• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Spice and Life
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Food Facts
  • About
  • Subscribe
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Food Facts
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home | All Recipes | Chicken Recipes

    Butter Chicken Recipe (Murgh Makhani) | How to make Butter Chicken

    Published: Feb 17, 2021 · Modified: Mar 28, 2022 by Elle

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This butter chicken recipe is most definitely a triumph of flavors exploding in your mouth, all at the same time.

    The delicious, juicy tandoori chicken is hugged by this tomato-based curry sauce that is enriched with cashews, cream, and, obviously, butter; what more can a person want?

    butter chicken recipe
    Jump to:
    • What is butter chicken?
    • Butter Chicken vs Chicken Tikka Masala
    • How does butter chicken taste like?
    • Let’s talk nutrition!
    • Questions time!
    • Preparing the Chicken Tikka
    • Butter Chicken Curry Sauce
    • Combining the elements for Butter Chicken
    • Recipe

    What is butter chicken?

    Indian Butter Chicken (I specify just in case there are other *less known to me* butter chicken recipes!) has two main components.

    The first ingredient is the chicken, which needs to be marinated in Indian spices, such as Kashmiri red chili powder, yogurt (dahi = curd in Hindi) and ginger and garlic paste among others.

    The second component is the sauce, which is mainly made up of tomatoes, whole masalas, such as cardamoms, cloves, and cinnamon, as well as other flavorings important in Indian cooking, such as ginger, garlic, and again *obviously* butter.

    These two components come together to make what we know as murgh makhani.

    Butter Chicken vs Chicken Tikka Masala

    Butter chicken is a proud Indian dish, which originated in Delhi in the late 1940s, while Chicken Tikka Masala is a British dish; while these two may look very similar, their taste is not, and neither are their ingredients.

    Butter chicken uses a tomato-based sauce, with very little onion, and is enriched by butter, while Tikka Masala’s gravy has a real tomato and onion taste; although butter chicken curry’s main ingredient (volume-wise) is tomato, the spices and the butter, as well as the discretionary cream, are the real stars of the dish, especially after the gravy is strained and made extremely smooth.

    How does butter chicken taste like?

    Butter chicken curry tastes like butter, in a sweet, very smooth gravy, while the chicken itself tastes like tandoori chicken.

    rice and butter chicken
    Close up of butter chicken on a bed of rice!

    Let’s talk nutrition!

    There are three main ingredients in this recipe that are worth exploring, as they are extremely different from the other in taste, nutrition, and provenance; these are chicken, butter, and tomato.

    • Chicken breast: skinless, boneless chicken breast is an excellent source of lean protein, meaning it has very low amounts of fat.

    As proteins assist build and maintain muscles, eating chicken breast is a great way to integrate this nutrient into one’s diet.

    This cut of meat has no sugar nor starch, therefore no carbohydrates, making this food’s glycemic load (grams of carbohydrates per portion consumed) close to zero.

    In addition to this, skinless chicken breast is also a great source of Vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), Vitamin B-3 (niacin), selenium, and phosphorous.

    Raw chicken is a great place for bacteria to grow, therefore it is essential it is handled properly both before cooking, during preparation, and while cooking.

    • Butter: butter comes from the fat of the milk, which has been separated from the other milk components.

    While for many years this food has been considered unhealthy because of its high levels of saturated fat, it is now considered to be the opposite, especially when consumed in moderation. Butter has about 100 calories per portion (with one portion being considered 14g) and it is made for about 80% fat and 20% water.

    Of the fat in butter, about 11% of it is made of SCFA (short-chain fatty acids), the most common of which is called butyric acid, which studies have shown can reduce inflammation in the digestive system.

    Butter is also rich in vitamins, but because the recommended portion is very small, because of its high calorie and fat content, it does not contribute much towards the daily amount; the vitamins found in butter are A, B-12, D, E, and K-2.

    • Tomatoes: tomatoes are generally used as a vegetable, however, this food is a fruit that comes from South America.

    Tomatoes are made up of about 95% water and 5% carbohydrates and fiber; the carbs in this fruit are predominantly simple sugars and insoluble fibers.

    Tomatoes are rich in Vitamins, especially C (which is an essential nutrient and an antioxidant), K-1 (also known as phylloquinone, it is important for blood clotting and bone health), B-9 (known as folate, which is essential for tissue growth and cell function; it is often given to pregnant women as a supplement), as well as potassium, which is a mineral that assists with blood pressure control and may help prevent heart disease.

    Butter chicken recipe

    Questions time!

    How to make butter chicken sauce?

    It is much easier done than said in this instance; a tomato and whole spice base are cooked with some water, then passed through a strainer for a very smooth consistency. In a pan, butter, ginger, and green chilies are lightly cooked, before the creamy gravy is added to it; the whole is finished off with some dry fenugreek leaves, cream, and a pinch of sugar, for its famous slightly sweet taste.

    Can I make instant pot butter chicken?

    Way too many recipes are made in an instant pot, which is a game-changer for slow-cooked sauces and soups, but I strongly believe butter chicken should be cooked on a regular stove as the tandoori chicken in this dish needs that grilled taste that no instant pot can offer.

    How to make butter chicken?

    Like I said before, this butter chicken recipe has two main ingredients, which can be prepared simultaneously or not. The chicken has two separate marinades and is then grilled, while the sauce is prepared in two stages, as described above; the two components are then mixed and served with a discretionary dollop of butter or cream (or both) and a sprinkle of fresh coriander.

    Preparing the Chicken Tikka

    chicken breast

    Chopped chicken breast

    Ingredients first marinade

    Ingredients second marinade

    second marination part 2

    Second marinade

    On the grill

    Chicken Tikka

    Butter Chicken Curry Sauce

    butter chicken curry ingredients
    Ingredients
    Simmering the sauce
    butter chicken curry in blender
    Ready to blend
    Blended Curry Sauce
    straining butter chicken curry
    Straining the sauce
    smooth curry base - butter chicken sauce
    Smooth curry
    butter ginger chili
    Butter, ginger and chilies
    simmering the curry part 2
    Simmering the sauce

    Combining the elements for Butter Chicken

    fenugreek in pan
    Fenugreek, salt and sugar
    Adding the chicken
    healthy dinner recipes
    Murgh Makhani

    Can I freeze butter chicken?

    Yes, this curry can be frozen; you must allow it to fully cool down before storing it in the freezer.

    Can I skip the cashew nuts in the curry?

    The cashew nuts in this curry offer richness and increase its consistency, however, if you do not like/have or are allergic to cashews you can skip this ingredient. Should you not be allergic to and prefer almonds, you can use these instead; although not traditional for this recipe, the consistency and richness will certainly be felt.

     

    Can I skip the cream?

    Yes, the cream can be skipped for this recipe, however, the quantity required is very little when breaking down into four portions, therefore if calories are a concern, perhaps reduce it rather than eliminate it, as it is worth it!

    Can I use other cuts of chicken instead of the breast?

    I used chicken as I find it easier to grill and it is lower in calories, giving me some extra allowance to make a really rich butter chicken sauce. Should you prefer, chicken thighs are a great choice as they have higher fat content and dry less while grilling; bear in mind that higher fat equals more calories per portion.

    What can I serve this curry with?

    This curry can be served with anything and in my case, I like it with simple white pulao rice. It is extremely nice to have alongside freshly prepared chapatis or parathas as well as butter naan bread.

    murgh makhani

    You will love this recipe as it tastes authentic, it is easy and quick to prepare and it has chicken tikka in it… I won’t add anything more as this ingredient alone is top-notch!

    The recipe is divided into easy-to-follow steps, so a great result is achieved with minimum effort… restaurant-style murgh makhana in no time!

     ~~ Want to try chicken tikka in other ways? Chicken Tikka Baguettes Sandwiches 

     ~~ Have you ever thought of making your own Shish Kebabs? You need to try this kabob recipe !

    Recipe

    butter chicken and rice

    Butter Chicken Recipe (Murgh Makhani) | How to make Butter Chicken

    Elle
    The recipe is divided into easy-to-follow steps, so a great result is achieved with minimum effort… restaurant-style murgh makhani in no time!
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 1 hr
    marinating time 1 hr
    Total Time 2 hrs 10 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Indian
    Servings 4 portions
    Calories 296 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 300 g Chicken Breast Skinless and Boneless, Cut in Flat Strips
    • 2 tablespoon Butter Unsalted
    • ½ teaspoon Fresh Ginger Chopped
    • 3 Green Chilies Fresh, Slit on the Side
    • Salt to Taste
    • 1 tablespoon Fenugreek Leaves Dry
    • ½ teaspoon Sugar White
    • 2 tablespoon Cream Full Fat, Unsweetened
    • 10 g Fresh Coriander Chopped
    • 20 Sprays of Cooking Spray

    For the first marination of the chicken

    • ¼ teaspoon Salt
    • 1 tablespoon Lemon Juice
    • 1 teaspoon Ginger Garlic Paste or half teaspoon of garlic paste and half teaspoon ginger paste

    For the second marination of the chicken

    • 1 teaspoon Sunflower Oil
    • 1 ½ teaspoon Kashmiri Chili Powder
    • 50 g Full Fat Natural Yogurt
    • ¼ teaspoon Salt
    • 1 teaspoon Lemon Juice

    For the curry base

    • 250 ml Water
    • 220 g Tomatoes Fresh, Chopped
    • 50 g Onions Chopped
    • 1 Bay Leaf
    • ½ inch Cinnamon Stick
    • 1 Black Cardamom
    • 3 Cloves
    • 3 Green Cardamoms
    • 3 Garlic Cloves Chopped
    • ½ inch Fresh Ginger Chopped
    • 1 teaspoon Kashmiri Chili Powder
    • 1 ½ tablespoon Butter Unsalted
    • 15 Cashew Nuts

    Instructions
     

    • Chop the chicken breasts in flat strips (picture in the article above for reference) and put in a bowl with the ingredients of the first marinade; mix everything well together and set aside, allowing to marinate for 30 minutes.
    • After thirty minutes, add the ingredients of the second marinade to the chicken and mix well, until the color of the marinade is uniform. Set the chicken aside and allow to rest for at least thirty minutes.

    After thirty minutes that the chicken has been sitting with the second marination, one can commence to put together the curry:

    • In a pan, put all the ingredients of the curry base, mix well, put a lid on the pan and allow to simmer on low to medium heat for about twenty minutes, until all the ingredients, especially the tomatoes and onions are mushy.
    • Once all the ingredients are mushy, put the curry sauce in a blender and reduce it to a fine paste.
    • Pass the blended curry through a fine grain sieve, straining all the pieces that have not blended. This will create a very smooth curry cream, which can be kept on the side in a bowl.
    • Using the same pan, add two tablespoons of butter and allow to melt on low flame; once the butter has melted, add ½ teaspoon of chopped fresh ginger and 3 slit chilies. Sautee these together until the rawness of the spices has gone.
    • At this stage, add the blended curry sauce to the pan and mix well and add a little bit of water (100-200ml – I added it to clean the blender). Leave on low flame with a lid to simmer for 20 minutes.
    • While the curry sauce simmers away, grill the chicken on a griddle, using the cooking spray to help yourself; should it be preferred the chicken can also be cooked in the oven instead. Allow the chicken to cook halfway before turning; this will allow for nice grilling lines on it and the darker pieces will try to mimic the flavor that a tandoor oven offers.
    • Once the chicken is cooked thoroughly, set aside on a plate.

    This is the final stage in this curry preparation:

    • Return to the curry sauce and adjust the salt level and add half a teaspoon of white sugar.
    • Put the dry fenugreek leaves on a paper towel and warm up in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds, then remove and crush between the palms of your hands and into the curry. Putting the leaves in the microwave will allow the leave to release their smell as well as making them easier to crush.
    • Mix well the curry sauce and add the chicken; mix the chicken in the curry sauce allowing it to be fully coated and cook on low flame for 4-5 minutes.
    • Garnish the curry with two tablespoons of full-fat unsweetened cream and freshly chopped coriander. Serve and enjoy!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 296kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 19gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 86mgSodium: 617mgPotassium: 572mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1452IUVitamin C: 17mgCalcium: 60mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword Butter chicken, chicken tikka, easy chicken curry, Easy Chicken Recipes, murgh makhani
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    « The 12 Best Non-Dairy Substitutes for Milk | What is the best alternative to milk? How to choose it? | 12+ Plant-Based Alternatives
    Quick & Easy Banana Muffins and Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins | How to make Banana Muffins »

    Subscribe

    for your weekly recipe fix.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Tieghan

      October 18, 2021 at 5:27 pm

      This is, without a doubt, the finest butter chicken recipe I've ever tasted. I've tried at least eight different recipes and have never been satisfied. For the time being, this will be my go-to dish. It offers a large amount of sauce, which is perfect for rice and naan bread. My husband ate two full plates of food.5 stars

      Reply
      • Elle

        October 19, 2021 at 12:18 pm

        Wow, Tieghan! Thank you so much for your very kind comment!

        Reply
    2. Sarah

      October 18, 2021 at 5:24 pm

      This recipe has become a family favorite since it is so easy to prepare on a busy night. We left a favorite Indian restaurant and began looking for ways to recreate the food we had missed. "You could easily serve this at a restaurant and I would eat it every night," my husband said today. That's what I'd call dining contentment.5 stars

      Reply
      • Elle

        October 19, 2021 at 12:17 pm

        Thank you, Sarah! I am so happy to hear, especially as Butter Chicken is one of our family's favorites too!

        Reply

    Leave a Comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Elle - Author

    Thank you for being here. If you are having a look around, it is most probably because you too love cooking with herbs and spices and are looking for your next recipe, tip, or trick. 

    I love food, the sun, good music, and having a laugh, and if you want to know how this small-town Italian got this site together, then

    .

    More about me →

    Popular Recipes

    • The Best German Goulash without Tomatoes
    • The Best Hibachi Fried Rice Recipe
    • The Best Easy Baked Chicken Kabobs
    • The Best Banana Pancakes Without Milk: Fluffy and Delicious

    Footer


    ↑ back to top

    Get Started

    • Recipes
    • Food Facts
    • Videos

    Follow Us

    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

    About

    • Terms & Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

    Copyright © 2022 Spice and Life

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Read More
    Do not sell my personal information.
    Cookie SettingsAccept
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
    CookieDurationDescription
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-advertisement1 yearSet by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin, this cookie is used to record the user consent for the cookies in the "Advertisement" category .
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
    CookieLawInfoConsent1 yearRecords the default button state of the corresponding category & the status of CCPA. It works only in coordination with the primary cookie.
    viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
    Functional
    Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
    Performance
    Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
    Analytics
    Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
    CookieDurationDescription
    _ga2 yearsThe _ga cookie, installed by Google Analytics, calculates visitor, session and campaign data and also keeps track of site usage for the site's analytics report. The cookie stores information anonymously and assigns a randomly generated number to recognize unique visitors.
    _ga_XE09ND6NBN2 yearsThis cookie is installed by Google Analytics.
    _gat_gtag_UA_184831917_11 minuteSet by Google to distinguish users.
    _gid1 dayInstalled by Google Analytics, _gid cookie stores information on how visitors use a website, while also creating an analytics report of the website's performance. Some of the data that are collected include the number of visitors, their source, and the pages they visit anonymously.
    CONSENT2 yearsYouTube sets this cookie via embedded youtube-videos and registers anonymous statistical data.
    Advertisement
    Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
    CookieDurationDescription
    VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE5 months 27 daysA cookie set by YouTube to measure bandwidth that determines whether the user gets the new or old player interface.
    YSCsessionYSC cookie is set by Youtube and is used to track the views of embedded videos on Youtube pages.
    yt-remote-connected-devicesneverYouTube sets this cookie to store the video preferences of the user using embedded YouTube video.
    yt-remote-device-idneverYouTube sets this cookie to store the video preferences of the user using embedded YouTube video.
    yt.innertube::nextIdneverThis cookie, set by YouTube, registers a unique ID to store data on what videos from YouTube the user has seen.
    yt.innertube::requestsneverThis cookie, set by YouTube, registers a unique ID to store data on what videos from YouTube the user has seen.
    Others
    Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
    SAVE & ACCEPT
    Powered by CookieYes Logo