Go Back
One-Pan Baked Butter Chicken served in a white dish, garnished with cilantro, steamy and rich in a creamy sauce

One-Pan Baked Butter Chicken

This One-Pan Baked Butter Chicken is an easy butter chicken recipe that saves time and delivers delicious baked butter chicken thighs in a creamy homemade butter chicken curry sauce. Perfect for pairing with basmati rice, this Indian butter chicken oven recipe is sure to impress!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Resting Time 5 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 5 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1.2 kg/2.4 lb (6 pieces) bone-in chicken thighs, skin removed
  • 1/2 cup plain full-fat yogurt
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp finely grated ginger
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely grated or crushed
  • 1 tsp turmeric powder
  • 2 tsp garam masala
  • 1/2 tsp chili powder or cayenne pepper
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 2 tbsp melted ghee or butter
  • 1 cup tomato passata
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream or coconut milk
  • 1 1/2 tsp white sugar
  • 3/4 tsp kosher salt
  • Cooked basmati rice, naan, and chopped cilantro for garnish

Method
 

  1. Preheat the oven: Set it to 200°C (400°F) or 180°C (fan-forced).
  2. Marinate the chicken: In a mixing bowl, whisk together yogurt, lemon juice, ginger, garlic, and spices. Add chicken thighs and coat them completely. If you have time, marinate in the fridge for up to 12 hours; otherwise, skip this step.
  3. Assemble in the baking dish: In your baking dish, whisk together the sauce ingredients—ghee, tomato passata, cream, sugar, and salt. Nestle the chicken thighs into the sauce, skin-side up, and scrape any leftover marinade onto the chicken for extra flavor.
  4. Bake: Slide the dish into the preheated oven and bake for 45 minutes, basting the chicken with sauce at the 30- and 40-minute marks. The sauce will turn a beautiful orangey-red and thicken.
  5. Serve: Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes out of the oven. Serve over basmati rice with a sprinkle of fresh cilantro and some naan on the side for mopping up that incredible sauce.

Notes

Pro Tip: Don’t skip the cilantro garnish if you can help it—it adds a bright, fresh contrast to the creamy sauce!