Published 1/22/2022 • Updated 10/24/2024
Quick Butter Chicken Recipe for Dinner
Have you ever ordered butter chicken for take-out from your favorite Indian restaurant and thought- I could never make this? Butter chicken is actually very easy to make! This our is our version of butter chicken and you will definitely be adding it into your menu rotation for the week. Butter chicken is
Quick Butter Chicken Q&A
Ingredients You Need
This is the best butter chicken recipe that is made with a savory butter gravy. You only need a few ingredients to make our version of Indian butter chicken.
Boneless skinless chicken thighs: we like the tenderness and flavor that boneless chicken thighs offer in this butter chicken dish. Greek yogurt– find a non-fat Greek yogurt to marinate the chicken thighs in. Lemon– we add flavor to the chicken marinade with a little lemon juice and lemon zest. White onion– the onion offers depth of flavor in the butter chicken sauce. Spices ( salt, garam masala, cumin, paprika, coriander, chili powder) – oh baby, the mix of spices make this recipe. The garam masala can be bought or homemade. Please do not skimp on the salt, it really brings out all of the flavors in this dish. Garlic cloves– garlic makes every dish better, especially this one! Fresh ginger– the “spice” or bite in this butter chicken comes from fresh ginger! Ghee– GHEE IS THE STAR of this recipe. It puts the butter in butter chicken. Ghee is clarified butter that is rich and delicious. Tomato sauce– butter chicken’s base is tomato sauce. Heavy Cream– full fat heavy cream adds the creaminess to this recipe. Cilantro– this recipe is perfectly balanced once you top it with a little bit of fresh cilantro.
Boneless or Bone-in Chicken Thighs?
We tested this recipe with bone boneless chickens and bone-in thighs. We highly recommend using boneless thighs because they marinate well in the Greek yogurt marinade and there is no fuss with bones! And? you don’t really have to peel your ginger as long as its rinsed. Grate from frozen and you’ll never go back .
Can I make this recipe vegetarian?
Yes, you can make this recipe vegetarian by skipping the chicken and adding vegetables instead. Feel free to add roasted eggplant, spinach, peppers, paneer, or any of your favorite vegetarian options.
How to Make Butter Chicken
What to Serve with Butter Chicken
Butter chicken is delicious on it’s own, but we recommend serving butter chicken with a fresh squeeze of lemon and topped with fresh cilantro. We also recommend serving butter chicken with fresh garlic naan (warm of course)!
Storage Options
Store the butter chicken separate from rice in an air tight container for up to 5 days.
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