Real Indian Butter Chicken

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-03-30 · Updated 2026-03-30

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

A creamy, aromatic tomato-based curry simmered with butter, spices, and tender chicken for a richly authentic Indian dish. This Indian-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 55 minutes, pairs chicken thighs, onion, tomato puree for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 500 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 20 min Cook: 35 min Serves 4 Indian cuisine 500 cal/serving

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Ingredients

1.5 lbs, boneless chicken thighs
1, diced onion
1 cup tomato puree
2 tbsp ghee
3 cloves, minced garlic
1 tbsp, grated ginger
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 cup cream
1 tsp salt

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Instructions

Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp ghee in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and 1 tbsp grated ginger. Sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
Step 2: Add 1 diced onion and cook for 5 minutes until golden. Stir in 1 cup tomato puree, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp ground coriander, 1/2 tsp turmeric, and 1/2 tsp chili powder. Cook for 10 minutes until the mixture thickens.
Step 3: Add 1.5 lbs boneless chicken thighs to the skillet. Cook for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is lightly browned.
Step 4: Pour in 1 tsp salt and 1/2 cup cream. Stir to coat the chicken, then simmer for 15 minutes until the chicken is tender and the sauce is creamy.
Step 5: Serve the chicken with 1/2 cup of the sauce, garnished with fresh cilantro and a sprinkle of chili powder for authenticity.