Amazing 30 Min Butter Chicken Recipe

By anna Boncoeur On December 4, 2025

Forget takeout menus, my friends! I’m Anna, and I’m thrilled to share my absolute favorite way to bring restaurant magic right into your busy weeknights. If you’ve been searching for that perfect, velvety, deeply spiced dish, look no further because this Butter Chicken Recipe is about to change your dinner game. I love finding simple, flavorful chicken recipes that make everyday cooking feel joyful, not like a chore.

We all deserve food that tastes incredible without needing three hours of prep, right? That’s why I spent ages perfecting this specific version of Butter Chicken. It hits all the right notes—tender chicken, those complex spices, and a sauce so creamy you’ll want to drink it with a straw. Seriously, don’t let the spices scare you off. I break everything down so even if you’re juggling work and family, you can make this amazing Butter Chicken Recipe tonight and feel like a culinary superstar. Trust me, once you taste this homemade sauce, you won’t go back!

Table Of content

Gathering Your Ingredients for Authentic Butter Chicken Recipe

Okay, gathering supplies is half the battle won for any great dish, and making this authentic Butter Chicken Recipe is no exception. I’ve broken down the list so you can see exactly what goes into that incredible sauce and what makes the chicken so tender. You’ll notice we use butter twice—once for searing and once to finish the sauce. Don’t skip the yogurt in the marinade; it tenderizes the chicken beautifully!

Everything here is designed to layer flavor perfectly. You might think it looks like a lot of spices, but trust me, they blend into something magical. Having everything ready before you start cooking makes the process fly by!

Chicken Marinade Components

This is where the flavor building starts! We’re using boneless, skinless chicken thighs because they stay juicy no matter what, but breasts work too if you trim them well. Make sure you mix the yogurt, lemon juice, ginger, and those initial spices until everything is totally combined before tossing the chicken in.

Ingredient	Amount
Greek Yogurt	1/2 cup
Lemon Juice	1 tablespoon
Chicken Thighs	1 1/2 pounds
Garam Masala (for marinade)	1 1/2 teaspoons

Building the Rich Butter Chicken Sauce Base

The sauce is where we layer the onions, garlic, ginger, and the rest of our spice blend. The canned whole peeled tomatoes are my secret weapon here—they break down so nicely. And please, use heavy cream for that signature richness; half-and-half just won’t give you the same velvety finish this Butter Chicken Recipe deserves.

Ingredient	Purpose
Onion & Aromatics	Base flavor
Garam Masala & Spices	Depth of flavor
Whole Peeled Tomatoes	Body and acidity
Heavy Cream	Silky finish

Essential Equipment for This Butter Chicken Recipe

You don’t need a dozen fancy gadgets for this Butter Chicken Recipe, but a couple of things really make the process smoother. We need a large, sturdy skillet for getting that perfect sear on the chicken first. After that, you absolutely must have a blender—whether it’s a countertop model or an immersion one—to get that signature restaurant-smoothness in the sauce. That’s truly the secret weapon!

Step-by-Step Instructions for Your Butter Chicken Recipe

Now for the fun part! Turning those beautiful ingredients into the best Butter Chicken Recipe you’ve ever made. We move through three main phases: marinating, searing, and sauce-making. Keep your heat consistent, and don’t rush the simmer at the end—that’s where the magic really happens.

Marinating the Chicken for Flavor

First things first, let’s get that chicken soaking up all that flavor! In a shallow dish, whisk together your yogurt, lemon juice, ginger, and the first set of spices—turmeric, cumin, salt, cayenne, and garlic. Whisk it until it looks like a nice smooth paste. Then, toss in your bite-sized chicken pieces and make sure every single one is coated well. Cover this up and pop it in the fridge. Thirty minutes is the minimum, but honestly, if you can let this marinate overnight, the flavor depth you get in your final Butter Chicken Recipe is unbelievable. It just penetrates so much better!

Searing the Chicken Properly

Time to heat things up! Grab a large skillet and add your neutral oil along with one tablespoon of butter. Get that skillet hot—you want the butter to shimmer before you add anything. This is super important for browning, not steaming. You absolutely must work in batches here. If you dump all the chicken in at once, the pan temperature drops, and you end up with pale, boiled chicken instead of beautifully seared pieces. Sear each batch for about three to four minutes per side until they have a nice brown crust. Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate and cover it with foil while you finish the rest. Don’t wipe out that skillet; those browned bits are flavor gold!

Creating the Silky Tomato Cream Sauce

Keep the skillet over medium heat and toss in your chopped onions. Cook them down until they are soft and translucent. Next, stir in the minced garlic and fresh ginger. Cook them for just 30 seconds until you can really smell them—don’t let them burn! Now, add your second round of spices—garam masala, cumin, coriander, salt, pepper, and cinnamon. Stirring them into the hot fat for about 30 seconds is called blooming, and it wakes up their flavor immensely. Pour in your canned tomatoes and a tiny bit of sugar to cut the acidity. Let that cook for two minutes, then carefully transfer the whole sauce mixture to a blender. Blend until it’s almost perfectly smooth. Return that gorgeous puree back to the skillet over medium-low heat. Now, slowly stir in your heavy cream and the last tablespoon of butter until the sauce is silky and glossy. You’re almost there with your Butter Chicken Recipe!

Simmering the Final Butter Chicken Recipe

This is the final, crucial step for flavor melding. Gently nestle all your seared chicken pieces, along with any juices they released, back into that creamy sauce. Turn the heat down low. You want a gentle, slow simmer—no aggressive boiling now. Let this simmer uncovered for a solid 30 minutes. This time allows the chicken to finish cooking through, absorb the sauce, and lets those spices truly marry together. Always check the internal temperature with a thermometer; we need that chicken to hit 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius) to be safe to eat. Once it’s done simmering, garnish it up, and get ready to eat!

Tips for Achieving Expert-Level Butter Chicken Recipe Results

Even though this Butter Chicken Recipe is easy enough for a Tuesday night, a few small tricks will elevate it straight to your favorite takeout spot. It’s all about texture and letting those gorgeous spices really bloom. Don’t skip these little steps; they honestly make the difference between a good curry and a truly great one. You want that restaurant-quality finish, and it’s totally achievable at home! If you are looking for more easy chicken inspiration, check out this guide on easy creamy oven baked chicken thighs recipe.

Mastering the Chicken Searing Technique

I cannot stress this enough: work in batches when searing your marinated chicken! If you crowd the pan, the temperature plummets instantly. Instead of getting those beautiful, slightly charred edges that give the dish complexity, you’ll end up with pale, steamed chicken swimming in liquid. A good sear locks in the juices and adds a layer of texture that stands up beautifully to the rich sauce later on.

Why Blending the Sauce Matters

The velvety, smooth mouthfeel is what makes this Butter Chicken Recipe so famous. If you just leave the tomatoes chunky, the sauce feels thin or grainy. Blending the cooked tomato and aromatic base fully—until it’s mostly smooth—is non-negotiable for that classic texture. It emulsifies perfectly when you add the heavy cream and butter back in, giving you a sauce that clings beautifully to every piece of chicken.

Serving Suggestions for Your Homemade Butter Chicken Recipe

Your amazing homemade Butter Chicken Recipe deserves the perfect supporting cast! This dish is rich and flavorful, so you need something to soak up every last drop of that incredible sauce. Basmati rice is the traditional choice; its delicate, fluffy grains are the perfect foil for the creamy curry. Don’t forget warm naan bread, either! For more flavorful chicken ideas, take a look at this steakhouse garlic butter chicken recipe.

I always have a basket of naan ready for scooping up the extra sauce. A little squeeze of fresh lime juice over the top right before serving brightens everything up. Serve it up hot, and enjoy the best Butter Chicken Recipe you’ve made yet! You can find more of my favorite recipes on Pinterest.

Frequently Asked Questions About This Butter Chicken Recipe

I get asked so many questions about this Butter Chicken Recipe because everyone wants that perfect restaurant result at home! Here are a few things that pop up the most when people are planning their meal prep or trying to decide on ingredients. Having quick answers makes cooking so much less stressful, doesn’t it?

Can I Make the Butter Chicken Recipe Ahead of Time

Oh, yes, you absolutely should! This is one of those wonderful dishes where the flavor actually gets *better* the next day. When you let the cooked Butter Chicken Recipe rest overnight in the fridge, the spices have more time to meld together perfectly with the cream and tomatoes. It reheats beautifully on the stovetop over low heat. Just be gentle when warming it up to keep that sauce silky!

What is the Best Chicken Cut for This Recipe

For the absolute best texture in your Butter Chicken Recipe, I insist on using boneless, skinless chicken thighs. They have a little more fat than breasts, which means they stay incredibly tender and juicy even after being marinated and simmered for 30 minutes. Chicken breasts can sometimes dry out if you aren’t careful, but thighs are much more forgiving for busy cooks like us! If you prefer a different preparation, you might enjoy this skillet bang bang chicken thighs recipe.

Storing and Reheating Your Delicious Butter Chicken

This Butter Chicken Recipe is fantastic for leftovers, but you need to store it right to keep that sauce perfect. Always let it cool down completely before putting it in an airtight container. It lasts well in the fridge for about three to four days. When you reheat it, keep the temperature low and slow on the stovetop to prevent the cream from separating. Never microwave it on high heat!

Storage Method	Duration
Refrigerator (Airtight)	3 to 4 days
Freezer (Airtight)	Up to 2 months

Share Your Homemade Butter Chicken Recipe Experience

I truly hope you loved making this Butter Chicken Recipe as much as I loved sharing it with you! Now that you’ve tasted the difference homemade makes, please come back and let me know what you thought. Drop a rating below or leave a comment sharing your favorite way to serve it!