Hey, I’m Matt. I can’t cook worth a darn, but I’ve figured out this Indian-style butter chicken that is super easy to make and actually tastes amazing. It’s creamy, flavorful, and perfect if you want to impress your family or just treat yourself without stress.

Why This Recipe Works

✅ Uses simple ingredients you can find anywhere.
✅ Creamy, buttery tomato sauce full of flavor.
✅ Makes enough for 4 people with leftovers, so you’re covered for the next day.

Ingredients (serves 4)

• 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into chunks
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt
• 3 tbsp butter
• 1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes
• 1/2 cup heavy cream or full-fat coconut milk
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 inch piece fresh ginger, minced or grated
• 1 tbsp garam masala
• 1 tsp ground turmeric
• 1 tsp chili powder (adjust to taste)
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp paprika
• Salt to taste
• Fresh cilantro for garnish
• 2 cups uncooked basmati rice
• Water or broth for cooking rice

Instructions

Step 1: Marinate the Chicken
In a bowl, mix chicken pieces with yogurt, half the garlic and ginger, garam masala, turmeric, chili powder, cumin, paprika, and salt. Let it sit for at least 10 minutes while you get other stuff ready. (If you have more time, up to 2 hours is great, but no worries if you’re short on time!)

Step 2: Cook the Chicken
Heat 1 tbsp butter in a large pan on medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces (discard excess marinade for less splatter) and cook until lightly browned on all sides, about 5-7 minutes.

Step 3: Make the Butter Tomato Sauce
Move the chicken to one side of the pan. Add the remaining butter, garlic, and ginger to the empty side and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Pour in crushed tomatoes and stir. Add heavy cream, stir to combine, and let it simmer gently for 10 minutes to thicken. Adjust salt and spices if needed.

Step 4: Combine and Simmer
Mix the chicken into the sauce and simmer for another 5-10 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the flavors are blended.

Step 5: Cook the Rice
Cook basmati rice according to package instructions. Generally, bring 4 cups of water to a boil, add the rice, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Fluff with a fork when done.

Step 6: Serve
Spoon the butter chicken over the fluffy rice. Garnish with fresh cilantro for that extra touch.

Tips & Tricks for Beginners

• Don’t worry about the marinate time too much – 10 minutes works fine.
• If you like it spicier, add more chili powder or a pinch of cayenne.
• Butter makes everything better, so don’t be shy with it!
• Use good quality basmati for fluffy, fragrant rice that pairs perfectly.
• Feel free to double the recipe if you want to freeze leftovers for easy meals later.