perfect for weeknight dinners.

Ingredients

Chicken and Marinade

  • 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 (Can substitute with plain yogurt if needed.)

Sauce Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 3 tablespoons butter, divided
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt (Adjust to taste.)
  • 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 cups heavy cream (Substitute with half-and-half for a lighter option.)
  • 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.)

Serving Suggestions

  • to taste Naan bread (For serving.)
  • to taste Steamed rice (For serving.)

Instructions 

Marinating the Chicken

  • In a bowl, mix the chicken with salt, garlic powder, paprika, curry powder, and Greek yogurt. Cover and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes.

Preparing the Sauce

  • In a large skillet, heat vegetable oil and 1 tablespoon of butter. Sauté garlic and onion until fragrant and soft. Scrape the pan so the bits don’t burn.
  • Add tomato sauce, sugar, salt, black pepper, heavy cream, cayenne pepper, garam masala, and curry powder. Stir and bring to a gentle simmer. Simmer for a few minutes until the sauce begins to thicken.

Cooking the Chicken

  • In another pan, cook the marinated chicken until browned and cooked through, aiming for a golden crust. Cook in batches if needed to keep the pan hot.

Combining and Serving

  • Add the cooked chicken to the sauce and stir in the remaining butter. Simmer for a few more minutes so the chicken soaks up the sauce.
  • Garnish with chopped parsley and serve hot with naan bread and steamed rice.

Notes

Let the sauce bubble gently, not roar. A quiet simmer keeps the cream silky and prevents separation. Serve family-style for a warm dining experience.
Calories: 600kcal
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Indian
Keyword: Butter Chicken, Comfort Food, Family Recipe, One-Pan Meal, Quick Dinner