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Quick & Easy Homemade Butter Chicken

Quick & Easy Homemade Butter Chicken
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Quick & Easy Homemade Butter Chicken is a rich, creamy, and flavorful Indian-inspired dish that can be prepared in under 30 minutes. Featuring tender chicken cooked in a luscious tomato-based gravy with aromatic spices and a silky butter-cream sauce, this recipe delivers restaurant-quality taste with simple ingredients perfect for busy weeknights. Mild, comforting, and family-friendly, it’s versatile enough to serve with rice, naan, or flatbreads.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

  • 500g boneless chicken breast or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces

Dairy and Fat

  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 100ml heavy cream or full-fat yogurt

Vegetables and Aromatics

  • 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, finely minced

Spices and Seasonings

  • 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder or paprika
  • Salt, to taste
  • Black pepper, to taste

Base

  • 200g tomato puree

Garnish

  • Fresh cilantro, chopped

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Chicken: Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces and season lightly with salt, pepper, and chili powder or paprika to ensure each piece is flavorful from the start.
  2. Cook Garlic and Ginger: In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add finely minced garlic and ginger, sautéing until fragrant and golden, creating a flavorful base for the sauce.
  3. Add Spices and Tomato: Sprinkle garam masala and chili powder into the butter mixture, stirring constantly to toast the spices and release their aroma. Pour in the tomato puree and cook until the sauce thickens slightly, about 5 minutes.
  4. Simmer Chicken in Sauce: Add the chicken pieces to the skillet, stirring to coat them well in the sauce. Cover and simmer over low heat until the chicken is tender and cooked through, roughly 10-12 minutes.
  5. Stir in Cream and Finish: Lower the heat and gently stir in the heavy cream or yogurt until the sauce becomes luxuriously creamy and smooth. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, then simmer uncovered briefly to thicken the sauce.

Notes

  • Marinate If Possible: Marinating chicken for at least 10 minutes in yogurt and spices improves tenderness and flavor.
  • Use Fresh Ingredients: Fresh garlic, ginger, and spices markedly enhance the recipe’s taste.
  • Control Heat: Add chili powder gradually to suit your preferred spice level.
  • Don’t Overcook Chicken: Simmer just until done to keep chicken moist and tender.
  • Butter Finish: Add a swirl of butter at the end to enrich flavor and give a glossy finish to the sauce.

Nutrition

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

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