• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
The Sassy Foodie
  • Salads
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Salads
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Salads
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
×

The Sassy Foodie » Recipes » Mains

Creamy Butter Chicken

Published: Oct 8, 2020 · Modified: Jun 28, 2022 by Sunena Anand · This post contains affiliate links. I make a commission from sales. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. · 2 Comments

  • Share
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This creamy butter chicken tastes just like restaurant quality butter chicken, with a few tweaks to make it easy and weeknight friendly. Tender, seasoned chicken is simmered in a flavorful, savory sauce. Served with homemade tandoori naan, flavourful onion pulao or plain, fluffy rice, this is a restaurant quality meal in the making! The flavour is addictive, and you'll be wondering why you didn't make it at home sooner!

Creamy butter chicken, plated in a bowl with pieces of naan
Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions
  • Expert Tip
  • Substitutions
  • Variations
  • Equipment
  • Storage
  • More Indian Recipes
  • Creamy Butter Chicken
  • Food safety
  • 💬 Comments

Ingredients

Ingredients laid out and labelled
  • Boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • Greek yogurt
  • Lemon juice
  • Ginger paste
  • Garlic paste
  • Chaat masala
  • Garam masala
  • Paprika
  • Chilli powder
  • Cashew nuts
  • Cinnamon stick
  • Green cardamon
  • Dried fenugreek [kasoori methi]
  • Tomato passata
  • Sugar
  • Heavy whipping cream

A full list of ingredients with measurements is located on the recipe card, below.

Instructions

Start with...

  • Collecting all your ingredients - This will make cooking so much easier. Gather all the spices you will need, and keep them nearby.
  • Prepare your chicken - You will want to cut your chicken thighs into bite-sized chunks.
  • Preheat your oven - The gravy for this butter chicken does not take long to make. To make sure your chicken is ready to go, preheat your oven to 375°F so it is waiting for you!
Marinated chicken in a bowl

Combine your chicken with all the ingredients needed for the marinade. You do not need to let the chicken sit in the marinade. Transfer to a baking sheet, and bake at 375°F for 15 minutes. Because the chicken is cut into bite-sized pieces, it will cook relatively quickly.

Cashews, garlic, ginger and spices frying in a skillet with butter

In a large stainless steel skillet with 1 tablespoon of butter, brown garlic, ginger, cashew nuts, cardamon and a cinnamon stick until fragrant. It will not take long for the spices to brown.

Tomato passata added to the pan of aromatics

Add the tomato passata to the skillet, and let it cook through until the water has evaporated, and it has thickened.

Four photos of butter chicken gravy being completed

Once the passata is thick, remove the visibly large spices such as cardamon pods and cinnamon sticks, and put the sauce into a blender. Add half of the water, and blend until smooth.

Return the mixture back to the skillet, and add the remaining water. Add the ground spices and sugar, as well as the chicken. Finish with heavy whipping cream, and dried fenugreek.

Expert Tip

If you don't have a blender you can also use an immersion blender. Be mindful that it may not break down the cashews as well as a regular blender. If you find it to be chunky, try straining it!

Substitutions

  • Chicken - You can opt for chicken breasts instead of chicken thighs, if you prefer white meat. Be mindful to keep the pieces uniform, and bite-sized.
  • Tomato passata - You can also use canned crushed tomatoes, or diced fresh tomatoes. You will likely have to put the mixture through a strainer after blending, if using fresh tomatoes. This will yield a silky sauce.
  • Dairy free - Instead of sautéing in butter, feel free to use olive oil or your oil of choice. You can also use a dairy substitute instead of heavy cream. The cashews add a good creaminess to the sauce, so you won't lose too much by using a dairy substitute.

Variations

  • Spicy - Increase the amount of red chilli powder in both the chicken marinade, and the gravy. The recipe as written has a nice kick to it.
  • Kid friendly - Omit the red chilli powder all together!

Equipment

This is what I used to make this recipe - Please be mindful that different equipment and cooking utensils may yield varying results.

  • Large stainless steel skillet
  • Blender
  • Immersion blender in the alternative of a blender
  • Sieve [if using immersion blender]
  • Mixing bowls
  • Oven or air fryer

Storage

Store the butter chicken in an airtight container in the fridge. This will last up to 3 days.

You can also freeze this recipe, in freezer-safe containers. Defrost, and reheat on the stove.

More Indian Recipes

  • Kadai Paneer {Dhaba Style}
  • Restaurant Style Punjabi Dal Makhani {Instant Pot}
  • Punjabi Restaurant Style Shahi Paneer
  • Authentic Tandoori Chicken Tikka {Air Fryer}

Looking for more meal inspiration? Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly recipe roundups, straight to your inbox! Follow us on our socials, on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook! If you try one of our recipes, let us know how it was by rating and commenting!

Creamy Butter Chicken

This creamy butter chicken tastes just like restaurant quality butter chicken, with a few tweaks to make it easy and weeknight friendly.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate Save Saved!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4 Servings
Estimated Calories: 714kcal
Author: Sunena Anand

Ingredients

For the Chicken

  • 8 Chicken thighs boneless, skinless, cubed
  • ¼ cup Plain greek yogurt
  • 2 tablespoon Lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon Garlic paste
  • 1 tablespoon Ginger paste
  • 1 teaspoon Chaat masala
  • ½ teaspoon Garam masala
  • 1 teaspoon Paprika
  • 1 teaspoon Chili powder

For the Sauce

  • 1 tablespoon Garlic paste
  • 1 tablespoon Ginger paste
  • 15 Cashews
  • 1 Cinnamon stick
  • 2 pods Green cardamon
  • 1 teaspoon Red chilli powder
  • 1 teaspoon Garam masala
  • 2 teaspoon Dried fenugreek kasoori methi
  • 1 cup Tomato passata
  • 2 tablespoon Sugar
  • ½ cup Heavy whipping cream
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 cup Water

Instructions

  • Marinate the chicken: Marinate chicken thighs with all the ingredients for the marinade. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes, until cooked through. Remove, and set aside.
  • Make the sauce: In a dutch oven with a small amount of butter, cook the garlic, ginger, cashews, and whole spices until fragrant. Add the passata, and let simmer for 10-15 minutes.
  • Blend the mixture: Remove the cinnamon stick and cardamon pods from the sauce. Using a blender, blend the sauce mixture with ½ a cup of water. Return to the heat, and add another ½ cup of water. Add the spices and sugar. Reduce the heat, and add the chicken to the mix.
  • Finish with Cream: Add the whipping cream, and let the mix simmer for 5 minutes. Finish with a dab of butter and enjoy!

Estimated Nutrition

Calories: 714kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 42g | Fat: 52g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 20g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 263mg | Sodium: 223mg | Potassium: 880mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 1123IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 95mg | Iron: 3mg
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Indian
Have You Tried This Recipe?Don’t forget to leave a comment and rate the recipe! Take a picture and tag @the.sassy.foodie on Instagram for a chance to be featured on our socials!

Food safety

  • Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
  • Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
  • Wash hands after touching raw meat
  • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
  • Never leave cooking food unattended

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

« Homemade Air Fryer Cheddar Biscuits
Greek Shrimp & Feta Saganaki {No Ouzo!} »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Hi, I'm Sunena! I am a law student by day, and a homecook with a passion for food, by night! Welcome to my online kitchen, where I make easy, quick recipes that are tried and true family favourites!

More about me →

Summer Salads

  • Lentil Tabbouleh {Cava Copycat}
  • Steakhouse Style Wedge Salad {Without Blue Cheese}
  • Hawaiian Tuna Mac Salad
  • 50+ Recipes to Serve with Garlic Bread
  • 15+ Best Cinco de Mayo Salad Recipes
  • La Scala Copycat Salami Chopped Salad

Popular Recipes

  • Greek Style Potatoes [Spicy Tomato Sauce!]
  • Easy Creamy Lemon Caper Pasta
  • Yellow Shawarma Rice {Halal Cart Copycat}
  • La Scala Copycat Salami Chopped Salad
  • Red Lobster Copycat Brussel Sprouts {Air Fryer}
  • Roasted Eggplant Dip (No Tahini!)

Footer

Footer

↑ back to top

Resources

  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Accessibility Policy

Connect

  • Subscribe
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • Facebook

Contact

  • Contact
  • Collaborate

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2022 The Sassy Foodie

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie settingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT