This quick and easy Butter Chicken recipe is cosy, creamy, and exactly the kind of dinner you’ll want to make on repeat. Tender pieces of chicken are simmered in a lightly spiced tomato and coconut milk sauce that’s rich without being heavy, deeply comforting, and simple enough for a weeknight.
While traditional butter chicken leans on lots of butter, cream, and time, this version is streamlined for real life. Coconut milk creates that signature creaminess, the spice blend stays warm and balanced, and the whole dish comes together quickly (in just 30 minutes!) without sacrificing flavour. It’s familiar comfort food, but made easy.
Butter Chicken Ingredients
This creamy butter chicken curry relies on simple, everyday ingredients that work together to create big flavour.
- Chicken breast – Lean, tender, and quick-cooking; boneless thighs work well for extra juiciness.
- Onions, garlic & ginger – A classic aromatic base that adds warmth and depth.
- Tomato paste – Provides concentrated tomato flavour and a smooth, velvety sauce.
- Coconut milk – Adds gentle creaminess and balances the spices; my preferred alternative to dairy.
- Ground spices – Garam masala, cumin, coriander, turmeric, and cayenne for mild, warming heat.
- Coconut oil & flour – For sautéing and lightly thickening the sauce.
- Lemon juice & fresh coriander – To brighten and finish the dish.
How to Make My Quick and Easy Butter Chicken
This homemade butter chicken is all about ease and comfort, without cutting corners on flavour. With just a few straightforward steps, you’re moments away from a cosy, restaurant-worthy curry at home.
1) Start with the flavour base.
In a large pan, sauté the onions in coconut oil until soft and lightly golden, then add the garlic and ginger. Once everything smells fragrant and inviting, stir in the flour to give the sauce a gentle richness.
2) Make it creamy and spiced.
Add the tomato paste, coconut milk, and warm spices, stirring until smooth. Let the sauce simmer briefly until it’s velvety, aromatic, and full of flavour.
3) Add the chicken and finish strong.
Tuck the chicken into the sauce and cook gently until tender and juicy. Finish with a squeeze of lemon and a scatter of fresh cilantro, then taste and tweak until it’s perfect. Then get ready and dig in!
Get the exact ingredient quantities in the printable recipe card below.
Why You’ll Love This Simple Homemade Butter Chicken Recipe
- Weeknight-friendly – Ready in just 30 minutes with minimal prep.
- Creamy without cream – Coconut milk keeps it dairy-free yet luxuriously rich.
- Mild but flavourful – Perfect for families while still deeply satisfying.
- Great for leftovers – Tastes even better the next day as the flavours develop.
- Flexible and forgiving – Easy to adapt with different proteins or spice levels.
If this quick and easy butter chicken is your kind of comfort food, you’ll find plenty of other Indian-inspired curries on my blog that are just as satisfying and full of flavour:
- Indian Eggplant Curry – A deeply spiced, vegetable-forward curry that’s rich, warming, and perfect for aubergine lovers.
- Garam Masala Curry – Fragrant and aromatic, made with tender turkey breast and spinach for a lighter yet satisfying twist.
- Butter Cauliflower Curry – A creamy, plant-based take on the classic butter-style curry.
- Pumpkin and Red Lentil Curry – Nourishing, gently spiced, and ideal for cosy, meat-free meals.
- Lamb Curry – Hearty and slow-simmered, packed with protein and traditional depth of flavour.
Easy Butter Chicken
This easy butter chicken is a creamy, mild Indian-Style chicken curry made with coconut milk, warm spices, and tender chicken breast. Quick to make, family-friendly, and perfect for weeknight dinners or meal prep.
I’d love your feedback – just click on the stars to rate this recipe! ⭐
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon virgin coconut oil
- 2 small yellow onions, finely diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, peeled and grated
- 2 tablespoons plain flour
- 1 x 140 g can tomato paste
- 1 x 400 g can coconut milk (full-fat)
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 800 g boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces (about 5 cm)
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice, to taste
To serve (optional):
- Steamed basmati rice
- Steamed spinach
- Fresh cilantro leaves
- Naan or roti
Method
-
Sauté the aromatics: Heat the coconut oil in a large, deep skillet (or wok) over medium heat. Add the diced onions and garlic; cook for 3–5 minutes until onons soft and translucent. Add the ginger and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Sprinkle in the flour and stir well to coat the onions.
-
Add liquids and spices: Stir in the tomato paste, coconut milk and spices (garam masala, coriander, cumin, turmeric, cayenne, salt, and black pepper). Simmer gently for 1–2 minutes, stirring, until the sauce thickens slightly and is smooth.
-
Cook the chicken: Add the raw chicken pieces and stir to incorporate them into the sauce. Bring to a gentle simmer, reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for about 10 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.
-
Finish and serve: Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt, spice, or a squeeze of lemon juice as needed. Serve hot over steamed basmati rice and garnish with fresh cilantro. Naan and some simple steamed spinach are great on the side. Enjoy!
Notes
- For an easy boost of greens, serve this butter chicken with lightly steamed spinach on the side, or stir a handful of baby spinach directly into the sauce right at the end. The residual heat will wilt it perfectly, adding extra nutrients without changing the flavour.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave until heated through.
For a relaxing atmosphere in the kitchen I recommend my personal Elle Republic: Chilled Out Kitchen Tunes Playlist on Spotify.
Did you try this Quick & Easy Butter Chicken recipe?
Did you try this Quick & Easy Butter Chicken recipe?Then tag @ellerepublic on Instagram and hashtag it #ellerepublic
How did you like it?
Please let me know how this Butter Chicken recipe turned out for you! I would love to hear how you liked it. Simply rate it with the stars above ⭐or leave me a comment and rate it below.
Did you make any changes to this recipe?
If you have tips for other readers, let me know! It helps me and other readers so much. Sharing is Caring :-).
This post contains affiliate links. If you decide to make a purchase through my link, Amazon will pay me a commission for it.
