Creamy, comforting, and laced with bold Indian spices, Easy Indian Butter Chicken is your new weeknight go-to. With tender chunks of chicken simmered in a velvety tomato-butter sauce, it brings restaurant-style flavor straight to your kitchen—minus the complicated steps.

Perfectly paired with fluffy basmati rice or warm naan bread, this dish offers that rich, spiced aroma that makes your kitchen smell irresistible. Whether you’re cooking for your family or meal prepping for the week, it’s hard to beat the simplicity and satisfaction of this butter chicken.

Why You’ll Love This Easy Indian Butter Chicken

This recipe checks all the boxes: it’s quick to make, family-friendly, packed with flavor, and completely comforting. The buttery tomato sauce is spiced just right—not too hot, not too mild—making it perfect for spice lovers and newcomers alike. Plus, it’s naturally gluten-free and easy to scale up or down depending on your needs.

Can I Use Store-Bought Sauce or Should I Make My Own?

Homemade sauce wins every time. While there are decent jarred options, making your own gives you full control over the spice level, creaminess, and freshness. Plus, it only takes about 10 extra minutes—totally worth it for the flavor payoff.

Ingredients for the Easy Indian Butter Chicken

Every ingredient in this butter chicken adds depth, creaminess, or warmth. Here’s what you need and why:

Chicken thighs or breasts: Boneless, skinless cuts soak up the sauce best and stay juicy.
Greek yogurt: Used in the marinade to tenderize the chicken and add tang.
Garam masala: This aromatic spice blend sets the flavor foundation.
Ground cumin & coriander: Add earthy depth.
Paprika: For a mild, smoky kick and a rich color.
Fresh ginger and garlic: Essential for building bold flavor.
Tomato puree: Creates the body of the sauce.
Heavy cream: Swirled in for richness and that signature buttery texture.
Butter: It wouldn’t be butter chicken without it!
Salt & pepper: To balance all the spices.
Fresh cilantro: For a bright finishing touch.

How To Make the Easy Indian Butter Chicken

Step 1: Marinate the Chicken

Combine Greek yogurt, garam masala, cumin, coriander, paprika, minced garlic, and grated ginger in a bowl. Add chicken and let marinate for at least 30 minutes (overnight is even better).

Step 2: Sear the Chicken

In a large skillet or Dutch oven, heat a bit of oil and sear the marinated chicken until golden on both sides. Remove from pan and set aside.

Step 3: Build the Sauce

In the same pan, add butter, garlic, ginger, and tomato puree. Simmer until slightly thickened and fragrant, about 10 minutes.

Step 4: Combine and Simmer

Return chicken to the sauce, add heavy cream, and simmer everything together until the chicken is fully cooked and the sauce is luscious.

Step 5: Garnish and Serve

Sprinkle fresh cilantro on top and serve hot with rice or naan.

How to Serve and Store Easy Indian Butter Chicken

This recipe serves about 4 hungry people. It stores well too, making it ideal for meal prep.

To serve, spoon it generously over basmati rice or scoop it up with naan bread. For storage, let it cool completely, then transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. It also freezes beautifully for up to 2 months.