This Easy Butter Chicken recipe can be made in 35 minutes and is SUPER delicious. It's rich, creamy and addictive and is very easy to make dairy-free. No more need for take out Indian curry!
Hello, friends. I've made a big pot of butter chicken, and I'm here to share it with you. Food is always so much better when we share it with friends, isn't it?
This easy butter chicken recipe is one I've been making for years. I feel like I owe you a big apology for holding out on you for so long. You know those recipes that you make without using a recipe? The kind that you don't think to share because it's just part of your repertoire that you've grown so accustomed to making. That's this recipe for me. I made it the other day and thought, damn, I need to share this with you!
I used to make a version of this recipe when I was vegetarian; only I'd use soft tofu in place of the chicken. Even though I eat meat, I still love it that way. It can also be made dairy-free with two simple substitutions.
The sauce is thick and rich, creamy and full of warm Indian spices. I like that it's not as sweet as some butter chicken you get at westernized Indian restaurants; it tastes more like the real thing. You can also adjust the heat level to your liking by adding more or less chilies.
It might be a little more effort than picking up the phone for delivery Indian, but it's so much tastier. If you make it will you invite me over so we can share a big pot together? I'll bring the beer!
Tips for making easy butter chicken
- You can either follow the recipe directions and cook the chicken and sauce in two separate pans, or you can use the same one. Using two pans means the recipe will be done faster, using one pan means you'll have fewer dishes. Your choice!
- When the onions are browning, add all the spices to a small bowl. This will make it quick and easy for you to add all the spices once the onions are brown.
- Once you've added the tomatoes and the sauce is cooking, add the almond butter, dairy or coconut cream, brown sugar and (if you're using it) yogurt to a small bowl. After you blend the sauce, you can quickly add everything all at once. Time saver!
- If you're serving this with rice, you can start the rice first. It will finish cooking before the butter chicken is ready, but you can remove it from the heat and set it aside, covered, until everything else is done.
Do I need to use all those spices?
Yes, and no. Each of the spices adds a layer of flavour and leaving one out will change the taste of the curry. But sometimes we all run out of a spice, or don't want to buy it because we don't think we'll use it often. I get it! If you're craving butter chicken and don't have any cumin on hand, don't sweat it, the curry will still taste great.
Garam masala is the most important spice here. It is a mix of different spices and adds the most flavour to the recipe. You could substitute curry powder, but I like garam masala better.
I always add fenugreek when I'm cooking Indian food. It is a little bit sweet and has a soft nutty flavour, but it is fairly subtle so if you don't have this one, you can leave it out.
If you make this Easy Butter Chicken recipe make sure to snap a pic and tag @theendlessmeal on Instagram, so I can like and comment on your pictures. I love seeing TEM recipes you guys create!
- 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil (or another neutral flavoured oil)
- 1 lb. chicken breast or tenders (see notes)
- 2 yellow onions, roughly chopped
- 3 tablespoons chopped ginger
- 6 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 tablespoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 teaspoon coriander, ground or seeds
- 1 teaspoon cumin, ground or seeds
- ¼ teaspoon fenugreek, ground or seeds
- ¼ to 1 teaspoon chili powder
- Seeds from 4 cardamom pods
- 1 - 28-ounce can of crushed or diced tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons almond butter
- 2 tablespoons dairy or coconut cream
- 2-4 tablespoons brown sugar, to taste
- Optional: 2 tablespoons plain yogurt
- Sea salt, to taste (I like about 2 teaspoons)
- Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a medium-sized frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts or tenders and cook, stirring frequently, until they are cooked through and no longer pink, about 12-15 minutes. Remove them from the pan and cut them into 1-inch chunks.
- While the chicken is cooking begin preparing the sauce. Add the remaining tablespoon of oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion starts to brown, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and ginger and cook for 1 minute more.
- Add all the spices all at once, or remove the pan from the heat for a moment while you add them. (garam masala, turmeric, coriander, cumin, fenugreek, chili powder and cardamom seeds) Let the spices cook for about one minute, or until they are quite fragrant. Add the tomatoes to the pan and scrape up any stuck on brown bits. Add half a cup of water and bring the pot to a boil. Lower the heat to medium and let the sauce simmer for 15 minutes.
- Carefully add the sauce to your blender and blend on high until it is very smooth. Add the sauce back to the pan and stir through the almond butter, dairy or coconut cream and the optional yoghurt.
- Serve with a side of rice.
Get your curry on, yo!
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Kristen Stevens
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Kristen is the person working behind the scenes at The Endless Meal. She takes all the pics, creates all the recipes and eats all the leftovers. 
Hello Kristen.
By preparing Indian food I learned there are many (like thousands recipes) for Garam masala. What spices do you use in yours?
To be totally honest, I use store-bought garam masala. If you make yours, I’m sure it will be even more delicious no matter what spices you use in it.
Would I be able to use fennel seeds instead of fenugreek?
I haven’t tried replacing fenugreek with fennel seeds before so I can’t say for sure. It’s such a small amount so I have no doubt you could leave it out. Garam masala also has a little fenugreek in it (usually) so you’ll get a little of that flavor already. 🙂
Tried your recipe tonight, we loved it! I’m dairy free so I used coconut cream for the cream add in and it worked perfect and didn’t add a coconut flavor. Will be making it again real soon!
I’m so happy to hear you liked the recipe!
Hi Kristen! I don’t have a blender at home -do you think a hand mixer would work as well? How important is it for the sauce to be really smooth?
Do you mean an immersion blender? That would definitely work. If you’re talking about handheld beaters (like you would use for mixing cake batter) that wouldn’t work. In that case, just mince the onions etc really fine. The texture will change, but it will still taste delicious!
Yum! This recipe looks very similar to my butter chicken recipe only I have never tried the almond butter in it. I usually blend up a bunch of cashews, but what a much easier idea to use the pre made almond butter. Good thing you’re smarter than me and figured it out 🙂 I’ll invite you when I make it. Im just a hop skip and a jump down the valley from you…
So nice to ‘meet’ a fellow BCer! (That looks really funny written, but I swear it doesn’t sound funny to me when I say it.) 🙂
Is there a difference between Butter Chicken and Chicken Tikka Masala? This looks delicious!
Thanks –
Lori
They’re similar but there is a difference. Exactly what that difference is seems to depend on who you ask. If you’ve had Chicken Tikka Masala before and liked it you will like Butter Chicken too!
I think I just had a ‘When Harry Met Sally Moment’. Yes, yes, yes! Before I even read the title, I saw the picture of the butter chicken and immediately swooned. Thanks so much for sharing! So what other amazing little gems to you have hiding in your repertoire? 😉
OMG I love it! That’s awesome!
I’ve been going through my old posts repertoire and have actually found some gems in there. Not photo-wise (some of the early ones are SO embarrassing!) but the recipes are solid. I’m going to start reposting them – with new pics! – to revive them 🙂
Ah, perfect! I’ve never had butter chicken, but being the spice connoisseur that I am and Indian being my favorite cuisine. this can totally happen 😉
Never had butter chicken? Girl, you need to change that asap!! 🙂
You’re absolutely right about sharing, Kristen! But I think it’s totally fine to share just with a very few friends. Thus, send me all this pot to me, ASAP! I may or may not share with someone else:) If seriously, good job! The chicken looks just fantastic!
Absolutely! I’m sending one giant pot of butter chicken your way. 🙂