Butter Chicken Recipe
This Butter Chicken Recipe is tender, flavorful, and makes enough to feed the family. The leftovers taste delicious, too.
Servings: 4
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- ½ cup plain whole yogurt
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons garam masala
- 1 teaspoon cumin powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon ginger powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne
- 1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
For the Sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter, or ghee
- 1 cup plain tomato sauce
- 1 cup evaporated milk
Optional Garnishes
- freshly chopped cilantro, chives, or parsley
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, sugar, garam masala, cumin, onion powder, turmeric powder, ginger powder, cayenne, and kosher salt.
- Add chicken, stir to coat well, and cover. Chill for at least 2 hours, up to overnight.
- In a large pan, heat the butter over high heat until hot. Add chicken with all the marinade and cook for 4 minutes. At this point, it may not be fully cooked yet.
- Add tomato sauce and evaporated milk. Reduce to simmer, and let cook (uncovered) for 20 minutes. Taste and add salt or cayenne as desired.
- Garnish as desired, and serve with cooked basmati, jasmine rice, or pita bread.
Notes
- You can use heavy cream or coconut milk instead of evaporated milk.
- Marinate Ahead: You can marinate the chicken up to 24 hours in advance in the fridge.
- Freezing: Freeze the cooked chicken and sauce in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and gently reheat on the stovetop over low heat.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Serve it up with Garlic Naan or Jasmine Rice to soak up every last drop of sauce.
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Nutrition (per serving)
Calories: 440kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 51g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 237mg | Sodium: 1036mg | Potassium: 971mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 810IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 269mg | Iron: 3mg