Spicy Indian Butter Chicken

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-03-31 · Updated 2026-03-31

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 developed and reviewed.

Enjoy the rich and aromatic flavors of Indian cuisine with this creamy butter chicken, simmered in a spiced tomato sauce and served with rice or naan. This Indian recipe, ready in about 75 minutes, pairs chicken thighs, tomato puree, onion 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: 35 min Cook: 40 min Serves 4 Indian cuisine 500 cal/serving

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Ingredients

1.5 lbs, boneless chicken thighs
1 cup tomato puree
1 medium, diced onion
3 cloves, minced garlic
1 tbsp, grated ginger
1 tsp garam masala
1 tsp chili powder
2 tbsp butter
1/2 cup yogurt
1/2 cup cream
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 diced onion and 3 minced garlic cloves, sauté for 3-4 minutes until golden. Stir in 1 tbsp grated ginger and cook for 1 minute.
Step 2: Add 1.5 lbs chicken thighs and cook for 5-7 minutes until browned. Add 1 cup tomato puree, 1 tsp garam masala, 1 tsp chili powder, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Simmer for 25-30 minutes until chicken is tender.
Step 3: In a separate bowl, mix 1/2 cup yogurt and 1/2 cup cream. Stir into the skillet and cook for 5 minutes until sauce thickens. Garnish with additional garam masala and serve with rice or naan.