Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani)
Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani)
Authentic North India · Restaurant Style

Butter Chicken Recipe(Murgh Makhani)

By Jeevan Depa·✓Kitchen Tested & Verified·Updated October 2026
Non-Veg📍North India🍽️Lunch & Dinner⏱️25 mins⚡Medium👥Serves 4Chicken
🍳Why This Recipe Works & Culinary Heritage

Butter Chicken is a celebrated North India culinary specialty crafted with traditional techniques and authentic spices. Prepared with 16 metric-standardized ingredients (featuring Boneless Chicken Thighs/Breasts, Thick Hung Curd / Yogurt (Dahi), Fresh Lemon Juice, Red Onions (Finely Chopped), Fresh Chopped Garlic), this dish balances aromatic spices with rich cooking bases for deep, authentic flavor.

⏱️ Cook Time: 25 mins•👥 Servings: 4 plates•🛒 Instamart: 1-Click Doorstep Sync

Ingredients for Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani)

Complete culinary measure (16 items) · Scale servings or deselect pantry items in the cart panel

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1
Boneless Chicken Thighs/Breasts
800 g
2
Thick Hung Curd / Yogurt (Dahi)
1/2 cup (100 g)
3
Fresh Lemon Juice
1 piece (15 ml)
Pantry
4
Red Onions (Finely Chopped)
2 medium (150 g)
5
Fresh Chopped Garlic
6 cloves (20 g)
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6
Ginger Garlic Paste
2 tbsp
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7
Butter
100 g
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8
Fresh Tomato Puree
2 cups (400 g)
9
Cashew Nut Paste
1/4 cup (50 g)
10
Fresh Heavy Cream
1/2 cup (100 ml)
11
Kasuri Methi (Dried Fenugreek)
1 tbsp
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12
Kashmiri Red Chili Powder
2 tsp
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13
Garam Masala
1 tsp
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14
Honey / Sugar
1 tsp
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15
Fresh Coriander Leaves
1 small bunch (30 g)
16
Salt
1 tsp
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Marinate chicken pieces in thick hung curd, ginger-garlic paste, Kashmiri chili powder, and fresh lemon juice for 1 hour.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1
Marinate chicken pieces in thick hung curd, ginger-garlic paste, Kashmiri chili powder, and fresh lemon juice for 1 hour.
2
Grill or sear chicken in a hot heavy pan with melted butter until charred and 80% cooked.
3
In a separate pan, melt butter, sauté finely chopped onions and garlic until golden, then add fresh tomato puree and cashew nut paste.
4
Simmer the tomato gravy until smooth and oil releases. Add garam masala, kasuri methi, honey to balance acidity, and fresh heavy cream.
5
Add the charred chicken into the makhani gravy and simmer gently for 10 minutes.
6
Garnish with a swirl of cream and freshly chopped coriander. Serve hot with Garlic Naan or Jeera Rice.
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Chef's Secrets & Pro Cooking Tips

Professional culinary techniques for restaurant-quality Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani) at home

1

Two-Stage Marination Magic

First marinate chicken with ginger-garlic paste, lemon juice, and salt for 20 minutes to tenderize the fibers. Then introduce spiced hung curd for rich, deep flavor penetration.

2

Brown the Onions (Bhunao Process)

Take your time browning the onions to a deep golden amber. The slow caramelization forms the foundational flavor base and rich color of authentic Indian meat gravies.

3

Simmer on Low Flame for Juicy Meat

Keep the heat on gentle low-medium once the liquid is added. Rapid boiling contracts muscle fibers and dries out poultry meat.

🥗Nutritional Breakdown

Estimated nutritional facts per serving (based on 4 servings)

Nutrient Dense
Calories
555kcal
18% DV
Protein
39g
78% DV
Carbs
33g
12% DV
Fat
21g
27% DV
Fiber
4g
14% DV
Sodium
755mg
33% DV

* Percent Daily Values (% DV) are based on a 2,000-calorie reference diet. Actual nutritional requirements may differ based on age, gender, and physical activity level.

Video Tutorial

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Culinary Tags

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Frequently Asked Questions & Cooking Guide

Answers to common questions about preparing, storing, and customizing Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani)

You need 16 ingredients to make Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani): Boneless Chicken Thighs/Breasts (800 g), Thick Hung Curd / Yogurt (Dahi) (1/2 cup (100 g)), Fresh Lemon Juice (1 piece (15 ml)), Red Onions (Finely Chopped) (2 medium (150 g)), Fresh Chopped Garlic (6 cloves (20 g)), Ginger Garlic Paste (2 tbsp), Butter (100 g), Fresh Tomato Puree (2 cups (400 g)), Cashew Nut Paste (1/4 cup (50 g)), Fresh Heavy Cream (1/2 cup (100 ml)), Kasuri Methi (Dried Fenugreek) (1 tbsp), Kashmiri Red Chili Powder (2 tsp), Garam Masala (1 tsp), Honey / Sugar (1 tsp), Fresh Coriander Leaves (1 small bunch (30 g)), Salt (1 tsp). Exact metric quantities for your chosen servings are listed in the ingredients section above, and you can add all of them to your Swiggy Instamart cart in one click.

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Servings
4
💰 Cost / Plate:~₹333/ serving
~₹1330 total

Ingredients

16/16

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16 items · estimated total~₹1330
Servings
4
16/16 items · ~₹333/plate
~₹1330