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A plate of Butter Chicken on a table
4.80 from 25 votes

Butter Chicken Recipe

Butter Chicken, or Murgh Makhani, is a classic Indian chicken recipe made with tender juicy chicken pieces cooked in creamy, mildly spiced tomato sauce.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 15 minutes
marinate1 hour
Total Time2 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 574kcal

Ingredients

Chicken and Marinade

  • 3 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • 2 cups plain full-fat Greek yogurt
  • ½ lemon - juiced
  • 2 tablespoon ground turmeric
  • 2 tablespoon garam masala
  • 2 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Curry

  • 8 tablespoon butter - (1 stick, 1/4 pound)
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable or canola oil
  • 2 yellow onions - diced
  • 8 cloves garlic - minced
  • 3 tablespoon fresh ginger - peeled and grated
  • 1 tablespoon cumin seeds - (not ground cumin)
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes - or tomato puree
  • 1 teaspoon red chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt - plus more to taste
  • 1 cup low-sodium chicken stock
  • 1.5 cups cream
  • 2 tablespoon tomato paste
  • ¼ cup ground cashews - optional
  • fresh cilantro - to garnish

Instructions

For the Marinade

  • Combine all ingredients for the marinade in a large mixing bowl. Whisk well to combine. Add the chicken and mix well to coat.
  • Cover and allow the chicken to marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or up to three days.

For the Curry

  • Heat the oil in a large pan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the butter and allow it to melt completely. Add the onions and mix well to combine. Sauté for 4-5 minutes, or until starting to soften and turn translucent.
  • Add the garlic, ginger, and cumin seeds to the pot. Continue to cook until the onions start to brown, approximately 3-5 minutes. Stir often.
  • Mix in the cinnamon stick, tomatoes, red chili powder, and salt with the onions. Reduce heat to medium-low and allow the mixture to simmer for 5-10 minutes, stirring often.
  • Optional- remove the cinnamon stick and transfer the onion and tomato mixture to a food processor or blender. Process until smooth and creamy then return the tomato sauce back to the pot.
  • Increase heat to medium. Add the marinated chicken (plus the marinade) to the pan. Mix to combine. Cook the chicken for 10 minutes, stirring often.
  • Stir in the chicken broth and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for at least 30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Mix in the cream, tomato paste, and ground cashews. Allow the curry to simmer for an additional 5-10 minutes.
  • Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and garnish with fresh cilantro leaves if desired.

Notes

Keep leftovers stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 574kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 41g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Cholesterol: 255mg | Sodium: 631mg | Potassium: 775mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1240IU | Vitamin C: 8.4mg | Calcium: 148mg | Iron: 4.3mg
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