Easy 30-Minute Keto Butter Chicken: The Ultimate Low-Carb Indian Dinner Recipe

Craving the rich, creamy, and deeply flavorful experience of authentic Indian cuisine while staying true to your low-carb or ketogenic lifestyle? This incredible easy keto butter chicken recipe is your answer! Delivering all the aromatic taste you love from traditional Murgh Makhani, our recipe slashes the prep time, making it the perfect solution for a delicious and healthy weeknight meal. Get ready to enjoy a satisfying dish that’s not only ready in just 30 minutes but is also wonderfully low carb and perfectly aligned with keto principles.

Butter chicken, or Murgh Makhani, is a globally celebrated Indian dish, renowned for its tender chicken pieces luxuriating in a velvety, subtly spiced tomato-cream sauce. This keto-friendly adaptation skillfully captures that magic without compromising on flavor or texture, ensuring a truly indulgent yet healthy and satisfying meal. The secret to its remarkable depth lies in the precise blend of aromatic spices and the luxuriously creamy sauce, which we expertly blend to achieve that signature smooth consistency. This ensures every bite of tender chicken is coated in an irresistible, flavorful sauce, making it an ideal choice for anyone seeking a delightful, authentic, and healthful low-carb dinner that fits seamlessly into their keto diet.

Why This Keto Butter Chicken Recipe Is a Must-Try for Your Low-Carb Journey

This isn’t just another low-carb recipe; it’s a culinary experience meticulously crafted for maximum flavor, health benefits, and convenience. Here’s a closer look at why this particular keto butter chicken recipe is poised to become a staple in your kitchen:

Explosion of Authentic Indian Flavor: Despite its keto and low-carb nature, this recipe is incredibly rich in authentic Indian spices. The initial yogurt marinade, infused with ginger, garlic, and garam masala, tenderizes the chicken and allows it to absorb profound flavors. This, combined with the slow-simmered tomato cream sauce, creates a complex and deeply satisfying flavor profile that genuinely rivals traditional butter chicken. Each mouthful offers a harmonious blend of savory, tangy, and subtly sweet notes, with just the right hint of spice.
Super Flexible and Easily Adaptable: One of the most appealing aspects of this low-carb butter chicken is its incredible versatility. While it’s absolutely fantastic on its own, it serves as a wonderful base for culinary creativity. Feel free to incorporate your favorite low-carb vegetables, such as fresh spinach or kale for a boost of greens and nutrients. Alternatively, a handful of green bell peppers or even sliced mushrooms can add extra texture and flavor dimension, making it an excellent way to use up fresh produce.
Effortless to Make & Fantastic Leftovers: Designed with simplicity in mind, this dish is incredibly easy to prepare, even on your busiest days. The straightforward, step-by-step instructions ensure a stress-free cooking experience from start to finish. Beyond its quick preparation, this keto butter chicken truly shines as leftovers! The flavors have ample time to meld and deepen overnight, transforming into an even more delicious and aromatic meal the following day. This makes it a perfect candidate for weekly meal prep or a quick, satisfying lunch.
Achieves a Perfectly Smooth, Velvety Sauce: We deliberately incorporate a blending step for the sauce, and for two very important reasons. Firstly, blending thoroughly crushes the whole mustard and cumin seeds, ensuring their vibrant, earthy flavors are evenly distributed throughout the entire sauce. This eliminates any grainy texture, guaranteeing a consistent, aromatic experience in every spoonful. Secondly, and crucial for achieving that signature restaurant-quality experience, this step creates the irresistibly smooth and velvety texture that is the hallmark of a truly authentic Murgh Makhani. This luxurious, smooth sauce perfectly clings to the chicken, delivering maximum indulgence and comfort without the high carb count.

Essential Ingredients for Crafting Your Perfect Low-Carb Butter Chicken

The magic of this flavorful keto butter chicken hinges on a thoughtful selection of ingredients, each contributing significantly to its authentic taste, rich texture, and low-carb profile:

Chicken Breast: We recommend boneless, skinless chicken breast, precisely sliced into uniform bite-sized pieces. This cut ensures rapid, even cooking and allows for maximum absorption of the marinade’s incredible flavors. For an even richer, more succulent result, chicken thighs can also be used following the same preparation method.
Full-Fat Yogurt: A non-negotiable component of the chicken marinade. Plain, unsweetened full-fat Greek yogurt adds a crucial layer of tenderness and a subtle tang to the chicken, allowing the accompanying spices to deeply penetrate and infuse the meat.
Ginger Garlic Paste: This potent aromatic paste forms the flavorful foundation of many Indian dishes. Its pungent, warm, and slightly spicy notes are essential for building the complex flavor profile of the butter chicken.
Garam Masala: A quintessential Indian spice blend. We utilize garam masala judiciously, incorporating it both into the marinade for initial flavor layering and again into the sauce to amplify its warm, deep, and distinctively aromatic qualities.
Kashmiri Powder: Valued for its ability to impart a beautiful, vibrant red color and a mild, smoky heat without being overpoweringly spicy. If authentic Kashmiri powder is unavailable, a combination of sweet paprika for color and a tiny pinch of cayenne pepper for heat can serve as a suitable substitute, allowing you to tailor the spice level to your preference.
Whole Spices (Mustard Seeds, Cumin Seeds, Cinnamon Stick, Bay Leaf): These are crucial for building aromatic depth. They are tempered in hot butter and oil at the start of the cooking process, allowing their essential oils and complex flavors to bloom and create a rich, fragrant foundation for the sauce.
Crushed Tomatoes: Forms the essential tangy and slightly sweet base of our rich sauce. It’s important to select unsweetened crushed tomatoes to maintain the dish’s low-carb integrity.
Butter: Truly indispensable for the “butter” in butter chicken! High-quality butter adds an unparalleled richness, lusciousness, and helps to effectively carry and meld all the vibrant flavors throughout the sauce.
Heavy Cream: This is where the magic happens for maintaining a keto diet. Heavy cream is pivotal for creating the luxurious, velvety texture and decadent richness that defines classic butter chicken, all while keeping the carbohydrate count commendably low.
Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper: These fundamental seasonings are vital for balancing and enhancing all the wonderful, intricate flavors in the dish. Adjust them to your personal taste.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Prepare Your Easy Keto Butter Chicken

Crafting this aromatic, authentically delicious, and low-carb butter chicken is remarkably straightforward and efficient. Follow these detailed steps to achieve a perfect, restaurant-quality meal on your table in just about 30 minutes:

Prepare the Chicken: Begin by precisely slicing your 1 1/2 lbs of chicken breast into uniform, bite-sized pieces. Consistency in size ensures that all the chicken cooks evenly and quickly.
Marinate the Chicken: In a large, non-reactive bowl, combine the 1/2 cup of full-fat yogurt, 1/2 tablespoon of ginger garlic paste, 1/2 tablespoon of garam masala, 1/2 teaspoon of Kashmiri powder, a generous pinch of salt, and a dash of black pepper. Add the sliced chicken pieces and mix thoroughly, ensuring each piece is completely coated with the fragrant yogurt mixture. Set this aside to marinate for at least 15 minutes, or up to 30 minutes (or longer in the refrigerator for deeper flavor infusion).
Sear the Chicken: Heat 1 tablespoon of butter and a touch of neutral oil (like avocado or coconut oil) in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Once the fat is shimmering, add the marinated chicken in a single layer, making sure not to overcrowd the pan. Cook for approximately 2 minutes on each side until the chicken pieces are lightly browned and slightly seared. This step helps to lock in the juices and develop a rich, savory crust. Remove the seared chicken from the skillet and set it aside; it will finish cooking in the luxurious sauce later.
Temper the Whole Spices: In the same skillet (there’s no need to clean it, as the browned bits contribute to flavor), add the 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds, 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds, 1 cinnamon stick, and 1 bay leaf. Cook for 1-2 minutes over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mustard seeds begin to pop and the kitchen fills with their enticing aroma. Be vigilant to prevent them from burning.
Add Ground Spices: Stir in the remaining 1/2 tablespoon of garam masala and cook for an additional 15 seconds. This brief cooking time gently toasts the ground spice, further enhancing its complex aroma and flavor.
Sauté the Onions: Add the finely diced onions to the skillet. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they become translucent and beautifully softened.
Introduce Remaining Aromatics: Stir in the remaining 1/2 tablespoon of ginger garlic paste and cook for another 15 seconds until it becomes highly fragrant.
Simmer the Tomatoes: Pour in the 2 cups of crushed tomatoes and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Allow it to cook for 5 minutes, giving the flavors time to meld and the tomatoes to reduce ever so slightly, intensifying their sweetness and tang.
Prepare for Blending: Carefully remove and discard the cinnamon stick and bay leaf from the tomato mixture. These whole spices have now fully imparted their aromatic compounds and are no longer needed.
Blend for Smoothness: Carefully transfer the tomato mixture to a high-speed blender, or for ultimate convenience, use an immersion blender directly in the pot. Blend until the sauce is absolutely smooth and wonderfully creamy. This crucial step is what gives butter chicken its signature luxurious texture.
Return to Skillet & Season: Pour the velvety smooth tomato mixture back into the skillet. Taste the sauce and season it generously with salt and pepper to your preference, adjusting for perfect balance.
Enrich with Cream & Butter: Stir in the 1/4 cup of heavy cream and the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter until fully incorporated and melted. Allow the sauce to gently heat through, but avoid bringing it to a rapid boil after adding the cream to prevent any potential separation.
Finish Cooking the Chicken: Gently add the previously seared chicken pieces back into the luscious, creamy sauce. Stir to ensure all the chicken is thoroughly coated. Cover the skillet and let it cook for an additional 10 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked through, incredibly tender, and infused with the sauce’s rich flavors.
Serve Hot: Your irresistible, flavorful keto butter chicken is now ready to be savored! Serve it immediately with your favorite low-carb accompaniments. Enjoy this truly delicious and healthy Indian feast!

Perfect Keto Pairings: What to Serve with Your Butter Chicken

This rich and creamy keto butter chicken is a star on its own, but it truly shines when paired with the right low-carb sides, creating a complete and satisfying meal. While cauliflower rice is a classic choice, here are more delicious options to complement your keto feast and enhance the overall experience:

Cauliflower Steamed Rice: The quintessential low-carb accompaniment. Its neutral flavor and fluffy texture make it an excellent base, perfectly designed to soak up every drop of the delectable butter chicken sauce.
Low-Carb Naan or Flatbread: For those who miss the joy of scooping, many excellent low-carb naan recipes exist, often made with almond or coconut flour. These are fantastic for sopping up the creamy, flavorful sauce.
Steamed or Sautéed Greens: Simple, vibrant greens like steamed asparagus, tender green beans, or quickly sautéed spinach make light, healthy, and refreshing accompaniments that provide a lovely contrast to the richness of the main dish.
Zucchini Noodles (Zoodles) or Shirataki Noodles: A superb alternative to traditional pasta, these noodles can be lightly sautéed or simply warmed through, offering a delightful vehicle for the butter chicken.
Keto Cauliflower Mash: For a richer, more comforting side, a buttery cauliflower mash offers a satisfyingly creamy texture, similar to mashed potatoes, but without the unwanted carbohydrates.
A Simple Side Salad: A crisp, fresh green salad, dressed with a light, zesty vinaigrette, can provide a wonderful refreshing contrast to the decadent richness of the butter chicken, cleansing the palate beautifully.

Expert Tips for Achieving the Best Keto Butter Chicken

To ensure your keto butter chicken turns out perfect every time, consider these expert tips:

Marination is Key: While the 15-30 minute marination time works wonders, if you have the luxury of extra time, allowing the chicken to marinate for 1-2 hours (or even overnight in the refrigerator) will result in incredibly tender, juicy, and deeply flavorful chicken that truly melts in your mouth.
Don’t Skip the Blending: This step is non-negotiable for achieving that signature silky-smooth, restaurant-quality butter chicken sauce. An immersion blender is a fantastic tool for this, as it allows you to blend directly in the pot, minimizing cleanup.
Adjust Spice Levels to Taste: Kashmiri powder provides a mild heat and beautiful color. If you prefer a more fiery dish, you can add a small pinch of cayenne pepper along with the other ground spices. For a milder flavor, you can reduce the amount of Kashmiri powder slightly.
Quality Ingredients Make a Difference: The overall flavor of your dish will greatly benefit from using high-quality ingredients. Opt for fresh ginger and garlic, full-fat unsweetened yogurt, and fresh, aromatic spices whenever possible.
Avoid Overcooking the Chicken: Chicken breast can quickly become dry if overcooked. Sear it just until lightly browned to lock in moisture, then allow it to finish cooking gently in the simmering sauce. This method guarantees tender, succulent results.
Handle Heavy Cream Gently: Once the heavy cream is incorporated into the sauce, bring it to a gentle simmer. Avoid vigorous boiling, as this can sometimes cause the cream to separate, impacting the sauce’s smooth texture.

Frequently Asked Questions About Keto Butter Chicken

Here are some common questions about making this delicious low-carb Indian dish, along with helpful answers:

Can I use chicken thighs instead of breast for this recipe?: Absolutely! Chicken thighs are an excellent choice for butter chicken. They naturally contain more fat and tend to be more forgiving, retaining moisture better during cooking. This often results in an even more tender and intensely flavorful dish. You can follow the same cooking times and preparation steps, but always ensure the chicken is cooked through to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
What if I don’t have Kashmiri powder? What’s a good substitute?: Kashmiri powder is highly valued for its vibrant red color and mild, smoky heat. If you don’t have it on hand, you can create a reasonable substitute by using an equal amount of sweet paprika for the color, and then adding a very tiny pinch of cayenne pepper if you desire some heat. Adjust the amount of cayenne according to your personal spice preference.
Is it possible to make this butter chicken recipe dairy-free?: While this particular recipe heavily relies on dairy products like yogurt and heavy cream for its classic texture and rich flavor, you can certainly attempt a dairy-free adaptation. For the marinade, use a dairy-free plain, unsweetened yogurt alternative. For the creamy sauce, substitute the heavy cream with full-fat coconut milk or coconut cream. Be aware that these substitutions will alter the flavor profile slightly, introducing a subtle coconut note, but the dish can still be incredibly delicious and satisfying!
How can I adjust the spice level of this Keto Butter Chicken?: This recipe is crafted to offer a mildly spiced flavor that is generally suitable for most palates. If you prefer more heat, you have a few options: you can add a small amount of finely chopped green chilies along with the ginger-garlic paste, or stir in an additional pinch of red chili powder (like cayenne) with the garam masala. For those who prefer a very mild dish, you can slightly reduce the amount of Kashmiri powder or even omit the initial whole spices if you find them too intense, though they contribute significant depth.
Can I freeze leftover Keto Butter Chicken for later?: Yes, butter chicken typically freezes exceptionally well! Allow the dish to cool completely to room temperature before transferring it to airtight, freezer-safe containers. It can be safely stored in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. To reheat, it’s best to thaw it overnight in the refrigerator, then gently warm it on the stovetop over low heat, stirring occasionally. You might find it beneficial to add a splash of water or a bit more heavy cream if the sauce has thickened too much during the freezing and thawing process.

More Delicious Keto Recipes You’ll Love

If you’ve enjoyed the simplicity and incredible flavor of this quick and easy keto butter chicken, you’ll surely love these other fantastic low-carb culinary creations from my kitchen. They are perfect for expanding your keto meal repertoire:

Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi (Keto-Friendly) – A lightning-fast and flavorful seafood dish, rich in garlic butter, perfect for a speedy weeknight dinner.
Creamy Lemon Garlic Salmon (Low-Carb) – An elegant and delightful salmon recipe, brimming with healthy fats and bright, zesty flavors.
Keto Saag Paneer (Spinach with Indian Cheese) – Another fantastic and authentic Indian classic, skillfully adapted to fit seamlessly into your low-carb and ketogenic lifestyle.

For even more delicious recipes, comprehensive cooking tutorials, and culinary inspiration, make sure to visit my channels on Youtube and Facebook. Don’t forget to subscribe and follow to stay updated with the latest recipes and cooking tips!

5 from 1 vote

Keto Butter Chicken

By Julie Maestre

Flavorful and delicious keto butter chicken that’s keto friendly AND low carb! Make this in under 30 minutes for an easy, healthy weeknight dinner.

Prep: 5 minutes

Cook: 25 minutes

Total: 30 minutes

Servings: 4 servings

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Ingredients

▢ 1 1/2 lb chicken breast
▢ 1/2 cup yogurt
▢ 1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
▢ 1 tbsp garam masala
▢ 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
▢ 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
▢ 1 bay leave
▢ 1 cinnamon stick
▢ 2 cups crushed tomatoes
▢ 2 tbsp butter
▢ 1/2 tsp Kashmiri powder
▢ 1/4 cup heavy cream
▢ salt and pepper to taste

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Instructions

Slice the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
In a large bowl, combine the yogurt, 1/2 tbsp ginger garlic paste, 1/2 tbsp garam masala, Kashmiri powder, salt, and pepper.
Coat the chicken with the yogurt mixture and set aside.
Warm up 1 tbsp of butter and oil in a large skillet.
Cook the chicken 2 minutes on each side.
Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
Add the cumin seeds, mustard seeds, cinnamon stick, and bay leave.
Cook for 1-2 minutes or until the seeds start to pop.
Add the remaining garam masala and cook for an additional 15 seconds.
Add the onions and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes or until the onions are translucent.
Stir in the remaining ginger garlic paste and cook for an additional 15 seconds.
Add the crushed tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes.
Discard the cinnamon stick and bay leave.
Blend the tomato mixture until smooth.
Place the tomato mixture back in the skillet.
Season with salt and pepper.
Add the heavy cream and remaining butter.
Add the chicken, cover, and cook for 10 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked through.
Enjoy!

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Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Author: Julie Maestre

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: Indian

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 366

Keyword: Keto Butter Chicken, Low Carb Butter Chicken

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