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A plate of creamy butter chicken garnished with fresh cilantro served with steamed rice on a wooden table.

Effortless Weeknight Butter Chicken: Your Flavorful Favorite Made Easy!

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Effortless Weeknight Butter Chicken is your go-to recipe for a delicious, creamy, and tender chicken dish that comes together quickly. Perfect for busy weeknights, this flavorful meal features a rich tomato and spice sauce paired with succulent chicken pieces, served with rice or naan for a complete dinner experience.

  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1/2 cup plain yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil or ghee
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 large onion, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
  • 1 can (14 oz) tomato puree or crushed tomatoes
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder (adjust to taste)
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream or coconut milk
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Fresh cilantro for garnish

Instructions

  1. Marinate the chicken: Toss the chicken pieces in the yogurt, cumin, garam masala, turmeric, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Marinate for at least 15 minutes.
  2. Sauté the aromatics: Heat olive oil or ghee in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onions and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and ginger; cook for another minute.
  3. Cook the chicken: Add marinated chicken to the skillet and cook until browned on all sides, about 5-7 minutes. Remove and set aside.
  4. Make the sauce: Melt butter in the same skillet, add tomato puree, and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in heavy cream or coconut milk, season with salt and pepper.
  5. Combine and simmer: Return chicken to the skillet and cook for another 10 minutes until flavors meld and sauce is rich and silky.
  6. Garnish and serve: Top with chopped cilantro and serve with steamed rice or naan.

Notes

  • Marinate the chicken for longer (up to 2 hours) for even more flavor.
  • Adjust chili powder to control heat level.
  • For a dairy-free version, substitute coconut milk for heavy cream.
  • Author: Emma Bloomfield
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Indian-inspired
  • Diet: Gluten-Free

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 plate (about 1/4 of recipe)
  • Calories: 480 Kcal
  • Sugar: 8g
  • Sodium: 620mg
  • Fat: 30g
  • Saturated Fat: 15g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 10g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 25g
  • Fiber: 4g
  • Protein: 37g
  • Cholesterol: 125mg