Description
Creamy butter chicken brings Indian culinary magic straight to home kitchens with tender marinated chicken swimming in a luxurious tomato-based sauce. Fragrant spices and silky cream elevate this classic dish, promising a delightful meal that transports you to the heart of North Indian cuisine.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 1/2 pounds (680 grams) skinless boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized chunks
Spices:
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon curry powder
Binding Ingredient:
- 1 tablespoon Greek yogurt
Instructions
- Thoroughly blend chicken with salt, garlic powder, sweet paprika, curry powder, and Greek yogurt in a medium bowl, ensuring complete and even coating.
- Allow chicken to marinate at room temperature for 15-20 minutes, developing deeper flavor profiles.
- Preheat large skillet to medium-high heat with 3 tablespoons of oil, creating an ideal searing environment.
- Carefully introduce marinated chicken, cooking 8-10 minutes while rotating periodically to achieve uniform golden-brown exterior.
- Extract chicken from skillet, maintaining residual cooking oils for subsequent sauce preparation.
- Reduce skillet temperature to medium, introducing 1 tablespoon butter to deglaze pan and capture caramelized remnants.
- Incorporate minced garlic and diced onions, seasoning with pinch of salt, sautéing until onions become translucent and aromatic.
- Introduce tomato sauce and sugar, allowing mixture to simmer 2-3 minutes for flavor melding.
- Reintegrate cooked chicken into skillet, thoroughly combining with developing sauce.
- Pour heavy cream, stirring until sauce transforms into vibrant orange consistency.
- Enhance with cayenne pepper, garam masala, curry powder, and black pepper.
- Reduce heat, allowing sauce to gently simmer 10 minutes, concentrating flavors.
- Adjust seasoning according to personal preference.
- Finish by incorporating remaining cold butter, creating luxuriously smooth sauce texture.
- Optional: Garnish with fresh chopped parsley for visual appeal.
- Serve immediately alongside warm naan bread and steamed rice, presenting restaurant-quality butter chicken in home kitchen.
Notes
- Marinate longer for deeper flavor by refrigerating chicken mixture up to 4 hours before cooking.
- Swap Greek yogurt with coconut yogurt for a dairy-free alternative that maintains creamy texture.
- Use boneless chicken thighs instead of breasts to keep the meat more tender and juicy during cooking.
- Reduce spice intensity by cutting cayenne pepper quantity or omitting entirely for mild-loving palates.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Indian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 125 kcal
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg