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butter chicken
Rich and flavorful Indian-style butter chicken meatballs baked to perfection and simmered in a creamy spiced tomato coconut sauce. Perfect served with rice or naan.
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Prep Time
15
minutes
mins
Cook Time
45
minutes
mins
Total Time
1
hour
hr
Course
Breakfast
Cuisine
American
Servings
6
Calories
120
kcal
Ingredients
1x
2x
3x
Main Ingredients
1
pound
ground chicken
1
large
egg
0.5
cup
panko breadcrumbs
use gluten-free if needed
0.5
teaspoon
salt
or to taste
0.5
teaspoon
freshly ground black pepper
or to taste
2
tablespoons
olive oil
1
small
yellow or white onion
finely diced
2
cloves
garlic
finely minced
1
tablespoon
garam masala
adjust to taste
2.5
teaspoons
curry powder
mild or hot as preferred
0.75
teaspoon
turmeric
0.5
teaspoon
salt
plus more to taste
0.5
teaspoon
freshly ground black pepper
plus more to taste
0.125
teaspoon
cayenne pepper
optional, adjust to taste
1
can (15 ounces)
full-fat coconut milk
1
cup
water
6
ounces
tomato paste
0.5
cup
plain Greek yogurt
preferably thick Greek yogurt
2
tablespoons
unsalted butter
0.25
cup
fresh cilantro
finely minced for garnish
Instructions
Preparation Steps
Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, mix ground chicken, egg, panko breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper gently until combined. Avoid overmixing.
Form the mixture into 16-18 evenly sized meatballs using a medium cookie scoop or hands.
Place meatballs on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes or until lightly crisp on the outside.
Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add diced onion and sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
Add minced garlic to the skillet and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
Stir in garam masala, curry powder, turmeric, salt, black pepper, cayenne (if using), coconut milk, water, and tomato paste. Whisk to combine.
Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer gently for 20 minutes to deepen flavors.
Whisk in Greek yogurt and butter until melted and smooth. Adjust seasoning with more salt or spices if needed.
Add baked meatballs to the sauce, gently stirring to coat evenly. Garnish with fresh cilantro.
Serve immediately with steamed white rice or naan bread.
Notes
This dish is perfect for making ahead by preparing meatballs a day early and baking just before serving. Adjust cayenne for desired heat level.
Nutrition
Serving:
200
g
Calories:
120
kcal
Carbohydrates:
120
g
Protein:
120
g
Fat:
120
g
Saturated Fat:
120
g
Polyunsaturated Fat:
120
g
Monounsaturated Fat:
120
g
Trans Fat:
120
g
Cholesterol:
120
mg
Sodium:
120
mg
Potassium:
120
mg
Fiber:
120
g
Sugar:
120
g
Vitamin A:
120
IU
Vitamin C:
120
mg
Calcium:
120
mg
Iron:
120
mg
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