• Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Savory Tooth

Simple Tasty Recipes

  • Home
  • Recipes By Course
    • Mains: Poultry
    • Mains: Beef
    • Mains: Pork
    • Mains: Seafood
    • Mains: Lamb
    • Mains: Vegetable
    • Appetizers
    • Sides
    • Desserts
    • Breakfast
    • Salads and Dressings
    • Soups
    • Drinks
    • Snacks
    • Sauces and Dips
  • Recipe Collections
    • Instant Pot
    • Low Carb
    • Asian Takeout
    • One Pan Meals
  • Boston Restaurant Reviews

Butter Chicken

Updated Jan 21, 2021Published Feb 1, 2018 By Julia 30 CommentsThis post may contain affiliate links.

Summary:
This is a one-pot dinner recipe for Indian butter chicken, with tender bites of chicken breast browned and simmered in a rich and creamy tomato-based sauce. Onions add sweetness, and butter is stirred in at the end for extra richness. Cilantro and ground coriander add a subtle earthy flavor.
overhead view of butter chicken

Butter Chicken

4.9 from 11 votes
PRINT PIN EMAIL
Prep: 25 minutes mins
Cook: 40 minutes mins
Yield: 4 servings

INGREDIENTS

Browning Chicken:

  • 1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts (Note 1)
  • 1/2 cup plain greek yogurt (Note 2)
  • 1/2 teaspoon table salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Spices:

  • 1 tablespoon garam masala (Note 3)
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne (Note 4)

Everything Else:

  • 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 15-ounce can tomato sauce (Note 5)
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream (Note 6)
  • 4 tablespoons salted butter, cut into 4 pieces
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Prepare Chicken: Pat chicken dry with paper towels and trim off excess fat, if any. Cut into 1-inch chunks. Stir together yogurt, salt, and pepper in large bowl until well-mixed. Add chicken chunks and stir until well-coated with yogurt.
  • Sear Chicken: Heat large nonstick pan (Note 7) over high heat until very hot. Add half of yogurt-covered chicken chunks to pan and spread out. Cook until golden brown and a bit charred, a few minutes, while stirring and flipping chicken to sear all sides. As they finish searing, transfer to large plate. Repeat with remaining chicken.
  • Sauté Onions: Reduce to medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons butter to now-empty pan, spreading around until melted. Add chopped onions and cook for about 5 minutes to soften, stirring frequently and loosening any browned bits stuck to bottom of pan. Add minced garlic and all spices, stirring for a minute until aromatic.
  • Simmer Sauce: Add tomato sauce and heavy cream, stirring for a minute until mixed. Add seared chicken chunks (without drippings) to pan and submerge in sauce; no need to stir. Bring sauce to simmer. Simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally and decreasing heat as needed to maintain light simmer. Chicken should be cooked through and sauce should be slightly thickened and orange.
  • Finish & Serve: Add 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro and 2 tablespoons butter to sauce, stirring until melted. Turn off heat. Serve into bowls (Note 8), and garnish with 1 tablespoon cilantro.

NUTRITION

Makes 4 Servings
Amount Per Serving:
Calories 560 (56% from fat)  
Total Fat 35g 54%
   Saturated Fat 21g 107%
Cholesterol 199mg 66%
Sodium 530mg 22%
Net Carb 8.5g  
Total Carb 11.5g 4%
   Dietary Fiber 3g 12%
   Sugars 6.5g  
Protein 44g  
Vitamin A 38% · Vitamin C 9% · Calcium 11% · Iron 12%

PHOTOS

overhead view of butter chicken
cooking butter chicken in pan
stirring chicken with orange sauce
butter chicken served in white bowl

NOTES & TIPS

(1) Chicken. I use fresh chicken; if yours is frozen, defrost in the refrigerator until thawed before using in this recipe. I use chicken breasts and they come out tender and moist, and don’t get tough. I haven’t tested with other cuts, but chicken thighs should also work well.
(2) Greek Yogurt. About 4 ounces weight. Greek yogurt is used because of its thick consistency; don’t use American yogurts, which would result in a watery marinade. Select one with at least 2% fat, plain flavor, and unsweetened. I use the Fage brand. This can’t be substituted with sour cream.
(3) Garam Masala. This is one of those spices that can’t be easily substituted because it gives a characteristic taste to Indian dishes like chicken tikka masala and butter chicken. It’s a blend of ground Indian spices including pepper, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and cumin. You can easily buy garam masala online, or find it at many U.S. supermarkets.
(4) Cayenne. 1/8 teaspoon for mild spiciness, 1/4 teaspoon for medium spiciness. Adjust as needed to match your preferences.
(5) Tomato Sauce. I use canned tomato sauce that is unsalted and plain (no added herbs). Tomato sauce is the same as tomato puree. Don’t substitute with other tomato products like diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, or pasta sauce.
(6) Heavy Whipping Cream. I haven’t used anything other than dairy-based cream, but readers have told me that they have successfully substituted some or all of the cream with half and half or coconut milk. I think the taste of coconut milk would go wonderfully with the flavors in this dish, especially if you use full-fat coconut milk. For a thicker, luxurious sauce, a better substitution might be coconut cream.
(7) Large Pan. I use a 10-inch wide and 3-inch tall nonstick pan. No oil needed.
(8) Serving. Like many Indian dishes, butter chicken is often served with basmati rice and naan. You can replace them with lower carb options like fried cauliflower rice and low carb tortillas. Bags of pre-riced cauliflower can be found in the produce section of many U.S. grocery stores, or you can buy florets and use a food processor to grate them into rice-sized pieces. Low carb tortillas are also available in many U.S. supermarkets — look for wraps by brands including Mission, La Banderita, and Kroger.
(9) Butter Chicken vs. Chicken Tikka Masala. Butter chicken is similar to chicken tikka masala, and some restaurants use those terms interchangeably. Also known as murgh makhani, butter chicken originated in India whereas chicken tikka masala is more of a British invention. Both recipes use garam masala, but butter chicken tends to be milder. I recommend butter chicken for those who prefer a less spiced, more buttery and subtle curry, and chicken tikka masala for those who prefer boldly flavored sauces. I’ve cooked the latter a number of different ways, with recipes for stovetop, pressure cooker, and slow cooker.

More Mains: Poultry

overhead view of balsamic chicken thighs

Instant Pot Balsamic Chicken Thighs

keto fried chicken served on white plate

Fried Chicken

close up view of keto butter chicken curry

Instant Pot Butter Chicken

chicken fajitas served on plate with guacamole

Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

Filed Under: Asian Takeout, Low Carb, Mains: Poultry, Per Serving: 5-10g Net Carbs Tagged With: cayenne, chicken breasts, cilantro, coriander, cumin, featured, garam masala, garlic, ginger, gluten free, heavy cream, more10ingredients, more60min, onion, stovetop, tomato sauce, yogurt

About Julia

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Julia is a recipe developer and the founder of Savory Tooth, and lives in Boston, Massachusetts. Since 2015, she has been sharing simple recipes for tasty dishes in a user-friendly format. She typically prefers savory foods over sweet, hence the name of the site. Contact her at julia@savorytooth.null.com.

Previous Post: « Instant Pot Creamy Chicken With Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Next Post: Instant Pot Beef And Broccoli »
4000
Did you make this? Rate this recipe:




4000
Did you make this? Rate this recipe:




newest oldest most voted
Jake

Wow. Not lying when I say this is one of the most delicious things I’ve ever had.

Vote Up2Vote Down  Reply
5 years ago
Amanda K Neal

This is a family favorite in our home. Our children are used to spicy foods. When we make this we have to make a recipe and a half to feed the four of us and have left overs for my husband’s lunch the next day. It is flavorful, rich and a great meal after a cold day of working outside. ❤

Vote Up1Vote Down  Reply
5 years ago
Fabian

Hi, I’m from Australia so a little confused when you say “tomato sauce” for us that’s your version of ketchup.
Are you referring to a “tomato paste” style sauce?
Look forward to making this 😊

Vote Up1Vote Down  Reply
5 years ago
Julia

Hi Fabian! When I say “tomato sauce” I am talking about tomato puree that comes in canned form. If you took tomatoes and blended them until smooth, you would get tomato puree. It is not tomato paste, which is much more concentrated. Hope that clears things up!

Vote Up3Vote Down  Reply
5 years ago
Kassandra

Just made the other day and my husband is already asking me to make it again. It is going to be a regular in my “favourite recipe” folder.

Vote Up1Vote Down  Reply
5 years ago
Elena

I’ve been wanting to make this for the longest time. My oldest son mentioned he wanted to try it. I made it tonight, and OH MAN!! It is sooooo delicious. It was a huge hit in this household.

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
1 year ago
May*

I don’t know how to add a photo but oh my hell. Like this was soooooo nice.
I’m white but my ex was mix red indian and nepalese.
I was forced to get to know the food and butter chicken with garlic naan was and is the best as of yet.
I decided to try this and my heart melted. It tasted like I ordered the food.
I’m really so proud of myself!

Even my Garlic Naan came out great!
Useeee thhiiisss!!!

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
2 years ago
Sabra

Absolutely delicious, I like a little more heat so doubled the cayenne and added a little more garam Marsala. Will be a regular dish at my home. Also used tomato paste with the tomato sauce.

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
3 years ago
Katrina

Sorry one more thing I just want to ask if I can marinate the chicken for 24 hrs? I tried to do it today but I got some errands to do and I forgot about it. Im planning to cook it for tomorrow is that ok? Thank you

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
4 years ago
Julia

Marinating the chicken for 24 hours should be fine. By the way, the recipe does not require marination; once the chicken chunks are coated in the yogurt mixture in Step 1, they can be immediately seared in Step 2 without waiting for them to marinate. I wanted to mention that in case it’s not clear. Please let me know if there’s anything else I can clarify.

Vote Up1Vote Down  Reply
4 years ago
Katrina

Can I use All Purpose Cream instead of whipping cream? And how can I substitute tomato purée (just in case it’s not available) using fresh tomatoes?

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
4 years ago
Julia

I haven’t used all purpose cream, but I think it would be fine since its fat content (30% fat) is not too dissimilar to heavy whipping cream (36% fat). If you’re using fresh tomatoes, use a blender or food processor until it’s puréed to a similar consistency as the canned variety. Since you’re replacing a 15-ounce can, you’ll want roughly 2 cups of puréed tomatoes. Hope that helps!

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
4 years ago
Katrina

Thank you for responding. God bless🥰🥰🥰

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
4 years ago
Valerie Di Paolo

I’ve made this recipes many times, I love it but mine never turns that deep orange color, what am I doing wrong? Thanks!

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
4 years ago
Julia

The color is most affected by the spices, heavy whipping cream, and tomato sauce. For example, different brands of garam masala may differ in color. Make sure you’re using exactly “heavy whipping cream” and not similar products.

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
4 years ago
Courtney Jarrell

I have been making this dish for years. It’s one of my favorite dishes and it’s always a hit with family and friends! Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe! I do sometimes substitute the heavy cream with half-and-half, and I’ve never noticed a taste or texture difference. I also serve this with rice.

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
4 years ago
Jenny

Could I use 18% table cream instead of whipping cream?

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
5 years ago
Julia

That is a lower fat content than heavy whipping cream, which is usually 36%. I don’t think the fat percentage will be an issue because readers have substituted with ingredients that have a different fat content (like half-and-half) with good results, so I assume table cream will also work for this recipe.

If you give it a try, please let me know how it turns out for you.

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
5 years ago
Dean

Can I use minced ginger instead of ground ginger?

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
5 years ago
Julia

Using minced fresh ginger is fine. Use 4x the amount of ground ginger in the recipe.

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
5 years ago
Oisha Joseph

Is the Greek yogurt absolutely necessary? I want to try this recipe but the grocery stores near me are all out of plain Greek yogurt.

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
5 years ago
Julia

If you can’t find Greek yogurt, you can try substituting with a non-greek plain yogurt, ideally one that’s thicker in texture.

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
5 years ago
Oisha Joseph

Thanks

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
5 years ago
Mona Seno

I loved and miss the old version of this recipe. I tried doing this one and it took forever to pick out all the bits of black burnt yogurt “browned bits” (which were like flaked charcoal) out of my dish. Is the old version available anywhere?

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
5 years ago
Julia

If you make this again, I suggest sauteing less and not to the point where you have to fish out many bits of burnt yogurt. Ideally, the chicken is nicely seared and golden brown. If you send me an e-mail, I’ll see if I can dig up the older version of this recipe for you.

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
5 years ago
Mona

I just tried it again and didn’t get too held up getting the chicken browned. It turned out great even though the chicken was barely yellow (though well cooked!) and I had some light brown pan scrapings instead of the black flakes I had before. Thank you, it’s a delicious recipe!

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
5 years ago
Julia

I’m glad to hear that, Mona. Thank you for taking the time to report back!

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
5 years ago
JerseyGirl

A lot of prep but worth it. Love the flavors. Served with Jasmine rice.

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
5 years ago
Heather

Just finished making this. Wow. Serves 5, HA! Not when it tastes this good. Thank you for this!!

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
6 years ago
Danielle

I love makhani, can’t wait to try this!

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
7 years ago

Primary Sidebar

Trending Recipes This Month:

mushroom burger casserole served in white bowl

Mushroom Cheeseburger Casserole

pan seared swordfish served on a plate

Pan-Seared Swordfish

close up view of casserole on white plate

Ground Beef & Broccoli Casserole

shrimp avocado salad in wooden bowl

Easy Shrimp Avocado Salad with Tomatoes

fried cabbage and potatoes served in white bowl

Fried Cabbage and Potatoes with Bacon

Footer

About

Terms And Conditions
Privacy Policy

Search

Copyright © 2015–2025 · Savory Tooth

MENU
  • Home
  • Recipes By Course
    • Mains: Poultry
    • Mains: Beef
    • Mains: Pork
    • Mains: Seafood
    • Mains: Lamb
    • Mains: Vegetable
    • Appetizers
    • Sides
    • Desserts
    • Breakfast
    • Salads and Dressings
    • Soups
    • Drinks
    • Snacks
    • Sauces and Dips
  • Recipe Collections
    • Instant Pot
    • Low Carb
    • Asian Takeout
    • One Pan Meals
  • Boston Restaurant Reviews