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    Home » Recipes » Curries and Stew

    Butter Chicken

    March 15, 2023 by Kankana Saxena (44 Comments)

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    Butter Chicken is the one of the most popular Chicken Curry and if a restaurant serves North Indian dishes, chances are it will always have butter chicken in the menu. A dish loved by many, young and old. It is creamy, aromatic with a floral note, mildly sweet and pairs so good with Naan or jeera rice.

    Butter Chicken

    Butter Chicken, which we also refer to as Murgh Makhani has a very interesting history of its origin and if you google about it, you will find lots of articles.

    The key of the dish is the creamy tomato based sauce which we used with not only vegetarian protein like paneer to make Paneer Butter Masala or tofu but also used in pasta or pizza.

    Why you will love this Butter Chicken Recipe ?

    The base sauce is the Makhani sauce, and it is flavor packed with spices and dried herb called kasuri methi. You can make that sauce in bulk and freeze it too.

    Once you have that sauce ready, making butter chicken is very easy, and you can prepare even on a busy day.

    My secret ingredient for the perfect aroma and taste of Butter Chicken is the base Makhani sauce, where I use cinnamon powder. I prepare the sauce by simmering in spices for 20 minutes, which adds the depth of flavor.

    Also, I marinate the chicken in spices and yogurt for few hours so the chicken pieces gets tender and juicy.

    Butter Chicken

    Ingredients for Butter Chicken

    Chicken Pieces - It is often prepared with boneless chicken. I prefer chicken thigh as it has fats which keeps the pieces juicy and tender.

    Onion, Garlic, Ginger - Like any chicken curry, mugh makhani too calls for the regular onion, garlic and ginger. I like to keep butter chicken non-spicy, as my son loves this dish. A few fresh green chili will not only add heat but also add a refreshing flavor.

    Makhani Sauce - The gravy is the key to the taste of this dish. Just adding butter and cream with some tomato will not get that flavor profile. Take some time in making this Makhani sauce.

    Spices - Chicken is marinated in ground spices like cumin, coriander, fennel, salt and sugar along with dried fenugreek leaves. Apart from the ground spices you will also need cinnamon stick, clove and green cardamoms.

    Heavy Cream and Butter - The dish is prepared in butter and then finished with a small doze of heavy cream which changes the gorgeous red makhani sauce to the beautiful soothing saffron shade.

    The correct measurement of the ingredients are given in the recipe card below.

    You can also make a vegetarian version of the same dish by using tofu or paneer or cauliflower. You can also try mixed vegetables along with the makhani sauce.

    Steps to prepare Butter Chicken

    Makhana Sauce
    1. Start by making the makhani sauce
    Butter Chicken Steps

    2. In a mixing bowl add mustard oil, yogurt, all the ground spices, ginger garlic paste, dried fenugreek leaves and salt. Whisk to mix everything.

    3. Add the chicken pieces. I used boneless thighs that I cut into bite size strips. You can use chicken breast too. Once marinated, cover the bowl and leave it aside for 4 hours in the refrigerator.

    Steps to prepare

    4. In a heavy bottom skillet, add the butter with little oil and scatter the whole spices along with dried fenugreek leaves. Stir it around for a few seconds to release the aroma.

    5. Add the finely chopped onion and season with salt. Cook until it's softened a little.

    Steps to prepare

    6. Scatter the marinated chicken all around.

    7. Cook the chicken for a few minutes to sear the pieces.

    Steps to prepare

    8. Pour the makhani sauce and mix it around. Cook the chicken pieces in the sauce for a few minutes. Since it's boneless chicken, it will cook pretty fast.

    9. Pour heavy cream and mix it all around. The heavy cream adds a mild sweetness and also changes the color of the curry to a gorgeous saffron shade.

    Butter chicken tastes best when enjoyed warm with Naan or rice.

    Butter Chicken with Naan

    Couple of points to remember

    When it comes to chicken boneless, I prefer Chicken Thigh as it has fats ad keeps the pieces juicy when compared to chicken breast.

    Avoid over cooking chicken. Often when making curries, people overcook chicken and it becomes hard. Looses it tender texture. Boneless chicken doesn't need a lot of time to cook and as it sits in that hot curry, it keeps cooking too.

    The Makhani sauce is the key of the dish here, so keep extra time in hand to make that before you make the curry.

    I always marinate the chicken the previous night and also make the sauce in the previous night or over the weekend in a big batch.

    Butter Chicken

    Try these popular Indian restaurant

    INSTANT NAAN - 30 MINUTES, NO YEAST!

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    CREAMY MALAI CHICKEN - MURGH MALAIWALA

    DAL MAKHANI

    CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA

    FAQs

    What is Butter Chicken Sauce made of?

    Butter Chicken sauce is a tomato based gravy. It is made of earthy spices, onion, garlic, ginger, tomato purée, dried fenugreek leaves, whole spices like cinnamon stick, cardamom, star anise and clove. It is finished with heavy cream and cooked in butter.

    What is the difference between Butter Chicken and Chicken Tikka Masala?

    In Chicken tikka masala, you add grilled chicken pieces that are traditionally charred in a charcoal tandoor. In butter chicken, you cook the chicken pieces with onion in a pan and then add makhani sauce to make the gravy.

    Is Butter Chicken spicy or sweet ?

    Butter Chicken has a good balance of sweet and spice, which makes it a favorite among kids. It's creamy and definitely less spicy than most Chicken curry.

    Butter Chicken

    Butter Chicken

    Butter Chicken is the one of the most popular Chicken Curry and if a restaurant serves North Indian dishes, chances are it will always have butter chicken in the menu. A dish loved by many, young and old. It is creamy, aromatic with a floral note, mildly sweet and pairs so good with Naan or jeera rice.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Chicken Marinating Time 4 hours hrs
    Total Time 4 hours hrs 30 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Indian
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 459 kcal

    Ingredients
     

    To marinate the chicken pieces

    • 1 lb Boneless chicken thigh
    • 2 tablespoon Mustard oil
    • 2 tablespoon Kashmir chili powder
    • 1 tablespoon Turmeric powder
    • 1 and ½ tablespoon Cumin powder
    • 1 and ½ tablespoon Coriander powder
    • 1 and ½ tablespoon Fennel powder
    • 2 tablespoon Ginger Garlic Paste
    • ½ cup Thick Plain Yogurt
    • 2 tablespoon Dried fenugreek leaves

    Other Ingredients

    • 2 Tbsp Butter
    • 1 tablespoon Oil
    • few cloves
    • 4 Green Cardamoms
    • 1 Tiny piece of cinnamon stick
    • ½ teaspoon Dried fenugreek leaves
    • 1 red Onion (Thinly sliced)
    • 2 Cups Makhani sauce (recipe link given below)
    • ¼ cup Heavy cream

    Instructions
     

    Marinating the Chicken pieces

    • In a mixing bowl, add all the ingredients for chicken marination and whisk to a smooth consistency.
    • Slice the chicken thigh to thin strips or bite size pieces. Place in the mixing bowl and mix it around.
    • Cover and leave aside in the refrigerator for 4 hours or overnight

    Preparing Butter Chicken

    • In a heavy bottom pan, add the butter with little oil and add the whole spices which are cinnamon stick, clove and green cardamoms. Stir it around for a few seconds to release the aroma.
    • Add the onion, season with salt and cook for 3 minutes.
    • Scatter the chicken pieces and cook for 5 minutes by stirring it around.
    • Pour the makhani sauce and stir it around. Let it cook for 15 minutes.
      Keep in mind that depending on the size of the chicken pieces and the quantity, the cooking time will change.
    • Once the chicken is cooked through, pour heavy cream and mix it around one last time. Taste for salt and add more if needed.
    • Enjoy Butter chicken warm.

    Video

    Notes

    Here is the RECIPE LINK FOR MAKHANI SAUCE ! 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 459kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 21gFat: 36gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 16gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 128mgSodium: 155mgPotassium: 419mgFiber: 3gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 339IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 107mgIron: 4mg
    Keyword boneless chicken dish, chicken curry, restaurant style chicken dish, weekend meal

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      Aloo Mushroom Masala
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      Doi Begun

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. alex at a moderate life!

      May 24, 2011 at 12:49 pm

      Kankana, so sorry I am late to dinner but you know I have been having computer problems! So glad I didn't miss this! I know my husband also, like Arvind thinks butter chicken is absolutely the best Indian dish! I also feel the same way as you when cooking up a dish that I know is going to be delicious! I actually ask my kids to taste it so that I can be simply delighted by the final product! We have a great Indian store near us and I will get some fenugreek, and try this recipe one weekend soon! Thanks so much for your sunshine today and for being such a lovely hearth and soul hop host! big hugs! Alex

      Reply
    2. Ananda Rajashekar

      May 22, 2011 at 4:57 am

      those roties with curry make me drool! yum!

      Reply
    3. Mrinalini

      May 20, 2011 at 7:07 pm

      Kankana, I am inspired to make chicken makhani your style tomorrow and chicken biryani my style! The recipe looks delicious!!

      Reply
    4. Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen

      May 19, 2011 at 5:28 pm

      Not only does this look delicious but I am loving your photo styling! These are beautiful!!

      Reply
    5. Lin Ann

      May 19, 2011 at 1:13 pm

      Your version looks and sounds amazing. Nothing wrong with a little butter and cream now and then!

      Reply
    6. nisha

      May 19, 2011 at 5:35 am

      im such a sucker for butter chicken, but the fast that it is so difficult to make, makes me cringe..so i kinda avoid it as much as i can, until my craving takes over 🙂

      Reply
    7. rebecca

      May 19, 2011 at 2:30 am

      wow this looks so good and with the roti heaven

      Reply
    8. Maria @ Scandifoodie

      May 19, 2011 at 1:30 am

      I'll definitely give your recipe a go. I've made a similar dish a couple of times, but they never looked this good! My partner will LOVE this!

      Reply
    9. aipi

      May 18, 2011 at 7:10 pm

      This is a dish that never gets old ~ timeless classic! Perfectly recreated 🙂
      US Masala

      Reply
    10. [email protected]

      May 18, 2011 at 6:58 pm

      One of P's fav.He can eat it almost daily.I love the trademark color that you have brought about in your pictures .Looks yumm..feel like licking the sauce 🙂

      Reply
    11. Tiffany

      May 18, 2011 at 5:37 pm

      What a hearty dish! Perfect for a cool, spring night!

      Reply
    12. Juliana

      May 18, 2011 at 12:18 pm

      Wow, this chicken dish sure looks so tasty with all the nice and tasty spices...the color is just amazing...would love to have with a bowl of white rice. Beautiful pictures...hope you are having a wonderful week Kankana 🙂

      Reply
    13. Sandra's Easy Cooking

      May 18, 2011 at 11:47 am

      typo error wanted to say as always!:))

      Reply
    14. Sandra's Easy Cooking

      May 18, 2011 at 11:46 am

      Outstanding dish..never had it before, but would love some hahaha
      As alwyas your photos are amazing!

      Reply
    15. Tina (PinayInTexas)

      May 18, 2011 at 8:22 am

      Your butter chicken looks really good, Kankana! Would love to try this!

      Reply
    16. Sawsan@ chef in disguises

      May 18, 2011 at 12:28 am

      I have a few awards for you on my blog 🙂

      Reply
    17. Sarah

      May 17, 2011 at 11:18 pm

      This looks lovely! I have to try out ur version!

      Reply
    18. Ameena

      May 17, 2011 at 7:25 pm

      Until I read Soma's blog I thought it was named after the butter used in the recipe as well! 🙂

      Reply
    19. torviewtoronto

      May 17, 2011 at 6:32 pm

      delicious looking butter chicken looks fabulous

      Reply
    20. Srivalli

      May 17, 2011 at 5:49 pm

      Hi came thr foodgawker, your pictures are very pretty!..will read through the rest..

      Reply
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