Creamy Cashew Butter Chicken (dairy-free recipe!)
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This rich and warming cashew butter chicken is as good as it gets! By using cashews instead of cream, this recipe is as rich and creamy as any restaurant-style butter chicken, without the heaviness of cream! It’s easy to make, naturally dairy-free, and delicious!
This dairy-free Indian dinner is one of those recipes I always like to have in my back pocket. It’s easy, reliable, and exactly the kind of comforting curry I crave when I want dinner to feel cozy without a lot of effort. The sauce is rich and warming, with all the familiar flavors I love in restaurant-style butter chicken.
I make this when life feels busy, when I’m craving something comforting, or when I know I’ll be grateful for leftovers the next day. It’s one of those meals that fits whatever the evening calls for and somehow always hits the spot.
Ingredients needed
Comforting butter chicken has never been this good for you! Blended cashews are liquid gold for this recipe. This is everything you need:
- Cashew nuts: Omit the heavy cream without giving up on the creamy, velvety consistency. Cashew pieces are less expensive than whole cashews and work well in this recipe.
- Oil: To cook the chicken and saute the onion.
- Boneless chicken: The star protein that soaks up the rich flavors of the cashew-based butter chicken sauce. Use chicken thighs or chicken breasts.
- Onion: Adds depth and sweet undertones.
- Garlic and ginger: For savory and zesty notes.
- Crushed tomatoes: Add a burst of freshness and a little tang.
- Brown sugar or coconut sugar: Balances the flavors.
- From the spice rack: Garam masala, ground turmeric, ground coriander, ground cumin, chili powder, cardamom pods, and sea salt.
Tips for making cashew butter chicken
- Cashews: Make sure they’re blended until smooth. If you don’t have a high-powered blender, soak them in water to make them softer and easier to blend. You can also run the cream through a sieve to make sure no gritty bits get through.
- Onions: Caramelize the onions and let them brown well to bring out a sweet undertone.
- Spices: While the onions brown, combine all the spices in a small bowl for a quick and easy addition.
- Rice: If you’re enjoying your cashew butter chicken with rice, start the basmati rice first. The rice will finish before the cashew butter chicken is done, so remove it from the heat to the side until everything else is complete.
What to serve with cashew butter chicken
Make some cauliflower rice, basmati rice, or coconut rice to soak up the beautiful sauce, sprinkle cilantro or cashews over top, and serve with some naan or roti.
For some Indian-inspired appetizers, start the meal with some curried carrots, roasted tandoori cauliflower, or turmeric cauliflower.
Finish the meal off with a mango chia pudding for dessert.
Recipe FAQs
Can I substitute cashew butter for the blended cashews?
That is possible. Start with less, ⅓ – ½ cup, and add more as needed. You can add more to make it thicker or add water to thicken it. The cashew butter will thicken as it cooks. And remember that cashew butter is made with roasted cashews so it will add a slightly roasted flavor to the curry.
Can I store leftovers?
Yes, this is one of those recipes that somehow tastes even better the next day! Keep your leftover cashew butter chicken in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-4 days, or in the freezer for up to three months in freezer bags.
Can I adjust the level of spice?
Yes, this cashew butter chicken uses minimal chili powder for mild heat, so feel free to add more. Or add some red chilies while cooking the ginger and garlic if you like it spicier.
How would I make a vegetarian version?
To make a vegetarian version, use tofu in place of the chicken. Cut it into cubes and fry it until the edges are crispy.
Creamy Cashew Butter Chicken (dairy-free recipe!)
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups raw cashews (see notes)
- 2 tablespoons oil (divided)
- 1 lb boneless chicken thighs or breasts
- 1 medium onion (chopped)
- 5 cloves garlic (chopped)
- 2 inch piece of ginger (peeled and chopped)
- 28 ounce can of crushed tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar (or coconut sugar)
- Sea salt (to taste)
The Spices
- 1 tablespoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ to 1 teaspoon chili powder (depending how spicy you like it)
- Seeds from 4 cardamom pods
Instructions
- Place the cashews and 1 ½ cups of water into your blender or food processor and blend on high until completely smooth. Pour into a bowl and set it aside. Don't clean your blender yet – you'll need it again.1 ½ cups raw cashews
- Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until it is brown on both sides, about 10 minutes total. You don't need to cook the chicken all the way through. Chop the chicken into bite-sized pieces.1 lb boneless chicken thighs or breasts
- While the chicken is browning, start cooking the curry. Add the remaining tablespoon of oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion to the pan and cook until it is soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and ginger and let it cook for 5 minutes more.1 medium onion, 5 cloves garlic, 2 inch piece of ginger
- Add the spices to the onions and let them cook for a minute, stirring the whole time. Pour the tomatoes into the pan and scrape the bottom of the pan. Carefully transfer to your blender and blend on high until smooth.28 ounce can of crushed tomatoes, 1 tablespoon garam masala, 1 teaspoon ground turmeric, 1 teaspoon ground coriander, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, ¼ to 1 teaspoon chili powder, Seeds from 4 cardamom pods
- Pour the curry back into the pan, add the blended cashews, the chopped chicken, ½ cup of water, and the brown sugar. Bring the curry to a boil then reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it cook for 10 minutes. Season to taste with sea salt.2 tablespoons brown sugar, Sea salt
Notes
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
This recipe is absolutely delicious. The cashew gives it a depth of flavor that is unmatched in other similar recipes I’ve tried. And bonus no dairy!
I love hearing that — thank you so much! The cashews really do bring something special to the sauce, and I’m so glad that flavor stood out for you. Appreciate you taking the time to leave a note — it means a lot. 🥰
I love this recipe! My stomach doesn’t do dairy these days. So quite a few tasty foods have to be adjusted for that quirk. Indian food uses a lot of dairy but this butter chicken has solved my problem! It’s so delicious!! Thanks so much for posting it. xx
The creamy cashew butter chicken is calling for cashews, not cashew butter. What The ****!
It’s meant as butter chicken made with cashews, not chicken made with cashew butter. Sorry for that confusion!
My husband and I made this with tofu and it was amazing! We had to season the tofu (1/2 tsp each of garam malsala, tumeric, paprika & salt) and bake it to get a crisp texture. But we felt like we had gone out to eat so thank you so much. 🙏🏻
For a whole 30 recipe it was pretty good. I had to about double the seasonings for it to have any flavor. It just didn’t really seem creamy at all. Overall it was just alright