Quick & Easy Homemade Butter Chicken

Introduction

If you crave the rich, fragrant taste of Indian cuisine but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen, this Quick & Easy Homemade Butter Chicken is the answer. It delivers all the creamy, spiced flavors you love—tender chicken in a luscious tomato-based sauce—without complex steps or specialty ingredients. It’s a perfect weeknight dinner and a surefire family favorite, sure to win over even picky eaters.

Deliciously Simple Butter Chicken in Minutes

Butter Chicken is beloved for its addictive balance of creamy, gently spiced tomato gravy and tender chunks of chicken. This streamlined version is designed for maximum flavor with minimal fuss—no marinating overnight, and no searching for rare spices. With readily available ingredients and straightforward instructions, this recipe brings restaurant-quality Butter Chicken to your table, fast.

Crafting a Rich, Balanced Sauce

The secret to irresistible Butter Chicken is in its sauce. Tomato puree, aromatic garlic, ginger, and garam masala come together with creamy butter and a splash of cream or yogurt. Using boneless chicken means it cooks quickly and stays juicy, soaking up all the flavors. Simmering briefly melds the spices, delivering depth and warmth without the wait.

How to Serve Quick & Easy Butter Chicken

Spoon this luscious dish over fluffy basmati rice, or scoop it up with warm naan or roti. Fresh cilantro adds a vibrant finish. For a lighter touch, serve with steamed veggies or a side salad. Leftovers reheat beautifully, making this recipe great for lunch boxes or easy second-day dinners.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields 4 generous servings. Each serving contains approximately 400–450 calories, depending on the amount of butter and cream used. It’s satisfying and rich, so just a portion will keep you full and happy.

Quick & Easy Homemade Butter Chicken (Recap)

With just a single pan and a handful of everyday ingredients, you can whip up comforting, restaurant-worthy Butter Chicken in under 30 minutes. The gentle spices, creamy sauce, and tender chicken make it a universally loved choice for any night.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and meal planning.

Instructions

1. Season chicken pieces with a pinch of salt and pepper.
2. In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion and sauté for 2–3 minutes until softened.
3. Add garlic and ginger. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
4. Stir in garam masala, cumin, chili powder, and turmeric. Cook for 30 seconds to toast the spices.
5. Add chicken pieces and cook, stirring frequently, until no longer pink on the outside (about 3–4 minutes).
6. Pour in tomato puree, stir well, and simmer uncovered for 7–10 minutes until chicken is cooked through and sauce slightly thickened.
7. Lower heat, stir in cream or yogurt, and simmer gently for 2–3 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
8. Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve hot with rice or naan.

Weekly Meal Planning

Quick & Easy Homemade Butter Chicken is ideal for meal prep and effortless weekly planning. Save and schedule this recipe to organize your dinner calendar and auto-generate shopping lists for all your planned meals.

Planning Benefits:

• Calculates total ingredient amounts for all your scheduled recipes
• Groups shopping lists by grocery section for faster store trips
• Simplifies planning multiple meals with similar ingredients—like using yogurt in both Butter Chicken and a breakfast parfait
• Reduces the risk of missing key ingredients and helps minimize food waste

Pro tip: When mapping out your week, plan all your meals at once to unlock ingredient consolidation and smarter shopping—no more extra trips or forgotten items!

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15–20 minutes
Total Time: 25–30 minutes