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–+ servings
butter chicken in a small blue bowl.
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4.67 from 24 votes

Butter Chicken For One

This single serving Butter Chicken is rich, creamy, and full of flavor. Made with tender marinated chicken in a spiced tomato cream sauce, it cooks in just 30 minutes.
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Indian
Diet: Gluten Free
Keyword: butter chicken, butter chicken sauce, chicken, chicken breast, Indian food
Servings: 1 serving
Author: Joanie Zisk

Equipment

Ingredients

For the Marinade

  • 1 (4 to 6-ounce) boneless skinless chicken breast -cut into 1-inch pieces
  • ½ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
  • ½ tablespoon lemon juice
  • ½ tablespoon turmeric
  • ½ tablespoon garam masala
  • ½ tablespoon ground cumin

For the Butter Chicken

  • 2 tablespoons salted butter -divided
  • ½ cup chopped onions
  • 1 clove garlic -minced
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup tomato sauce
  • ¼ cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup cooked rice for serving
US - Metric

Instructions

  • Marinate the Chicken: In a medium bowl, mix sour cream, lemon juice, turmeric, garam masala, and cumin. Cut chicken into 1-inch pieces and stir into the marinade until coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
  • Cook the Onions: In a medium skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of butter over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Add Garlic and Spices: Stir in garlic, cumin, ginger, cinnamon, and salt. Cook for 2 minutes.
  • Add Tomato Sauce: Pour in the tomato sauce, reduce heat to low, and let simmer.
  • Cook the Chicken: In another skillet, melt the remaining butter over medium-high heat. Add marinated chicken and cook for 5 minutes per side, until browned and cooked through.
  • Combine and Simmer: Add cooked chicken to the sauce. Simmer together for 5–10 minutes. Stir in the cream and cook for 1 minute more.
  • Serve warm with cooked rice.

Video

Notes

  • Read Before You Start: Review the full recipe, including Ingredient Notes and process photos, to better understand each step before cooking.
  • Cut Even Pieces: Cutting the chicken into evenly sized cubes ensures it cooks evenly and stays tender.
  • Make the Sauce Ahead: The sauce can be made in advance. Let it cool, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat and add chicken when ready to serve.
 
Single Serving Cooked Rice Recipe

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 846kcal | Carbohydrates: 73g | Protein: 38g | Fat: 68g | Saturated Fat: 40g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 196mg | Sodium: 846mg | Potassium: 1118mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 3354IU | Vitamin C: 27mg | Calcium: 232mg | Iron: 3mg

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