Description
Butter Chicken Pasta is a creamy, spiced fusion of Indian and Italian flavors, combining rich butter chicken sauce with al dente pasta for a comforting and indulgent dish.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Butter Chicken Sauce:
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp ginger, minced
- 2 tsp garam masala
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp coriander powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp turmeric
- ½ tsp chili powder (adjust to taste)
- 1 ½ cups tomato purée (or canned crushed tomatoes)
- 1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half for a lighter option)
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp sugar (optional)
- Salt to taste
- 2 tbsp butter (for finishing)
- Fresh cilantro for garnish
For the Chicken:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tsp garam masala
- ½ tsp turmeric
- ½ tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp yogurt
- 1 tbsp oil for cooking
For the Pasta:
- 12 oz pasta (penne, rigatoni, or fettuccine)
- Water for boiling
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
-
Marinate the Chicken:
- Mix the chicken pieces with garam masala, turmeric, chili powder, salt, lemon juice, and yogurt.
- Let it marinate for at least 20 minutes (or up to overnight).
-
Cook the Chicken:
- Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add marinated chicken and cook until golden brown and fully cooked (6–8 minutes).
- Remove and set aside.
-
Prepare the Butter Chicken Sauce:
- In the same skillet, melt 2 tbsp butter and sauté onions until translucent.
- Add garlic and ginger, cook until fragrant.
- Stir in garam masala, cumin, coriander, paprika, turmeric, and chili powder.
- Pour in tomato purée and tomato paste, simmer for 10–15 minutes.
- Stir in heavy cream and sugar (if using), then season with salt.
- Add cooked chicken, simmer for 5 more minutes.
- Finish with 2 tbsp butter and stir until melted.
-
Cook the Pasta:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente.
- Drain, reserving ½ cup pasta water.
-
Combine and Serve:
- Toss cooked pasta with the butter chicken sauce.
- Add reserved pasta water if needed.
- Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve hot.
Notes
- Vegetarian: Replace chicken with paneer, tofu, or mushrooms.
- Spicy: Increase chili powder or add red pepper flakes.
- Lighter: Use Greek yogurt instead of heavy cream.
- Cheesy: Stir in Parmesan or mozzarella for extra creaminess.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: fusion
Keywords: Butter Chicken Pasta, Indian Fusion, Creamy Pasta, Spicy Pasta, Indian-Italian Fusion