Description
Ultimate Guide to Easy Butter Chicken Recipe for Four: A Creamy & Irresistible Indian Classic. This simplified version delivers authentic restaurant-quality flavors with minimal effort—perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions. Tender chicken marinated in yogurt and spices, simmered in a rich tomato-cream sauce with aromatic butter.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs boneless chicken thighs (cut into bite-sized pieces)
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp garam masala
- 1 tbsp turmeric
- 4 tbsp butter (divided)
- 1 large onion (finely chopped)
- 3 garlic cloves (minced)
- 1 tbsp grated ginger
- 1 can (14 oz) tomato puree
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp sugar
- Fresh cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- Combine chicken with yogurt, lemon juice, 1 tbsp garam masala, and turmeric. Let it marinate for at least 30 minutes (or overnight for deeper flavor).
- Melt 2 tbsp butter in a pan. Add onions, garlic, and ginger. Cook until golden (5-7 minutes).
- Stir in tomato puree, remaining garam masala, and sugar. Simmer for 10 minutes until thickened. Blend if desired for smoother texture. Add cream gradually.
- Grill or pan-fry marinated chicken until lightly charred (5 minutes per side). Add to sauce with remaining butter. Simmer together for 5-10 minutes.
Notes
- Refrigerate leftovers for 3-4 days in airtight containers
- Freezes well for up to 3 months—thaw overnight before reheating gently with a splash of cream
- For vegetarian version: Substitute chicken with paneer or mushrooms
- For spicier version: Add 1 tsp Kashmiri chili powder
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1.5 cups)
- Calories: 520 Kcal
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 380mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 185mg
Keywords: easy butter chicken recipe, Indian butter chicken, murgh makhani, creamy chicken curry, weeknight dinner recipe