Ready in under 30 minutes, this simplified version of Butter Chicken can be made in less time than it takes to get a takeaway and for a fraction of the price. Serve this delicious chicken curry with basmati rice and Kachumber Salad for an easy peasy midweek supper.
Homemade Butter Chicken
Butter Chicken is one of my favourite curries – and it’s so easy to make at home! First you mix up a quick and simple marinade for the chicken out of yogurt and tikka curry powder (you can easily get this at the supermarket – I use Tesco Medium Tikka Curry Powder). While the chicken is marinating, you make a simple Indian-style Kachumber Salad out of tomatoes, cucumber, red onions, cumin seeds and lemon juice. Next you fry onion, garlic and ginger in butter, before adding in the chicken and marinade. Finally add chopped fresh tomatoes and some tomato puree to the curry and simmer, before finishing with fresh coriander (cilantro) and a dash of cream.
How to make Butter Chicken a little lighter…
With butter, full fat yogurt and cream, this curry is definitely a little decadent. If you want a delicious meal without quite so many calories and saturated fat, you could use olive oil to fry your chicken and miss out on the cream. You could try this with low fat yogurt too, but I haven’t tested that version so I can’t promise that it works. Let me know what happens if you do try it with low fat yogurt!
What to serve with Butter Chicken?
I like to serve Butter Chicken with plain basmati rice and a Kachumber Salad for a quick and simple midweek meal that’s ready in under 30 minutes! But if you have a little longer, why not serve this with my Easy Homemade Pilau Rice? You could also make some of my Easy Homemade Naan Bread to go with this curry.
If you are wanting to cut down on calories, you could try my Pilau Cauliflower Rice or Plain Cauliflower Rice.
Kachumber Salad
What to drink with Butter Chicken?
Butter Chicken goes brilliantly with rich, buttery, oaked Chardonnay from warmer climates, like Chile, Australia or the South of France. Other good options include Viognier, Chenin Blanc and Pinot Grigio.
Can you reheat leftover Butter Chicken?
Absolutely! Put any leftovers into an airtight container and place in the fridge, where they will keep for up to 3 days. To reheat, tip the curry into a large saucepan, add a splash of water and reheat for 5-10 minutes, until piping hot all the way through.
You can also reheat Butter Chicken in the microwave, if you prefer.
Can you freeze Butter Chicken?
Yes, you can. You may find the sauce splits slightly, but it will still taste good! Put the cooked and cooled Butter Chicken into an airtight container and place in the freezer, where it will keep for up to 1 month. Defrost overnight in the fridge and reheat as above.
If you like this recipe…
…you might also like:
Easy Peasy Butter Chicken with Kachumber Salad
Ingredients
Butter Chicken
- 300 g full fat natural yogurt
- 4 tablespoons medium tikka curry powder (I use Tesco Medium Tikka Curry Powder)
- 800 g chicken thigh diced (you can use chicken breast if you prefer)
- 25 g butter
- 1 large brown onion peeled and sliced thinly
- 2 cloves garlic crushed or grated
- 2 cm ginger grated
- 3 medium tomatoes roughly chopped
- 2 tablespoons tomato puree
- 2 tablespoons fresh coriander (cilantro) roughly chopped (plus extra for garnish)
- 50 ml double cream (optional)
To serve
- Basmati rice
- Kachumber Salad
Instructions
- In a large bowl, make a simple marinade of the yogurt and curry powder. Add the diced chicken and stir everything together thoroughly. (If you have time, cover and place in the fridge to marinate for up to 1 hour, then continue with the recipe below. Otherwise just move straight on to Step 2.)
- Meanwhile make your Kachumber Salad
- As soon as you have made your salad, melt 25g butter in a frying pan and add the sliced onion, fry over a low heat with the lid on for 4 minutes, until the onion has softened. Add the garlic and ginger and cook for a further 1 minute, then add the chicken and all of the marinade and stir together.
- Add the chopped tomatoes and tomato puree and cook on a low heat, with the lid on for 15 minutes.
- Use this time to make your basmati rice according to packet instructions / your own preferences.
- After 15 minutes, add the fresh coriander, and cream to the curry. Stir together and remove from the heat. Serve with the kachumber salad and basmati rice and/or naan bread and a glass of oaked chardonnay.
Video
Notes
- Suitable for freezing.
- Nutrition information is approximate and meant as a guideline only.
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Angela / Only Crumbs Remain says
You really do make some great sounding tasty and easy curries 🙂
Angela x
Eb Gargano says
Aw, thanks Angela – I do try! My aim is to cover all the main takeaway favourites – eventually! It may take me a few years. Don’t think I’ve done a veggie one yet, have I? Must rectify that soon 🙂 Eb x
Angela / Only Crumbs Remain says
Ooh yes please :-)….I love Daal, but the ones I’ve tried to make at home have been lacking in ‘something’, not a patch on my friends mum’s daal (still not managed to get the recipe off her 😉 )
Angela x
Eb Gargano says
Mmmm – me too. Well, I will see what I can do. Might be a while – I have so many blog posts in progress at the moment!! Eeeek – so need more time – 24 hours a day is not enough!! Eb x
Sarah James @ Tales From The Kitchen Shed says
Your butter chicken looks delicious Eb. I’ve made butter chicken before but there was a lot of preparation involved. I love your easy version, perfect for a midweek meal with no fuss. Thanks for sharing, pinned for later x
Eb Gargano says
Aw, thanks Sarah. I love it when people tell me how easy my recipes are – it’s what I try so hard to achieve!! As you say this makes a great fuss free midweek meal 🙂 Thank you so much for your lovely comments 🙂 Eb x
Mandy says
This looks delicious and I bet the salad on the side goes perfectly. We’ve used The Spicery kits a few times – they’re so good aren’t they! Thanks for linking up with #CookBlogShare x
Eb Gargano says
It really does! I love how refreshing it is – and the lemon takes all the harshness out of the onion and makes it taste amazing! I really enjoyed using The Spicery kits – the meals tasted amazing and they were really easy to do. I’ve been so inspired by them…watch this space!! Thanks for your lovely comments. Eb x
Sarah James @ Tales From The Kitchen Shed says
Your Butter Chicken was delicious Eb, thanks for the recipe. So easy to make & a perfect no fuss meal. The whole family enjoyed it so much that they have requested it again for our next family curry night. A 5 star recipe x
Eb Gargano says
I’m so pleased you (and your whole family!) enjoyed it!! 🙂 Easy and delicious is what I aim for, so I’m super glad I hit the mark with you guys 🙂 And thank you so much for taking the time to let me know! Eb x
Kate - gluten free alchemist says
You really are a fab cook! Can I come and live at your place? x
Eb Gargano says
Oh Kate, that’s such a lovely compliment – especially coming from another food blogger! Hahaha – of course! But I think Mr and Miss GF might be a bit sad…or are you planning to bring them too? Eb x
Kate - Gluten Free Alchemist says
You’re definitely a bit of a curry queen! This looks SO good. I could dive in and never come out again. x
Thanks for sharing #CookBlogShare
Eb Gargano says
Aw, thanks Kate! That’s exactly the reaction I like to get to my recipes 😀
Cat | Curly's Cooking says
Love butter chicken! It’s perfect for us because my husband isn’t a huge fan of spice.
Eb Gargano says
Aw, that’s good to hear! Eb 🙂
Amy says
I haven’t had a good curry in awhile, I’ll be giving this a try soon!
Eb Gargano says
Glad you like the recipe! Let me know what you think when you try it 😀
Liz Schofield says
I have made quite a few of your recipes, all good and last night I made Butter Chicken and Kachumber salad. It was delicious and the main reason for writing to you is to say that my husband is a diabetic and usually when I make a curry with a ready made paste, be it either Chinese or Indian, his sugar level is very high but with your ingredients this did not happen. So that is a definite plus point and thank you for the tasty recipe.
Eb Gargano says
Thank you so much for this lovely comment! I am so delighted you and your husband enjoyed this so much and especially glad to hear that it didn’t make his sugar level go high. Eb 🙂