This easy butter chicken is a rich and creamy dish with warming curry-inspired flavors.

This easy butter chicken recipe has shredded chicken simmered in a creamy tomato sauce with tomatoes and a handful of aromatic spices for an exotic-flavored dish.

top view of easy butter chicken

Holly’s Butter Chicken Creation

  • Flavor: Rich and slightly sweet, easy butter chicken is low carb comfort food at its best.
  • Skill Level: One-pot dishes are the best. Just cook, simmer, and serve.
  • Budget tip: Use up leftover keto-friendly veggies.
  • Serving suggestions: Make easy butter chicken and serve it on top of zoodles or cauliflower mash.
ingredients assembled to make easy butter chicken, including chicken, cream, garlic, tomatoes, onion, salt, butter, and seasoning

Low Carb Butter Chicken

Chicken: Leftover cooked chicken is such a timesaver in this recipe. Grab a rotisserie chicken from the market or use frozen chicken cutlets (no need to thaw).

Butter Sauce: Heavy cream and real butter are the base for the sauce. Crushed tomatoes or tomato paste add authentic color and spices.

Spices: For the best flavor, fresh garlic and freshly grated ginger is a must.

Butter Chicken Your Way

  • Add flavor and texture to butter chicken with sliced mushrooms, sauteed onions, sliced Brussels sprouts, asparagus pieces, and chopped kale or spinach.
  • Turn up the heat and add a splash or two of spicy sambal (chili paste) or sriracha at the end of Step 4.

How to Make Butter Chicken

  1. Cook onion, garlic, and ginger in butter until softened.
  2. Stir in spices and cook (full recipe below).
  3. Add tomatoes, cream, and chicken and simmer until heated through.
  4. Garnish with toasted peanuts, cilantro, and a wedge of lime.

Clues for Butter Chicken

  • A sharp knife makes it simple to dice thawed chicken. Try freezing chicken breasts for 30 minutes to make cutting them even easier.
  • Easy butter chicken is a great dish for making ahead and enjoying all week in so many ways. Tuck leftovers into a low carb wrap, serve over riced cauliflower, or enjoy it as is.
easy butter chicken topped with cilantro

Best Butter Chicken Storage Solutions

Store leftover easy butter chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat portions on the stovetop on medium heat or in the microwave. Portions can be frozen in zippered bags for up to 2 months and thawed overnight in the fridge or reheated from frozen in a crock pot.

Delicious Low Carb Curry Dishes

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Keto Butter Chicken in a bowl with a bowl of rice
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Easy Butter Chicken

This easy butter chicken is full of tender chicken simmered in a creamy, spicy sauce.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4 servings

Equipment

Ingredients  

  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1 small onion diced
  • 5 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger grated
  • 1 ½ teaspoons cumin
  • 1 ½ teaspoons garam masala
  • 1 teaspoon coriander
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon tumeric
  • teaspoon cinnamon
  • 14 ounces crushed tomatoes
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2 cups cooked chicken shredded
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt or to taste

Instructions 

  • Melt butter over medium heat. Add onion and cook until tender, about 4 minutes. Add garlic and ginger and cook 1 minute more.
  • Stir in cumin, garam masala, coriander, chili powder, turmeric, and cinnamon and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
  • Stir in the tomatoes and heavy cream, simmer 6-8 minutes or until slightly thickened.
  • Add cooked chicken and simmer 3-4 minutes more or until heated through. Season with kosher salt to taste.
  • Serve over cauliflower rice and garnish with cilantro if desired.

Notes

  • Keep leftover keto butter chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator and use within 4 days.
  • Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
  • Freeze chilled butter chicken in freezer bags for up to 2 months.
5 from 6 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
Or to leave a comment, click here!

Nutrition Information

Calories: 448kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 149mg | Sodium: 710mg | Potassium: 608mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1450IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 110mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course dinner, Main Course
Cuisine Indian

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Adapted from Spend With Pennies Butter Chicken

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