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I think butter chicken is my favourite Indian dish (I know.. so basic!). And my sister is obsessed with it. This version features tender chicken meatballs in a creamy, savoury butter chicken sauce. It’s not very spicy at all, so it’s great for those who don’t love heat. You’re going to love these butter chicken meatballs!
how to make butter chicken meatballs
First you will start with the meatballs. They will later be simmered in a delicious sauce, so they don’t need to be elaborate – just tasty! Make them with just ground chicken, panko, and an egg, seasoned with salt and pepper.
Form them into meatballs and set them on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. I use a rounded tablespoon-size measuring spoon to help keep them evenly sized. Bake them for 15 minutes at 450°F, until cooked through and a little bit crispy on the outside.
While the meatballs are baking, get started with the sauce. In a medium sized bowl combine the following ingredients: tomato purée, yogurt, ginger, coriander, lemon juice, garam masala, tumeric, cumin, chilli powder.
Mix these these ingredients together then set the bowl aside. (Watch out for that tumeric. It’s bad for staining nails or fabrics if you get it on you.)
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the sliced onion until it begins to become translucent. Then add the minced garlic and cook for another minute.
Stir the prepared, mixed sauce ingredients into your skillet. Bring it just to a boil before stirring in the cream, sugar, and salt. Reduce to a simmer and continue cooking for fifteen minutes.
Stir in the meatballs and simmer for another five minutes. Now your butter chicken meatballs are ready to enjoy!
I served them with butter chicken’s traditional counterpart – basmati rice. It goes wonderfully with naan bread as well. And fresh coriander makes a simple but effective garnish.
For another fantastic chicken dish, check out my grilled mango lime chicken!
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Butter Chicken Meatballs
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 15–20 meatballs 1x
- Category: Main dish
- Cuisine: Indian
Description
Tender chicken meatballs in a creamy, savoury butter chicken sauce. It’s not very spicy at all, so it’s great for those who don’t love the heat. You’re going to love these!
Ingredients
Meatballs:
1 lb (454 g) ground chicken
1/2 cup (30 g) panko
1 egg
salt
pepper
Sauce:
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 yellow onion, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup (237 ml) tomato purée *
1/3 cup (82 g) full-fat, plain yogurt
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp ginger, freshly grated
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp garam masala
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp tumeric powder
1/4 tsp chilli powder
3/4 cup (177 ml) heavy cream
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp kosher salt
Serve with:
basmati rice
naan bread
Instructions
Preheat oven to 450°F. Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper.
Mix meatball ingredients together and form into rounded tablespoon-size meatballs. Food prep gloves or some olive oil on your hands will make this easier. Bake the meatballs for 15 minutes. They should be cooked through and a bit crispy on the outside.
In a medium bowl, mix together the following ingredients and set aside: tomato purée, yogurt, ginger, ground coriander, lemon juice, garam masala, tumeric, cumin, and chilli powder.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook onion for a few minutes until it begins to be translucent. Stir in garlic and cook for another minute.
Stir in the pre-mixed sauce ingredients. Bring it just to a boil, then stir in the cream, sugar, and salt. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
Mix the cooked meatballs into the sauce and simmer for another 5 minutes. Taste and add salt to your preference. Serve with basmati rice and/or naan bread.
Notes
* Tomato purée (tomato passata) is not the same as tomato sauce. If you can’t find it, use a blender to purée canned tomatoes.
Keywords: butter chicken meatballs
Love this recipe! I will definitely make this again.
★★★★★
That’s great! Thanks Shannon
Hi Asha,
Thanks for sharing, just sucessfully made a batch now..healthy and delicious 🙂
Cheers,
Lea
★★★★
Hi Lea, thanks for letting me know. So glad you liked them! 🙂
Scrumptious. Also surprisingly tender.
★★★★★
Thank you 🙂 Yes they are so soft. I love them
One of the best recipes I tasted for these.I tried a few.
★★★★★
Thanks so much!
I tripled the recipe for a family get-togetehr. Everyone of them asked for a second helping.
★★★★★
Good thing you made extra. So glad that your family enjoyed them. Thank you for leaving a review
HMMMM Savour the flavour. Luv it.
★★★★★
Glad you love it, I do too ❤️
My new – yummy – comfort food.
★★★★★
Thanks for the review 🙂
I made these on the weekend. The flavour is superb!!
★★★★★
Thanks so much!
Wow – this is a great recipe. Love how easy it is to prepare.
★★★★★
Thanks so much. I love these meatballs too.
Great recipe. My fussy pre-teens didn’t even complain like they usually do trying something new. In fact they gobbled them up quickly. That’s definitely a thumbs up.
★★★★★
Thanks for sharing 🙂 It’s very easy to love a good butter chicken. Glad they approved!
These meatballs are delicious. Will be making again and again.
★★★★★
Thanks so much!
Fabulous. I made these with wild rice. Loved the combination.
★★★★★
Thank you. That sounds delicious 🙂