Look, I get it. Sometimes you crave the rich, creamy goodness of your favorite restaurant meal but don’t want to spend the whole night slaving over the stove. Well, folks, this Easy Homemade Butter Chicken Recipe is your hero tonight. You won’t be wrestling with a mountain of ingredients, and it’s gonna hit the table in under thirty minutes. If you can manage a skillet and have a good sense of humor about a little kitchen mess (seriously, mine looked like a curry exploded), you’re in for a treat. 
How to make Butter Chicken in 3 Simple Steps
So, here’s the deal. There are no super secret chef moves here—just three super doable steps to nail that classic Butter Chicken flavor right in your own kitchen. I promise, even if your oven’s older than you are, you can pull this off.
First, you toss diced chicken with a little yogurt, lemon, and spices. Don’t panic if you’re missing one—just use a pinch more of another. Marinate for, I dunno, like ten minutes if you’re rushed (I’ve done it with even less and survived).
Second, you cook the chicken in a skillet until it’s got a little brown on the edges. Toss it out for a sec, then in the same pan, go wild with onion, garlic, ginger, and a good hit of tomato sauce. Don’t forget a generous dollop of butter. Sprinkle in more spices, then pour in cream. Patience, friend—let it bubble.
Now throw the chicken back in. Let everything mingle for a bit so the flavors cozy up. And bam, it’s ready. Serve it hot, ideally with something to soak up that sauce.
Not to brag, but this beats half the takeout in my area. Want real proof? Check out my other five-star faves, like this Air Fryer Rotisserie Style Chicken – Easy and Healthy Recipe. I can’t help myself, really. 
This butter chicken recipe is the real deal! So fast, so creamy, and my picky teens actually asked for seconds.
– Samira D.
What to Serve with Butter Chicken
Honestly, you gotta have something to scoop every last drop of that buttery sauce. My first pick is fluffy basmati rice—it’s honestly illegal to skip it, if you ask me.
Sometimes I make a quick stack of naan bread, but you can totally buy it from the store. If you fancy a lighter touch, throw together a fresh cucumber salad or some roasted veggies. I admit, sometimes I just eat it straight out of the bowl with a spoon. Whatever works, right?
Craving more carbs? Give this Easy No Knead Artisan Bread – Simple Recipe for Homemade Perfection a shot—totally worth the dough. 
Sides for Butter Chicken
Alright, for those indecisive (raises hand), here are my go-to sides to round out a Butter Chicken feast.
- Steamed Basmati Rice: Keeps things classic and simple.
- Garlic Naan: Tear and dunk. Don’t fuss with utensils.
- Quick Raita: Plain yogurt, cucumber, bit of salt. Cool, crunchy, perfect.
- Simple Salad: Lettuce, tomatoes, a squeeze of lemon. Done.
All these go along with the creamy sauce and pack balance into the meal. You don’t need fancy stuff to enjoy the good stuff.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Gonna be real, it’s rich—but hey, sometimes you need comfort food that makes life feel a little extra. Typical serving lands around 375 calories, with a solid dose of protein (about 26g), plus a fair amount of healthy fat from the cream and butter. Is it diet food? Nope. But it beats the mystery stuff from a drive-thru.
Bonus: it’s got less sodium than most restaurant orders, since you’re in charge of the salt shaker. Add a handful of steamed veg and you’re golden.
Photos of Easy Indian Butter Chicken
Nothing like a little visual encouragement, right? Here’s my batch from last week—notice the swirls of sauce, that golden chicken, oh man, it’s dreamy. Honestly, it looked almost too good to eat, but I powered through (for science, obviously).
If you’re curious about homemade sweets for dessert (because why not keep the kitchen chaos going), take a peek at Homemade Gummies – Easy Recipe. It’s weirdly fun and way tastier than store-bought, trust me.
Common Questions
Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts?
Absolutely. Thighs add extra flavor and don’t dry out as fast.
Is heavy cream necessary?
It’s best, but half-and-half or even coconut milk works in a pinch. Just don’t skip the richness.
Can I make this ahead?
Oh yeah. It honestly gets even better the next day. Just reheat gently.
Do I need special spices?
All you need are basics like garam masala, cumin, and chili powder. Skip the weird ones if you can’t find them.
How spicy is this recipe?
Mild as written, but add more chili if you like it fiery. I always keep it mellow (my kids, man).
Give It a Go Tonight (Seriously)
Alright, that’s the run-down. Butter Chicken shouldn’t take all night or scare off amateur cooks. If you follow these steps, you’ll pull off dinner that tastes like a five-star restaurant at home (or better, if I’m honest). To shake up your recipe game, check out this Easy 20 Minute Butter Chicken | Gimme Delicious for another quick spin. For the classics, don’t miss the Easy Indian Butter Chicken Recipe from AllRecipes. Rally your courage, splash a bit of cream, and let your kitchen smell amazing. You’ve totally got this—promise. 
Easy Homemade Butter Chicken
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Non-Vegetarian
Description
A quick and creamy homemade Butter Chicken recipe that brings restaurant flavors to your kitchen in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breast, diced
- 1/2 cup yogurt
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 2 tsp garam masala
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 inch ginger, minced
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- Salt, to taste
Instructions
- Marinate the chicken with yogurt, lemon juice, and spices for about 10 minutes.
- Cook the marinated chicken in a skillet until browned, then set aside. In the same pan, sauté onions, garlic, ginger, and add tomato sauce and butter, letting it bubble. Stir in cream.
- Add the chicken back to the pan and let everything mingle together before serving hot.
Notes
Serve with basmati rice or naan to soak up the sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Skillet Cooking
- Cuisine: Indian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 375
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 80mg