Rich & Creamy Butter Chicken Curry🇮🇳

Name: Rich & Creamy Butter Chicken Curry🇮🇳
Prep time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 600g of Chicken breast or thigh meat; * 100–150g of Plain yogurt; * 1 tbsp of Lemon juice; * 1 tsp of Turmeric; * 2 tsp of Garam masala; * 1 tsp of Cumin; * 1 tsp o fPaprika powder; * 1 tsp of Minced (or grated) ginger; * 2 cloves of Minced (or grated) garlic; 1 of Onion; 2 tbsp of Butter (or coconut oil as an alternative); 1 clove of Minced garlic; 1 tsp of Minced ginger; 400g of Tomato puree; 200ml of Crème fraîche épaisse (or heavy cream); ◎ 1 tsp of Turmeric; ◎ 1 tsp of Garam masala; ◎ 1–2 tbsp of Honey; ◎ 1 tsp of Sugar; ◎ 1 tsp of Salt; ◎ A pinch of Pepper; ◎ 1 tsp of Cinnamon (optional); ◎ To taste of Coriander (optional)

60 min prep60 minutes (Excluding the time needed to marinate the chicken in the refrigerator)

Updated 15 Jul 2025

Rich and Creamy Butter Chicken Curry is one of the most beloved Indian curries, and for good reason! It’s mild, flavorful, and incredibly satisfying. When I worked in Tokyo, I was lucky to have authentic Indian restaurants near my office, and butter chicken quickly became my go-to😊. Now living in Berlin, I often enjoy this dish with my daughter at local Indian spots. She loved it from the very first bite!

That experience led me to try recreating this rich and creamy butter chicken curry at home, and I’d love to share the recipe with you here. Perfect for weeknight dinners or special family meals. Let’s get started!

Ingredients

For 4 people:

600g of Chicken breast or thigh meat

Marinade Ingredients:

* 100–150g of Plain yogurt
* 1 tbsp of Lemon juice
* 1 tsp of Turmeric
* 2 tsp of Garam masala
* 1 tsp of Cumin
* 1 tsp o fPaprika powder
* 1 tsp of Minced (or grated) ginger
* 2 cloves of Minced (or grated) garlic

Other Ingredients:

1 of Onion
2 tbsp of Butter (or coconut oil as an alternative)
1 clove of Minced garlic
1 tsp of Minced ginger
400g of Tomato puree
200ml of Crème fraîche épaisse (or heavy cream)

Seasoning Ingredients (◎):

◎ 1 tsp of Turmeric
◎ 1 tsp of Garam masala
◎ 1–2 tbsp of Honey
◎ 1 tsp of Sugar
◎ 1 tsp of Salt
◎ A pinch of Pepper
◎ 1 tsp of Cinnamon (optional)
◎ To taste of Coriander (optional)

Butter chicken curry Chicken breast Plain yogurt Lemon juice Turmeric Garam masala Cumin Paprika powder ginger cloves garlic

Rich & Creamy Butter Chicken Curry🇮🇳 ingredients

How to make it

1/ Preparing the Chicken : (It’s recommended to do this the day before or at least 2 hours in advance.) Cut the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces.

2/Marinate the Chicken for Maximum Flavor: In a bowl, combine all the marinade ingredients (marked with *) and mix well. Add the chicken pieces, ensuring they are evenly coated with the marinade. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or preferably for half a day to overnight.

Butter chicken curry Chicken breast Plain yogurt Lemon juice Turmeric Garam masala Cumin Paprika powder ginger cloves garlic in a bowl

Butter chicken curry mixed Plain yogurt Lemon juice Turmeric Garam masala Cumin Paprika powder ginger cloves garlic chicken breast in a bowl

3/Sear the Chicken until Golden: Heat 1 tablespoon of butter in a frying pan over high heat. Add the marinated chicken and cook until browned, discarding any leftover marinade.

Butter chicken curry chicken marinated in a flying pan

4/ Prepare the Aromatics: Thinly slice the onion, and finely mince the garlic and ginger.

5/Sauté the Onion, Garlic, and Ginger: In a separate pot, heat 1 tablespoon of butter and sauté the onion, garlic, and ginger until fragrant.

Butter chicken curry butter garlic ginger sliced onion in a pot

6/Add Spices and Seasonings: Once the onion becomes translucent, stir in the seasoning ingredients (marked with ◎) and mix thoroughly.

Butter chicken curry sliced onion Turmeric Garam masala Honey Sugar Salt Pepper Cinnamon in a pot

7/ Simmer with Tomato Puree: Add the tomato puree, reduce the heat to low, and let it simmer for about 10 minutes.

Butter chicken curry onion with seasonings tomato puree

8/Stir in Crème Fraîche for Creaminess: Stir in the crème fraîche and continue simmering for another 5 minutes.

Butter chicken curry onion with seasonings tomato puree creme fraîche

9/ Combine with Chicken and Finish the Sauce: Add the cooked chicken to the pot and let it simmer for an additional 5 minutes. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning if necessary. For a richer finish, add a small amount of butter before serving.

Butter chicken curry butter chicken curry butter in a pot

Butter chicken curry butter chicken curry coriander wild rice

Good to know

🌟Delicious Butter Chicken at Home! Tips for Success🌟

⭐️Spices: Feel free to mix and match your favorite spices. Enjoy experimenting with the spices you already have!

⭐️Butter: For an authentic touch, use Indian butter, ghee, to enhance the flavor even more.

⭐️Chicken: Be sure to cook the chicken thoroughly until the marinade is fully absorbed. This step is key to achieving great flavor!

⭐️Tomatoes: If you prefer a rich and intense flavor, tomato puree is highly recommended. However, for a simpler preparation, canned tomatoes work just as well. Choose based on your preference!

⭐️Cream: You can substitute crème fraîche with heavy cream if needed. For a creamy and rich taste, go with crème fraîche; for a lighter finish, opt for heavy cream. In our family, we’re team crème fraîche! 🤭

⭐️Finishing Touch: Garnishing with coriander adds an exotic flair. If you prefer, parsley can also be used for a refreshing accent!

This one’s for members

Rich & Creamy Butter Chicken Curry🇮🇳

Ingredients

How to make it

Good to know

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