A practical chicken recipe with ingredients, method, timing, storage notes, and quick answers before you cook.
Lila Park
Prep: 15 min. Cook: 30 min. Serves: 4.
Butter chicken is built for practical home cooking: clear ingredients, a straightforward method, and enough flexibility to fit a normal weeknight or weekend meal.
chicken, butter, tomato sauce, cream, and garam masala
1 tbsp oil
1 onion
3 cloves garlic
1 tbsp curry powder or paste
1 can coconut milk or tomatoes
1 cup broth
salt
lime juice
rice for serving
Cook onion in oil until soft. Add garlic and curry powder or paste and stir until fragrant.
Add chicken, butter, tomato sauce, cream, and garam masala, coconut milk or tomatoes, broth, and salt. Simmer until the sauce thickens and the filling is tender.
Finish butter chicken with lime juice and serve over rice.
Bloom curry spices in oil before adding liquid for better flavor.
Lime juice at the end keeps the curry bright.
Taste before serving and adjust with salt, pepper, citrus, herbs, or sauce depending on the dish.
Refrigerate up to 4 days.
Freeze up to 3 months, though coconut sauces may separate slightly.
Use mild curry powder or paste and add heat at the table.
Yes, but the sauce will be thinner and less rich.
Rice, naan, flatbread, or roasted vegetables all work.
Butter chicken takes about 15 min prep + 30 min cook, not counting optional resting or chilling time.
