Description
This simple butter chicken recipe features a luxurious Saffron Cream Swirl, offering restaurant-quality taste without the fuss. It is a family-friendly main course perfect for busy weeknights and health-minded cooks.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces (or breast)
- 1 28-oz can crushed or diced tomatoes
- 0.375 cup unsalted butter
- 0.5 cup heavy cream
- 1 Tbsp grated fresh ginger
- 4 cloves minced garlic
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 tsp garam masala
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 0.75 tsp chili powder (or Kashmiri chili powder for color)
- 1 pinch saffron threads
- 0.5 cup low-sodium chicken broth (or water)
- 0.25 cup plain Greek yogurt, for marinade (optional)
- 0.5 tsp salt
Instructions
- Prep Chicken: Dice chicken into 1-inch pieces. In a bowl, toss chicken with 2 Tbsp plain yogurt, 0.5 tsp salt, and 0.5 tsp garam masala. Let it sit while you prep other ingredients; even a brief marinade adds tenderness.
- Sauté Aromatics: In a large, heavy-bottomed 10-inch skillet or Dutch oven, melt 2 Tbsp butter over medium heat until shimmering. Add 1 small chopped onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in the grated ginger and minced garlic, cooking for another minute until fragrant.
- Build Main Sauce: Add the remaining garam masala, turmeric, cumin, and chili powder to the pan, stirring for 30 seconds until fragrant and (bloomed). Pour in the crushed tomatoes and chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat and cook, uncovered, for about 10 minutes until the sauce slightly thickens and deepens in color. (If the sauce appears too thick, splash in 1-2 tablespoons of water or broth. For a super smooth sauce, carefully blend it with an immersion blender now.)
- Cook Chicken: Stir the marinated chicken pieces into the simmering sauce. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through and tender. This usually takes 8-10 minutes; avoid overcooking, as the chicken can become tough and dry.
- Finish And Swirl: Remove the pan from heat. Stir in the remaining 2 Tbsp butter and the 0.5 cup heavy cream until fully incorporated and the sauce looks glossy. For the show-stopping Saffron Cream Swirl: warm 2 Tbsp of cream separately (microwave for 15 seconds), add the saffron threads, and let steep for a minute. Gently drizzle and swirl this saffron-infused cream into the finished simple butter chicken recipe just before serving.
Notes
Adjust chili powder to your preferred heat level and avoid overcooking chicken. For a smoother sauce, blend it with an immersion blender. Thicken if needed with water or broth. For a delicious vegetarian option, swap chicken for paneer or chickpeas. For a lighter dish, use Greek yogurt or cashew cream instead of heavy cream.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Indian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.25 cups (approx. 250 g)
- Calories: 550 calories
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg
Keywords: simple butter chicken, saffron cream, weeknight meal, Indian, easy, creamy, chicken, family-friendly, budget, healthy