Description
These Butter Chicken Meatballs are a delicious twist on the classic Indian dish, featuring flavorful chicken meatballs in a rich and creamy butter chicken sauce. Perfect served with rice or naan!
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs:
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1/4 cup plain breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
- 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Butter Chicken Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
- 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish
- Cooked rice or naan, for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the Meatballs: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic, ginger, onion, cilantro, garam masala, cumin, and salt. Form into meatballs and bake for 15-18 minutes.
- Make the Butter Chicken Sauce: In a skillet, heat oil and butter. Cook onion until soft, then add garlic, ginger, tomato sauce, spices, and cream. Simmer, then add yogurt. Coat the meatballs in the sauce and simmer.
- Serve: Garnish with cilantro and serve with rice or naan.
Notes
- For a lighter version, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream.
- Adjust spices to taste for more or less heat.
- These meatballs freeze well in sauce for easy make-ahead meals.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking, Stovetop
- Cuisine: Indian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4-5 meatballs with sauce
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 165mg