Quick Indian Butter Chicken Recipe in 20 Minutes

If you’ve ever taken a bite of creamy, aromatic butter chicken and thought, “There’s no way I can make this at home,” think again. This easy butter chicken recipe is here to change your mind and your weeknight dinner routine.

Whether you’re new to Indian cooking or just craving something cozy and flavorful, this dish delivers big-time.

Packed with bold spices, tender chicken, and a velvety tomato-coconut sauce, it comes together faster than you’d expect, and it might just become your new go-to meal.

Ready to wow your family or impress your taste buds? Let’s dive into everything you need to know about making homemade butter chicken from scratch.

🥄 What Is Butter Chicken, Really?

Butter chicken, also called Murgh Makhani in Hindi, is a legendary Indian dish that strikes the perfect balance between comfort food and bold flavor.

It’s creamy, mildly spiced, and irresistibly rich. However, despite its gourmet vibes, it’s surprisingly easy to make at home, with no fancy skills or restaurant-style tricks required.

So what actually goes into butter chicken?

At its core, it’s about layering flavor: juicy, bite-sized pieces of chicken simmered in a sauce that combines tomato, cream (or coconut milk), aromatic spices, and butter.

The name “butter chicken” isn’t just for show; the dish starts with real butter to create a silky, decadent base.

But this isn’t just any creamy chicken recipe. It’s all about that Indian flavor combo: the warmth of garam masala, the deep color of curry powder, the zing of fresh ginger, and the punch of garlic.

The beauty of butter chicken is in its versatility:

• Want it dairy-free? Use coconut milk.
• Prefer some crunch? Add cashews.
• Like it spicy? Toss in chili powder or chopped green chilies.
• Cooking for picky eaters? It’s not too spicy, just incredibly flavorful.

And guess what? This recipe is weeknight-approved. The total cook time is under an hour, and most of it is hands-off simmering.

This is the kind of dish that brings people to the table. It’s the perfect bridge between adventurous and familiar, whether you’re cooking for kids, date night, or want something cozy and comforting after a long day.

🧂 Ingredients You’ll Need for Butter Chicken

Below is a complete breakdown of everything you’ll need for this butter chicken recipe, based directly on the subtitle source. I’ve formatted it into a reader-friendly table for clarity and ease of use.

📝 Prep Tip: Have your rice cooking while prepping the main dish. A plain white rice is perfect for contrast, but spiced rice with turmeric, cardamom, or garam masala makes it even better.

🔥 Step-by-Step: How to Make Butter Chicken from Scratch

Ready to transform simple ingredients into an unforgettable meal? This butter chicken recipe is easy enough for beginners yet flavorful enough to impress even the most discerning critics.

Let’s walk through it together, step by step, from chopping your first onion to savoring that final, flavor-packed bite.

🧑‍🍳 Step 1: Chop the Aromatics

The first thing you’ll want to do is prep your onion, garlic, and ginger. These three fresh ingredients form the fragrant foundation of your butter chicken sauce.

🧅 Onion

Start by chopping about 1 cup of onion. You don’t need to dice it super fine—just a rough chop is perfect. In fact, the original video even adds more onion than the written version suggests. Why? Because more onions = more flavor.

If you’re not measuring precisely, just grab a medium-sized onion and go with your gut. A little extra never hurts in this dish.

👩‍🍳 Tip: Butter chicken is super forgiving, so don’t stress over exact measurements. You’re building flavor, not performing surgery.

🧄 Garlic

Next, grab 6 cloves of garlic (about 3 tablespoons once minced). You can add a bit more if you’re a garlic lover; this isn’t the time to be shy.

Here’s how to prep them:

• Gently press each clove with the flat side of your knife to loosen the peel.
• Remove the skins.
• Finely mince the garlic.

Mincing releases the oils, giving the dish a rich, garlicky base. Plus, you don’t want big chunks of raw garlic floating in your sauce.

🌱 Ginger

Ginger is where things really get interesting. You’ll need about 3 tablespoons of fresh ginger, peeled and minced.

Here’s the best way to handle it:

• Use the edge of a spoon to scrape off the skin (yes, really—it’s safer and faster than a peeler).
• Slice it thinly, then mince.

Fresh ginger root can be a bit fibrous, so chopping it small is key. If you’ve ever bitten into a big chunk of ginger, you know why this step matters!

🍚 Optional: Cook Your Rice Simultaneously

If you want to serve your butter chicken over rice (which we highly recommend), now’s the time to start a pot.

You can keep it simple with plain white rice, or add flavor with a pinch of turmeric, cardamom, garam masala, or even a cinnamon stick. Your choice!

🍳 Step 2: Heat the Pan and Add Butter

Grab your Dutch oven or deep skillet, place it over medium heat, and add your butter. You’ll need about 2 tablespoons.

Let it melt completely, and allow it to brown just slightly. That browned butter adds depth and nuttiness to the dish right from the start.

This is the moment where butter chicken gets its name. You’re not just using butter for richness, you’re blooming your spices in it.

🌶️ Step 3: Bloom the Spices

With the butter fully melted and slightly foamy, it’s time to toss in your spices:

• 1 tablespoon curry powder (heaping is totally fine)
• 2 tablespoons garam masala

🔥 “Blooming” spices in hot fat (in this case, butter) helps release their essential oils and deepen their flavor. The smell will be amazing like you’re walking into your favorite Indian restaurant.

Stir the mixture and let the spices toast gently in the butter for 1–2 minutes. Keep an eye on the heat; you want warmth, not burnt bits.

🍗 Step 4: Add and Sear the Chicken

Now add in your 2 pounds of cubed chicken. Thighs are juicier, but breasts work fine too, avoid overcooking them later on.

Stir well to coat every piece in that fragrant, spiced butter mixture. Let the chicken cook for a few minutes without stirring too much. This helps it develop a light sear and locks in flavor.

You’re not cooking the chicken all the way through yet. Just enough to give it some color.

🧄 Step 5: Add Onion, Garlic & Ginger

Time to add the aromatics you prepared earlier: onion, garlic, and ginger.

Toss them into the pan and stir everything together. Let this mixture cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. The onion will start to soften, and the garlic and ginger will become incredibly fragrant.

👃 Your kitchen will smell like something magical is happening. Because it is.

🧂 Step 6: Add Salt and Pepper

Season the dish with:

• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• A healthy pinch of black pepper

You can always adjust the seasoning later. At this point, the chicken should be lightly browned, and the onions should be softened. You’re building that deep, savory flavor layer by layer.

🍅 Step 7: Stir in Tomato Paste and Crushed Tomatoes

Now it’s time for profound flavor depth. Start by adding:

• 1/4 cup of tomato paste

Stir until the paste melts into the chicken and spices. This gives the sauce its bold, umami base.

Next, pour in:

• 1 (28-ounce) can of crushed tomatoes

This combo creates the bulk of your butter chicken sauce. It’s tangy, sweet, and rich, but it needs something creamy to balance it out…

🥥 Step 8: Add Coconut Milk for Creaminess

To mellow the acidity of the tomatoes and make the sauce velvety smooth, stir in:

• 1 (14-ounce) can of full-fat coconut milk

It might look a little pale at first, but give it time. As it simmers, the sauce will deepen into a rich golden-red hue.

You can use heavy cream instead of coconut milk if you’re not dairy-free, but the coconut milk version is lighter and adds a subtle sweetness that complements the spices beautifully.

🥄 Use a good-quality coconut milk. A silky, thick one (like Thai Kitchen) makes all the difference in texture and taste.

🥜 Step 9 (Optional): Add Cashews

This is where you can take your butter chicken to the next level.

Add a handful of cashews or more if you’re feeling indulgent. They’ll simmer in the sauce, becoming buttery, soft, and packed with flavor.

It’s not traditional, but it’s ridiculously good. The cashews add texture and richness in every bite.

⏳ Step 10: Simmer and Reduce

Now comes the easy part—let it simmer.

Reduce the heat to low and let the sauce cook gently for 25 to 30 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking, and watch as the color darkens to a rich burgundy.

The sauce will thicken, the chicken will finish cooking, and all those flavors will come together as one big, happy family.

You’re looking for a smooth, rich texture. If the sauce feels too thick, add a splash of water or broth to thin it out. If it’s too thin, let it simmer for a longer period.

🍲 This step is where the magic happens. Don’t rush it.

🍋 Step 11: Add Fresh Lime Juice

Right before serving, squeeze in:

• The juice of one fresh lime

This adds acidity and brightness that cuts through the richness of the dish. It also lifts all those spices, making the sauce sing.

You can serve extra lime wedges on the side for anyone who wants a bit more zip.

🥄 Step 12: Taste, Plate, and Garnish

Give the dish a final taste. Want more salt? A bit of chili? Maybe a touch more lime?

Once you’re happy with the flavor, spoon it over fluffy rice and garnish with:

• Toasted coconut flakes (optional but fun)
• Extra cashews
• A sprig of cilantro if you have it

🧡 This is comfort food at its finest—rich, warm, and unbelievably satisfying.

🧊 Leftovers? They’re Even Better!

Let’s talk leftovers. Because in the world of cozy comfort food, butter chicken might just be the reigning king of next-day magic.

Why Butter Chicken Gets Better Over Time

Some dishes lose their spark the next day. Not this one. Butter chicken actually gets more flavorful after a night in the fridge. Why?

Because the spices have time to mingle, mellow out, and deepen. That rich tomato-coconut sauce becomes silkier. The chicken soaks up every ounce of flavor like a sponge. Even the cashews (if you added them) become softer and creamier—little bites of buttery goodness that melt in your mouth.

The next day, when you heat it up and serve it over fresh rice or naan? Pure gold.

🔥 Real talk: You might find yourself making this recipe specifically for the leftovers.

How to Store It Right

To make sure your leftovers stay just as delicious:

• Cool the butter chicken completely before transferring it to a container.
• Use an airtight glass or plastic container to lock in moisture and prevent any fridge odours from sneaking in.
• Store in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Got more than you can eat? No problem.

Can You Freeze Butter Chicken?

Absolutely. Butter chicken is a freezer superstar.

Here’s how:

1. Let the dish cool completely.
2. Portion into freezer-safe containers or bags (bonus points for labeling with the date).
3. Freeze for up to 2 months.

To reheat, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and then warm gently on the stovetop or in the microwave. Add a splash of coconut milk, cream, or water to loosen up the sauce if needed.

❄️ Freezer pro tip: Flat freezer bags stack neatly and thaw faster than containers.

Leftover Remix Ideas

Not in the mood for rice again? Butter chicken leftovers are super versatile. Here are some quick ideas to remix it:

• Butter Chicken Wraps – Stuff in a warm naan or tortilla with a bit of raita or plain yogurt.
• Butter Chicken Pizza – Spread on naan bread, top with shredded cheese, and bake.
• Butter Chicken Bowl – Layer with rice, cucumber salad, and crispy chickpeas.
• Butter Chicken Pasta – Mix with cooked penne for a creamy fusion of Indian and Italian flavors.

There’s no wrong way to eat it; make sure to save enough for the first night!

🧂 Secret Tips to Amazing Butter Chicken Every Time

Want to take your butter chicken from “good” to “how-did-you-make-this?” Here are the little tweaks and cooking secrets—straight from the source subtitles—that make all the difference.

These aren’t random gimmicks. They’re the small, high-impact choices that elevate the flavor and texture of your dish without complicating the recipe.

1. Don’t Skip the Fresh Ginger and Garlic

Yes, jarred stuff is convenient. However, freshly minced ginger and garlic provide a brightness and depth that bottled versions can’t match.

• Smash the garlic to loosen the skins and activate the oils.
• Mince both finely to help them melt into the sauce without leaving chunks behind.

🍛 Think of garlic and ginger as the heartbeat of butter chicken.

2. Use Full-Fat Coconut Milk

This recipe derives its creaminess from coconut milk, not heavy cream, making it rich yet not heavy. But not all coconut milks are created equal.

Look for:

• Full-fat (not lite!)
• A brand that has a silky texture and minimal separation
• A clean flavor without additives or sweeteners

One good option? Thai Kitchen, as used in the original video. But any quality brand works.

3. Let the Spices Bloom in Butter

Don’t rush this step. Blooming the curry powder and garam masala in melted butter does three important things:

• It intensifies the flavor.
• It eliminates bitterness.
• It makes your entire kitchen smell like a dream.

It’s a tiny moment that delivers huge results.

🔥 The “bloom” is where the magic starts.

4. Cook the Onions Low and Slow

You’re not caramelizing them, but giving your onions a few extra minutes helps them soften and sweeten naturally. This step also helps them blend into the sauce later, making it smoother and more cohesive.

If you rush this step, you’ll get a sharper, raw-onion bite. Let them melt instead.

5. Cashews Are the Secret Weapon

Not traditional but seriously genius.

Adding a handful of cashews to simmer in the sauce turns them into little flavor sponges. They soak up all that butter, tomato, and coconut milk, becoming rich, soft, and nutty.

🥜 It’s like adding little buttery nuggets of joy.

Want extra crunch? Toast a few and sprinkle them on top before serving.

🍽️ Final Thoughts

Butter chicken might sound like a dish that requires hours in the kitchen and a spice cabinet full of exotic ingredients, but now you know better. This version is easy, cozy, and packed with flavor.

From the sizzling butter and blooming spices to the creamy coconut-tomato sauce, every bite tells a story of comfort, richness, and just the right amount of spice.

And the best part? You made it from scratch, with simple ingredients and a whole lot of love.

Whether you’re feeding your family, hosting friends, or just treating yourself on a weeknight, this butter chicken recipe is the kind of meal that brings people together. It’s versatile, satisfying, and somehow gets even better the next day.

So go ahead—plate it up, pass around the lime wedges, and watch those empty bowls come back for seconds. And if you loved this recipe, there’s plenty more where that came from!

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Ella Foster

Ella Foster, co-founder of FoodBears.com, is a skilled writer whose love for cooking fuels her creative work. Her passion for experimenting in the kitchen brings authentic flavor and culinary inspiration to every piece she crafts for the platform.