Quick & Easy Homemade Butter Chicken

Ever experienced the aroma of rich, creamy butter chicken wafting through your kitchen?

Quick & Easy Homemade Butter Chicken packs a flavor punch that’ll make your taste buds dance! Perfectly seasoned chicken bathed in a luxurious sauce made from tomatoes and a generous splash of cream means you’ll think you’ve been transported straight to an Indian kitchen. And the best part? It all comes together in just one pan, so you can enjoy the food—and the company—without the dreaded cleanup!

Why make this recipe

You’re going to fall head over heels for this dish — it’s creamy, comforting, and super quick! Here’s why it’s destined for your meal rotation:

• Easy Cleanup: One-pan means fewer dishes to wash. Who doesn’t love that?
• Affordable Ingredients: You won’t break the bank with this one. Plus, the ingredients are household staples!
• Family-Friendly: Kids love it, and you will too — a perfect balance of flavors without too much spice, unless you want to turn up the heat!

Ingredients:

You don’t need fancy stuff — just these basics! Grab:

• 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:

Let’s get cooking! Just follow these simple steps:

1. Marinate the Chicken: Toss the chicken chunks with salt, garlic powder, sweet paprika, curry powder, and Greek yogurt. Let it sit for about 15 minutes.
2. Cook the Chicken: In a large pan, heat vegetable oil over medium heat. Cook the marinated chicken until it’s golden brown, then remove it and set aside.
3. Prepare the Sauce Base: In the same pan, add 2 tablespoons of butter. Sauté garlic and onion until soft and fragrant.
4. Build the Sauce: Stir in tomato sauce, sugar, additional salt, and black pepper. Simmer for about 5 minutes.
5. Season and Simmer: Add the chicken back into the pan, pour in heavy cream, and add cayenne pepper, garam masala, and more curry powder. Let it simmer on low for 10 minutes.
6. Finish with Butter: Stir in the remaining tablespoon of butter for that luscious finish.
7. Serve and Enjoy: Garnish with parsley and dig in with naan or over fluffy rice.

How to make Quick & Easy Homemade Butter Chicken (Overview)

Making this butter chicken is a breeze! Start by marinating the chicken while the pan heats up. This preps the flavors and sets the stage for a delicious dish.

Pro tip: Don’t skip toasting the garlic — it makes all the difference! As you sauté the onions and build your sauce, the kitchen will smell divine. Once everything simmers together, your sauce will thicken and coat that chicken perfectly.

How to serve Quick & Easy Homemade Butter Chicken

When it’s time to serve, go all out! Picture this: a generous scoop of that creamy butter chicken over fluffy steamed rice, with warm naan on the side. Feel free to sprinkle some fresh parsley on top for an extra touch of color. The vibrant reds and yellows of the sauce, mixed with the greenery, will invite everyone to the table. The aroma? Simply irresistible!

How to store Quick & Easy Homemade Butter Chicken

Got leftovers? Lucky you! This butter chicken keeps well in the fridge for 3-4 days. Just make sure to store it in an airtight container. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy again, just reheat on the stove over low heat until warmed through, and maybe add a splash of cream to refresh that sauce!

Tips to make Quick & Easy Homemade Butter Chicken

Ready to take your butter chicken to the next level? Here are a few quick insider tricks:

• Use Fresh Ingredients: Fresh garlic and onion really amp up the flavor.
• Swap Chicken for Paneer: Want a vegetarian twist? Use paneer instead of chicken for a flavorful alternative.
• Adjust the Heat: If you’re not a fan of spice, skip the cayenne pepper or reduce the amount.
• Use Half-and-Half: Swap heavy cream for half-and-half for a lighter sauce while still keeping it creamy.

Variation (if any)

Feeling adventurous? Add a splash of coconut milk for a tropical twist. Or throw in some spinach for a pop of color and extra nutrients. You can easily turn this into a vegan dish by utilizing chickpeas or tofu instead of chicken. The sauce will still be just as rich and satisfying!

FAQs

Can I make this butter chicken ahead of time?
Absolutely! Just follow the directions and store in the fridge. It tastes even better the next day!

Can I freeze the butter chicken?
You sure can! Just store it in an airtight container; it’ll keep for up to 3 months.

What can I use instead of heavy cream?
You can swap it for half-and-half or coconut cream for a lighter or vegan option, respectively.

📌 Pin this recipe for your next cozy dinner night!

Butter Chicken

A creamy, comforting dish featuring perfectly seasoned chicken in a rich tomato and cream sauce, all made in one pan for easy cleanup.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Course Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine Indian

Servings 4 servings

Calories 690 kcal

Ingredients

  

For the Chicken

• 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

For Cooking

• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 3 tablespoons butter (divided)
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 medium onion, diced

For the Sauce

• 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)

To Serve

• Naan bread
• Steamed rice

Instructions

 

Preparation

• Toss the chicken chunks with salt, garlic powder, sweet paprika, curry powder, and Greek yogurt. Let it sit for about 15 minutes.

Cooking

• In a large pan, heat vegetable oil over medium heat. Cook the marinated chicken until it’s golden brown, then remove it and set aside.
• In the same pan, add 2 tablespoons of butter. Sauté garlic and onion until soft and fragrant.
• Stir in tomato sauce, sugar, additional salt, and black pepper. Simmer for about 5 minutes.
• Add the chicken back into the pan, pour in heavy cream, and add cayenne pepper, garam masala, and more curry powder. Let it simmer on low for 10 minutes.
• Stir in the remaining tablespoon of butter for that luscious finish.

Serve

• Garnish with parsley and dig in with naan or over fluffy rice.

Notes

This butter chicken keeps well in the fridge for 3-4 days in an airtight container. It can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Reheat on the stove over low heat until warmed through, adding a splash of cream to refresh the sauce as needed.

Keyword Butter Chicken, comfort food, Creamy Chicken, one-pan meal, Quick Dinner