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One Pot Butter Chicken — Indian Rice & Grains recipe, 35 min, serves 4Indian

One Pot Butter Chicken

Published ·Updated ·by ·✓ Editorially Reviewed
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Gluten-freeHigh protein

Rich, creamy butter chicken with aromatic spices. Everything cooks in one pot for an easy weeknight dinner.

35
min
10
prep
🔥
25
cook
👥
4
servings
450
kcal / serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

1

Melt butter, cook onion and garlic 3 minutes.

2

Add chicken, garam masala, turmeric. Cook 5 minutes.

3

Add tomatoes, cream, rice, and 300ml water. Stir well.

4

Cover and simmer 20 minutes until rice is cooked.

💡 Don't lift the lid during cooking.

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Common Questions

How long does it take to cook one pot butter chicken?
Total time is about 35 minutes, with 25 minutes of actual cooking. Cooking times may vary slightly depending on your equipment and ingredient size.
How many servings does this one pot butter chicken recipe make?
This recipe yields 4 servings as written. You can easily scale the recipe up or down using the serving size adjuster above the ingredient list.
Can I customize the ingredients in this recipe?
Yes, the ingredient list shows possible swaps for many items. Stick to similar quantities and textures when substituting to maintain the expected result.
What can I serve with one pot butter chicken?
This dish pairs well with a fresh salad, roasted vegetables, rice, or crusty bread. Check our related recipes below for more ideas.

What to drink with this

🍷
Wine
Off-dry Riesling or Gewürztraminer.
🍺
Beer
Kingfisher or any malty Indian lager.
🍸
Cocktail
Mango lassi with rum.
🥤
Non-alcoholic
Mango lassi or masala chai.

Ingredient substitutions

IngredientReplace withRatioNotes
heavy creamcoconut cream (full-fat, scooped)1:1Dairy-free. Slight coconut flavor — works for curries, less so for European dishes.
evaporated milk + 1 tbsp butter per cup1:1Less rich, but mimics heavy cream in sauces.
The story behind this recipe ▾
The appeal of one pot butter chicken comes from the combination of familiar ingredients and a straightforward method. In the indian tradition this recipe belongs to, rice & grains dishes are often distinguished by how well the main components are balanced rather than by complexity of technique. Here, chicken thighs, butter, onion form the backbone of the flavour, supported by the remaining ingredients in the list of 9. Total timing is 35 minutes end to end — 10 minutes of prep and 25 minutes of cooking. The yield of 4 makes it suitable for a family-sized portion.
This recipe is for inspiration only. We do not provide food safety, storage, or nutritional advice. Always follow your local food safety guidelines. Check all ingredients for allergens.
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