SpiceStory
🇮🇳  Indian Classic

Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani)

The pride of Delhi — tender tandoori-spiced chicken in a velvety, buttery tomato and cashew gravy, finished with cream.

⏱ 20 min prep🍳 30 min cook👥 4 servings⭐ Medium🔥 540 kcal
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Butter Chicken, or Murgh Makhani, is the crown jewel of Indian cuisine. Born in the 1950s in Delhi, this legendary dish marries tender, tandoori-spiced chicken with a rich, velvet-smooth tomato and cashew gravy, finished with a generous swirl of cream and butter. Savor the authentic restaurant taste in your own kitchen.

Prep Time
20 min
🍳
Cook Time
30 min
Total
50 min
👥
Servings
4 people
Difficulty
Medium
🌍
Cuisine
Indian

Ingredients

For the Marinade

  • 800g boneless chicken thighs, cubed
  • 150g thick Greek yogurt
  • 2 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
  • 1 tbsp Kashmiri chilli powder
  • 1 tsp each: turmeric, cumin, garam masala
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice & 1 tsp salt

For the Velvet Sauce

  • 50g butter (divided) & 1 tbsp oil
  • 1 large white onion, finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
  • 1 tsp each: cumin, coriander, garam masala
  • 1 tbsp Kashmiri chilli powder
  • 400g canned tomato puree
  • 50g cashew paste & 1 tbsp sugar
  • 100ml heavy cream & 1 tbsp kasuri methi
Spices

Step-by-Step Instructions

1

Marinate the Chicken

Whisk yogurt and spices. Add chicken and refrigerate for 4+ hours.

Step 1
2

Sear the Chicken

Sear chicken in batches until charred.

3

Build Sauce Base

Sauté onion and spices.

Step 3
4

Simmer Gravy

Add tomato and cashew paste. Simmer.

5

Finish with Cream

Add chicken and cream.

Step 5

👨‍🍳 Chef's Tips

  • Use chicken thighs for juiciness.

🥗 Nutrition Facts

Per Serving

540
Calories