Description
This easy and delicious Butter Chicken Recipe is a perfect weeknight meal that beats takeout. Featuring tender chicken simmered in a creamy, spiced tomato sauce, it’s rich in flavor and simple to make at home.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, diced small
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter (56.5 grams)
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, diced into bite-sized pieces (453.6 grams)
Spices & Seasonings
- 1 tablespoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Liquids & Dairy
- 8 ounces tomato sauce (226.8 grams)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1/4 cup plain yogurt (56.8 grams)
- 1 cup half and half (227 grams)
Optional Garnish
- Cilantro, for garnish
Instructions
- Sauté onions: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onions and stir regularly, cooking until they become translucent, about 5 to 7 minutes.
- Add butter, ginger, and garlic: Add the butter to the skillet and allow it to melt completely. Stir in the grated fresh ginger and minced garlic, cooking for about 30 seconds to 1 minute until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
- Cook chicken: Add the diced chicken pieces to the skillet. Cook while stirring frequently until the chicken is no longer pink on the outside, about 2 minutes. The chicken does not need to be fully cooked at this point as it will continue cooking in the sauce.
- Add spices and liquids: Stir in the garam masala, chili powder, salt, and black pepper. Then pour in the tomato sauce, tomato paste, lemon juice, yogurt, and half and half. Mix thoroughly to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Simmer the sauce: Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for about 10 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken and reduce slightly. The sauce will remain creamy and saucy.
- Serve: Serve the butter chicken hot over cooked rice. Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves if desired, and accompany with warm naan bread for a complete meal.
Notes
- Garam Masala is a traditional Indian spice blend typically including black pepper, bay leaves, nutmeg, cumin, pimento, cloves, black cardamom, and coriander.
- This recipe uses yogurt and half and half instead of cream to achieve creamy texture with a lighter finish than heavy cream.
