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Home » Recipes » Chicken Recipes » Butter chicken curry

Butter chicken curry

March 6, 2020 by Alida Ryder 34 Comments

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Tender chicken cooked in a rich, fragrant tomato-based curry sauce makes the perfect butter chicken. Perfect served with steamed rice and naan bread.

Butter chicken curry

How to make butter chicken?

  1. Marinate the chicken: Slice boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs into 2cm/1 inch cubes. Combine plain yogurt, spices, tomatoes, ginger and garlic in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour over the chicken, cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours but up to 24 hours.
  2. Make the curry: In a large pot set over medium-high heat, add ghee or oil of your choice. Add onions and cook until soft and golden. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds then add the chicken and marinade. Pour in the cream then reduce the heat, partially cover and allow to simmer for 30-45 minutes.
  3. Finish the sauce: Once cooked, stir in butter then season to taste. Serve with your choice of side dishes.

Butter chicken curry

Can I use milk instead of cream?

Yes you can, however the cream adds silky richness so the finished curry won’t be quite as delicious.

Freezing and reheating

  1. Freezing: Allow the cooked curry to cool completely then transfer to a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to three months. Allow to thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
  2. Reheating: The cooked curry can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, transfer to a saucepan/pot and heat over medium heat until simmering.

Serving suggestions

  1. Basmati rice
  2. Homemade Naan bread
  3. Cucumber salad
  4. Easy flatbread

Butter chicken curry

Curry recipes

  1. Chicken korma curry
  2. Butternut squash curry with crispy chickpeas
  3. Easy weeknight chicken curry
  4. Easy cauliflower tikka masala curry
Butter chicken curry

Butter chicken curry

Tender chicken cooked in a rich, fragrant tomato-based curry sauce makes the perfect butter chicken. Perfect served with steamed rice and naan bread.
4.84 from 12 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Curry, Dinner
Cuisine: Indian
Keyword: butter chicken, butter chicken curry, curry
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 10
Calories: 335kcal
Author: Alida Ryder

Ingredients

For the marinade

  • 2 kg (4lbs) Chicken Breasts cut into bite-sized chunks
  • ¾ cup Plain yoghurt
  • 2 red chillies
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons Garam Masala
  • 2 cardamom pods
  • Thumb size piece ginger grated
  • 6 garlic cloves
  • 800 g (28oz) whole peeled tomatoes
  • 400 g (14oz) tomato puree
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 tablespoon vinegar

For cooking

  • 3 tablespoons oil/ghee
  • 2 large onions sliced
  • 4 garlic cloves thinly sliced
  • ½ cup cream
  • ½ cup butter cubed

Instructions

  • In a blender, process the spices, yoghurt, tomatoes, ginger and garlic until completely fine. Pour over the chopped chicken and allow to marinade (I left mine for about 2 hours)
  • Heat the oil in a hot pot and fry the onions until soft and golden.
  • Add the garlic and fry for another minute then add the Chicken and all the marinade and allow to come to the boil.
  • Lower the heat and allow to cook for 30-45 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked and the sauce has thickened. Add the cream and cook for another 5 minutes.
  • Add the butter and stir through. Season to taste.
  • Serve with Jasmine Rice and Naan Bread.

Nutrition

Calories: 335kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 46g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 129mg | Sodium: 607mg | Potassium: 1158mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 367IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 90mg | Iron: 3mg

 

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Filed Under: Chicken Recipes, Curry Recipes, Dinner Recipes, Recipes Tagged With: Butter Chicken, Chicken Curry, Chicken recipe, Curry, curry recipe, dinner recipe, gluten free recipe

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Comments

  1. Heike

    April 13, 2020 at 8:26 PM

    I have made this curry 3 times before. This is such a favourite in our house, my husband absolutely loves it and it also freezes perfectly to heat up for a quick lunch or dinner in a hurry. I love to make this with your Naan recipe. Your website is beautiful and filled with recipes that are so easy to follow and well put together.

    Reply
    • Alida Ryder

      April 13, 2020 at 8:31 PM

      Thank you so much Heike. It means so much.

      Reply
  2. Willem Viljoen

    March 2, 2020 at 12:30 PM

    Alida, I made butter chicken with buttermilk in stead of cream, also with added yoghurt, because i read that the name derives from buttermilk and not from butter as such. it gave a slightly different taste, but distinguishes it from other curry dishes. regards, Willie Viljoen

    Reply
  3. Steve

    January 15, 2020 at 9:47 AM

    Loved this recipe, there are so many variations of butter chicken and this one really works. Top tip is serve with a little spicy mango chutney for a fruity note to cut through the richness of the cream and butter.

    Reply
  4. Michael Sales Rodgers

    January 10, 2020 at 6:46 PM

    In the body of the blog post someone asks if they can use milk instead of cream and you give an answer. Then, in the recipe for Butter Chicken, there is no milk or cream.

    Did I miss something?

    Reply
    • Alida Ryder

      January 12, 2020 at 4:00 PM

      I’ve amended the recipe. 🙂

      Reply
  5. Ray Newman

    December 21, 2017 at 4:38 PM

    About to make this just seems a lot of tomatoes 2 tins plus 400g of tomatoes puree might substitute one tin of tomatoes for a 400ml coconut milk

    Reply
    • Alida Ryder

      January 2, 2018 at 8:30 AM

      Because this makes a large quantity of Butter chicken (serving easily 10 people), the amount of tomatoes is correct but you could definitely use less. Coconut milk will change the flavor but it will still be very delicious.

      Reply
  6. Kaytee

    December 5, 2016 at 1:18 AM

    My sauce was not nearly as deep and rich in color!! I’m not sure what I did wrong 🙁

    Reply
    • Alida Ryder

      December 5, 2016 at 12:25 PM

      Was the flavour good? Different varieties of tomatoes and spice brands can have an effect on the look of the sauce but if it tastes good, that’s all that matters. 🙂

      Reply
  7. Maria DC

    January 24, 2016 at 9:21 PM

    Great recipe! Easy to make and delicious even for my 6 and 3 year old! Will be making this again, once we are able to dig out from all the snow that has fallen in DC. I love how easy you made it and especially appreciate the naan (beats the store bought one). The sauce is perfect. Thanks so much for posting this.

    Reply
    • Alida Ryder

      January 27, 2016 at 8:39 AM

      Oh, how I wish I could experience snow like that Maria. Thanks for your lovely comment, I’m so glad you and your family loved this recipe.

      Reply
  8. Marissa @ In My Yellow Cardigan

    June 26, 2015 at 12:00 AM

    I just stumbled upon your site as I searched for curry recipes on Pinterest and OMG I CAN’T WAIT TO TRY THIS. Especially intrigued that naan is that easy to make! Pinned and will be following your blog. 🙂

    Reply
  9. Heleen

    June 9, 2015 at 8:59 AM

    Alida!! Thank you so much for this winning recipe!!
    I made it last night and it was a HUGE success, and so easy to make.
    Absolutely divine. 😀

    Reply
    • Alida Ryder

      June 17, 2015 at 3:11 PM

      I am so glad you liked it Heleen! Thanks for the lovely comment.

      Reply
  10. John Tirado

    April 19, 2015 at 12:37 AM

    What is C=clove? I want to make this for the wife.

    Reply
    • Alida Ryder

      April 20, 2015 at 9:38 AM

      That was just a typo, thanks for pointing it out. I’ve fixed it now.

      Reply
  11. Shen

    January 11, 2015 at 11:39 AM

    All of a sudden I find myself reading in Afrikaans while looking for a curry recipe that reminds me of home (I live in Israel) – In case I had any doubts, now I am definitely making this!

    Reply
    • Alida Ryder

      January 17, 2015 at 9:02 AM

      I hope you enjoy it! 🙂

      Reply
  12. Alida Ryder

    September 23, 2014 at 7:57 AM

    Of course! Coconut milk would be lovely.

    Reply
  13. carl

    September 22, 2014 at 8:57 PM

    Can you add coconut milk?

    Reply
  14. Alida Ryder

    July 22, 2014 at 9:06 AM

    Baie dankie vir jou wonderlike comment. Ek is so bly jy en jou gaste het van hierdie resep gehou. Dit bly maar ‘n wenner!

    Reply
  15. M.H.

    July 21, 2014 at 10:11 AM

    Dit is ‘n heerlike resep, dankie Alida. Ek het dit gister vir Sondag-middagete gemaak, kompleet met die naan-brood soos joune, en dit was ‘n wenner! My gaste was skoon ongelukkig toe hulle nog wil eet, maar bloot nie meer kan nie. (En ek sien uit na die oorskiet hierdie week vir aandete). Hierdie resep gaan definitief in my “go-to” resepte versameling in. (Ek het die marinade en hoender al Saterdagaand klaargemaak en in die yskas gesit, so Sondag se kook was sommer in ‘n japtrap klaar) Nogmaals dankie vir jou puik resep (en blog!).

    Reply
  16. Emma

    June 19, 2014 at 6:03 AM

    Hi,
    Have you tried this recipe in the slow-cooker? If so did you need to make any adjustments to the recipe?

    Reply
    • Alida Ryder

      June 19, 2014 at 8:17 AM

      Emma, I haven’t (I actually don’t even own one, unfortunately) so I won’t be able to give you much advice regarding slow cooking. Perhaps just add more liquid so it doesn’t dry out?

      Reply
  17. Alida Ryder

    March 7, 2014 at 8:14 PM

    I do cover it but you don’t have to if you don’t want to. If you find it to be too thick, simply add a splash of water until you reach your desired consitency.

    Reply
  18. dela

    March 6, 2014 at 12:49 AM

    Once everything is in one pot, and I lower the heat on all of the mixture, do I need to cover it? The mixture seems pretty thick right now and I cannot imagine it getting thicker.

    Reply
  19. Ryan

    February 12, 2014 at 1:15 AM

    Hi, I just wanted to say I saw the picture of this and now i have to make it, but if I may ask what is the herb did you garnish it with in your pictures? And do you put the salt sugar and vinegar in the marinade? Sorry if its there and I’m just missing it. I can’t wait to try this. Thanks

    Reply
    • Alida Ryder

      February 12, 2014 at 11:50 AM

      I used chopped coriander and yes, all those ingredients go into the marinade! Hope you enjoy it.

      Reply
      • Andrea

        October 8, 2015 at 8:35 PM

        Did you use white vinegar? Would sherry vinegar work?

        Reply
        • Alida Ryder

          October 21, 2015 at 2:07 PM

          White vinegar is good because it doesn’t have a very strong flavour but I’m sure sherry vinegar will work just fine.

          Reply
  20. Lauren

    February 7, 2014 at 11:41 PM

    I just want to say that your photography is beautiful! Every time I click on a photo on food sharing sites due to the styling/photography it almost always brings me here! I hope to one day be this talented. Keep it up, it’s very inspiring 🙂

    Reply

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Hi! I'm Alida, mom of twins and creator of Simply Delicious. I hope to encourage a love for cooking by creating fool-proof recipes that are easy and delicious. Read More…

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