Easy One Pan Butter Chicken
Craving butter chicken but don’t want the hassle? This one-pan butter chicken recipe is perfect for busy weeknights or beginner cooks. Juicy chicken is marinated with yogurt, garlic, ginger, turmeric, paprika, and garam masala, then seared and simmered in a rich, creamy tomato-based sauce—all in one pan!
This easy homemade butter chicken is full of bold Indian flavors, made with simple ingredients you already have in your pantry. No fancy equipment, no oven—just one pan and 30 minutes!
Perfect for:
✔️ Weeknight dinners
✔️ Beginners
✔️ Quick family meals
✔️ Indian curry lovers
INGREDIENTS:
Main Ingredients
Chicken breast - 500g
Salt - 1.5 tbsp
Paprika - 2 tbsp
Turmeric - 1 tsp
Garam Masala - 1.5 tbsp
Garlic - 1 tbsp
Ginger - 1 tbsp
Yogurt - 1 tbsp
Tomatoes - 1 medium size
Onions - 1 medium size
Cooking oil - 1 tbsp
Water – 1/2 cup
Cream - 3/4 cup
Butter - 4 tbsp
Coriander - 20g
What is Butter chicken? - Butter Chicken is a rich and creamy Indian curry made with marinated chicken simmered in a spiced tomato and butter sauce. It's full of flavor, mildly spiced, and pairs perfectly with rice or naan. A classic comfort dish that's easy to make at home!
Marinating the chicken
Pan searing the chicken
Sautéing the tomatoes and onions
Blending to make the sauce smooth
Melting some butter
Adding cream
Adding Chicken
Ready to serve
COOKING INSTRUCTIONS
PREPARING THE INGREIDNETS
Roughly dice one tomato and one onion
Chop 20g of coriander
Grate about 1 tablespoon each of ginger and garlic
PREPARING THE CHICKEN
Cut 500g of chicken breast into bite-sized pieces. Marinate with 1 tablespoon salt, 1 tablespoon paprika or Kashmiri chili powder, ½ teaspoon turmeric, 1 tablespoon garam masala, ½ tablespoon grated garlic, ½ tablespoon grated ginger, and 1 tablespoon plain yogurt. Mix well until the chicken is evenly coated, then let is sit for about 15-20 minutes.
Heat a pan over high heat and brush it with a little cooking oil. Sear the chicken for 1–2 minutes, just until it develops some color and flavor. Do this in two batches to avoid overcrowding the pan. Once done, set the chicken aside.
MAKING THE CURRY BASE
In the same pan, add about ½ tablespoon of cooking oil. Sauté the onions for 1 minute, then add ½ tablespoon each of grated garlic and ginger. Cook for another 1–2 minutes, then add the diced tomato and continue to sauté for 1–2 more minutes.
Next, add the spices: 1 tablespoon of paprika, ½ teaspoon turmeric, ½ tablespoon salt, and ½ tablespoon garam masala. Cook everything on low heat for 3–4 minutes, stirring often so the spices don’t burn, until the mixture is soft and fragrant.
Transfer the mixture to a blender, add ½ cup of water, and blend until smooth.
BRINING IT ALL TOGETHER
In the same pan, melt 4 tablespoons of butter over low heat. Pour in the blended sauce and gently bring it to a simmer. Add 2 tablespoons of tomato paste and ½ cup of heavy cream. Stir well and let it simmer for 1–2 minutes to develop the flavor.
Taste the sauce and adjust as needed by balancing with more salt, cream, or tomato paste.
Once the flavor is just right, return the chicken to the pan and let it simmer for another 1–2 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked.
Finish with a sprinkle of fresh coriander — and it’s ready to serve!
Please watch the full video on Youtube for detailed instructions - Easy one-pan butter chicken! 30-minute beginners recipe - YouTube
