The Ultimate Easy Butter Chicken Recipe

Introduction

If you’re searching for a meal that delivers big, comforting flavor with minimal fuss, look no further than this Ultimate Easy Butter Chicken Recipe. With its creamy tomato sauce and perfectly spiced chicken, butter chicken offers an irresistible combination of richness and warmth—making it a true family favorite and an absolute crowd-pleaser. It’s the perfect dish for busy weeknights or when you want to impress guests with a restaurant-worthy meal that’s surprisingly simple to prepare.

Why This Butter Chicken Is a Standout

Butter chicken stands out thanks to its luscious, velvety sauce—rich without being heavy and fragrant with gentle, aromatic spices. This recipe streamlines the traditional approach, balancing bold flavors and staying approachable for any home cook. You’ll get juicy, tender pieces of chicken enveloped in that creamy, deeply flavorful sauce, all ready in under an hour.

Key Steps for Maximum Flavor, Minimal Effort

Start by prepping your chicken and aromatics. For perfect, even cubes, use the Mueller Pro-Series 10-in-1, 8 Blade Vegetable Chopper—it cuts prep time dramatically and ensures uniformly sized chicken and onions, which cook more evenly.

Next, the chicken is marinated in a yogurt and spice blend, locking in moisture and flavor. Sautéing your aromatics in a quality, nonstick skillet like the SENSARTE Nonstick Frying Pan Skillet, 9.5 Inch ensures even cooking and an easy cleanup.

When it comes time to blend your sauce for a perfectly smooth, restaurant-style finish, the Ninja BL610 Professional 72 Oz Countertop Blender makes quick work of pureeing the tomatoes, onions, and aromatics into a silky base.

Assembling and Simmering the Butter Chicken

With everything prepped, bring your butter, sauce, and chicken together—simmer gently until the chicken is cooked through and the flavors meld beautifully. A finishing swirl of cream transforms the sauce into its signature, mouthwatering consistency.

Looking to save on storage space and avoid a marinade mess? Pre-measure your spices and portion your marinade using Rubbermaid Brilliance Food Storage Containers, Set of 5.

Serving Butter Chicken for Maximum Impact

Butter chicken is best enjoyed with fluffy basmati rice or warm naan bread—perfect for scooping up every bit of sauce. Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve alongside a crisp cucumber salad or vibrant pickled onions for balance.

Hosting a gathering? Protect your dinner table with a Pureegg Plastic Table Cloth Disposable 10 Pack, White, making post-meal clean-up a breeze.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields 4 hearty servings. Each serving contains about 400–500 calories, depending on the choice of cream and whether you serve with rice or naan. It’s a rich, satisfying main course meant to be savored!

The Ultimate Easy Butter Chicken Recipe (Recap)

This easy butter chicken guarantees a restaurant-quality result at home, all while simplifying steps and minimizing mess. Rich, creamy, perfectly spiced, and incredibly satisfying—this is the ultimate recipe you’ll turn to again and again for comfort and flavor.

Instructions

1. In a bowl, combine Greek yogurt, lemon juice, ginger, garlic, garam masala, turmeric, cumin, chili powder, and salt. Add chicken; toss well to coat. Marinate at least 15 minutes (or up to overnight for more flavor).
2. Heat the SENSARTE Nonstick Frying Pan Skillet, 9.5 Inch over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon butter. Sauté onions until golden and soft, about 5 minutes.
3. Add marinated chicken to the skillet. Cook for 4–5 minutes, stirring, until just browned (doesn’t need to be fully cooked through yet). Remove chicken and set aside.
4. To the same skillet, add crushed tomatoes and sugar. Simmer for 10 minutes until thickened. Let cool slightly, then transfer sauce to the Ninja BL610 Professional 72 Oz Countertop Blender and blend until smooth.
5. Return the pureed sauce to the pan. Stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon butter and cream. Add the chicken back to the sauce and simmer gently for 10–12 minutes until chicken is cooked through and sauce is creamy.
6. Taste and adjust seasoning. Garnish with fresh cilantro.
7. Serve hot with basmati rice or naan.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes (plus marination time)