This Easy-to-Follow Butter Chicken Recipe Is A Game-Changer

Experience the perfect balance of creamy, spiced flavors with this simple butter chicken recipe that anyone can master

Contributed By

Nishtha Kawrani

May 15, 2025

Butter Chicken

Butter Chicken

Chef Balvinder Pal Singh Lubana comes with over 15 years of richly layered experience in the hospitality industry. With his roots in Lucknow, he says he discovered his love and passion for cooking at a very young age, aka in his mother’s kitchen. Today, he is well known for his ability to assemble dishes, plate-finishing touches and exquisite creations. Currently, he heads the kitchen brigade of the Goa Marriott Resort and Spa. When not donning his chef’s coat, he loves to spend time with his family cooking delicacies, watching movies and travelling. He shares two of his favourite recipes with us.

“In my version of butter chicken, we are very particular about the tomatoes we use to make our makhani gravy. We make sure that the tomatoes are fresh, luscious and properly matured. While finishing the gravy, we add just the right amount of smoke flavour, which will always leave you wanting more.”

Butter Chicken Recipe

Quick Info
Prep Time 240 min
Cook Time 90 min
Total Time 330 min
Servings 4
Difficulty easy
Ingredients
  • Full fat, hung,plain yogurt - 0.5 cup
  • Lemon juice - 1 tbsp
  • Kashniri chilli paste - 1 tbsp
  • Black salt - 1 tsp
  • Garam masala - 1 tsp
  • Roasted cumin - 1 tsp
  • Ginger garlic paste - 1 tbsp
  • Chicken thigh (without skin) - 750 g
  • Mustard oil - 50 ml
  • Ghee - 2 tbsp
  • Green cardamom - 4 piece
  • Bay life - 2 piece
  • Fresh Tomato - 1 kg
  • Cashew - 50 g
  • Fresh cream - 1 cup
  • Honey - 1 tbsp
  • Salt - 1.25 tsp
  • Kashmiri chilli paste - 1 tsp
  • Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp
Instructions
Step-1
To make the makhni gravy, take a thick bottom pan and add ghee, green cardamom and bay leaf.
Step-2
Add fresh tomato and sauté them till they release their own water.
Step-3
Once they release their own water, cover pot with lid and cook till tomato is soft and loses raw smell.
Step-4
Once tomatoes are completely cooked, strain and make a puree.
Step-5
Take a fresh thick bottom pot and add 2 tbsp ghee, ginger-garlic paste, Kashmiri chili paste (the authentic one, not the dark red version) and cook for 5 minutes.
Step-6
Add tomato puree and cook for 30 minutes on a slow fire.
Step-7
Take a live charcoal and put in a steel bowl and smoke makhani gravy with ghee and fenugreek leaves.
Step-8
Add salt and honey to balance the sweet and sour taste of tomato.
Step-9
To prepare the chicken tikka, make a paste like marinate with all the ingredients and marinate chicken thigh (without skin).
Step-10
Keep the marinated chicken for 4 hours to absorb the flavour.
Step-11
Cook chicken tikka in a charcoal tandoor. You can cook chicken on skillet as well.
Step-12
Take butter in pan, add ginger juliennes, slit green chili and chicken tikka and sauté them for 2 minutes.
Step-13
Add makhani gravy and simmer for 8-10 minutes.
Step-14
Finish with fresh cream, butter and fenugreek powder.
Step-15
Garnish with coriander leaves.
Recipe
Prep Time 240 min
Cook Time 90 min
Total Time 330 min
Servings 4
Difficulty easy
Ingredients
  • Full fat, hung,plain yogurt - 0.5 cup
  • Lemon juice - 1 tbsp
  • Kashniri chilli paste - 1 tbsp
  • Black salt - 1 tsp
  • Garam masala - 1 tsp
  • Roasted cumin - 1 tsp
  • Ginger garlic paste - 1 tbsp
  • Chicken thigh (without skin) - 750 g
  • Mustard oil - 50 ml
  • Ghee - 2 tbsp
  • Green cardamom - 4 piece
  • Bay life - 2 piece
  • Fresh Tomato - 1 kg
  • Cashew - 50 g
  • Fresh cream - 1 cup
  • Honey - 1 tbsp
  • Salt - 1.25 tsp
  • Kashmiri chilli paste - 1 tsp
  • Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp
Instructions
Step-1
To make the makhni gravy, take a thick bottom pan and add ghee, green cardamom and bay leaf.
Step-2
Add fresh tomato and sauté them till they release their own water.
Step-3
Once they release their own water, cover pot with lid and cook till tomato is soft and loses raw smell.
Step-4
Once tomatoes are completely cooked, strain and make a puree.
Step-5
Take a fresh thick bottom pot and add 2 tbsp ghee, ginger-garlic paste, Kashmiri chili paste (the authentic one, not the dark red version) and cook for 5 minutes.
Step-6
Add tomato puree and cook for 30 minutes on a slow fire.
Step-7
Take a live charcoal and put in a steel bowl and smoke makhani gravy with ghee and fenugreek leaves.
Step-8
Add salt and honey to balance the sweet and sour taste of tomato.
Step-9
To prepare the chicken tikka, make a paste like marinate with all the ingredients and marinate chicken thigh (without skin).
Step-10
Keep the marinated chicken for 4 hours to absorb the flavour.
Step-11
Cook chicken tikka in a charcoal tandoor. You can cook chicken on skillet as well.
Step-12
Take butter in pan, add ginger juliennes, slit green chili and chicken tikka and sauté them for 2 minutes.
Step-13
Add makhani gravy and simmer for 8-10 minutes.
Step-14
Finish with fresh cream, butter and fenugreek powder.
Step-15
Garnish with coriander leaves.
Note:
  • Double the ingredients when cooking for more people to ensure everyone gets a fluffy stack.
  • Swap out eggs for mashed bananas, yogurt, or flaxseed mix if you're vegetarian or allergic to eggs.
  • Use buttermilk instead of regular milk for extra soft and airy pancakes.
  • Let the batter rest for 5-10 minutes before cooking to get fluffier pancakes.
  • Cook on medium-low heat to avoid burning while ensuring even cooking.
  • Add vanilla extract or cinnamon for an extra touch of flavor.
  • Top with fresh fruits, nuts, or honey for a delicious and healthy twist.
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