Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani) is one of the most popular curries in the world and yet happens to be one of the easiest! No hunting down hard to find ingredients, this chef recipe that makes the most incredible curry sauce.
This is a reader-favourite recipe included by popular demand in my debut cookbook “Dinner”!
Butter Chicken – a chef recipe!
As someone who loves food with big, BIG flavours, it’s no surprise that Indian is one of my favourite foods. A good curry and binge watching Netflix is pretty much my idea of a perfect Friday night. #NanaAlert! 😂
As much as I love making Indian food at home, sometimes I find the list of ingredients daunting. It’s easy enough to make once I gather all the ingredients, but that’s where I usually fall short because it requires a trip to an Indian grocery store – and my closest one is a fair drive away.
Butter Chicken is one of the few exceptions. I was elated when I discovered a Chef recipe for Butter Chicken and realised how easy it is. But more importantly, you can get all the ingredients from any supermarket. Yes!
Is Butter Chicken really Indian??
YES it is! It’s called Murgh Makhani and it hails from Northern India. It’s quite a mild curry compared to many Indian curries, and outside of India, it’s become just about everybody’s favourite curry!
How to make Butter Chicken – in 3 Simple Steps
Make Butter Chicken Marinade and marinate chicken for 3+ hours (overnight is best)
Cook chicken
Make sauce in the same skillet
The secret to the tender, flavour infused chicken is a spice infused yogurt marinade made with fresh ginger, garlic, lemon juice and spices. The spices in Butter Chicken are turmeric, garam masala, chilli powder and cumin.
Did you know….You don’t need copious amounts of butter for a great Butter Chicken!
The beautiful Butter Chicken Sauce mostly gets its richness from cream. While some restaurants take it over the top by stirring in a (very!) generous amount of butter into the sauce at the end, I find that it’s rich enough as it is. The Butter Chicken flavour and experience – but less oily than restaurant versions!
The sauce will initially be a pale orange colour but as it simmers and thickens, the colour will deepen to a rich orange colour.
What to serve with Butter Chicken
To make a proper Indian feast, sides and starters are essentials! Because every curry needs papadums for dunking and naan to scoop up the sauce with, right?
No-fry quick papadums – just microwave them! Place the papadums around the edge of the microwave turntable and cook on high for 45 seconds to 1 minute or until they are puffed up. They’ll be soft while warm but as soon as they cool down, they crisp up. They don’t expand as much as when deep fried, but neither will your thighs. 😂
Samosas! The ultimate Indian appetiser. Leftovers make great snacks or even lunch!
Proper naan – A recipe in the works for 5 years, I’m thrilled to finally share my proper naan recipe that can be easily made at home (no tandoor needed!)
Shortcut “naan” – For a simpler, no-yeast flatbread that’s just as good, my Easy No Yeast Flatbread looks and tastes very similar to real naan (except it’s much faster and easier!). Try telling me this doesn’t look like it belongs in this feast!
And it’s MADE for dunking in that creamy Butter Chicken Sauce!!
Sides for Butter Chicken
Readers have also asked for Vegetable Side options – to add some greens to a meal. Indian food doesn’t really have fresh side salads like in Western cuisine. Partly because so much Indian food is vegetarian, so you get plenty of veggies in your diet!
But here are some Vegetable Side Options you can add on the side of Butter Chicken:
Indian Tomato Salad – with a refreshing minted yogurt dressing;
Cucumber salad with lemon yogurt dressing – another great refreshing salad that goes perfectly with curries;
Just some sliced cucumber and wedges of tomato – not dressed. Nice cool, refreshing side
South Indian Thoran-style Cabbage and Carrot Salad with Coconut is fresh, crunchy and shot through with gentle spices and coconut!
For a simpler cabbage salad, try my Everyday Cabbage Salad
I hope this has inspired you to try your hand at making an Indian feast at home! You will honestly be amazed how much depth of flavour there is in the Butter Chicken despite how few ingredients are in it. – Nagi x
PS Don’t miss the new streamlined oven version: One-Pan Baked Butter Chicken. Readers are loving it!
Watch How To Make It
This is a reader-favourite recipe included by popular demand in my debut cookbook “Dinner”!
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Butter Chicken
Ingredients
Marinade
- 1/2 cup plain yoghurt , full fat
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp tumeric powder
- 2 tsp garam masala (Note 1)
- 1/2 tsp chilli powder or cayenne pepper powder (Note 2)
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tbsp ginger, freshly grated
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1.5 lb / 750 g chicken thigh fillets, cut into bite size pieces
Curry
- 2 tbsp (30 g) ghee or butter, OR 1 tbsp vegetable oil (Note 3)
- 1 cup tomato passata (aka tomato puree) (Note 4)
- 1 cup heavy / thickened cream (Note 5)
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 1/4 tsp salt
To serve – choose
- Basmati rice
- White rice
- Coriander/cilantro (optional)
Instructions
- Optional blitz: for an extra smooth sauce, combine the Marinade ingredients (except the chicken) in a food processor and blend until smooth. (I do not do this)
- Marinade: Combine the Marinade ingredients with the chicken in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate overnight, or up to 24 hours (minimum 3 hrs).
- Cook chicken: Heat the ghee (butter or oil) over high heat in a large fry pan. Take the chicken out of the Marinade but do not wipe or shake off the marinade from the chicken (but don’t pour the Marinade left in the bowl into the fry pan).
- Place chicken in the fry pan and cook for around 3 minutes, or until the chicken is white all over (it doesn’t really brown because of the Marinade).
- Sauce: Add the tomato passata, cream, sugar and salt. Also add any remaining marinade left in the bowl. Turn down to low and simmer for 20 minutes. Do a taste test to see if it needs more salt.
- Garnish with coriander/cilantro leaves if using. Serve with basmati rice.
- The Butter Chicken is pictured with my very easy No Yeast Flatbread and no-fry papadums (Note 5).
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Originally published July 2015. Updated for housekeeping matters and a new video added January 2019. But most importantly, Life of Dozer section added!
For Indian Curry Lovers
- Chicken Tikka Masala – kind of like Butter Chicken on steroids!
- Palak Paneer – Indian cottage cheese and spinach curry
- Rogan Josh – fall apart lamb in a rich creamy sauce!
- Dal – the highest and best use of lentils, ever. Period.
- Biryani – the world’s best Chicken & Rice. Full stop!
- Qeema: Curried Ground Beef (Mince) – the fastest way ever to get a real Indian curry fix
- Curry lovers, head here -> Curry Collection
Life of Dozer
Flashback: Dozer’s first time in water. Look at those wild eyes!!! 😂 Fear? Excitement??
I’m in love with these pictures! And this butter cream is looking fantastic. So creamy! I am seriously considering licking the screen right now.
Aw thanks so much sweetie! Hope you’re having a fab weekend. Saw Les Mis the other night, thought of you! 🙂
Wow Nagi!!!! You have mastered Indian Cooking, This looks delicious
Not at all! This must be the simplest of all Indian dishes that I have ever made – or seen in fact! 🙂
Your photos are getting more and more gorgeous! I shouldn’t check this one in the middle of the night because I’m feeling so hungry now! Love these homemade flatbread, they look so fresh 🙂
I need to check out this movie. Btw, I Am Legend is an action movie 😉
Oh don’t say that Maggie! I feel the pressure to perform! 🙂 And NO, I Am Legend is a scary scary thriller!!! Don’t be mean Maggie!!! N x
I’m with you – I love a feelgood movie. Will always pick one over something more serious. In other news, this butter chicken recipe looks amazing! So full of flavour and even though it is the morning, I could totally have a bowl for breakfast.
Wow, how delicious this was! Even the 3 boys ate it right up, amazing! It was so easy to make. I didn’t have yogurt but I substituted sour cream. This will become a staple for a quick and easy dinner. Thank you for this delicious recipe!
Yay yay yay! I’m SO GLAD you and your family loved it! Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know, makes me so happy to know you loved it. N x
My wife and I love butter chicken. This looks awesome.
Butter chicken looks good Nagi… Although next time, add a tbsp of dried fenugreek leaves if you can manage to get some. It totally makes the dish… I am just saying it coz butter chicken is a way of life for me 😉 and my standards for the perfect butter chicken is pretty high .. I have a recipe on my blog, that’s actually from the chef whose family first made butter chicken!! Your pics are fab!!
Oh my gosh, I just read your comment below and I was going to ask you to drop a link to YOUR butter chicken recipe so my readers can see it! Would you mind? N x
Of course I dont mind!!! But its from the archives…and i am cringing at the styling and the photos..but the taste really is authentic 🙂 Give this a try sometime …
http://lapetitchef.in/2015/01/butter-chicken.html
I have to try that recipe!!! The REAL DEAL!! 😉
Well, I have had to retire my usual butter chicken recipe, as after making and dishing this up to my husband and mother in law, it’s their new favorite recipe. Thanks so much Nagi, it’s delicious! Five stars without a doubt.
Thanks so much Megs! Quite a compliment that you’ve ditched your “go to” recipe for this, thank you! N x
Will definitely try your recipe. Looks craving and endeed perfect for a movie night! Thanks for sharing…
Hope you do!! 🙂
My wife has been asking me to make more Indian food like this. I may have to add this to the shopping list!
What are you waiting for? Wife asks – hop to it Mr!!
Oh my! You just keep getting better and better! I’m thrilled that you said that was your type of movie. In fact, the first Exotic Marigold movie was the a first date movie for me and my Husbear. I think I’ll make this vegetarian style. Cheers!
NO WAY! That is SO CUTE!!! I should dedicate this recipe to YOU! 🙂 N x
Hi Nagi, as always your recipes are leaving me mouth watering, this is basically tikka masala now? I love it so much, the creaminess with the tangy tomato sauce is the best combo ever, and dipping the naan into that goodness is life changing!
Yum!! I need to learn to make more Indian food– my husband and I love it, but because of my very serious food allergies, I can’t eat in Indian restaurants– he would love it if I made this! And your ingredient list is very simple– that I can do!
And I agree– American Pie, cringe! I hate that kind of comedy.
I can’t believe I’ve never had butter chicken! It looks amazing! And I saw the first movie definitely need to see the second.
I can’t believe you have never had butter chicken Pam! Do try it… It’s quite a family fave for us
Couch food is the best! I love that you have the dish played with rice, that’s makes for good couch food. Growing up we ate curry at least once a month. I’ve never had this particular type, can’t wait to give it a try.
Mmmmm… you’ve got me at anything curry. I agree with your light-hearted and optimistic movie sense. By day I’m a visiting nurse and see my fair share of sad things, so I just can’t handle anything too upsetting during my personal time. Entertainment should be fun!
Oh wow, kudos to you for such a fulfilling career. I can absolutely understand you need lighthearted movies in your downtime! 🙂
This curry looks so good. Definitely going to have to try it
Hope you do!! It really is incredible, the sauce is SO GOOD!
Can Greek yogurt be substituted for the plain yogurt?
Can Greek yogurt be substituted for plain yogurt?
Hi Nagi, this is the first time writing a review on a recipe website,but it calls for it! Your butter chicken was amazing. My adult family of family of 4, raved about their meal last night as well as your easy flatbread which I put together very quickly. I found your receipe blog when I was looking for slow cooked beef cheeks which I cooked last week for the first time, and that was sensational and loved by the family. I look forward to your emails and inspiration, can’t wait to try your next recipe! Thank you
Oh wow Sam, thank you for taking the time to write a review, I really appreciate it! I’m SO GLAD you enjoyed this, I am obsessed with it!! And I’m especially thrilled you made the flatbread! Isn’t it amazing? SO easy!!