Look no further than this keto butter chicken dish if you’re seeking a wonderful, simple-to-make food that is both healthful and very tasty. This flavorful low-carb recipe may be modified to meet your nutritional needs.
This recipe for butter chicken can fulfill your needs whether you strictly adhere to a ketogenic diet or wish to reduce your carb intake.
This dish will become a family favorite due to the mouthwatering marinade and the thick, creamy sauce. Read on how to prepare this delicious butter chicken meal at home.
Table of Contents
Keto Butter Chicken Recipe
Keto Butter Chicken is a delicious, low-carb version of a popular Indian dish. It has a creamy, rich flavor with a hint of sweetness and spice. The chicken is cooked in a creamy, tomato-based sauce, while the butter adds richness and depth of flavor. The dish is also gluten-free and dairy-free.
Ingredients
To truly enjoy the complex medley of flavors this dish has to offer, you’ll need to spring for real spices.
- Spices: Don’t depend on spice mixes; it’s best to customize the recipe slightly. Grind them fresh instead of buying pre-ground.
- Butter and cream: This recipe won’t work without these two main ingredients. Use cooking cream with at least 32% fat for the best results.
- Chicken thighs: If you prefer breasts for leaner protein, you can use them. However, thighs will remain juicy and more flavorful in this recipe.
Here’s the ingredient list you’ll need to make this keto-friendly butter chicken recipe:
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 green pepper, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons garam masala
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons of chili powder
- 1 teaspoon of paprika
- 1 can (14.5 ounces) of tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup of heavy cream
- 1/4 cup of butter
- 2 pounds chicken thighs, cut into bite-size pieces
- 1/2 cup of fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
If you want to imitate restaurant-style butter chicken, you’ll need to add food coloring or increase the amount of red chili powder. Kashmiri chili is the best type for this purpose.
How To Prepare Butter Chicken
Don’t be intimidated by the lengthy ingredient list. This delicious keto recipe for butter chicken is actually pretty easy to follow. Here’s what you’ve got to do:
- Start by heating up your olive oil in a large skillet on medium—it should be big enough to accommodate all the ingredients easily.
Once the oil starts shimmering, add the onions and green peppers. Saute them until they soften and the onions turn a little translucent.
- Then, proceed to add the garlic and spices (garam masala, ginger, chili powder, paprika). Keep everything moving in the pan, and once you smell the fragrant aromas, add the tomato sauce.
Stir everything to incorporate it and cook the rawness out of the tomatoes, then add the heavy cream. Again, stir to combine all the ingredients, and cook for around 5 minutes until it thickens slightly.
- You can use an immersion blender at this stage if you prefer a velvety smooth sauce (or transfer it to a jug blender), but this step is optional. Once thickened, stir in the butter until it melts into the sauce.
- Then, add the chicken pieces and cover the pot. Cook it on medium heat for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent anything catching at the bottom of the pot.
When you’re satisfied that the chicken is cooked through, season with salt and pepper to taste and garnish with cilantro. The dish is ready to serve with your side of choice.
Here are a few optional steps you can take:
- Blend the sauce: As mentioned earlier, you can blend the sauce for a more velvety texture if you want a restaurant-style keto meal.
- Brown the chicken: Try lightly browning the chicken in the oil at first, and set it to the side to continue with the other parts of the recipe. This will give a more caramelized flavor to the dish.
How To Prepare Butter Chicken In The Instant Pot
You can use the same recipe to make this keto dish in the Instant Pot for more convenience, with a few tweaks of course. Here’s a round of what to do:
- Using the saute function, soften the onion and peppers. Then add the garlic and spices, stirring frequently.
- Add in all your wet ingredients and the chicken, and cook on high pressure for 10 minutes.
- When the time is up, allow the pressure to release naturally and open it up. It’s ready to serve with a drizzle of cream and your side of choice.
Note: Keep in mind that the sauce will not thicken significantly in the instant pot, so you’ll need to use less liquid. The best way to do that is by draining your canned tomatoes or adding a spoonful of tomato paste. This ensures that the sauce comes out thick and velvety instead of watery and lacking in flavor.
How To Prepare Butter Chicken In The Thermomix
Because the Thermomix is an all-in-one kitchen gadget, many have tried making butter chicken with it for even more convenience. This is the perfect keto recipe to try out in your Thermomix. Here’s how:
- Add the onion and green pepper to your machine and run the chopping function at high speed for 5 seconds. Scrape everything down.
- Saute for 5 minutes using the Varoma setting, making sure to add garlic paste (instead of garlic cloves) half way through.
- Add your spices and combine using a spatula, then add your crushed tomatoes and garlic. Cook on the Varoma setting for 5 minutes.
- Insert the Butterfly, and add your chicken. Use a spatula to mix everything so that the sauce covers the chicken. Press on the Butterfly setting and cook for 15 minutes at 100°C
- You can add more time if the chicken is not cooked through. Once you’re satisfied that it’s cooked, add butter to your dish and mix it to melt. Serve and garnish.
Note: If you like a thicker sauce, add the steamer basket instead of the normal lid to allow for evaporation. This would create a more restaurant-style sauce that most people prefer.
What To Serve With Butter Chicken
Traditionally, butter chicken is served with carb-heavy sides such as naan bread or white rice. That’s obviously not going to work for a keto diet. So, you’re going to want to serve with cauliflower rice instead. You can also make keto naan using almond flour instead of the traditional recipe. No one would recommend eating it alone since it’s such a heavy dish.
If you don’t have cauliflower rice or keto naan, consider serving it alongside steamed vegetables for a low-carb side dish that fits your keto diet.
FAQ
How long does butter chicken last in the fridge?
Butter chicken can last around 3 to 4 days in the fridge if stored properly. Always check the smell and appearance of leftovers before serving.
What is the difference between butter chicken and chicken tikka masala?
The main difference between the two popular Indian dishes is that butter chicken is sweeter and milder, whereas tikka masala is more complex and spicier with a slight tang. Some chefs only use barbequed chicken (tikka) for chicken tikka masala, not butter chicken.
Keto Butter Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 onion diced
- 1 green pepper diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons garam masala
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons of chili powder
- 1 teaspoon of paprika
- 1 can 14.5 ounces of tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup of heavy cream
- 1/4 cup of butter
- 2 pounds chicken thighs cut into bite-size pieces
- 1/2 cup of fresh cilantro chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add the onion and green pepper and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add the garlic, garam masala, ginger, chili powder, and paprika, and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the tomato sauce and heavy cream and stir to combine.
- Add the butter and stir until melted.
- Add the chicken and cook for 10-12 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through.
- Stir in the cilantro, salt, and pepper.
- Serve the keto butter chicken over cauliflower rice or with vegetables. Enjoy!
