Cheat's Butter Chicken

Indulge in the creamy, flavorful goodness of Cheat's Butter Chicken, a quick and effortless take on the beloved Indian classic. This recipe combines tender, marinated chicken thighs with a rich, velvety sauce made from tomato puree, heavy cream, and aromatic spices like garam masala, cumin, and coriander. Perfect for weeknight dinners, this dish is ready in just 40 minutes and boasts a luscious balance of tangy, smoky, and mildly sweet flavors. Garnished with fresh cilantro and served with fragrant basmati rice or fluffy naan, it’s an irresistible comfort food that’s big on taste but light on effort.

Nutriscore Rating: 64/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:25 mins

Total Time:40 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 500 grams Chicken thighs, boneless and skinless
• 120 ml Plain yogurt
• 1 tablespoon Ginger-garlic paste
• 1 teaspoon Ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon Ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon Paprika
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 2 tablespoons Butter
• 1 tablespoon Vegetable oil
• 200 ml Tomato puree
• 120 ml Heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon Garam masala
• 2 teaspoons Sugar
• 2 tablespoons Cilantro, chopped
• 0 optional, for serving Cooked basmati rice or naan

Directions

Step 1

Cut the chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces and place them in a bowl.

Step 2

In the bowl, mix the chicken with yogurt, ginger-garlic paste, ground cumin, ground coriander, paprika, and salt. Marinate for at least 15 minutes or up to 2 hours in the fridge for more flavor.

Step 3

Heat a large pan or skillet over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of butter and the vegetable oil.

Step 4

Add the marinated chicken to the pan and cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through and lightly browned. Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside.

Step 5

In the same pan, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter and tomato puree. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently, until the tomato puree thickens slightly.

Step 6

Stir in the heavy cream, garam masala, and sugar. Simmer the sauce for 3-4 minutes until it becomes rich and velvety.

Step 7

Return the cooked chicken to the pan and stir well to coat the chicken in the sauce. Simmer for another 2-3 minutes to combine the flavors.

Step 8

Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed. Sprinkle with chopped cilantro for garnish.

Step 9

Serve hot with basmati rice or naan, as desired.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1188.0g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2216.2

Total Fat 135.6g	0%
Saturated Fat 55.4g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 9.2g
Cholesterol 818.3mg	0%
Sodium 3142.2mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 91.0g	0%
Dietary Fiber 7.8g	0%
Total Sugars 29.0g
Protein 147.0g	0%

Vitamin D 64.1IU	0%
Calcium 400.5mg	0%
Iron 12.2mg	0%
Potassium 2696.3mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 56.2%

Protein: 27.1%

Carbs: 16.8%