Recipes Main Dishes Curries Chicken Chicken Makhani (Indian Butter Chicken) 4.5 (1,382) 1,002 Reviews 133 Photos This butter chicken recipe, or chicken makhani, is one of my favorite Indian dishes. It features a full-flavored sauce that complements the chicken well. It can be made as mild or spicy as you wish by adjusting the cayenne. Serve with basmati rice and naan bread. Submitted by MITCHMAN21 Updated on February 19, 2023 Tested by Allrecipes Test Kitchen Tested by Allrecipes Test Kitchen The Allrecipes Test Kitchen staff are a team of culinary pros who make and vet recipes using only equipment you'd find in a home kitchen. Staff credentials vary but include training at the Culinary Institute of America; kitchen stints in fine dining restaurants; and countless hours in the test kitchen itself. Meet the Allrecipes Test Kitchen Save Rate Print Share Add Photo 133 133 133 133 Prep Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 25 mins Total Time: 35 mins Servings: 4 Jump to Nutrition Facts Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 1x 2x 4x Oops! Something went wrong. Our team is working on it. Original recipe (1X) yields 4 servings 2 tablespoons peanut oil, divided 1 shallot, finely chopped ¼ white onion, chopped 2 tablespoons butter 1 tablespoon ginger garlic paste 2 teaspoons lemon juice 2 teaspoons garam masala, divided 1 teaspoon chili powder 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 bay leaf 1 cup tomato puree 1 cup half-and-half ¼ cup plain yogurt 1 pinch salt and ground black pepper to taste 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-size pieces ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste 1 tablespoon cornstarch ¼ cup water Directions Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Sauté shallot and onion until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Stir in butter, ginger-garlic paste, lemon juice, 1 teaspoon garam masala, chili powder, cumin, and bay leaf. Cook and stir for 1 minute. Add tomato sauce, and cook for 2 minutes, continuing to frequently stir. Stir in half-and-half and yogurt. Reduce heat to low, and simmer for 10 minutes, frequently stirring. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and set aside. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Cook chicken until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Reduce heat, and season with remaining 1 teaspoon garam masala and cayenne. Stir in a few spoonfuls of sauce, and simmer until liquid has reduced, and chicken is no longer pink. Add cooked chicken into sauce and stir together. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Dissolve cornstarch into water, then mix into the sauce. Cook for 5 to 10 minutes, or until thickened. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Serve over rice with naan. DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS I Made It Print 1,827 home cooks made it! Nutrition Facts (per serving) 408 Calories 28g Fat 16g Carbs 23g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 4 Calories 408 % Daily Value * Total Fat 28g 36% Saturated Fat 11g 57% Cholesterol 107mg 36% Sodium 523mg 23% Total Carbohydrate 16g 6% Dietary Fiber 2g 8% Total Sugars 5g Protein 23g 47% Vitamin C 12mg 13% Calcium 135mg 10% Iron 3mg 17% Potassium 625mg 13% * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs. ** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data. (-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.