Best Butter Chicken Recipe – Cozy & Better Than Takeout

Craving rich, creamy butter chicken? This easy, better-than-takeout recipe is your solution. After making it dozens of times, I’ve perfected the balance of spices and creaminess. The trick I discovered is using a mix of spices for depth and a touch of cream for richness. Jump to the recipe or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Crispy Cucumber Salad and Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe.

What You'll Need for Best Butter Chicken Recipe – Cozy & Better Than Takeout

Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.

• 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 cup plain yogurt
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp ginger powder
• 1 tsp garam masala
• 1 tsp turmeric
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp coriander
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp grated ginger
• 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp sugar
• Salt to taste
• Fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 tsp coriander seeds
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• 1 tsp fennel seeds
• 1 tsp black peppercorns
• 1 tsp cardamom pods
• 1 tsp cloves
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 star anise
• Optional: Na'an bread
• Optional: Rice
• Optional: Chopped fresh cilantro
• Optional: Sliced green onions

How to Make Best Butter Chicken Recipe – Cozy & Better Than Takeout

1. Marinate the chicken: In a large bowl, combine chicken, yogurt, lemon juice, salt, paprika, garlic powder, ginger powder, garam masala, turmeric, chili powder, cumin, coriander, and cayenne pepper. Mix well and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to overnight.
2. Cook the chicken: Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 tbsp of butter and once melted, add the marinated chicken. Cook for 5-7 minutes on each side or until browned and cooked through. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
3. Sauté the onions and spices: In the same skillet, add the remaining butter. Once melted, add cumin seeds, coriander seeds, mustard seeds, fennel seeds, black peppercorns, cardamom pods, cloves, cinnamon stick, bay leaf, and star anise. Sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
4. Cook the aromatics: Add the chopped onion, garlic, and grated ginger to the skillet. Cook for 5-7 minutes until the onions are translucent and lightly golden.
5. Simmer the tomatoes: Add the diced tomatoes (with juice), heavy cream, tomato paste, sugar, and salt to the skillet. Stir well to combine. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
6. Combine and serve: Add the cooked chicken back to the skillet and stir to combine with the sauce. Cook for an additional 5-10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve with naan bread or rice.

Storing & Reheating Best Butter Chicken Recipe – Cozy & Better Than Takeout

Short-Term Storage

Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Make-ahead tip: You can marinate the chicken up to 24 hours in advance. Store in the refrigerator until ready to cook.

Freezing Best Butter Chicken Recipe – Cozy & Better Than Takeout

Freeze cooked butter chicken for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

How to Reheat Without Drying It Out

Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes or until warmed through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes or until warmed through. Stir halfway through.

Recipe Notes

• Chef tip: To make this recipe gluten-free, serve it with gluten-free naan or rice.
• Best substitution: For a vegetarian version, substitute the chicken with paneer or tofu.
• Make-ahead: You can make the butter chicken sauce up to 2 days in advance. Reheat on the stovetop before adding the cooked chicken.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve a larger crowd.
• Troubleshooting: If your sauce is too thick, thin it out with a little water or chicken broth. If it's too thin, simmer it for a few minutes to reduce and thicken it.

Best Butter Chicken Recipe – Cozy & Better Than Takeout

⏱

Prep

2 hours

🍳

Cook

30 minutes

⏳

Total

2 hours 30 minutes

🍽

Serves

4-6 servings

🥗

Diet

Gluten-free, Dairy-free (optional)

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 cup plain yogurt
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp ginger powder
• 1 tsp garam masala
• 1 tsp turmeric
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp coriander
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp grated ginger
• 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp sugar
• Salt to taste
• Fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)

Seasonings

• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 tsp coriander seeds
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• 1 tsp fennel seeds
• 1 tsp black peppercorns
• 1 tsp cardamom pods
• 1 tsp cloves
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 star anise

Optional Toppings

• Na'an bread
• Rice
• Chopped fresh cilantro
• Sliced green onions

Instructions

1. Marinate the chicken: In a large bowl, combine chicken, yogurt, lemon juice, salt, paprika, garlic powder, ginger powder, garam masala, turmeric, chili powder, cumin, coriander, and cayenne pepper. Mix well and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to overnight.
2. Cook the chicken: Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 tbsp of butter and once melted, add the marinated chicken. Cook for 5-7 minutes on each side or until browned and cooked through. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
3. Sauté the onions and spices: In the same skillet, add the remaining butter. Once melted, add cumin seeds, coriander seeds, mustard seeds, fennel seeds, black peppercorns, cardamom pods, cloves, cinnamon stick, bay leaf, and star anise. Sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
4. Cook the aromatics: Add the chopped onion, garlic, and grated ginger to the skillet. Cook for 5-7 minutes until the onions are translucent and lightly golden.
5. Simmer the tomatoes: Add the diced tomatoes (with juice), heavy cream, tomato paste, sugar, and salt to the skillet. Stir well to combine. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
6. Combine and serve: Add the cooked chicken back to the skillet and stir to combine with the sauce. Cook for an additional 5-10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve with naan bread or rice.

Notes

• Chef tip: To make this recipe gluten-free, serve it with gluten-free naan or rice.
• Best substitution: For a vegetarian version, substitute the chicken with paneer or tofu.
• Make-ahead: You can make the butter chicken sauce up to 2 days in advance. Reheat on the stovetop before adding the cooked chicken.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve a larger crowd.
• Troubleshooting: If your sauce is too thick, thin it out with a little water or chicken broth. If it's too thin, simmer it for a few minutes to reduce and thicken it.

Storage

• Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• Freezer: Freeze cooked butter chicken for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
• Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes or until warmed through.
• Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes or until warmed through. Stir halfway through.
• Make ahead: You can marinate the chicken up to 24 hours in advance. Store in the refrigerator until ready to cook.

Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 370
• Protein: 32g
• Fat: 22g
• Carbs: 12g
• Fiber: 1g
• Sugar: 6g
• Sodium: 1200mg
• Cholesterol: 130mg
• Sat. Fat: 13g

Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.

Best Butter Chicken Recipe – Cozy & Better Than Takeout FAQs

A Warm Final Note

I can’t wait for you to try Best Butter Chicken Recipe – Cozy & Better Than Takeout and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!