Missing your favorite Indian takeout while following the keto lifestyle? This Butter Chicken will become your new favorite and your go-to for every time you’re craving takeout.
Whether you’re tired of boring chicken dishes, looking to spice it up a bit and add some BAM!! into your meals or just really miss Indian cuisine, you are going to love this Butter Chicken recipe.
If you’re not familiar with Butter Chicken, it’s a traditional Indian dish similar to tikka masala. And man, is it SO GOOD. Melt-in-your-mouth good, in fact!
Fun fact – chicken tikka masala is actually a British invention, even though it’s what we most traditionally associate with Indian cuisine. Butter Chicken is the original Indian version.
Even if you’re not specifically looking for keto Indian cuisine, Butter Chicken is a perfect chicken dish for those foodies that love full flavor. Your mouth will water just smelling the wonderful aromas coming from your kitchen while preparing this keto chicken dish.
Keto Butter Chicken does take a little longer to prepare than most other recipes I share on this site but the wait and effort will be worth it. It will taste just like your favorite Indian takeout and your dinner guests will be asking for more! You will dazzle them at the dinner table with this one.
Traditional Butter Chicken is generally served over rice so I serve my Keto Butter Chicken over cauliflower rice. I prefer frozen cauliflower rice, cooked according to the directions on the box, because why complicate the dish even further by making it from scratch. Cauliflower rice has a bland taste, similar to traditional white rice, that takes on the flavors of this keto Indian recipe, without the carbs of regular rice.
If you’re looking for keto Indian recipes or just want to get out of the rut of boring chicken recipes, definitely give this Keto Butter Chicken a try!
How To Make Keto Butter Chicken:
Step One: Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chopped chicken thighs to the skillet and cook until the chicken is no longer pink.
Step Two: Add salt and pepper to taste to the chicken pieces. Remove the cooked chicken and set it aside to keep warm
Step Three: Into the same skillet, add 1 tablespoon of butter as well as the chopped onions. Cook the onions for a few minutes until they begin to soften.
Step Four: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 20-30 seconds
Step Five: Add in the garam masala, cumin, turmeric, chili powder, ginger and bay leaf. Stir constantly until the spices become fragrant, be careful not to let them burn
Step Six: Pour in 2 cups of heavy whipping cream. Use a whisk to completely mix in the spices with the heavy cream
Step Seven: Mix in 8 ounces of tomato sauce and 2 ounces of tomato paste. Again, use the whisk to combine the ingredients well
Step Eight: Add in the cooked chicken. Stir to combine, and then reduce the heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes
Step Nine: Place 2 tablespoons of butter into the pot a few minutes before serving. Allow the butter to melt and stir the chicken mixture well
Stir the chicken mixture well!
Step Ten: Serve the butter chicken over cauliflower rice and BAM you have a meal that your family and friends will rave about!
Enjoy!
What Other Cuts of Meat Can I Use in This Butter Chicken Dish?
You can use boneless skinless breasts to make Keto Butter Chicken instead of boneless skinless thighs. The flavor should still be to die for. The chicken breasts may be a bit drier than the thighs but it will still have a great flavor profile.
How Long Will Keto Butter Chicken Keep for in the refrigerator?
This keto chicken dish will store for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. Be sure to reheat thoroughly before eating again.
Can I Freeze This Keto Indian recipe?
Yes, you can freeze the Keto Butter Chicken for up to one months in an airtight freezer container.
What else can I serve with Butter Chicken?
Not feeling the cauliflower rice, you can also substitute Shirataki Noodles, Seaweed Pasta, or Tofu Noodles as other low carb options in this meal. There are many other low-carb options to serve with your keto chicken. Fresh vegetables such as zucchini, carrots, turnips, and spaghetti squash even can be cut to look like a pasta substitute.
Now, remember to save this recipe on Pinterest for later 🙂
Keto Butter Chicken
Ingredients
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into bite-sized pieces
- 5 tbsp. Salted butter divided
- 1 Small onion chopped
- 4 Cloves garlic minced
- 1 tbsp. Garam Masala
- 1 tsp. Cumin
- 1 tsp. Turmeric
- 1 tsp. Chili powder
- ½ tsp. Ginger
- 1 Bay leaf
- 2 c. Heavy whipping cream
- 8 oz. Tomato sauce no sugar listed in the ingredients
- 2 oz. Tomato paste
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Once heated, add the chopped chicken thighs to the skillet, and cook until the chicken is no longer pink.
- Add salt and pepper to taste to the chicken pieces. Remove the cooked chicken, and set it aside to keep warm.
- Into the same skillet, add 1 tablespoon of butter as well as the chopped onions. Cook the onions for a few minutes until they begin to soften.
- Stir in the minced garlic for 20-30 seconds.
- Add in the garam masala, cumin, turmeric, chili powder, ginger and bay leaf. Stir constantly until the spices become fragrant, be careful not to let them burn.
- Pour in 2 cups of heavy whipping cream. Use a whisk to completely mix in the spices with the heavy cream.
- Mix in 8 ounces of tomato sauce and 2 ounces of tomato paste. Again, use the whisk to combine the ingredients well.
- Add in the cooked chicken. Stir to combine, and then reduce the heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes.
- Place 2 tablespoons of butter into the pot a few minutes before serving. Allow the butter to melt, and stir the chicken mixture well.
- Serve the butter chicken over cauliflower rice.
Don’t miss these other best keto recipes:
Keto White Chicken Chili – This White Chicken Chili is going to become one of your go-to keto chili recipes.
Keto Butter Cookies – Who doesn’t love butter cookies!
Keto Creamed Country Style Cabbage – This Creamed Country Style Cabbage is going to become your keto side dish for all occasions.
