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30 Minute Spicy Indian Butter Chicken…the perfect bowl of warming comfort food that’s incredibly delicious. Indian inspired butter chicken made with plenty of spice and creamy coconut milk for a slight twist. It’s cozy, creamy, a little spicy, and filled with warming Indian flavors. Finish each bowl off with steamed rice and serve with fresh naan. You’ll have the perfect dinner that can be enjoyed any night of the week. Bonus? This is quickly made on the stove, with one skillet, and in just about 30 minutes. And…the leftovers are even more delicious the next day.
I’ve said this before I’m sure, but the reason I love to cook so much is because I really love cooking for others. I find so much enjoyment in creating meals for the people I love most. It’s really what inspires me to keep cooking away every day. There’s nothing I love more than having a friend or family member inspire a recipe.
I love the opportunity to make something for someone with the hope that it will be a dish they’ll truly love…one of those dishes my brothers would say is, “fire”. Those are the words I strive for when creating a recipe, but especially when a recipe is created with a specific person in mind.
That was the case with today’s Butter Chicken. This one was inspired by my oldest brother, Creighton. He’s here in Colorado working remotely right now, and the one thing about Creighton?
He loves to eat…like really loves to eat. And one of his favorites foods? Anything Indian inspired and anything spicy. This leads me right into today’s recipe. With Creighton in town, I excitedly have been testing out a new Butter Chicken recipe, and last week I finally got it just right.
Creighton’s exact words…”it’s fire!”
What Is Butter Chicken?
For any of you who are are not familiar, Butter Chicken it’s one of the most popular Indian curries served around the world. I’ve made a few variations in the past, but aside from the coconut milk, today’s recipe is the most traditional.
Butter chicken is made with spices, tomato, butter, and cream. It’s rich and warming, but the spice blend is really what makes this dish. Using a mix of Garam Masala, turmeric, garlic, and plenty of ginger is key to getting an authentic flavor.
Traditionally, Butter Chicken is marinated for many hours in yogurt and spices, but I’ve adjusted that slightly to create a quicker but still super flavorful recipe!
Here’s how to make this 30 Minute Spicy Indian Butter Chicken.
With such a quick cook time, I’m sure you guessed, but this is pretty simple, quick, and easy.
Start with the chicken. Just like in a traditional butter chicken recipe, we’re first tossing the chicken with yogurt and spices. But instead of marinating overnight, I found that a quick ten-minute soak in the spices really does the trick.
While the chicken is sitting, I like to start in on the prep for everything else, chop the onion, garlic, and ginger, grab that coconut milk and tomato paste and get everything for the remainder of the recipe ready to go.
Once the chicken has had some time to sit, pan-sear it in a skillet until crisp.
To that same skillet, add the onion and all those remaining spices and a whole can of tomato paste. Just like my pasta alla vodka, I like to cook the tomato paste together with the spices for a bit to really help intensify the flavors in the sauce.
Then just stir in the coconut milk, or if you don’t enjoy coconut milk, use cream. Either is truly delicious and just as creamy. But I love the subtle coconut flavor paired with these Indian spices, they’re delicious.
Allow the sauce to simmer and thicken, then just stir in a bit of butter and plenty of fresh chopped cilantro. And that’s it, super simple, so delicious.
As this cooks, the aroma in the kitchen is truly incredible. It’s just like your favorite Indian spot in town…but maybe just a touch better. I always find anything made at home to be even more delicious.
I like to serve my butter chicken over steamed rice with some fresh naan for scooping up the creamy, coconutty sauce. Absolutely DELICIOUS. You can’t skip the naan either. It’s reason enough to make a good butter chicken.
So how are the leftovers?
I swear they taste even better the following day. The flavors have time to mend and the sauce is just that more intense.
I can’t tell you how much I love this recipe and how much Creighton loved this recipe. I already know he’s looking forward to it for dinner tonight. This butter chicken is SO flavorful, SO full of color, and a nice switch up from the usual cheesy December pasta dishes I’m always sharing (don’t worry, they’ll be back soon). The best part, well aside from all the deliciousness, is that this requires only one pot and is ready in just about 30 minutes. Perfect for these crazy busy cold December days.
Looking for other Indian inspired dinners? Here are my favorites:
30 Minute Butter Chicken Meatballs
Super Simple Coconut Chicken Tikka Masala
Gingery Coconut Sweet Potato and Rice Stew with Chili Oil
Lastly, if you make this 30 Minute Spicy Indian Butter Chicken, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
30 Minute Spicy Coconut Butter Chicken
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 561 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Watch the How-To Reel
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-size chunks
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 6 cloves garlic, minced or grated
- 2 tablespoons fresh grated ginger
- 2 teaspoons plus 1 tablespoon garam masala
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1-2 teaspoons cayenne pepper, use to your taste
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 4 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped
- 1-2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes, use to your taste
- 1/2 cup tomato paste
- 1 (14 ounce) can full-fat coconut milk (or sub 1 cup cream)
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro roughly, chopped
- steamed rice and naan, for serving
Instructions
- 1. in a bowl, toss together the chicken, yogurt, 3 cloves garlic, 1 tablespoon ginger, 2 teaspoons garam masala, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1/2 teaspoon turmeric, 1/2 – 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, and 1 teaspoon salt. Let sit 5-10 minutes. 2. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and sear on both sides until browned, about 2 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon butter and toss to coat the chicken. Remove the chicken from the skillet to a plate. 3. To the skillet, add the onion and cook 5 minutes, until softened. Add 2 tablespoons butter, 3 cloves garlic, 1 tablespoon ginger, 1 tablespoon garam masala, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1/2 teaspoon turmeric, 1/2 – 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, and the chili flakes. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until very fragrant, about 5 minutes. Add the tomato paste and continue cooking another 3-4 minutes. 4. Reduce the heat to low. Add 1 cup water and the coconut milk. Stir to combine, bring the sauce to a simmer, cook 5 minutes or until the sauce thickens slightly. Stir in 1 tablespoon butter. If the sauce seems thick, thin with 1/2 to 1 cup additional coconut milk. Add the chicken and any juices on the pan and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the cilantro. Season with salt and pepper.5. Serve the chicken and sauce over bowls of rice with fresh naan. Enjoy!
This post was originally published on December 16, 2020
Delicious but go easy on the cayenne, made mine a bit too spicy!
Hey Meghan,
Thanks so much for trying the recipe. I am so glad you enjoyed! Sorry about the spice, next time you can reduce:) xTieghan
This was so amazing!! I think this will definitely be apart of the regular rotation. We are hunters and have a lot of mule deer and elk, do you think this recipe could work with that? If not, what other of your recipes would be good with game meat? Thanks again!!
Hey Alexandra,
Thanks so much for trying the recipe. I am so glad you enjoyed! Sorry I have never worked with deer or elk me so I can’t quite say for sure. xTieghan
Hello! About how many servings would you say this makes?
Hey Jackie,
This recipe makes 6 servings. I hope you love the recipe. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Just made this for dinner and all I can say is WOW. Delicious butter chicken, tastes amazing! Has just enough kick which really ties in the flavour together. Will definitely be making this again! Thank you
Hey Kelly,
Thanks so much for trying the recipe. I am so glad you enjoyed! xTieghan
Thanks for the recipe! This looks delicious! If I wanted to add some veggies what would you recommend that could hold up good in the sauce? Or would you just serve on the side of bowl? I can’t wait to try!
Hey Jenny,
I think cauliflower would work well! I hope you love the recipe. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
It is fantastic! So easy and so delicious, we looooved it!
Thanks so much Marija! xTieghan
Made this and it was amazing! I slightly burned the first few naan, but even my very picky husband had seconds! Thank you!
Hey Patty,
Thanks so much for trying the recipe. That is so great the recipe was enjoyed! Happy New Year! xTieghan
This looks and sounds amazing! I love to have a lot of vegetables with every meal. Would red bell peppers br a good addition? Any other vegetables you think would work well?
Hey Rachel,
Thanks so much! Totally, any veggies you want to add would be delicious! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy New Year! xTieghan
We have so many Indian restaurants in our area and I’ve always wondered how hard it would be to replicate this dish. After making it, I think we nailed it!! I’ve made this a few times now and find it a little spicy. I’m not against too much spice, but I am a bit sensitive to it. Do you have any recommendations on making this dish without any spice but keeping the same flavour? I’ve tried to use sugar but I find it doesn’t make much of a difference. Thanks again for sharing!!
Hey Amanda,
Thanks so much for trying the recipe. That is so great the recipe was enjoyed! To reduce the spice just lessen or reduce the chili flakes and cayenne. Happy New Year! xTieghan
I made this for dinner and it was incredible! So tasty! My 6 year old was very hesitant to try it but he loved it. It will definitely be a new favourite meal on rotation in our household! As always, thanks for sharing !
Hey Karen,
Thanks so much for trying the recipe. That is so great the recipe was enjoyed! Happy New Year! xTieghan
I started making this dish, subbing chicken for tofu and veggies, and then saw your comment to try your Indian Butter Cauliflower recipe. I had started marinating the tofu in yogurt, but continued with the other recipe after that. So so delicious and made the house smell amazing. Thank you again, my family was shocked that I had made a curry without pulling out the crockpot (your staple recipe in our house!
Hey Lori,
Thanks so much for trying the recipe. That is so great the recipe was enjoyed! Happy New Year! xTieghan
Unfortunately this was not a hit at my house. But I am enjoying your site very much.
Hey Rebekah,
So sorry your family did not enjoy the recipe, is there anything I can help with? Let me know! Happy New Year! xTieghan
My boyfriend said this was the best thing I’ve ever cooked! We both loved it.
Hey Emily,
Thanks so much for trying the recipe. That is so great the recipe was enjoyed! Happy New Year! xTieghan
Yum 🙂 just a question though. When you say coconut milk – is the full can of coconut milk plus the hardened part of the can all part of it?
Hey Shay,
Yes, that is correct, the whole can! I hope you love the recipe. Please let me know if you have any other questions! Happy New Year! xTieghan
What cook time would you suggest for making this in the Instant Pot?
Hey Dara,
I would do 8 minutes on high pressure. I hope you love the recipe. Please let me know if I can help in any other way! Happy New Year! xTieghan