Description
This Easy Butter Chicken is rich, creamy, and full of warm spices. It’s the perfect one-pan meal that delivers restaurant-quality flavor with simple ingredients and minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 1/2 teaspoons garam masala
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- Fresh cilantro, for garnish
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and melt 1 tablespoon of butter.
- In a bowl, mix chicken with yogurt, half the garlic, half the ginger, and salt. Marinate for at least 30 minutes.
- Cook marinated chicken in the skillet until golden, about 5–6 minutes. Remove and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt remaining butter. Add onions, the rest of the garlic and ginger. Sauté until soft, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in tomato paste, garam masala, cumin, and paprika. Cook for 1–2 minutes.
- Return chicken to pan. Stir to coat in spices and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Pour in heavy cream and simmer for 5 more minutes until thick and creamy.
- Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve hot with rice or naan.
Notes
- Marinate overnight for deeper flavor.
- Add chili powder if you prefer a spicier version.
- Use coconut cream for a dairy-free twist.