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Spicy Coconut Butter Chicken

30-Minute Spicy Coconut Butter Chicken


  • Author: Emily Walker
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 8 1x

Description

Tender chunks of chicken simmered in a bold, creamy tomato-coconut sauce infused with garlic, ginger, and warming spices. This quick, flavor-packed dish is the ultimate comfort served over fluffy rice or with pillowy naan to soak up every last drop.


Ingredients

Scale

4 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-size chunks

½ cup plain Greek yogurt

12 cloves garlic, minced or grated

4 tbsp fresh grated ginger

6 tsp garam masala (divided)

4 tsp cumin

2 tsp turmeric

24 tsp cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)

Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste

4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

8 tbsp (1 stick) salted butter

2 large yellow onions, chopped

24 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (to taste)

1 cup tomato paste

2 (14 oz) cans full-fat coconut milk (or 2 cups heavy cream)

1 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped

Steamed rice and naan, for serving


Instructions

In a bowl, toss chicken with yogurt, garlic, ginger, 2 tsp garam masala, cumin, turmeric, cayenne, salt, and pepper.

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Sear chicken until browned, about 5–7 minutes. Remove from skillet.

In the same skillet, melt butter and add onions. Sauté 5 minutes until soft.

Stir in remaining garam masala, red pepper flakes, and tomato paste. Cook 2–3 minutes until dark red.

Pour in coconut milk and bring to a simmer. Add chicken back to the skillet and simmer 10–15 minutes until cooked through.

Stir in cilantro and adjust salt to taste.

Serve hot with rice and naan.

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes

Nutrition

  • Calories: 460 / Serving
  • Fat: 28g / Serving
  • Carbohydrates: 10g / Serving
  • Fiber: 2g / Serving
  • Protein: 38g / Serving