Last Updated on September 27, 2026 by Lisa Keys
This easy butter chicken recipe is a one-pot-wonder bringing all the flavor of your favorite curry. But, without the daunting ingredient list. It's the perfect weeknight meal served with jasmine or basmati rice.
With a simple yogurt marinade that comes together in seconds this butter chicken recipe takes on a rich tomato flavor while simply simmering on the stovetop. It stands up to some of the best curries I have ever tasted.
So, what makes this butter chicken recipe so easy and craveable? It's the Don Pepino Pizza Sauce. The fresh tomatoes, the garlic and the spices are all complimentary to authentic Indian curry. No list of daunting ingredients and no trip to a specialty store needed.
I am one of 30 bloggers creating innovative recipes using this flavorful "Jersey Fresh" sauce in 3 categories: Signature Pizzas, Beyond the Slice and Appetizers & Shareables. This is my entry in Beyond the Slice.
How to Make Butter Chicken
- Start by marinating bite-sized pieces of chicken in plain yogurt, garam masala and salt. Then, cook the chicken until no longer pink.
- Next, cook shallots and ginger until softened. Stir in garam masala until fragrant.
- Add the Don Pepino pizza sauce, stirring up any browned bits on the bottom of the pot.
- Next stir in the butter, salt and heavy cream and bring to a simmer.
- Finally, stir in the chicken and accumulated juices. Simmer until chicken is cooked through.
- Add fresh herbs and serve with hot cooked white rice or warm flatbread.
The bonus is that if, by chance, you have any butter chicken sauce leftovers it makes an incredible naan flatbread pizza, too. See the chicken flatbread recipe in the notes section of the recipe card.
Easy Butter Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons plain yogurt
- 1 tablespoon garam masala divided
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt divided
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast or thigh, cut into bite-size pieces
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter divided
- ¼ cup thinly sliced shallots
- 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
- 1 (14.5 oz.) can Don Pepino Pizza Sauce
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons chopped flat leaf parsley or cilantro plus additional for garnish
- 2 cups hot cooked rice
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix yogurt, ½ tablespoon of garam masala and 1 teaspoon of salt. Add chicken and stir to coat chicken in the yogurt mixture. Cover and marinate for 30 minutes or as long as overnight in the refrigerator.
- Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium high heat. Add chicken and cook until no longer pink. Transfer chicken to a plate.
- Add 1 tablespoon of butter to the pan. Add shallots and ginger to the pan and cook, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes or until shallots have softened.
- Add remaining ½ tablespoon of garam masala and stir for 30 seconds.
- Stir in pizza sauce scraping up any browned bits on bottom of pan.
- Stir in remaining 1 tablespoon of butter, 1 teaspoon of salt and heavy cream. Bring sauce to a simmer.
- Return chicken and any accumulated juice to the pan. Simmer for 5 to 10 minutes or until chicken is fully cooked.
- Stir in fresh herbs.
- Serve over hot cooked rice.
Notes
Nutrition
Do check out the Don Pepino web site and social media channels for more delicious ideas like my pizza muffins and autumn pizza.
FB: https://www.facebook.com/DonPepinoSauce/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/realdonpepino
Website: www.violetfoods.com
#TheSauceBehindTheSlice
#MadeWithDonPepino
#DonPepinosRecipeChallenge
Lisa Keys says
I have this recipe on easy weeknight dinner rotation.