The Most Flavorful Butter Chicken
A smoky and tangy tomato-based chicken curry with a rich buttery finish, perfect with naan or rice. This indian-inspired indian ready in about 60 minutes pairs bone-in chicken legs, medium, diced onion, medium, chopped 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
Instructions
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Step 5: Serve with steamed basmati rice or naan, garnished with fresh cilantro.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does The Most Flavorful Butter Chicken take to make?
Total time is about 60 minutes (20 min prep + 40 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover The Most Flavorful Butter Chicken?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep bone-in chicken legs from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in The Most Flavorful Butter Chicken?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale The Most Flavorful Butter Chicken for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with The Most Flavorful Butter Chicken?
Indian indian like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
Made with what I had on hand and it still came out great.
- ★★★★☆
Solid recipe. Not groundbreaking but definitely making it again.
- ★★★★☆
Nice recipe! Presentation was beautiful. Flavor was good, not great.
