The Most Flavorful Butter Chicken

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

A smoky and tangy tomato-based chicken curry with a rich buttery finish, perfect with naan or rice. This Indian recipe, ready in about 60 minutes, pairs chicken legs, onion, tomato for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 520 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.

Ingredients

• 500g, bone-in chicken legs
• 2 medium, diced onion
• 3 medium, chopped tomato
• 1 tbsp, grated ginger
• 3 cloves, minced garlic
• 1/2 tsp turmeric
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp coriander
• 1 tsp garam masala
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 50g butter
• 2 tbsp oil

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add 3 cloves garlic and 1 tbsp ginger, sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add 2 medium onions, stir until golden brown, about 5 minutes.
2. Step 2: Stir in 3 chopped tomatoes, 1/2 tsp turmeric, 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp coriander, and 1 tsp garam masala. Cook for 5 minutes until tomatoes break down and the mixture thickens.
3. Step 3: Add 500g chicken legs, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp pepper. Cook for 8 minutes until chicken is browned on all sides.
4. Step 4: Pour in 2 tbsp butter, stir until melted. Cook for 5 minutes until the sauce becomes glossy and the chicken is fully cooked.
5. Step 5: Serve with steamed basmati rice or naan, garnished with fresh cilantro.