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Almost effortless, One Pan Spicy Sesame Butter Chicken – incredibly delicious and nutritious comfort food. Indian-inspired butter chicken made with plenty of spice, creamy coconut milk, and even some sesame seeds for a unique little twist. Finish each bowl off with steamed rice, then serve with spicy chili butter. You’ll have the perfect dinner that can be enjoyed any night of the week. This meal is quickly made all in one dish. Then simply bake and serve, easy peasy!
Without a doubt, this is my favorite recipe I’ve been able to share in quite a while. It’s not that it’s anything incredibly creative or different. It’s more that I was able to take a recipe we all LOVE and make it in such a simple, almost effortless, way.
And the outcome is just as delicious (if not more so) than the traditional way of making butter chicken on the stovetop. I’m so happy to share this recipe with you all! I know this is going to be a staple for many of you!
Often, when my brothers are here in Colorado, they request recipes I’ve already shared with you all: tacos, ramen, and the very popular butter chicken.
I love making my brothers new recipes, but I also love making them their favorites too. So when the boys asked for butter chicken, I started thinking of a few ways to reinvent the recipe.
Unfortunately, I made a variation of this dish twice before calling it quits. So I put aside the idea for a sesame butter chicken and decided I was done with it. But after about a week, something gave me the idea to try baking the dish instead. To my surprise, the baked variation turned out INCREDIBLE. The flavors are perfect, the sauce is creamy, and what’s possibly even more exciting – it’s the easiest recipe!
The Details
Step 1: season the chicken
Start with the chicken. For this dish, I use boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Sometimes, I use chicken breasts, too, but since the chicken is baked, I didn’t want the breasts to dry out in the oven. Small chicken thighs work perfectly.
In a baking dish, toss the chicken with yogurt and add plenty of garlic and fresh ginger. Then, add all of the spices: garam masala, cumin, turmeric, and cayenne.
If time allows, you can marinate the chicken for 30 minutes or overnight. If you’re in a time crunch, just start cooking. I’ve now made this both ways, and there’s not a huge difference.
Step 2: everything else
Now, top the chicken with a chopped onion. Pour over a can of coconut milk, add the tomato paste, and mix it all together until you have a very creamy sauce. Make sure you season with salt too.
Add pats of cold butter over the chicken, then sprinkle the entire dish with sesame seeds.
Step 3: bake
And now you bake. In about 30 to 40 minutes, you’ll have perfectly cooked butter chicken in a very creamy, very delicious sauce.
All you have to add to this is steamed rice. Well, ideally some warm, buttery naan too. Oh, and fresh cilantro, can’t forget that! And if you’re up for going over the top, I did a quick chili butter using butter, chili flakes, and paprika. It makes the dish just a touch more special. We love the extra sauce and spice!
How are the leftovers?
They taste even better the following day. The flavors have time to mend, and the sauce is just that much more intense.
I can’t tell you how much I love this recipe. I’m already looking forward to remaking it for my parents and Asher now that they’re back. This dish is so flavorful, so full of color, and even though they’re small, the sesame seeds are such a nice addition. I really think you’ll love this!
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
30 Minute Spicy Indian Butter Chicken
Crockpot Creamy Coconut Chicken Tikka Masala
Lastly, if you make this One Pan Spicy Sesame 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!
Easy Baked Spicy Sesame Butter Chicken
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 529 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 small boneless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 6 cloves garlic, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh grated ginger
- 2 tablespoons garam masala
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1-2 teaspoons cayenne pepper, use to your taste
- salt and black pepper
- 4 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped
- 1 can (14 ounce) full-fat coconut milk
- 1/2 cup tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons cold, salted butter, sliced
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- steamed rice and naan, for serving
Chili Butter
- 3 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 teaspoons chili flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- 1. In a baking dish, toss together the chicken, yogurt, garlic, ginger, garam masala, cumin, turmeric, cayenne pepper, and 1 teaspoon salt. Let sit 5 minutes. 2. Preheat the oven to 400°.3. To the chicken, add the onion, then pour over the coconut milk. Add the tomato paste. Stir until creamy and well-mixed. Arrange the butter slices over the chicken. Sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake 30-40 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through. Top with cilantro. 4. Meanwhile, melt the butter, chili flakes, and paprika together. Cook until the butter is browning. Remove from the heat.5. Serve the chicken and sauce over bowls of rice with chili butter and naan. Enjoy!
This post was originally published on January 25, 2024
My god, I’m so glad I found your website! It took me forever to narrow down which recipe I wanted to try first (are you my recipe soulmate?!) and this spicy sesame chicken did not disappoint! First of all, it looks so fancy that I almost cannot believe how simple it was to make. Secondly, I can add this to my beloved list of recipes that are better the next day. It’s hard to get me excited about chicken breasts, but wow. You did it!
Lol thanks so much, Cat:) I appreciate you trying this recipe, I am so glad to hear it turned out well for you!
Why is butter listed twice in the ingredients in the chicken making part of the recipe. In the directions it appears to only be listed once. Thanks!
Hi Brooke,
So sorry for any confusion! You can add all of the butter in step 3.
Please let me know if you have any other questions!
My husband can’t eat onion or garlic and this adapts beautifully. He really misses good curries so this is perfect. Wonderfully creamy and spicy.
Hey Suzannah,
Thanks for the thoughtful feedback after trying this recipe, I’m happy to hear it was a win! Happy Sunday!
I’ve made this multiple times in the oven, and now make it in the crockpot, just dump it all and cook on high for a couple hours. If you only have smoked paprika, use that, it’s so delicious! I only ever use ground ginger, not fresh. I never add the cilantro, sesame seeds, or cayenne. Still spicy, especially if you pour the chili butter onto your plate.
Hey Rachel,
Fantastic!! Thanks a lot for making this recipe so often and your feedback, I’m so glad to hear it is always enjoyed! x
Unbelievable how good this is. Thank you!
Hey Anna,
Awesome! So glad to hear this recipe turned out well for you, thanks for giving it a try! xxT
This was so so tasty and so easy to put together. I love your recipes and I love that you have the metric function! I actually did a little dance after eating this 😂
Hey Abbey,
Happy Friday! Thanks a bunch for making this recipe and your comment, love to hear it was a winner! xxT
Has anyone tried a dairy-free sub for the yogurt?
Thanks!
Hi Laura,
A dairy free yogurt option will work nicely for you. I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xx
Soooo good! Perfect winter meal!
Hi Amy,
Love to hear this! Thanks so much for trying this dish and your comment! So glad it turned out well! xT
I love your recipes thank you. Just here to say that it’s been REALLY hard to navigate this page now because of the pop ups everywhere!
Hi Sarah,
Thanks so much for sharing your feedback and so very sorry for any frustrations regarding the site. xx
You mention butter twice for the chicken in the ingredients but only once in the directions. Or did I miss something? Please advise.
Hi there,
Sorry for any confusion! You can use all 6T of butter on top of the chicken in step 3. I hope you love this dish! xT
This was absolutely delicious and so easy to make. I used bone in thighs because that is what I had. Just removed the skin. Also used lite coconut milk… will be making again.
Hey Anna,
Wonderful!! Thank you so much for trying this recipe and your feedback, so glad it was enjoyed! Xx
My husband and I truly enjoyed this meal! I didn’t have gram masala, so I used coriander instead and only had low-fat coconut milk, but that didn’t hurt the flavor at all. The extra sauce added just the right hint of spice! I also appreciated how easy it was to pull this altogether. It is a favorite and will be added to my meal rotation!
Hey Peggy,
Awesome! Thank you so much for trying this recipe and your feedback, so glad to hear it turned out well for you! Xx
Way too spicy. I didn’t even put half of the cayenne pepper it called for.
Ohmygoodness!! This is one of my top 5 fav recipes! I made a couple small changes, mostly to how I mix everything together and only add a pinch of pepper but everyone loves it! My 1yr old, 2 year old and husband
Hey Deanna,
Happy Friday! Thanks a bunch for giving this recipe a try and your comment, love to hear that it turned out nicely for you! Xx
This recipe is delicious! I used 1/2 chicken thighs and 1/2 chicken breast. My husband said it was the best chicken I have made in two years. Haha. 🙂
Hey Michelle,
Thrilled to hear that you enjoyed this recipe, thanks a lot for making it and your comment:)
I made several modifications to the recipe to make it even healthier – no butter, nonfat milk instead of coconut milk, nonfat Greek yogurt, and added some diced veggies in addition to the onion. I know the result would not appeal to many, but it was a hit for our household! I love using your recipes as a base and omitting much of the fat. It works so well because your spice blends are so tasty! Thanks Tieghan!
Hey Renee,
Awesome! So glad to hear that you enjoyed this recipe, thanks so much for making it! xT
I like spicy food but this was over the top. I couldn’t eat it. I think if I make it again, I will leave out the butter and cayenne and top with chili crisp. Nice flavors but too much heat for us.
On another note, what has happened to this website? With the weird formatting that makes it difficult to read recipes and the many, many pop ups, it is a trial to follow a recipe.
I love your recipes but I have not used them as much lately due to these issues.
Thanks for sharing your feedback, Regina. So sorry this was so spicy!