If you’re craving a luxurious, aromatic curry that feels like it came straight from your favorite Indian restaurant, this Butter Chicken Recipe is the one you need. Also known as Indian Butter Chicken or Murgh Makhani, this dish is famous for its velvety tomato-cream sauce, tender chicken, and delicate blend of warm spices. Whether you’re new to curry recipes or looking for an authentic butter chicken recipe Indian style, this version is incredibly easy, flavorful, and perfect for home cooks.

🗺️ Road Map of This Recipe

This article covers everything you need to make the best butter chicken:

1. Why Make This Butter Chicken Recipe

2. Ingredients

3. How to Make Butter Chicken (Step-by-Step)

4. How to Serve

5. Tips for Perfect Butter Chicken

6. FAQs

7. Final Thoughts

Butter Chicken Recipe

This rich and creamy Butter Chicken Recipe—also known as Indian Butter Chicken—is a restaurant-quality dish made at home with simple ingredients. Tender marinated chicken simmers in a velvety tomato-cream sauce infused with aromatic spices. Perfect for anyone wanting an authentic yet easy butter chicken or exploring flavorful curry recipes.

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Servings 6

Ingredients

  

• For the Chicken Marinade
• 1 ½ lbs chicken breast or thighs cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 cup plain yogurt
• 1 tbsp garlic paste
• 1 tbsp ginger paste
• 1 tsp garam masala
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• ½ tsp turmeric
• 1 tsp Kashmiri chili powder or paprika for mild heat
• ½ tsp salt
• For the Butter Chicken Sauce
• 3 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp oil optional
• 1 large onion finely chopped
• 3 garlic cloves minced
• 1 tbsp ginger grated
• 1 ½ cups tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes
• 1 –1 ½ cups heavy cream or coconut cream
• 1 tsp garam masala
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp sugar or honey optional
• 1 tsp crushed fenugreek leaves kasuri methi
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

 

• Marinate the Chicken
• In a bowl, mix yogurt, garlic, ginger, garam masala, cumin, turmeric, chili powder, and salt. Add the chicken and coat well. Marinate for 30 minutes (or overnight for best flavor).
• Cook the Chicken
• Heat butter or oil in a pan over medium heat. Add chicken pieces and cook until lightly browned. Remove and set aside (they will finish cooking in the sauce).
• Prepare the Sauce Base
• In the same pan, add butter and sauté the chopped onions for 5–7 minutes until soft and golden.
• Add Aromatics & Spices
• Stir in garlic, ginger, garam masala, chili powder, and cook for 1 minute to release aroma.
• Add Tomatoes
• Pour in tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes. Let simmer for 10 minutes to develop a rich, smooth flavor.
• Add Cream
• Stir in the heavy cream (or coconut cream) and mix well until the sauce becomes silky and orange.
• Simmer with Chicken
• Add the cooked chicken back to the pan. Simmer for 10–12 minutes, allowing the chicken to absorb the flavors.
• Finish with Fenugreek & Butter
• Crush fenugreek leaves between your palms and stir them into the sauce. Add an extra tablespoon of butter for that classic restaurant-style shine.
• Taste and Adjust
• Add salt, pepper, or a pinch of sugar to balance acidity if needed.

Notes

Use chicken thighs for extra tenderness.

Blend the sauce before adding chicken if you want a super-smooth restaurant-style texture.

Make it dairy-free: use coconut cream and vegan butter.

Add spice: increase chili powder or add fresh chili.

Serve with: basmati rice, naan, roti, or cauliflower rice.

Leftovers: refrigerate for up to 4 days or freeze for 3 months.

Fenugreek leaves (kasuri methi) are key for authentic flavor—don’t skip them if possible.

⭐ Why Make This Butter Chicken Recipe?

Butter Chicken is one of the most beloved dishes in Indian cuisine, known for its balance of richness, spice, and creaminess. The sauce is silky and mild, making it ideal even for those who prefer less heat in their curry recipes.

This recipe gives you all the restaurant-style flavors without complicated steps. The chicken marinates in yogurt and spices, becoming incredibly tender, while the sauce simmers with tomatoes, butter, and cream—creating that signature silky texture.

If you’ve been searching for an easy butter chicken that tastes authentic, this version is perfect for weeknights yet impressive enough for entertaining.

🥘 Ingredients

To create this delicious and authentic butter chicken, you’ll need:

For the Chicken Marinade

• Chicken breast or thighs, cut into pieces

• Plain yogurt

• Garlic & ginger paste

• Garam masala

• Ground cumin

• Turmeric

• Kashmiri chili powder (or paprika for mild heat)

• Salt

For the Sauce

• Butter (essential for true butter chicken!)

• Onion, finely diced

• Garlic & ginger

• Tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes

• Heavy cream or coconut cream

• Sugar or honey (optional, for balance)

• Garam masala

• Fenugreek leaves (kasuri methi)

• Chili powder

• Salt & pepper

These classic ingredients create the perfect Indian Butter Chicken flavor profile—spiced but not spicy, rich but not heavy.

👩‍🍳 How to Make Butter Chicken Recipe (Step-by-Step)

1. Marinate the Chicken

Whisk yogurt with garlic, ginger, garam masala, turmeric, cumin, and chili powder. Coat the chicken pieces evenly and let them marinate for at least 30 minutes—or overnight for maximum flavor.

2. Cook the Chicken

Heat oil or butter in a pan and cook the marinated chicken until golden. It doesn’t need to be fully cooked inside; it will finish in the sauce.

3. Make the Butter Chicken Sauce

In the same pan, add butter and sauté onions until golden. Add ginger, garlic, and spices. Toasting them releases deep, aromatic flavors.

4. Add Tomatoes and Simmer

Pour in crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce. Let the mixture simmer to develop richness and remove raw tomato taste.

5. Add Cream for Silkiness

Stir in heavy cream or coconut cream, which transforms the sauce into the comforting, creamy base typical of butter chicken recipe Indian dishes.

6. Add Chicken Back In

Return the chicken to the pan and let everything simmer together until the chicken is fully cooked and the sauce thickens beautifully.

7. Finish with Butter + Fenugreek

Stir in a final knob of butter and crushed fenugreek leaves. This step elevates the dish to true restaurant quality.

🍛 How to Serve Butter Chicken

Butter Chicken tastes best when paired with simple, fluffy sides that soak up all the delicious sauce:

• Basmati rice

• Garlic naan

• Homemade roti or chapati

• Jeera (cumin) rice

• Paratha

• Cauliflower rice for a lighter option

Add a fresh cucumber salad or pickled onions for brightness, balancing the creamy richness of the dish.

💡 Tips for a Perfect Butter Chicken Recipe

• Use chicken thighs for the juiciest, most authentic texture.

• Marinate overnight for deeper flavor.

• Toast the spices in butter to release maximum aroma.

• Blend the sauce for an ultra-smooth restaurant version.

• Add a pinch of sugar to balance tomato acidity.

• Don’t skip fenugreek leaves—they’re essential for the true buttery flavor.

• Use Kashmiri chili powder for color without too much heat.

Small details make a huge difference in recreating restaurant-style easy butter chicken at home.

❓ FAQs

1. Is Butter Chicken spicy?
No—Butter Chicken is mild and creamy. You can adjust heat by reducing or increasing chili powder.

2. Can I make this dairy-free?
Yes! Use coconut milk or coconut cream and replace butter with vegan butter.

3. What is the difference between Butter Chicken and Chicken Tikka Masala?
Butter Chicken is creamier and sweeter, while Chicken Tikka Masala is spicier and more tomato-forward.

4. Can I freeze Butter Chicken?
Absolutely—it freezes well for up to 3 months.

5. Can I use canned tomatoes?
Yes, crushed tomatoes or tomato puree both work beautifully.

🌟 Final Thoughts

This Butter Chicken Recipe delivers everything you love about classic Indian cuisine—rich sauce, tender chicken, and aromatic spices. Whether you’re making Indian Butter Chicken for the first time or refining your skills with curry recipes, this dish is guaranteed to impress. Simple, flavorful, and deeply comforting, it’s the perfect meal for anyone craving authentic flavor in an easy, approachable way.