--- title: "Butter Chicken Recipe, Indian Murgh Makhani" url: https://www.cookingandme.com/butter-chicken-masala-recipe-indian/ date: 2023-07-17 modified: 2023-07-17 lang: en author: "nags" description: "Butter Chicken Recipe: Butter Chicken is probably one of the most popular Indian chicken recipes liked by all for its mild flavour and deliciously rich gravy. I wouldn't be surprised if..." categories: - "Chicken Recipes" - "Most Popular" - "Punjabi Recipes" image: https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Butter-Chicken-Recipe-1-2-683x1024.jpg word_count: 906 --- # Butter Chicken Recipe, Indian Murgh Makhani **Butter Chicken Recipe:** Butter Chicken is probably one of the most popular Indian chicken recipes liked by all for its mild flavour and deliciously rich gravy. I wouldn't be surprised if this is the most popular dish in Indian restaurants and so, this is a restaurant-style Butter Chicken Recipe. [![butter chicken recipe, murgh makhani indian style](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Butter-Chicken-Recipe-1-2-683x1024.jpg)](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Butter-Chicken-Recipe-1-2.jpg) Indian food is normally associated with dishes like Butter Chicken, Chicken Tikka, 'Naan Bread', and Biryani. Having a good butter chicken recipe in your repertoire is not a bad idea, especially if you plan to entertain a mixed group of Indians and non-Indians and want a crowd-pleaser. Anyway, Butter Chicken is Indian, I do accept that. However, it has never been my first option while eating out – not now and not when I was growing up. I guess I always preferred spicier versions of chicken recipes like maybe [Pepper Chicken](https://www.cookingandme.com/2013/01/pepper-chicken-recipe-kerala-pepper-chicken-masala.html) or [Chilli Chicken](https://www.cookingandme.com/2011/04/dry-indian-chilli-chicken-indo-chinese.html). [![butter chicken recipe, murgh makhani](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Butter-Chicken-Recipe-1.jpg)](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Butter-Chicken-Recipe-1.jpg) However, there's really something very comforting about a good **Butter Chicken Recipe**. If cooked right, it pairs fabulously with some [naan made on tawa](https://www.cookingandme.com/2010/02/nan-on-tawa-or-tawa-naan-recipe-step-by.html), a [simple vegetable pulao](https://www.cookingandme.com/2013/03/vegetable-pulao-recipe-veg-pulao.html), or even plain rotis or chapatis. I have used cream in the gravy for this **Butter Chicken **but you can just as easily substitute that with some pureed cashew paste for a different flavour and if you are looking for a butter chicken recipe without cream. I made this for some friends who were coming over for dinner, and paired it with my vegetable pulao recipe. The basic gravy is adapted from my [Paneer Butter Masala Recipe](https://www.cookingandme.com/2009/10/paneer-butter-masala-restaurant-style.html). This is a restaurant-style Butter Chicken Masala Recipe - so enjoy! ## Butter Chicken Recipe ![](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Butter-Chicken-Recipe-1-2-150x150.jpg) Butter chicken is one of India's most popular chicken recipes, a mild curry with a tomato-onion-cream base and boneless chicken pieces cooked in it - 350 grams boneless, skinless chicken breast or thigh (cubed)- 1 cup onions (minced)- 3/4 cup tomato (pureed)- 1 tbsp canned tomato paste or sauce- 2-3 tbsp butter (or ghee)- 1 tsp minced garlic- 1 tsp minced ginger- 2 tsp coriander powder- 1/2 to 1 tsp chilli powder (use Kashmiri chilli powder for better colour and less heat)- 1 tsp of garam masala- 1 large pinch of kasuri methi / dried fenugreek leaves- 1 cup of milk- 3 tbsp of cream or pureed cashew paste (soak and grind cashew nuts if using that)- 1-2 tsp salt (adjust to taste)- 1/4 tsp of turmeric powder- 1 small bunch of coriander leaves / cilantro (for ganish) - Heat the butter in a pan and add the minced onions. Fry until golden brown- Add the ginger, garlic, coriander powder, chilli powder, turmeric, and salt. - Fry for a minute until fragrant - Add the pureed tomato and tomato paste and cook for 3-4 mins until the mixture bubbles uniformly- Add in the kasuri methi, milk, and the cubed chicken along with some salt - Cook covered for 8-10 mins until the chicken is soft. The chicken will let out more water, just check once or twice in between and give the curry a stir. Keep the heat on low - When the chicken is cooked soft, open the lid and cook for a further minute or two. If the gravy is too thick, add some water at this stage- When done, add the garam masala and the cream or cashew paste. Give it a good stir, but don't boil - Adjust salt, garnish with the coriander leaves, and remove from heat - Serve hot with tawa naan, vegetable pulao, or jeera rice - If you have extra time, marinate the chicken pieces in ginger, garlic, turmeric, and chilli powder and lightly pan fry it until half-cooked. Then proceed with the rest of the recipe for Butter Chicken above - Adjust all ingredients to your liking. I tend to add more ginger than the recipe states and find I like the extra heat - The tomato paste is an odd ingredient that you may not readily have in your pantry. But it's worth grabbing a can because it adds more sourness and colour to the finished curry - Add a minced green chilli for extra heat and a nice flavour - The kasuri methi or dried fenugreek leaves add a smoky dimension to the butter chicken. Try not to skip that. You can add kasuri methi to other Indian dishes to use it up, like [dal](https://www.cookingandme.com/masoor-dal-tadka-recipe-tadka-dal-with-masoor-dal/), paneer butter masala, etc ChickenIndianbutter chicken, murgh makhani ## Step by Step Images for Butter Chicken Recipe Heat butter in a pan and add the minced onion. I am using my all clad pan for this. Find similar here: [US](https://amzn.to/3DgnAl7) | [India](https://amzn.to/44EYmsA) [![butter chicken recipe murgh makhani](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_3309-576x1024.jpeg)](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_3309-scaled.jpeg) Fry until golden brown [![butter chicken recipe murgh makhani](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_3313-576x1024.jpeg)](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_3313-scaled.jpeg) Add minced ginger and garlic. Fry for a few seconds until fragrant. [![butter chicken recipe murgh makhani](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_3315-576x1024.jpeg)](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_3315-scaled.jpeg) Add turmeric powder, chilli powder, coriander powder, and some salt. Saute again. [![butter chicken recipe murgh makhani](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_3317-576x1024.jpeg)](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_3317-scaled.jpeg) Add tomato puree and tomato paste ([US](https://amzn.to/43rpHxi) | [India](https://amzn.to/3pPCTOy)). [![butter chicken recipe murgh makhani](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_3319-576x1024.jpeg)](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_3319-scaled.jpeg) Fry this mixture for 3-4 minutes until it starts to bubble. [![butter chicken recipe murgh makhani](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_3320-576x1024.jpeg)](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_3320-scaled.jpeg) Add milk to this [![butter chicken recipe murgh makhani](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_3322-576x1024.jpeg)](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_3322-scaled.jpeg) and kasuri methi or dried fenugreek leaves. Buy in [US](https://amzn.to/3DiTjlC) | [India](https://amzn.to/43uwXZ2). [![butter chicken recipe murgh makhani](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_3323-576x1024.jpeg)](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_3323-scaled.jpeg) and the chicken pieces [![butter chicken recipe murgh makhani](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_3325-576x1024.jpeg)](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_3325-scaled.jpeg) Mix everything well together [![butter chicken recipe murgh makhani](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_3326-576x1024.jpeg)](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_3326-scaled.jpeg) and cook covered until the chicken is cooked through : about 8-10 minutes [![butter chicken recipe murgh makhani](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_3328-576x1024.jpeg)](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_3328-scaled.jpeg) The chicken will let out some water while cooking. Keep stirring cook covered until the chicken is cooked through. If the gravy seems too thick, add 1/2 cup water and keep cooking [![butter chicken recipe murgh makhani](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_3333-576x1024.jpeg)](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_3333-scaled.jpeg) When the chicken is cooked, add the cream (or cashew paste) and stir well. Lower heat. [![butter chicken recipe murgh makhani](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_3334-576x1024.jpeg)](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_3334-scaled.jpeg) Add garam masala and cream [![butter chicken recipe murgh makhani](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_3336-576x1024.jpeg)](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_3336-scaled.jpeg) Give everything a good mix, adjust salt as needed and turn off the heat. Don't boil after adding cream and garam masala. [![butter chicken recipe murgh makhani](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/IMG_3337-2-576x1024.jpg)](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/IMG_3337-2-scaled.jpg) Serve butter chicken hot with [tawa naan](https://www.cookingandme.com/2010/02/nan-on-tawa-or-tawa-naan-recipe-step-by.html), [vegetable pulao](https://www.cookingandme.com/2013/03/vegetable-pulao-recipe-veg-pulao.html), or [jeera rice](https://www.cookingandme.com/2012/08/jeera-rice-cumin-rice-indian-rice-cooker-recipes.html). ![Butter Chicken Recipe, Indian Murgh Makhani ](https://www.cookingandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/8547016223_9e6e00730a_z1.jpg) This butter chicken recipe was updated with better images, adjusted quantities of ingredients and text.