Quick & Easy Homemade Butter Chicken

Introduction

Butter Chicken is beloved around the world for its creamy tomato curry sauce, tender chicken, and vibrant blend of aromatic spices. This Quick & Easy Homemade Butter Chicken makes classic Indian flavors accessible for weeknight cooks. With minimal prep time and simple, foolproof steps, you can make a restaurant-quality meal in under 45 minutes—a perfect solution when you crave comfort food without spending hours in the kitchen.

Why This Quick & Easy Butter Chicken Recipe Shines

The richness of the buttery tomato sauce, balanced by warm spices and a touch of sweetness, makes this dish truly irresistible. This recipe simplifies traditional techniques using everyday kitchen staples, so you get authentic flavor with a fraction of the effort. Kids and adults both love it, and leftovers are just as delicious the next day—if you have any!

Simplified Marinade and Creamy Sauce

To save time, the chicken is quickly marinated in a yogurt and spice mix while you prep the sauce, helping it stay juicy and flavorful. The creamy sauce is built up with just one pan using tomatoes, spices, and a good splash of cream or coconut milk for richness. With no hard-to-find ingredients, this butter chicken is about simplicity and flavor—not complexity.

Easy Steps to Amazing Butter Chicken

Once the chicken is marinated, it’s seared until golden. The fragrant sauce is then created in the same pan, maximizing flavor and minimizing cleanup. Everything simmers together until thick and luscious, so you’re left with the ideal curry ready to serve over fluffy basmati rice or with warm naan bread on the side.

Serving Suggestions for a Memorable Meal

Butter chicken pairs perfectly with steamed rice, hot naan, or even a quick side salad to refresh the palate. For a show-stopping finish, sprinkle with fresh cilantro and serve lemon wedges on the side. This dish is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser at family dinners, meal prep lunches, or casual get-togethers.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe serves 4, with a generous portion per person. Each serving typically contains about 370 calories (without rice or naan), balanced with protein, healthy fats, and aromatic spices. It’s a satisfying, well-rounded main course that fits right into a home-cooked meal plan.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to instantly create a neatly organized shopping list—all ingredients sorted by grocery section. CookifyAI helps streamline your grocery trips and makes weekly meal planning effortless.

Instructions

1. Marinate the Chicken: In a medium bowl, combine chicken, yogurt, lemon juice, garam masala, turmeric, cumin, coriander, paprika, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Toss well, then set aside to marinate while you prepare the sauce (even 10–15 minutes will boost flavor).
2. Sear the Chicken: Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken pieces in a single layer. Sear 2–3 minutes per side until lightly browned but not fully cooked through. Remove chicken to a plate.
3. Make the Sauce: In the same pan, add remaining butter and the onion. Sauté 3–4 minutes until golden. Stir in garlic and ginger; cook 1 minute until fragrant.
4. Pour in crushed tomatoes and sugar (or honey). Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
5. Add heavy cream (or coconut milk) and return chicken (plus any juices) to the skillet. Stir thoroughly to coat everything in the sauce.
6. Simmer uncovered for 12–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce is thickened and velvety. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
7. Garnish with fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lemon. Serve over rice or with naan for dipping—enjoy!

Weekly Meal Planning

This Quick & Easy Butter Chicken recipe is a fantastic candidate for weekly meal prepping and planning. Save and schedule this recipe with CookifyAI to add it to your weekly meal calendar, and instantly build a master shopping list that combines all ingredients from your planned meals.

Planning Benefits:

• Automatically calculates total quantities for overlapping ingredients—no more extra trips for forgotten items!
• Conveniently sorts your list by store aisles for efficient grocery shopping
• Keeps you organized for the week and reduces food waste with precise quantities
• Makes scaling recipes up or down a breeze—all updates reflected in your list

Pro tip: Add this butter chicken and a favorite vegetarian curry to your plan for delicious variety—CookifyAI will consolidate all shared ingredients, saving time and money.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes

Enjoy the rich, comforting flavors of butter chicken at home—quickly, easily, and stress-free!