Butter chicken with garlic naan and basmati rice at SPICE ROOM Denver
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A rich bowl of our authentic butter chicken recipe, a creamy tomato-based Indian curry with tender chicken | SPICE ROOM Denver
butter chicken
chicken curry
Indian classics
creamy curry
Denver favorite
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Authentic Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani)

ByCulinary TeamLast updated

Learn to make restaurant-quality butter chicken at home with our authentic recipe featuring tender chicken in a rich, creamy tomato sauce.

Medium
Prep: 30 minsCook: 45 minsServes: 4-6

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs boneless chicken thighs, cubed
  • 1 cup plain yogurt
  • 2 tbsp garam masala
  • 1 tbsp turmeric powder
  • 1 tbsp red chili powder
  • 4 tbsp butter
  • 1 large onion, finely diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 inch ginger, grated
  • 2 cups tomato puree
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2 tbsp kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves)
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • to taste salt

Instructions

  1. 1

    Combine yogurt, garam masala, turmeric, and chili powder in a bowl. Add chicken pieces and marinate for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight.

  2. 2

    Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add marinated chicken and cook until browned on all sides. Remove and set aside.

  3. 3

    In the same pan, add remaining butter. Sauté onions until golden brown, about 8-10 minutes.

  4. 4

    Add garlic and ginger, cook for 2 minutes until fragrant.

  5. 5

    Pour in tomato puree and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

  6. 6

    Add the cooked chicken back to the pan. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

  7. 7

    Stir in heavy cream, kasuri methi, and sugar. Simmer for another 5 minutes.

  8. 8

    Season with salt to taste. Serve hot with basmati rice or naan bread.

Chef's Notes

Butter chicken, or Murgh Makhani, is one of India’s most beloved dishes. This recipe comes straight from our kitchen at Spice Room, where we’ve perfected the balance of spices and creaminess over the years.

Pro tip: Marinating the chicken overnight makes a huge difference in flavor and tenderness. Don’t skip this step if you want authentic results!

SPICE ROOM Kitchen, Culinary Team at SPICE ROOM Denver

SPICE ROOM Kitchen

Culinary Team

The SPICE ROOM culinary team collaborates on recipes inspired by generations of family cooking traditions from across India and Nepal. Every recipe we share is tested and refined in our Denver kitchens to bring you authentic flavors at home.

Indian Cuisine
Himalayan Cuisine
Home Cooking

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Authentic Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani)

Authentic Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani)

Prep: 30 mins · Cook: 45 mins · Serves: 4-6

Key ingredients: 2 lbs boneless chicken thighs, cubed, 1 cup plain yogurt, 2 tbsp garam masala, 1 tbsp turmeric powder, 1 tbsp red chili powder, 4 tbsp butter…

Get Full Recipe →

Recipe by SPICE ROOM Denver

<blockquote cite="https://denverspiceroom.com/blog/authentic-butter-chicken-recipe" style="max-width:400px;font-family:Georgia,serif;border:1px solid #D4A853;border-radius:12px;overflow:hidden;margin:1em auto;">
<img src="https://denverspiceroom.com/food/butter-chicken-hero.jpg" alt="Authentic Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani)" style="width:100%;height:200px;object-fit:cover;" />
<div style="padding:16px;">
<h3 style="margin:0 0 8px;font-size:18px;color:#1A1A2E;">Authentic Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani)</h3>
<p style="margin:0 0 8px;font-size:13px;color:#666;">Prep: 30 mins · Cook: 45 mins · Serves: 4-6</p>
<p style="margin:0 0 12px;font-size:12px;color:#888;">Key ingredients: 2 lbs boneless chicken thighs, cubed, 1 cup plain yogurt, 2 tbsp garam masala, 1 tbsp turmeric powder, 1 tbsp red chili powder, 4 tbsp butter…</p>
<a href="https://denverspiceroom.com/blog/authentic-butter-chicken-recipe?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=recipe_embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="display:inline-block;padding:8px 16px;background:#D4A853;color:#1A1A2E;text-decoration:none;border-radius:8px;font-size:13px;font-weight:bold;">Get Full Recipe →</a>
<p style="margin:8px 0 0;font-size:10px;color:#aaa;">Recipe by <a href="https://denverspiceroom.com?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=recipe_embed" style="color:#D4A853;">SPICE ROOM Denver</a></p>
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