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Indian Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani)

Indian Butter Chicken

A delightful Indian Butter Chicken recipe that's easy to prepare at home, highlighting rich flavors and creamy sauce over rice.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 4 hours 50 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Indian
Servings 7 servings
Calories 298 kcal

Equipment

  • slow cooker
  • large bowl
  • pot or Dutch oven
  • Instant Pot

Ingredients
  

Vegetables

  • 2 medium yellow onions peeled, cut in half and sliced
  • 1 medium red bell pepper diced
  • 3 medium carrots diced

Chicken

  • 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast cubed

Canned Ingredients

  • 15 oz tomato sauce
  • 6 oz tomato paste

Seasonings

  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger approx. 2-inch piece
  • 3 tablespoons curry powder
  • 2 teaspoons garam masala
  • ½ teaspoon fine salt
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • ½ lemon juice

Dairy

  • 1 tablespoon salted butter chilled and cut into pieces
  • ½ cup plain Greek yogurt whole, low-fat, or fat-free
  • ½ cup half-and-half

Instructions
 

Slow Cooker/Crockpot Directions

  • In the bottom of a 6-quart or 8-quart slow cooker, place and layer the sliced onions.
  • In a large bowl, combine the boneless chicken, bell pepper, carrots, tomato sauce, tomato paste, lemon juice, garlic, ginger, curry powder, garam masala, and salt. Toss until well combined.
  • Add the saucy chicken mixture to the slow cooker over top of the sliced onions.
  • Dot the pieces of butter over the top of the marinated chicken mixture.
  • Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on high for 4 ½ hours or on low for 6 ½ hours.
  • After the time is up, remove the lid, stir all ingredients until well combined, and turn off the slow cooker.
  • When the liquid stops simmering and steaming (after about 5-10 minutes), stir in the yogurt and the half-and-half.
  • Serve over hot cooked rice or cauliflower rice, and/or with naan bread, and garnish with chopped fresh cilantro and toasted sesame seeds.

Stovetop Directions

  • Place a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add 2 teaspoons olive oil to the pot and swirl to coat.
  • When the oil is hot, add the onions, bell pepper, and carrots. Cook for 7-8 minutes or until the veggies are tender, stirring occasionally.
  • Add the chicken pieces, spices, tomato sauce, tomato paste, and 1 cup water.
  • Dot the top of the marinade mixture with the butter and cover with a lid.
  • Simmer until the chicken is cooked through (which will take about 20 minutes).
  • When the chicken is cooked through, remove the lid, stir all ingredients until well combined, and turn off the heat.
  • When the liquid stops simmering and steaming (after about 5-10 minutes), stir in the yogurt and the half-and-half.
  • Serve over hot cooked rice or cauliflower rice, and/or with naan bread, and garnish with chopped fresh cilantro and toasted sesame seeds.

Instant Pot Directions

  • Place the onions, chicken, bell pepper, carrots, tomato sauce, tomato paste, lemon juice, garlic, ginger, curry powder, garam masala, salt, and butter into the inner pot of the Instant Pot. Stir until well mixed.
  • Add ½ cup of water to the chicken mixture and stir again until everything is combined and there is some of the saucy liquid under the ingredients at the bottom of the Instant Pot.
  • Place the lid on the Instant Pot and lock into place. Cook on high pressure for 10 minutes.
  • When the cooking time is up, quick release the pressure and remove the lid. Stir well to allow the steam to escape.
  • Let the butter chicken sit in the Instant Pot to cool for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally to allow more steam to escape.
  • After 10 to 15 minutes, stir in the yogurt and half and half.
  • Serve over hot cooked rice or cauliflower rice, and/or with naan bread, and garnish with chopped fresh cilantro and toasted sesame seeds.

Notes

It’s essential to allow the cooked chicken mixture to cool a bit before adding the yogurt; otherwise, the yogurt may curdle. It's still fine to eat if it does, but the texture may not be as creamy.

Nutrition

Serving: 1⅙ of the recipe (1 ⅓ cups)Calories: 298kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 38gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 99mgSodium: 415mgFiber: 4gSugar: 13g
Keyword chicken recipes, comfort food, Easy Dinner, Indian Butter Chicken, slow cooker recipe, spicy chicken
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