A quick look at this Butter Chicken

This butter chicken is creamy, warm, and ready fast. It uses simple pantry spices and a short marinate so you can have a comforting meal without long prep. If you enjoy quick chicken meals, you might also like this easy chicken soup recipe: Easy and Healthy Homemade Chicken Soup.

What makes this version worth trying

You get rich flavor without long cooking or many steps. The yogurt helps tenderize the chicken and the tomato-cream sauce stays smooth and mild — great for picky eaters or weeknight dinners. If you like grilled chicken flavors too, check this simple souvlaki guide for ideas to mix into a menu: Easy Grilled Chicken Souvlaki Recipe.

How to make Quick & Easy Homemade Butter Chicken

Ingredients :

• 1 ½ pounds skinless boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized chunks
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
• ½ teaspoon curry powder
• 1 tablespoon Greek yogurt
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 3 tablespoons butter, divided
• 6 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 2 cups heavy cream
• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional for heat)
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• ½ teaspoon curry powder
• ¼ cup freshly chopped parsley (optional, for garnish)
• Naan bread
• Steamed rice

Directions :

1. In a bowl, mix the chicken with salt, garlic powder, paprika, curry powder, and Greek yogurt. Cover and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes.
2. In a large skillet, heat vegetable oil and 1 tablespoon of butter. Sauté garlic and onion until fragrant. Add tomato sauce, sugar, salt, black pepper, heavy cream, cayenne pepper, garam masala, and curry powder. Simmer for a few minutes.
3. In another pan, cook the marinated chicken until browned and cooked through.
4. Add the cooked chicken to the sauce. Stir in the remaining butter. Simmer for a few more minutes.
5. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve hot with naan bread and steamed rice.

Simple serving ideas for this dish

Serve hot over steamed rice or with warm naan to soak up the sauce. A side salad or simple cucumber raita keeps the meal balanced. For a fun kids’ finish after the meal, you can try a quick treat like this playful recipe: Easy Homemade Bubble Gum Recipe for Kids.

How to store leftovers safely

• Refrigerator: Cool the butter chicken, put in an airtight container, and store for up to 3–4 days.
• Freezer: Place in a freezer-safe container and freeze up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
• Reheat gently on low heat so the cream does not split. Add a splash of water or cream if the sauce thickens too much.

Quick tips to improve the result

• Pat the chicken dry before marinating so it browns nicely.
• Don’t boil the sauce hard after adding cream — a gentle simmer keeps the texture smooth.
• Taste and adjust salt and sugar at the end to balance the tomato and cream.
• For deeper flavor, brown the chicken well in batches so the pan has caramelized bits.

Small changes you can try

• Add vegetables like spinach or peas in the last few minutes for color and nutrition.
• Swap heavy cream for half-and-half to cut calories (sauce will be slightly thinner).
• Use chicken breasts if you prefer lean meat, but watch cooking time so they don’t dry out.

Nutrition snapshot (estimate)

Per serving (serves 4, approximate):

• Calories: ~650 kcal
• Protein: ~30 g
• Fat: ~50 g
• Carbohydrates: ~10 g
  Note: Values are estimates. Exact nutrition depends on ingredient brands and portion sizes.

Serving ideas that please the whole family

• Make a family-style spread: butter chicken, naan, steamed rice, and a simple cucumber-tomato salad.
• Serve mild for kids and offer extra cayenne or chili flakes for adults.
• Leftovers work great in wraps or over baked potatoes for quick lunches.

What pairs well with butter chicken

• Breads: warm naan, paratha, or roti.
• Sides: basmati rice, jeera rice, or a cooling raita.
• Drinks: lightly sweet lassi, cold beer, or a crisp white wine like Riesling or Gewürztraminer.

Common questions

Q: Can I use chicken breast instead of thighs?
A: Yes. Chicken breast works fine. Cook it just until done to avoid dryness.

Q: How spicy is this recipe?
A: It’s mild by default. Add cayenne or extra garam masala for more heat.

Q: Can I make this dairy-free?
A: Replace butter with oil and use coconut cream instead of heavy cream. Flavor will be slightly different but still tasty.

Q: Do I need to marinate the chicken long?
A: The recipe works with 15 minutes, but 1–2 hours in the fridge gives better tenderness and flavor.

Conclusion

If you want a faster take on this dish, see the Easy 20 Minute Butter Chicken | Gimme Delicious for inspiration. For another well-tested version with clear steps, check Butter Chicken – RecipeTin Eats. For a recipe similar to this one and extra tips, visit Quick & Easy Homemade Butter Chicken Recipe – Maja’s Recipes.

Butter Chicken

This creamy and flavorful butter chicken is a quick and comforting meal that utilizes pantry spices and allows for a short marination time.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Course dinner, Main Course

Cuisine Indian

Servings 4 servings

Calories 650 kcal

Ingredients

  

Chicken 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 helps tenderize the chicken

Main Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 3 tablespoons butter, divided use for sautéing and finishing the dish
• 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
• 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
• Naan bread for serving
• Steamed rice for serving

Instructions

 

Marinate 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.

Prepare the Sauce

• In a large skillet, heat vegetable oil and 1 tablespoon of butter. Sauté garlic and onion until fragrant.
• Add tomato sauce, sugar, salt, black pepper, heavy cream, cayenne pepper, garam masala, and curry powder. Simmer for a few minutes.

Cook the Chicken

• In another pan, cook the marinated chicken until browned and cooked through.
• Add the cooked chicken to the sauce. Stir in the remaining butter. Simmer for a few more minutes.

Serve

• Garnish with chopped parsley and serve hot with naan bread and steamed rice.

Notes

For deeper flavor, brown the chicken well in batches so the pan has caramelized bits. For variations, add vegetables like spinach or peas in the last few minutes for color and nutrition.

Keyword Butter Chicken, Comfort Food, Creamy Chicken, Quick Chicken Recipes, Weeknight Dinner