Murgh Makhani: Classic Indian Butter Chicken
Tender yogurt-marinated chicken simmers in a velvety tomato and cream sauce layered with garam masala, fenugreek, and gentle heat from Indian chili. Murgh Makhani: Classic Indian Butter Chicken delivers rich, buttery depth balanced by tangy tomato and warm spices, perfect for a cozy weeknight dinner or a special gathering with naan or rice.
- Prep25 mins
- Cook35 mins
- Serves4
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Murgh Makhani: Classic Indian Butter Chicken, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 53 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 7 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 89 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
- 1 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 27
- Heart Health
- 74
- Metabolic
- 32
- Digestive
- 27
- Inflammatory
- 52
- Performance
- 46
- General Wellness
- 1
Stir the yogurt and tandoori masala powder in a large bowl until combined; add the chicken and toss to coat. Marinate in the refrigerator for 1 hour. Drain and discard any excess marinade.
- 2
Blend the onion, ginger, water, and garlic in a blender until a smooth paste forms; set aside.
- 3
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
- 4
Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in the same skillet. Fry the onion paste until most of the moisture evaporates, about 3 minutes. Sprinkle the garam masala and chili powder over the mixture; cook 1 minute more. Add the tomato sauce, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook another 5 minutes.
- 5
Return the chicken to the skillet. Add the half-and-half and bring to a boil. Add the butter, fenugreek leaves, and salt; reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, until the chicken is no longer pink in the middle, 15 to 20 minutes.
- Calories 566.61 kcal High 28%
- Protein 36.64 g Good Source 73%
- Carbohydrate 19.63 g 7%
- Total Fat 36.96 g High 47%
- Saturated Fat 14.13 g High 71%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 188.39 mg High 63%
- Sodium 404.23 mg Moderate 18%
- Dietary Fiber 4.09 g Moderate 15%
- Total Sugars 6.18 g --
- Added Sugars 0.32 g Low Source 1%
- Calcium 129.95 mg Moderate 10%
- Iron 2.81 mg Moderate 16%
- Potassium 253.93 mg Low Source 5%
- Vitamin A 41.3 mcg Low Source 5%
- Vitamin C 3.77 mg Low Source 4%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Milk 🥛
- Tomatoes 🍅
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Murgh Makhani: Classic Indian Butter Chicken is an Indian dinner recipe made with 15 ingredients. It takes about 1 hr, serves 4, and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Boneless Chicken Thigh, Butter, Chili Powder, and Cooking Oil. Each serving provides about 566.61 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Murgh Makhani: Classic Indian Butter Chicken?
- It is an Indian recipe made with 15 ingredients, usually served for dinner or lunch.
- What is Murgh Makhani: Classic Indian Butter Chicken made of?
- The main ingredients are Boneless Chicken Thigh, Butter, Chili Powder, Cooking Oil, Fenugreek Leaves. The full list of 15 is above.
- What goes well with Murgh Makhani: Classic Indian Butter Chicken?
- Explore these Indian side-dish recipes.
- How long does it take to make Murgh Makhani: Classic Indian Butter Chicken?
- About 1 hr in total: 25 mins to prepare and 35 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 566.61 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Murgh Makhani: Classic Indian Butter Chicken easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 15 ingredients and 5 steps.
- Is Murgh Makhani: Classic Indian Butter Chicken healthy?
- Murgh Makhani: Classic Indian Butter Chicken has an easyChef Pro health score of 49/100. Per serving, it provides 566.61 calories and 36.64 g of protein, or 73% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 404.23 mg (18% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 14.13 g (71% of the Daily Value). It contains Milk, Tomatoes, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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