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Homemade Butter Chicken

This Homemade Butter Chicken proves you don’t need a restaurant to enjoy rich, authentic flavors. With tender chicken, a velvety sauce, and flexible variations like crispy butter chicken or healthy butter chicken recipe, it’s a dish you’ll return to again and again.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 6
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • Chicken Marinade
  • 1½ lbs boneless chicken thighs or breasts
  • ½ cup buttermilk or plain yogurt
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1 tsp red chili powder
  • 1 tsp garam masala
  • 1 tsp salt
  • Butter Chicken Sauce
  • 3 tbsp butter
  • 1 tbsp oil
  • 1 medium onion finely chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tbsp fresh ginger grated
  • 1½ cups tomato puree
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • ½ tsp garam masala
  • ½ cup heavy cream or coconut cream for dairy-free
  • Salt to taste
  • Garnish Optional
  • Fresh cilantro
  • Extra butter or cream

Method
 

  1. In a bowl, combine chicken, buttermilk, turmeric, chili powder, garam masala, and salt. Mix well and marinate for at least 30 minutes.
  2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until lightly browned and fully cooked. Remove and set aside.
  3. In the same pan, melt butter. Add onions and sauté until soft and golden.
  4. Stir in garlic and ginger; cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  5. Add tomato puree, cumin, coriander, paprika, and garam masala. Simmer for 10–15 minutes until thick.
  6. Reduce heat and stir in cream.
  7. Add cooked chicken back to the sauce and simmer for 8–10 minutes.
  8. Adjust salt, garnish with cilantro, and serve hot.

Notes

  • Use chicken thighs for juicier results.
  • For crispy butter chicken, pan-fry or air-fry chicken before adding to sauce.
  • For a healthy butter chicken recipe, use light cream and reduce butter.
  • Sauce thickens more as it cools—don’t over-reduce.