This stove-top Healthy Butter Chicken Recipe is made with marinated chicken tossed in creamy buttery tomato curry sauce. Enjoyed over white rice and garnished with cilantro - it makes a great comfort food.
In a large bowl, combine cubed chicken with all the ingredients for the marinade. Cover and marinate for 30 minutes or overnight in the refrigerator if time allows.
In a large frying pan, heat 2 tablespoons butter and 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high heat. When oil sizzles, add chicken to the hot pan and cook in batches, making sure to not overcrowd. Cook chicken for about 3 minutes on each side just until it browns and releases. Set aside.
Reduce heat to medium-low. Add more butter to the pan if needed. Cook onions until they start to sweat (approximately 5 minutes). Scrape up any browned bits stuck on the bottom of the pan.
Add garlic and ginger and saute for about 1 minute or until fragrant.
Add garam masala, paprika, ground cumin, ground coriander, and cinnamon and toast over medium-low heat for about 30 seconds.
Add tomato paste, water or broth, bay leaves, and salt. Let simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally until sauce thickens.
Remove bay leaves. Using an immersion blender, carefully blend the sauce until smooth. Alternatively, you can blend in a blender.
Pour the pureed sauce back into the pan. Add the browned chicken with juices back into the pan and cook for 10 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and heavy cream. Simmer gently on low heat for 5 minutes.
Remove from heat, garnish with cilantro and serve over rice.
Notes
Approximately 30 minutes prior to cooking chicken, transfer the meat from the refrigerator and allow it to come to room temperature.
To increase nutrient profile: use pastured butter, raw cream, and broth (instead of water).
Leftover butter chicken can be stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
The information shown above is an estimate provided for your convenience by an online calculator. It should not be considered as a substitute for a professional nutritionist's advice. Please see our complete Nutritional Information Disclaimer.