Creamy Butter Chicken Recipe (Restaurant-Style, Rich & Comforting)

If you’re looking for a Creamy Butter Chicken Recipe that tastes like it came straight from a restaurant kitchen—but is easy enough to make at home—you’re in the right place. This dish is the definition of comfort food: tender marinated chicken, gently simmered in a velvety tomato-based sauce enriched with butter, cream, and warming spices. Every bite is smooth, luxurious, and deeply flavorful without being overly spicy.

Butter Chicken, also known as Murgh Makhani, is one of the most beloved Indian-inspired dishes around the world. Its global popularity comes from the perfect balance it strikes—rich but not heavy, spiced but not overpowering, indulgent yet incredibly approachable. This homemade Creamy Butter Chicken Recipe captures everything people love about the classic while using accessible ingredients and simple techniques that anyone can master.

Unlike rushed versions that rely on shortcuts, this recipe focuses on layered flavor: a yogurt-based marinade that tenderizes the chicken, spices bloomed gently in butter and ghee, and a slow simmer that transforms tomato sauce and cream into a silky, restaurant-quality gravy. The result is a dish that feels special enough for guests but comforting enough for a weeknight dinner.

Whether you serve it with warm naan, fluffy basmati rice, or even over cauliflower rice, this Creamy Butter Chicken Recipe is guaranteed to become a repeat favorite in your kitchen.

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Why This Creamy Butter Chicken Recipe Works So Well

This recipe stands out because it respects the fundamentals that make butter chicken exceptional while keeping the process practical for home cooks.

First, the marinade does the heavy lifting. Yogurt gently breaks down the chicken fibers, while garlic, ginger, and spices infuse flavor deep into every bite. Even a short 30-minute marinade makes a noticeable difference, but letting it rest longer creates next-level tenderness.

Second, the sauce is built in layers. Instead of dumping everything into the pan at once, spices are bloomed in fat, tomato sauce is simmered to concentrate flavor, and cream is added slowly to ensure a smooth, cohesive texture.

Finally, this Creamy Butter Chicken Recipe is incredibly forgiving. You can adjust spice levels, swap dairy for coconut milk, or scale it up for meal prep without sacrificing flavor or texture.

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What Is Butter Chicken?

Butter Chicken originated in North India and was traditionally made by simmering leftover tandoori chicken in a rich tomato-butter sauce. Over time, it evolved into a dish known for its luxurious texture and mild, warming spice profile rather than intense heat.

Modern home versions—like this Creamy Butter Chicken Recipe—focus on recreating that signature flavor using stovetop methods instead of a tandoor oven. Browning the marinated chicken adds depth, while the creamy tomato sauce delivers the signature “makhani” richness that defines the dish.

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Ingredients Overview and Why They Matter

This Creamy Butter Chicken Recipe uses simple ingredients, but each one plays an important role.

Chicken Marinade Ingredients

Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are ideal because they remain juicy and tender even after simmering. Greek yogurt forms the base of the marinade, helping tenderize the meat while carrying spices deep into the chicken.

Garlic and ginger provide aromatic warmth, while garam masala, turmeric, cumin, and chili powder create the signature butter chicken flavor profile. Salt ensures the chicken is seasoned all the way through before cooking even begins.

Sauce Ingredients

Butter and ghee provide richness and that unmistakable buttery aroma. Garlic and ginger reinforce the flavor base, while cumin, coriander, and garam masala add warmth and depth.

Tomato sauce forms the backbone of the gravy, giving it body and gentle acidity. Heavy cream balances the tomatoes and spices, creating the smooth, luxurious texture that defines a true Creamy Butter Chicken Recipe. Dried fenugreek leaves add a subtle, slightly sweet bitterness that makes the sauce taste unmistakably authentic.

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Step-by-Step: How to Make Creamy Butter Chicken

Step 1: Marinate the Chicken

Marinating is not optional if you want a truly great Creamy Butter Chicken Recipe. Combine yogurt, garlic, ginger, spices, and salt until smooth. Toss the chicken until every piece is fully coated.

Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. If time allows, marinating overnight dramatically improves flavor and texture, making the chicken almost melt-in-your-mouth tender.

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Step 2: Brown the Chicken

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Shake off excess marinade and add the chicken in batches. Browning creates flavor through caramelization, which adds complexity to the final sauce.

The chicken does not need to be fully cooked at this stage. Remove it once both sides are golden and set aside.

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Step 3: Build the Sauce

In the same skillet, melt butter or ghee over medium heat. Add garlic and ginger, cooking briefly until fragrant. Stir in spices and allow them to bloom for about 30 seconds—this step is crucial for unlocking their full flavor.

Pour in the tomato sauce and salt, scraping up any browned bits from the pan. Let the sauce simmer until slightly thickened and deeply aromatic.

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Step 4: Finish the Creamy Butter Chicken

Lower the heat and slowly stir in the cream, allowing it to blend smoothly into the tomato base. Add crushed fenugreek leaves for that signature butter chicken aroma.

Return the chicken and its juices to the pan and simmer gently until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce becomes thick, glossy, and deeply flavorful.

This is the moment when the dish transforms into a true Creamy Butter Chicken Recipe—rich, cohesive, and irresistibly comforting.

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Texture and Flavor: What to Expect

The sauce should be silky and spoon-coating, not watery or grainy. The chicken should be tender enough to cut with a spoon, infused with spice but mellowed by cream and butter.

Unlike aggressively spicy curries, this Creamy Butter Chicken Recipe emphasizes balance. Warm spices, gentle heat, rich dairy, and subtle acidity work together to create a flavor that’s bold yet approachable.

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Serving Suggestions

This dish pairs beautifully with:

• Steamed basmati rice for soaking up every drop of sauce

• Soft naan or garlic naan for scooping

• Jeera rice or coconut rice for added aroma

• Cauliflower rice for a lower-carb option

No matter how you serve it, the sauce is the star of this Creamy Butter Chicken Recipe, so choose a side that lets it shine.

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Variations and Customizations

One of the strengths of this Creamy Butter Chicken Recipe is how adaptable it is.

For a dairy-free version, substitute full-fat coconut milk for heavy cream and use oil instead of butter. The result is still rich and satisfying, with a subtle coconut undertone.

To make it milder, reduce or omit cayenne pepper. For extra heat, add additional chili powder or a pinch of Kashmiri chili.

You can also use chicken breast if preferred, but be careful not to overcook it. Thighs remain the best option for maximum juiciness.

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Storage and Reheating

Butter chicken stores exceptionally well, making it ideal for meal prep.

Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to four days. Reheat gently on the stovetop over low heat, adding a splash of cream or water if needed to loosen the sauce.

This Creamy Butter Chicken Recipe also freezes well. Freeze in portioned containers for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

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Nutrition Overview

While indulgent, this recipe is filling and satisfying, which often leads to smaller portions.

It provides a good balance of protein from the chicken and fats from butter and cream. Pairing it with rice or bread completes the meal, while serving it with vegetables or salad can help balance richness.

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

Skipping the marinade is the most common mistake. It’s essential for tenderness and depth of flavor.

Cooking over high heat after adding cream can cause separation. Always reduce heat before adding dairy.

Finally, under-seasoning the sauce can make the dish taste flat. Taste and adjust salt and spice levels before serving.

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Why This Creamy Butter Chicken Recipe Is Worth Making at Home

Restaurant butter chicken often comes with a high price tag, but making it at home gives you complete control over quality, spice level, and richness. This Creamy Butter Chicken Recipe proves that you don’t need special equipment or hard-to-find ingredients to achieve restaurant-quality results.

It’s comforting, impressive, and deeply satisfying—exactly what a great homemade meal should be.

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Final Thoughts

A truly great Creamy Butter Chicken Recipe is about balance—richness without heaviness, spice without burn, and comfort without complexity. This recipe delivers all of that and more. From the yogurt-marinated chicken to the silky, butter-enriched sauce, every step is designed to build flavor thoughtfully and intentionally.

What makes this dish special isn’t just how it tastes when it’s finished—it’s how reliable it is. You can make it for family dinners, meal prep it for the week, or serve it to guests with confidence knowing it will be a hit every time. It adapts beautifully to different dietary needs, reheats well, and somehow tastes even better the next day as the flavors continue to meld.

If you’ve ever been intimidated by Indian-inspired cooking, let this Creamy Butter Chicken Recipe be your starting point. It’s approachable, forgiving, and incredibly rewarding. Once you master it, you’ll find yourself returning to it again and again—not just because it’s easy, but because it delivers the kind of comfort and flavor that never gets old.