The Butter Chicken
A creamy, rich butter chicken (murgh makhani) with marinated chicken, tomato sauce, and a buttery, spiced cream sauce.
Equipment
- Large skillet or frying pan
- Mixing Bowl
- Measuring spoons / cups
- Spatula or Wooden Spoon
Ingredients
Chicken Marinade
- 1.5 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp sweet paprika
- ½ tsp curry powder
- 1 tbsp Greek yogurt
Sauce & finishing
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
- 3 tbsp butter (divided)
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 onion, diced medium
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt (adjust)
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 2 cups heavy cream
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper (optional) for heat
- 1 tsp garam masala
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish) optional
To Serve
- naan bread or steamed rice
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the chicken pieces with salt, garlic powder, paprika, curry powder, and Greek yogurt. Mix well and let marinate about 15 minutes.
- In a skillet over medium-high heat, heat vegetable oil and 1 tablespoon of butter. Add the marinated chicken in a single layer. Brown the chicken for 5–7 minutes (not cooking fully). Remove and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add the remaining butter. Sauté minced garlic and diced onion until fragrant and translucent (about 3–4 minutes).
- Add tomato sauce, sugar, salt, and black pepper. Stir and bring to a simmer, cooking about 5 minutes for flavors to meld.
- Pour in heavy cream, stirring until smooth. Let it simmer gently about 5 minutes to thicken slightly.
- Return the browned chicken to the sauce. Stir in cayenne (if using) and garam masala. Simmer for another 10–12 minutes until chicken is cooked through and sauce is rich.
- Stir in any remaining butter for extra richness. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired.
- Serve warm over naan or rice.
Notes
Adjust cayenne pepper for extra heat or omit for milder flavor. Use full-fat cream for the richest texture. This recipe is based on the “Ultimate Butter Chicken” version from MixUpRecipes. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}