Easy Baked Butter Chicken (Printer-Friendly)
Oven-baked chicken thighs simmered in creamy spiced tomato sauce for a flavorful meal.
# List of Ingredients:
→ Chicken Marinade
01 -
4 boneless skinless chicken thighs, approximately 1.5 pounds
02 -
½ cup plain whole milk yogurt
03 -
Juice of ½ lemon
04 -
2 tablespoons ginger garlic paste
05 -
½ teaspoon garam masala
06 -
¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
07 -
½ teaspoon ground cumin
08 -
1 tablespoon Kashmiri chili powder
09 -
1 teaspoon salt
→ Butter Chicken Sauce
10 -
15 ounces tomato sauce
11 -
2 tablespoons ghee, melted
12 -
½ cup heavy cream
13 -
½ teaspoon salt
14 -
½ teaspoon sugar
15 -
¼ teaspoon garam masala
16 -
½ teaspoon Kashmiri chili powder
17 -
½ teaspoon ground coriander
18 -
½ teaspoon ground green cardamom
19 -
Pinch of asafoetida (optional)
20 -
1 teaspoon kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves)
21 -
Fresh cilantro, for garnish
# Preparation Steps:
01 -
Preheat the oven to 425°F.
02 -
Trim excess fat from chicken thighs and slice three deep slits into each thigh with a chef’s knife.
03 -
In a mixing bowl, combine yogurt, lemon juice, ginger garlic paste, garam masala, turmeric, cumin, Kashmiri chili powder, and salt. Add chicken thighs and toss to coat thoroughly.
04 -
In a 9x13 inch baking dish, stir together tomato sauce, melted ghee, heavy cream, salt, sugar, garam masala, Kashmiri chili powder, ground coriander, ground green cardamom, and asafoetida.
05 -
Arrange marinated chicken thighs in the baking dish atop the sauce, ensuring all marinade is included.
06 -
Bake at 425°F for 45 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Baste chicken with sauce at 30 and 40 minutes. The sauce should thicken, brighten in color, and the ghee will separate from the sauce.
07 -
Crush kasuri methi between your hands to release flavor and sprinkle over the baking dish. Garnish with fresh cilantro. Serve warm with rice or garlic naan.
# Additional Suggestions:
01 -
If sauce is too thin after cooking, remove chicken to rest and return sauce to oven to thicken for an additional 5 minutes, watching carefully.
02 -
This dish can be prepared ahead and refrigerated overnight before baking.
03 -
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days to allow flavors to deepen.
04 -
For doubling, increase bake time by 20-30 minutes and baste every 15 minutes.