Description
This Easy Homemade Butter Chicken recipe offers a rich and creamy Indian-inspired dish featuring tender marinated chicken thighs simmered in a flavorful tomato and cream sauce. Perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner, it combines aromatic spices and a luscious gravy with simple ingredients for a restaurant-quality meal at home.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Marinade
- 1 ½ pounds skinless boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized chunks
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
- ½ teaspoon curry powder
- 1 tablespoon Greek yogurt
Cooking
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 3 tablespoons butter, divided
- 6 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups heavy cream
Instructions
- Marinate Chicken: In a bowl, combine chicken thighs with salt, garlic powder, paprika, curry powder, and Greek yogurt. Mix well and allow to marinate for at least 30 minutes to infuse flavors and tenderize the meat.
- Cook Chicken: Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the marinated chicken in batches, browning each side for 3-4 minutes until slightly charred. Remove the chicken and set aside.
- Sauté Aromatics: In the same skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of butter. Add the diced onion and sauté until soft and translucent, about 8-10 minutes. Then add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
- Simmer Gravy: Pour in the tomato sauce, then add sugar, salt, and black pepper. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, reduce the heat, cover, and cook for 15-20 minutes. Stir occasionally to blend flavors.
- Combine & Finish: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Stir in the heavy cream and the remaining butter. Simmer uncovered for 10-15 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and chicken to finish cooking through.
- Serve: Serve the butter chicken hot, accompanied by your choice of rice or naan bread for a complete meal.
Notes
- Marinating the chicken for longer, up to 2 hours, enhances flavor and tenderness.
- Use boneless chicken thighs for more juicy and tender results than chicken breast.
- Adjust the level of spice by adding chili powder or cayenne if desired.
- For a richer sauce, butter can be increased slightly or cream substituted with coconut milk for a dairy-free version.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop.
