Easy Butter Chicken Recipe

Butter chicken in a pan with a wooden spoon.

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 20

Total Time: 30

This Easy Butter Chicken recipe (murgh makhani) can be on your dinner table in just 30 minutes. The sauce is deliciously rich and creamy, just like butter chicken from your favorite Indian restaurant.

Ingredients

The Curry

2 tablespoons butter or cooking oil
2 yellow onions, roughly chopped
3 tablespoons chopped ginger
6 cloves garlic, crushed
28 ounce can of crushed or diced tomatoes
1 lb chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 cup water
¼ cup whipping cream, plain yogurt, or coconut milk
2 tablespoons almond butter
2-4 tablespoons coconut sugar, can sub brown sugar
Sea salt, to taste (I like about 2 teaspoons)

The Spices

1 tablespoon garam masala
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
Seeds from 4 cardamom pods

Instructions

Heat the oil in a large-sized frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the onion, ginger, and garlic and cook for about 8 minutes, until well-browned, reducing the heat if necessary. While the onion cooks, place the spices in a small bowl.
2 tablespoons butter or cooking oil, 2 yellow onions, 3 tablespoons chopped ginger, 6 cloves garlic, 1 tablespoon garam masala, 1 teaspoon ground turmeric, 1 teaspoon ground coriander, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon chili powder, Seeds from 4 cardamom pods
Add the spices to the pan and cook for 1 minute to remove their raw flavor. Pour the can of tomatoes into the pan and scrape the bottom to remove any bits that are stuck to the pan. Transfer to a blender and blend on high until smooth. Return the sauce to the pan.
28 ounce can of crushed or diced tomatoes
Add the chicken and water and bring the sauce to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pan, and let the chicken cook through, about 10 minutes.
1 lb chicken breasts or thighs, 1 cup water
Stir in the cream, yogurt, or coconut milk, the almond butter, and the coconut sugar. Season to taste with sea salt.
¼ cup whipping cream, plain yogurt, or coconut milk, 2 tablespoons almond butter, 2-4 tablespoons coconut sugar, Sea salt

Notes

Pair with steamed basmati rice or cauliflower rice

cauliflower rice in a pan with a wooden spoon.

Serving: 1 ½ cups, Calories: 345kcal, Carbohydrates: 16g, Protein: 28g, Fat: 19g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 7g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 108mg, Sodium: 216mg, Potassium: 651mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 7g, Vitamin A: 584IU, Vitamin C: 7mg, Calcium: 79mg, Iron: 2mg