Simple Baked Butter Chicken is one of those comforting dinners that feels a little special without being fussy. Tender pieces of chicken bake in a creamy, buttery tomato sauce that is gently spiced and full of rich flavor. It is the kind of meal that makes your kitchen smell amazing and has everyone asking when dinner will be ready.
For specifics on the recipe use the table of contents to click on sections of the recipe.
I love our version of Butter Chicken because the oven does most of the work. The chicken is quickly seared in a skillet to lock in the flavors of the butter chicken marinade. Then everything goes in the oven to bake. It is a great option for busy weeknights, but it also feels impressive enough for company when served with fluffy rice or warm naan.
Jump to:
- Why you'll love Easy Butter Chicken
- Ingredients to make Indian Inspired Butter Chicken
- Kitchen tools for the Best Butter Chicken
- How to make Easy Butter Chicken
- Make-ahead, storage, and freezer tips
- Eileen's Tips for the best Baked Butter Chicken
- Variations for Butter Chicken
- FAQs for the Best Butter Chicken Recipe
- Serving Suggestions
- More Chicken Recipes
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Why you'll love Easy Butter Chicken
- Baking Butter Chicken is less hands-on cooking.
- The sauce is rich, creamy, and packed with warm spices.
- Easy enough for a weeknight but special enough for guests.
- Perfect for meal prep, and leftovers taste even better.
Ingredients to make Indian Inspired Butter Chicken
- Boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts: Chicken thighs retain the juices, but chicken breasts will work.
- Plain yogurt: The yogurt will tenderize the chicken.
- Lemon juice: The juice adds acidity to complement the spices.
- Spices: Garam masala is a classic Indian spice that is a must for making this Butter Chicken Recipe. Ground Cumin and Turmeric add an earthy flavor. Chili powder adds spice.
- Aromatics: Fresh ginger, fresh garlic cloves, and yellow onions enhance the flavors.
- Unsalted Butter and Heavy Cream: Adds creaminess to the sauce
- Tomato Puree
- White Granulated Sugar and Salt: Enhance the flavors in the sauce.
- Heavy cream: Adds a creamy and silky texture to the sauce.
- Fresh cilantro: a garnish
Kitchen tools for the Best Butter Chicken
- Stainless steel mixing bowls
- Measuring spoons and cups
- Cutting board
- Knife
- Juicer
- Oven-proof skillet or baking dish
How to make Easy Butter Chicken
This is an overview of the recipe. The full instructions are below in the recipe card.
Marinade for Butter Chicken
- In a large bowl, combine the chicken, yogurt, lemon juice, garam masala, cumin, turmeric, chili powder, and salt. Cover, marinate for at least 30 minutes or overnight.
How to make Butter Chicken Sauce
- Melt the butter. Add onions and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring often, until soft and lightly golden.
- Stir in the garlic and ginger and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant. Add the diced tomato, sugar, chili powder, cumin, and garam masala.
- Simmer the sauce for 5 minutes.
- Add the marinated chicken pieces to the sauce.
- Pour in the heavy cream. Gently stir to combine. Cover the skillet with a lid or aluminum.
- Transfer to the preheated oven, bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
Make-ahead, storage, and freezer tips
Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Make Ahead: You can marinate the chicken up to 24 hours in advance and keep it refrigerated until ready to cook.
Freezing: Freeze the cooked chicken and sauce in freezer-safe containers for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Eileen's Tips for the best Baked Butter Chicken
- Chicken thighs are a bit easier to use than chicken breasts. They retain their juices and do not dry out as easy as chicken breasts.
- Marinating the chicken overnight gives the best flavor and tenderness.
- Bake the dish covered so the chicken stays moist.
- If the sauce thickens too much, add a splash of cream or milk when reheating.
- Adjust the chili powder to control the heat level.
Variations for Butter Chicken
Want to change up this recipe?
- Protein: Shrimp, tofu, or even turkey all make for delicious protein options for this recipe.
- Dairy-free: Swap heavy cream for coconut milk to make it dairy-free
- Flavor: Add a pinch of smoked paprika for a slightly smoky flavor
- Add-ins: Stir in cooked chickpeas for extra protein, or add fresh veggies like mushrooms or zucchini.
FAQs for the Best Butter Chicken Recipe
Yes, prepare the sauce in a regular pan and transfer everything to a baking dish before baking.
It is mildly spiced. You can reduce the chili powder for a milder dish or add more if you it it spicier.
Serving Suggestions
- Instant Pot Rice
- Greek Yogurt Flatbread
- Basmati Rice
- Naan Bread
- Roti
More Chicken Recipes
Love chicken? Don't miss these tasty recipes:
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Eileen xo
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card, you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
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Baked Butter Chicken
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Equipment Needed:
Ingredients
Butter Chicken Marinade
- 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs, cut into chunks
- 2 Tablespoons plain yogurt
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 ½ teaspoons garam masala
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Butter Chicken Sauce Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 large yellow onion (thinly sliced)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 Tablespoon fresh ginger (grated)
- 1 ½ cups tomato purée Note 1
- 1 teaspoon white granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon chili powder (adjust to taste)
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon garam masala
- ½ cup heavy cream
- fresh cilantro (optional garnish)
Instructions
How to marinate the Butter Chicken
- In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs, cut into chunks2 Tablespoons plain yogurt, 1 Tablespoon lemon juice, 1 ½ teaspoons garam masala, ½ teaspoon ground cumin, ¼ teaspoon turmeric, 1 teaspoon chili powder, and ½ teaspoon salt.
- Mix well, cover and marinate for at least 30 minutes (or overnight for best flavor).
How to make Butter Chicken Sauce
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). In a large ovenproof skillet or pan, melt 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter over medium heat. Sauté 1 large yellow onion (thinly sliced)until soft and golden, about 6–8 minutes.
- Add 3 cloves garlic (minced) and 1 Tablespoon fresh ginger (grated), saute for 1 minute. Stir in 1 ½ cups tomato purée, 1 teaspoon white granulated sugar, ½ teaspoon chili powder, ½ teaspoon ground cumin, and ½ teaspoon garam masala and simmer for 5 minutes.
Bake the Butter Chicken
- Nestle the marinated chicken pieces into the sauce. Pour in ½ cup heavy cream, stir gently, and cover with aluminum foil.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25–30 minutes until chicken is cooked through and the sauce is bubbly. The internal temperature of the chicken should read 165°F.
- Garnish with fresh cilantro (optional garnish) and serve hot with basmati rice or naan.
NOTES
Freezer Friendly: Freeze chicken and sauce separately for 2 months.
Reheat: Warm gently in a skillet over low heat; add a splash of cream or milk if sauce thickens too much.
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