Butter Chicken Poutine
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Just when you thought poutine couldn’t get any better, in walks this butter chicken poutine! The creamy butter chicken sauce poured over a hot plate of fries checks all the boxes for flavor + it’s weeknight and kid-approved!
This butter chicken poutine is what happens when two comfort food favorites collide. Crispy fries, melty cheese curds, and a rich butter chicken gravy come together in a dish that’s equal parts Canadian classic and Indian-inspired comfort food. If you love a traditional poutine, you’ll appreciate this fun twist on the original while still getting all the saucy, cheesy goodness that makes poutine so irresistible.
The star of the show is the butter chicken gravy, which is actually vegetarian, as it’s just the sauce, with no chicken. It’s rich, creamy, and packed with warm spices like garam masala, cumin, coriander, and turmeric. Crushed tomatoes create the base, while cream or coconut milk adds silky richness. A little almond butter thickens the sauce and gives it that signature butter chicken flavor and texture.
I love serving this when I’m craving something indulgent but a little different from the usual. And while this version takes poutine in a new direction, it still delivers everything I love about an authentic Canadian poutine: crispy fries, plenty of gravy, and lots of squeaky cheese curds.
What to serve with butter chicken poutine
Butter chicken poutine is already a pretty complete meal, but if you want to round things out, here are a few ideas:
- Make a poutine bar: Set out toppings like sautéed mushrooms, crispy onions, roasted cauliflower or broccoli, fresh cilantro, and a drizzle of cucumber yogurt sauce so everyone can customize their plate.
- Turn it into an appetizer spread: Pair it with finger foods like honey garlic chicken wings, cauliflower bites, or steak lettuce wraps for game nights and casual gatherings.
- Serve it as dinner: Balance the richness with a fresh avocado and cucumber salad, or add some baked chicken thighs if you’re feeding a hungry crowd.
Your questions, answered
Can I use store-bought fries? Absolutely! If you’re short on time, you can pick up a bag of frozen French fries and cook them as directed on the package. Then, add your homemade butter chicken gravy on top. Easy and delish!
Can I use leftover butter chicken? Sure! If you have leftover butter chicken in your fridge, this butter chicken poutine is a great way to repurpose it as a fresh new take on leftovers!
How long will butter chicken poutine last? It’s best to serve it over fresh fries, but the butter chicken sauce will keep in a sealed container in the fridge for 5 days on its own.
Butter Chicken Poutine Recipe
Ingredients
The Poutine
- 4 medium russet potatoes (scrubbed and cut into ¼-inch strips – no need to peel them)
- 1 tablespoon oil (any neutral-flavored cooking oil)
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 cup cheese curds
Butter Chicken Gravy
- 1 tablespoon oil (any neutral-flavored cooking oil)
- 1 medium yellow onion (roughly chopped)
- 1 ½ teaspoons fresh ginger (chopped)
- 3 cloves garlic (crushed)
- 1 ½ teaspoons garam masala
- ½ teaspoon EACH: ground turmeric, coriander, and cumin
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder
- 14 ounce can of crushed tomatoes
- ½ cup water
- ¼ cup whipping cream (or coconut milk)
- 1-2 tablespoons brown sugar (to taste)
- 1 tablespoon almond butter
- Sea salt (to taste)
- Cilantro (to serve)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line 2 – 11×13 baking sheets with parchment paper. Rinse the fries well under cold running water. Dry them with a clean dish towel. Place the potatoes in a large bowl. Add the oil and salt and mix them together using your hands. Add the cornstarch and toss so that each of the fries are coated.4 medium russet potatoes, 1 tablespoon oil, 1 teaspoon sea salt, 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- Lay the fries on the prepared baking sheets in a single layer. Make sure there is a little room between each fry so they crisp well. Bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes, turning halfway through.
- Make the butter chicken gravy while the fries cook. Add the oil to a medium-sized pot over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring frequently, until they are quite brown, about 10 minutes. Add the ginger and garlic and cook for 1 more minute.1 tablespoon oil, 1 medium yellow onion, 1 ½ teaspoons fresh ginger, 3 cloves garlic
- Add the garam masala, turmeric, coriander, cumin, and chili powder to the pan and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the crushed tomatoes and water and scrape the bottom of the pot to remove any brown bits. Bring the pot to a boil then reduce the heat and let it simmer for 15 minutes.1 ½ teaspoons garam masala, ½ teaspoon EACH: ground turmeric, coriander, and cumin, ¼ teaspoon chili powder, 14 ounce can of crushed tomatoes, ½ cup water
- Let the sauce cool a little and then pour the sauce into your blender and blend on high until smooth. Return the sauce to the pan and stir in the whipping cream, brown sugar, and almond butter. Season to taste with salt.1 tablespoon almond butter, ¼ cup whipping cream, 1-2 tablespoons brown sugar, Sea salt
- Keep the sauce warm on low heat until the fries are ready. Once the fries are crispy, transfer them to a serving dish. Top them with the cheese curds and pour the butter chicken gravy over top. Serve immediately with a little cilantro on top.1 cup cheese curds, Cilantro
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
More butter chicken recipes
For more inspiration, check out all of our dinner ideas!
Made this last night and it was incredible. I added some leftover chicken to the sauce and it made it hearty enough for a meal. The kids asked me to make it again so that’s a win in my books.
My son is vegetarian and loves Indian food and he went crazy for this recipe! So glad I found it!
I hope he likes it as much as I do!!
My daughter thought she had died and gone to heaven, two of her favorite things in one! This really was amazing!!
That’s how I felt when I was eating it, too!