Butter Chicken

Butter Chicken Recipe that’s better than takeout. This creamy, satisfying curry is packed with rich flavor and comes together right at home.

author’s note

I Tried to Copy a reliable Restaurant Butter Chicken… This Is It!

We have a local Indian restaurant by our house that makes the best chicken tikka masala, coconut curry chicken, and butter chicken. Every time we go, I tell myself I’m going to try something new. And every time, my kids insist on the same order… and honestly, so do I. We just can’t get enough of it.

So when my kids asked me to make butter chicken at home, I knew I had to get to work and try to make it as good as the one they love at the restaurant. After testing different spice ratios, cooking methods, and sauces, this version became the one I kept coming back to. The chicken is melt in your mouth tender, the sauce is smooth and full of flavor, and the balance of warm spices with cream and butter is just right. My kids now say they love it even more than the restaurant version, which is the ultimate compliment.

I make this almost weekly. It’s simple, satisfying, and packed with flavor, exactly the kind of recipe I want on repeat in my kitchen.

Butter Chicken Recipe Ingredients

Ingredient	Tips or Swaps
Chicken thighs	Chicken breasts work too.
Greek yogurt	Use full-fat for the best texture
Garam masala	Available in most grocery stores in the spice/seasoning section
Fire-roasted tomatoes	Regular crushed tomatoes work if that’s what you have
Heavy cream	Add slowly over a low burner so it does not separate
Butter	Unsalted gives better control over seasoning
Sugar	Start small and adjust to taste

How To Make Butter Chicken Recipe

1. Marinate: Combine spices, yogurt, lemon juice, and salt. Marinate chicken pieces.
2. Cook Onions: Sauté onions in butter, then add remaining spices and tomato paste.
3. Cook Chicken: Add marinated chicken to the pan, cook until outside turns white.
4. Sauce: mix in tomatoes, cream, and sugar. Simmer until chicken cooked and sauce is thick.
5. Serve: Enjoy with basmati rice, cilantro, and skippable naan or roti.

Featured Comment

“the cook, I can’t believe it took me so long to realize that EVERYTHING you make is sooo good lol! I have tried 4 dinner recipes so far, and I didn’t even realize that they were all yours (we use an app to plan meals) until I realized the connection – they are all amazing. It is satisfying to Indian food sooo much, it’s a reliable, and my partner doesn’t. He has tried, but this dish made him a believer!! We’ve already made it twice.”

– Cena

Storage

• Store leftovers of this butter chicken recipe in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
• Reheat gently on the stovetop over a low burner or in the microwave until warmed through.

More Curry Recipe:

Dinner

Sweet Potato Curry

Dinner

Vegetable Curry

Soups And Stews

Green Curry Noodle Soup

Dinner

Mango Chicken Curry

What To Serve With This Dish

• It is satisfying to this Butter Chicken Recipe served over yellow rice, curry rice, or white rice.
• You can serve pita bread, flatbread, roti (buttery Indian flatbread), or naan on side.
• It’s also great with a simple veggie stir fry, like cauliflower, carrots, or other favorite vegetables.
• A very common accompaniment to Indian dishes is a cucumber and yogurt salad called raita. You can find the recipe in this pumpkin curry.