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Butter Chicken

A comforting dish featuring tender chicken in a rich, creamy tomato sauce that's quick to prepare and perfect for any occasion.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Indian
Calories: 650

Ingredients
  

Marinade Ingredients
  • 1.5 pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized chunks
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
  • 0.5 teaspoon curry powder
  • 1 tablespoon Greek yogurt
Cooking Ingredients
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 3 tablespoons butter divided
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt adjust to taste
  • 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 0.5 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional for heat
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • 0.5 teaspoon curry powder
  • 0.25 cup freshly chopped parsley optional, for garnish
Accompaniments
  • Naan bread
  • Steamed rice

Method
 

Marinating Chicken
  1. In a bowl, combine chicken chunks with salt, garlic powder, paprika, curry powder, and yogurt. Mix well and let it marinate for at least 30 minutes (or up to overnight in the fridge).
Cooking Chicken
  1. In a large pan, heat vegetable oil over medium heat. Add the marinated chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove from the pan and set aside.
Preparing Sauce Base
  1. In the same pan, melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Add minced garlic and diced onion. Sauté until the onion becomes translucent.
Building Sauce
  1. Stir in the tomato sauce, sugar, salt, black pepper, and heavy cream. Add cayenne pepper if you want some heat. Bring to a simmer.
Simmering
  1. Add the cooked chicken back to the pan. Stir in garam masala and curry powder. Let it simmer for 10 minutes, allowing flavors to meld.
Finishing Touch
  1. Just before serving, stir in the remaining tablespoon of butter for extra creaminess.
Serving
  1. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley. Serve hot with naan bread and steamed rice.

Notes

To store leftovers, let the butter chicken cool completely. Transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. You can also freeze it for up to 2 months. To reheat, simply warm it up on the stove or in the microwave until heated through. Adjust the spices according to your taste. For a healthier twist, substitute heavy cream with coconut milk.