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A skillet of creamy keto butter chicken recipe with tender chicken in a glossy, rich orange-gold tomato cream sauce.

Keto Butter Chicken Recipe

Emily Carter
This easy keto butter chicken features tender chicken breast simmered in a velvety, rich tomato cream sauce. Made without starch, it delivers cozy, deep restaurant-style flavors in under 30 minutes.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Indian
Servings 4 servings
Calories 385 kcal

Equipment

  • Skillet
  • Mixing bowl
  • spatula

Ingredients

  • 1 lb chicken breast
  • 1 cup Heavy Whipping Cream
  • 2 tbsp Butter
  • 1.5 tbsp tomato paste
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1/4 medium Onion
  • 1.5 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
  • 1 tsp Pink Himalayan Salt
  • 3/4 tsp chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Instructions

  • Cut the chicken into bite-size pieces, then toss it in a bowl with the turmeric powder, ground ginger, Pink Himalayan Salt, chili powder, and ground cinnamon. The pieces should look evenly coated and bright yellow-orange before they go into the skillet.
  • Set a skillet over medium heat and melt the Butter, then add the diced Onion and garlic as it foams. Cook for 2 to 3 min, until the onion turns translucent and the mixture smells sweet, buttery, and fragrant.
  • Raise the heat to medium-high and add the seasoned chicken to the skillet in an even layer. Cook for 3 to 5 min, stirring as needed, until the outside loses its raw look and turns mostly white with a few lightly browned spots.
  • Stir in the Heavy Whipping Cream and tomato paste, mixing until the tomato paste fully dissolves into the cream. The sauce will shift from pale cream to a glossy orange-gold color and should look smooth, not streaky.
  • Reduce the heat to medium-low and cover the skillet with a lid. Let it simmer for 5 to 7 min, until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce smells rounded and mellow.
  • Take off the lid and stir the sauce well, then let it reduce uncovered if you want it thicker. It is ready when the sauce coats the back of a spoon and the chicken feels tender instead of rubbery.
  • Spoon the butter chicken into bowls and serve right away. The sauce should stay velvety and cling to each piece rather than pooling watery around it.

Notes

Spice blooming: Bloom the spices in hot butter before adding the chicken to open up the flavor compounds and build a deeper, rounder taste.
Temperature control: Keep the heat low once heavy cream is added to prevent the sauce from separating or splitting.
Storage: Store leftovers in a tightly covered container in the refrigerator within two hours and consume within 3 to 4 days.
Nutrition information is an estimate based on common ingredients and serving sizes. Values may vary depending on brands, portions, and substitutions.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Keto Butter Chicken Recipe
Amount per Serving
Calories
385
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
26.75
g
41
%
Saturated Fat
 
15
g
94
%
Cholesterol
 
115
mg
38
%
Sodium
 
680
mg
30
%
Potassium
 
320
mg
9
%
Carbohydrates
 
6.25
g
2
%
Fiber
 
0.25
g
1
%
Sugar
 
2
g
2
%
Protein
 
26.5
g
53
%
Vitamin A
 
12
IU
0
%
Vitamin C
 
2
mg
2
%
Calcium
 
6
mg
1
%
Iron
 
8
mg
44
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Keyword butter chicken, keto butter chicken recipe, low carb butter chicken
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