Craving comfort food full of flavour but not in the mood to spend hours in the kitchen? This easy butter chicken is spiced, creamy and surprisingly quick to make. You’ll use simple ingredients and a homemade sauce packed with fragrant spices. Serve with rice and naan bread for a delicious meal everyone will love.
Ingredients for butter chicken
- 300 g chicken breast, diced
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp turmeric
- ¼ tsp chilli powder (or to taste)
- Dash of oil (for frying the chicken)
- 1 tbsp butter or oil (for the sauce)
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
- 1 tsp garam masala
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- 1 tin chopped tomatoes (400 g)
- 100 ml cooking cream or coconut cream
- Cooked rice (for serving)
- (Pre-baked) naan bread
- Fresh coriander (optional, for garnish)
Mix the chicken with paprika, cumin, turmeric, chilli powder and a pinch of salt. Heat a cast iron grill pan with a little oil and fry the chicken for 6–8 minutes until golden and cooked through. Set aside.
Heat 1 tablespoon of butter or oil in a stainless steel wok. Sauté the onion and garlic until soft and translucent. Add the garam masala and cinnamon and briefly cook together.
Pour the chopped tomatoes into the pan and let the sauce simmer for 5–10 minutes over low heat. Stir in the cream and season with salt to taste.
Return the grilled chicken to the pan and let it simmer gently for another 5 minutes to absorb the flavours.
Serve the butter chicken with warm rice and naan bread. Garnish with fresh coriander if you like for extra colour and flavour.
Tip: Prefer a vegetarian version? Swap the chicken for roasted cauliflower or cubes of paneer.
Creamy, spiced and quick – this is the butter chicken you want: homemade, easy and full of flavour.
Enjoy your meal!
