An Indian Butter Chicken was the first curry I ever had and 50 years later, I still enjoy them. This dish is perfect for first timers or those unsure about spices. The combination of the 3 C’s, cumin, cinnamon and cayenne add flavour, warmth and aroma. These are controlled by the butter sauce. I make Indian Butter Chicken in advance and keep it in the fridge for 24 hours marinating. This simple process increases the flavour 10 fold. I then place it in the slow cooker for 5 hours on low. The result is an amazing Indian dish with a lovely aroma will have your mouth watering in anticipation.
Indian Butter Chicken
Indian Butter Chicken (also called Murgh Makhani) is a lovely mildly spiced chicken curry from India suitable for all palettes. Being slow cooked makes this ideal for busy people.
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Servings: 4 people
Calories: 92kcal
Ingredients
Marinade the Chicken
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 3/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 large chicken breasts boneless skinless
To make the sauce
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 large jalapeno pepper chopped
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 2 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp salt or to taste
- 8 oz tomato sauce
- 1 cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Add the yogurt, lemon juice, cumin, cinnamon, cayenne, black pepper, ginger, salt and whole chicken breasts into a sealable food bag and mix together.1 cup plain yogurt, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 2 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 1 tsp cayenne pepper, 3/4 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp ground ginger, 1 tsp salt, 3 large chicken breasts
- Place in the fridge overnight to marinade..
- Scrape off a majority of the marinade that is on the chicken and discard it. You’ll have plenty of the second sauce to keep the food moist and provide enough sauce.
- Cut the chicken into mouth size chunks.
- When you’re ready to cook the chicken, add the butter, garlic and jalapeno into the bottom of the slow cooker.1 tbsp butter, 1 clove garlic, 1 large jalapeno pepper
- In a small bowl add the 2 teaspoons cumin, 2 teaspoons paprika, 1 teaspoon salt, tomato sauce and heavy cream and stir to combine.2 tsp ground cumin, 2 tsp paprika, 1 tsp salt, 8 oz tomato sauce, 1 cup heavy cream
- Pour the sauce over the chicken, cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours.
- Stir the corn starch into the one tablespoon of water and add to the slow cooker and stir (stir and pour quickly since you’re using more corn starch than water it will settle quickly).
- Cook an additional 20 minutes on high.
- Serve the Indian Butter Chicken hot with the sides of your choice but I love Jasmine rice.
Notes
Image obtained curtesy of {{{1}}} (Flickr: Indian Butter Chicken) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Nutrition
Calories: 92kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 1234mg | Potassium: 386mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g
33 comments
Such a subtle dish that’s full of flavour
I added a little extra chilli and with that tweak the butter chicken went from good to great.
The spices were subtle — not overwhelming, but there’s room to make it more robust and aromatic.
Very filling and satisfying, with a luscious sauce perfect for dipping naan.
Would benefit from a sharper ginger-garlic hit; as is, it felt a touch bland for my palate.
Good for first timers: mild yet flavourful; not too spicy, nice and creamy, very inviting.
I expected more heat; instead got a mellow, slightly sweet curry. Not bad, just not what I usually go for.
Not quite as smoky or tandoori-charred as I like — maybe grilled chicken would improve it.
As a first-time Indian curry for me, butter chicken delivered with smooth, gentle spices and an approachable flavour.
A little underseasoned — perhaps I’d add more garam masala or chilli next time to deepen the flavour.
Reminded me of Indian restaurant curries I’ve had in London — creamy, comforting, and reliably good.
Perfect with naan and rice — the sauce soaked into the rice beautifully, making every bite delightful.
Changed my mind about creamy curries; this one was comforting rather than heavy.
Sauce slightly too sweet for my liking; chicken was fine but the sweetness masked the spices a bit.
Subtle aroma of cinnamon and cumin with soft butteriness — not exotic, but comforting and reliable.
Sauce was a bit too buttery for my taste, overshadowing the chicken — I’d like more tomato or spice next time.
Really liked how the sauce held together — creamy without being runny, hitting that restaurant-style note.
Comfort food at its best — velvety gravy with soft chicken chunks, pure cosy satisfaction.
A great entry into Indian food for someone nervous about spice — tasty, smooth, and mild.
Good balance of tomato tang and buttery creaminess, feeling comforting and homely.
A lovely mid-week dinner — easygoing, familiar, and hit the spot without too much fuss.
Perhaps too mild — missing the punch I expect from Indian curries, though ideal for those who prefer gentle flavours.
Could have more warmth — perhaps a bit more cayenne or chilli powder would elevate it.
Mild enough for kids — my children loved it, making it a great family-friendly curry.
Texture was smooth and luscious, chicken juicy, overall a really solid butter chicken that I’d order again.
Lovely dish: the balance of spices (cumin, cinnamon, cayenne) gives warmth and aroma, just as the recipe promised.
Rich and indulgent — a decadent gravy that felt like a treat rather than a meal.
If you like creamy, mild curries, this butter chicken is ideal, though spice-lovers might find it tame.
Rich, creamy, buttery tomato sauce meeting tender chicken — this butter chicken is absolutely worth the hype.
Chicken was juicy but the sauce lacked depth — a bit generic compared with the best butter chicken I’ve had.
The gravy coating on the chicken was perfect and kept the chicken moist.
A dependable, classic curry — comforting, tasty, familiar, and exactly what butter chicken should be.
Excellent for a cosy evening — hearty, soothing, with enough richness to satisfy.