Name: Quick and Easy Butter Chicken – A Must-Try for Easy Chicken Recipes
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1.5 lbs boneless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into cubes; 1/2 cup plain yogurt; 2 tablespoons lemon juice; 1 tablespoon garam masala; 1 tablespoon ground turmeric; 1 tablespoon ground cumin; 1 tablespoon chili powder; 1 tablespoon paprika; Salt, to taste; 2 tablespoons butter; 1 large onion, diced; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger; 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce; 1 cup heavy cream or coconut milk; Fresh cilantro, for garnish; Cooked rice or naan, for serving

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This quick and easy butter chicken recipe is perfect for busy weeknights! Loaded with flavor and creamy richness, it’s one of the best easy chicken recipes you’ll ever try. Whether you’re looking for quick and easy recipes or comforting easy recipes for dinner, this dish has it all. Using rotisserie chicken makes it even more convenient, and it’s great with rice or naan. Plus, it’s adaptable for air fryer easy recipes or even sweet easy recipes fans who love bold flavor twists.

1) Key Takeaways
2) Easy Butter Chicken Recipe
3) Ingredients for Butter Chicken
4) How to Make Butter Chicken
5) Tips for Making Butter Chicken
6) Making Butter Chicken Ahead of Time
7) Storing Leftover Butter Chicken
8) Try these Chicken recipes next!
9) Butter Chicken Recipe
10) Nutrition

1) Key Takeaways

This creamy butter chicken is one of the easiest and tastiest easy chicken recipes you’ll ever make.
Uses common ingredients with bold spices that are pantry-friendly and budget-conscious.
The tomato cream sauce balances spices with richness, making it appealing to all palates.
Great make-ahead dinner option—flavors improve overnight and leftovers are delicious!

2) Easy Butter Chicken Recipe

Butter chicken is the definition of comfort food with a spicy, creamy twist. As one of the most beloved dishes in Indian cuisine, it’s easy to see why people gravitate toward it when craving something deeply flavorful but still accessible. This easy chicken recipe simplifies traditional steps, making it ideal for home cooks who want a quick, satisfying dinner without sacrificing taste. With tender pieces of chicken marinated in yogurt and spices, seared until golden, then simmered in a rich tomato-based sauce with cream, every bite offers warmth and depth. The best part? It uses ingredients you likely already have on hand. Whether you’re serving it over fluffy rice, dipping with garlic naan, or meal prepping for the week, this butter chicken checks all the boxes for easy recipes for dinner. In just about 40 minutes, you’ll have a dish worthy of any restaurant—made right at home with love from Elena at Elena Cooks.

3) Ingredients for Butter Chicken

Boneless Chicken: Use chicken thighs for extra tenderness or breasts for a leaner cut. Chicken thighs remain juicy and flavorful, even after simmering in the rich sauce, making them the ideal protein for this dish.

Plain Yogurt: This helps tenderize the chicken during marination while adding a subtle tang that balances the spices. The yogurt coating also helps the spices adhere better.

Lemon Juice: The acid from lemon juice breaks down proteins in the chicken, enhancing flavor absorption and creating a melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Spices (Garam Masala, Turmeric, Cumin, Chili Powder, Paprika): These spices give butter chicken its signature bold, aromatic flavor. Each adds depth—paprika for color, garam masala for warmth, turmeric for earthiness, cumin for nuttiness, and chili powder for a gentle kick.

Butter: Butter enriches the dish and smooths out the heat of the spices. It adds a comforting finish and an unmistakable aroma to the simmering sauce.

Onion, Garlic & Ginger: These create the flavor base for the sauce. Sautéed together, they add sweetness, zest, and a grounding layer of complexity to the tomato-rich base.

Tomato Sauce: Adds body and acidity to balance the cream. The rich tomato base is what makes this a curry-like dish and helps marry all the spices into a cohesive flavor.

Heavy Cream or Coconut Milk: Cream gives the dish its signature richness and velvety texture. Coconut milk is a great dairy-free alternative that adds a subtle sweetness and exotic flair.

Fresh Cilantro: Adds a pop of color and brightness when sprinkled on top right before serving. It enhances freshness and completes the dish visually and flavor-wise.

4) How to Make Butter Chicken

Step 1: Start by preparing the chicken marinade. In a bowl, combine yogurt, lemon juice, and spices (garam masala, turmeric, cumin, chili powder, paprika, and salt). Mix thoroughly and coat the chicken pieces. Marinate for at least 30 minutes—or better yet, overnight in the fridge for maximum flavor infusion.

Step 2: Heat a large skillet over medium heat and melt butter. Add chopped onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and ginger, and cook for another minute until aromatic. This aromatic base is the heart of the sauce’s flavor.

Step 3: Add the marinated chicken to the skillet. Sear it on all sides until browned and almost cooked through. The yogurt marinade will caramelize slightly, creating a flavorful coating on the chicken.

Step 4: Pour in the tomato sauce and stir to combine with the chicken and onion mixture. Let it simmer uncovered for about 10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken.

Step 5: Lower the heat and slowly stir in the heavy cream or coconut milk. Let it simmer gently for another 10 minutes. Don’t boil at this point—just a gentle simmer to keep the sauce silky smooth and avoid curdling.

Step 6: Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve hot over a bed of rice or alongside naan bread. Garnish with fresh cilantro for a final burst of freshness and color.

5) Tips for Making Butter Chicken

For optimal flavor, allow the chicken to marinate overnight. This not only deepens the flavor but tenderizes the chicken thoroughly. When browning chicken, avoid crowding the pan, which can steam rather than sear. If using rotisserie chicken, which is common in easy chicken recipes, you can skip the marinating step entirely and simply simmer the shredded chicken in the prepared sauce until heated through. When cooking the sauce, keep the heat low after adding cream—high heat may cause the cream to separate. Use unsalted butter if you prefer to control the sodium levels. For a spicier version, add crushed red pepper flakes or more chili powder. These tips will make your butter chicken taste restaurant-quality every time while keeping it one of the best easy recipes with rotisserie chicken for busy nights.

6) Making Butter Chicken Ahead of Time

Butter chicken is one of those dishes that only gets better with time. Prepare it in advance by following the recipe up to the point of adding cream. Let it cool and refrigerate. When ready to serve, reheat gently on the stove and then stir in cream or coconut milk to finish. This approach helps maintain the texture of the cream and intensifies the flavors. You can also freeze portions of the cooked chicken in tomato sauce (without cream) and add cream after reheating. This makes it a great candidate for easy dinner recipes and ideal for meal prep. Serve with fresh basmati rice or naan for a full meal any day of the week. Whether you’re hosting guests or prepping weekday lunches, this butter chicken from Elena Cooks is always a winner.

7) Storing Leftover Butter Chicken

Store leftover butter chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. The flavors deepen as it sits, making each reheated serving even more enjoyable. For longer storage, freeze in meal-sized portions for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and gently reheat on the stovetop. Add a splash of cream or water to restore the sauce’s creamy texture. It’s also microwave-friendly but be sure to stir halfway through to heat evenly. Whether you’re batch cooking or saving leftovers from a weeknight dinner, this butter chicken remains one of the best quick and easy recipes to keep on hand, especially when time is short and flavor is needed.

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