Indulge guilt-free with our mouthwatering Keto Butter Chicken recipe! Creamy and rich, this low-carb twist on a classic Indian favorite combines tender chicken in a luscious tomato and butter sauce, all without the carbs. It's always a big hit with the family and when entertaining.
Try it this week, it really is a sensational keto curry recipe!
Jump to Recipe
A bowl filled with keto butter chicken and palmini rice.

Is Butter Chicken Keto?

Authentic Butter Chicken recipes are packed with sugar-laden sauces and high-carb ingredients. To make keto-friendly butter chicken, we’ve made a few clever swaps:

  1. Low-Carb Tomato Sauce: We’ll use a keto-friendly crushed tomatoes without added sugar to maintain that delightful tomatoey flavor.
  2. Rich Creaminess: Heavy cream takes the place of yogurt or other dairy products, providing that classic velvety texture without the carbs.

Why We Love This Recipe

Murgh Makhani or Butter Chicken, is easily one of the most popular curry recipes around the globe. If you love a good curry and Indian food then this dish is a must-try!

Low carb – with just 6g net carbs per serving this butter chicken is not only delicious but also naturally low carb.

Everyday ingredients – Made mostly with everyday ingredients found in most pantries.

Quick and easy – an easy butter chicken recipe that really is fuss-free.

Various Cooking methods – you can make this butter chicken in Instant Pot, slow cooker, stovetop, low oven and thermal cooker e.g. Thermomix.

Butter Chicken Ingredients on a white table.

The Ingredients

  • Chicken Thigh fillets – use skinless chicken thighs for this recipe. You can use chicken breast fillets instead. Just watch the cooking time. For a vegetarian alternative use cauliflower florets, paneer, or firm tofu.
  • Black or brown cardamom pods – add great flavour to the butter chicken. You can find these pods in Indian market grocers.
  • Fenugreek leaves (also known as Kasoori Methi) – make all the difference in this recipe. Seeds or fenugreek powder are just not the same.
  • Kashmiri chili powder – is actually a mild chili powder.

JUMP TO the healthy butter chicken sauce recipe card for all instructions and quantities.

How to Make It

Chicken in a bowl in marinade.
Butter Chicken gravy in a cast-iron pan.

Step 1. Combine all the marinade ingredients in a large bowl. Add the chicken thighs and coat with the marinade. Leave to marinate for 1-2 hours or overnight.

Step 2. Melt ghee in a pan over moderate heat. Add onion, garlic, ginger, cardamom, coriander, garam masala, turmeric, and chilli powder. Stir well and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Add fenugreek leaves, tomatoes and tomato paste. Bring to a simmer and reduce by a third.

Chicken and butter on top of curry in a pan.
Keto Butter Chicken in a cast-iron frying pan.

Step 3. Add the chicken to the sauce (or grill first then add) and reduce heat to a low simmer. Simmer chicken for 10-12 minutes or until cooked through. Add the butter, cream and almond meal.

Step 4. Stir continuously until the butter has melted and the sauce is thick and velvety.

How to Make Butter Chicken in the Instant Pot

1. Combine marinade ingredients in a non-reactive bowl coating chicken well. Cover and chill for 3-4 hours.

2. Add all ingredients to Instant Pot except butter, cream and almond meal. Set Pot to 10 minutes high pressure. Allow to naturally release for 10 minutes then release remaining pressure

3. Add the butter, heavy cream and almond meal. Stir continuously until the butter has melted and the sauce is thick and velvety. (Add more almond meal as needed if the sauce is not thick enough). Season to taste.

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Brown bowl with butter chicken and rice in it.

How to Make Butter Chicken in the Thermomix

Cooking butter chicken in the Thermomix is surprisingly one of my preferred ways to do it. I do have a lot of Thermomix chicken recipes. The keto butter chicken is one of my personal favourites.

Thermomix Butter Chicken is highly searched for among the Thermomix Australia community and we all know that Skinnymixers Butter Chicken gets a lot of testing.

Personally, I love my keto butter chicken that is a third of the carbs, easier and quicker and uses more authentic ingredients and flavours.

Here is how to make my keto butter chicken in a Thermomix.

1. Combine marinade ingredients in a non-reactive bowl coating chicken well. Cover and chill for 3-4 hours.

2. Place onion and garlic into the mixer; chop 3 sec/speed 6. Add the ghee, ginger, cardamom, coriander, garam masala, turmeric and chilli powder to mixer; cook 2 min/100℃/MC off/stir.

3. Add fenugreek leaves, tomatoes and tomato paste; cook 14 min/100℃/MC off/basket on top/stir.

4. Add the butter, cream almond meal and chicken. Stir using a spatula to ensure chicken is completely covered in the sauce. Cook 12 min/100℃/ basket on top/reverse /stir. (Add more almond meal as needed if the sauce is not thick enough). Season to taste. Serve as above.

What to Serve with Butter Chicken

Serve this delightful keto butter chicken over cauliflower rice, steamed broccoli, or spinach for a complete, low-carb meal. Don’t forget to garnish with fresh cilantro for that authentic touch.

The butter chicken is also perfect with Stuffed Keto Naan from our Keto Breads eBook.

Bowl of curry chicken and rice.

Tips for Success and FAQs

  • Don’t skip the marinating step; it infuses the chicken with incredible flavor.
  • Adjust the spice level to your liking by tweaking the cayenne pepper or using a milder chili powder.
  • Simmer the sauce until it thickens to achieve that perfect creamy consistency.
How long will butter chicken keep in the fridge?

Store in the fridge for up to 3 days. Otherwise, freeze in individual serves in an airtight container for when you need an easy meal.

What is the difference between butter chicken and chicken tikka masala?

They are very similar but butter chicken is milder and creamier than a tikka masala.

There is too much sauce? My sauce is runny?

The sauce is so good you will eat it with a spoon, trust me. There is never too much sauce in my opinion. Allow the butter chicken to rest for 10 minutes before serving. Or cook it the next day. The sauce will thicken upon resting.

I do love a good keto curry myself. Here are just a few of my best keto dinner recipes.

  1. Massaman Chicken Curry
  2. Thai Penang Chicken Curry
  3. Red Curry Chicken Chiang Mai Style
  4. Malaysian Meat Curry Powder
Keto Butter chicken in a brown bowl and topped with yogurt and cilantro.

Easy Keto Butter Chicken

Indulge guilt-free with our mouthwatering Keto Butter Chicken recipe! Creamy and rich, this low-carb twist on a classic Indian favorite combines tender chicken in a luscious tomato and butter sauce, all without the carbs. It’s always a big hit with the family and when entertaining.
Try it this week, it really is a sensational keto curry recipe!
4.96 from 47 votes!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Course: Lunch and Dinner
Cuisine: Indian
Diet: Diabetic, Gluten Free
Recipe Category: Low Carb
Calories: 318kcal
Author: Megan Ellam
Servings: 6 serves
Tap or hover over number to scale ingredients
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Equipment

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Ingredients 

CHICKEN MARINADE

  • ½ teaspoon (½ teaspoon) ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon (½ teaspoon) garam masala
  • ½ teaspoon (½ teaspoon) ground turmeric
  • ½ teaspoon (½ teaspoon) Kashmiri chilli powder See notes
  • 70 g (⅓ cups) Greek yoghurt plus extra to serve
  • 900 g (6 cups) chicken breast or thigh fillets (I recommend thigh) cut into 3 -4 cm cubes

CURRY SAUCE

  • 2 tablespoons (2 tablespoons) 40g ghee or melted unsalted butter or coconut oil
  • ½ (½) onion 100g finely minced
  • 2 (2) garlic cloves finely chopped
  • 2 teaspoons (2 teaspoons) ginger paste
  • 2 (2) brown/black cardamom pods bruised. See Notes
  • 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) garam masala
  • 2 teaspoons (2 teaspoons) ground turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) Kashmiri chilli powder See Notes
  • 1 tablespoon (1 tablespoon) fenugreek leaves See Notes
  • 400 g (14 oz) tomatoes crushed
  • 2 tablespoons (2 tablespoons) tomato paste
  • 40 g (1 ⅖ oz) butter
  • 100 g (3 ½ oz) thickened cream or coconut cream. See Notes
  • 3 tablespoons (3 tablespoons) almond meal or use 1 tablespoon of gelatin to thicken
  • Salt and pepper to taste

TO SERVE

  • Fresh coriander leaves cauliflower rice and extra yoghurt
  • Cauliflower Rice

Instructions

CONVENTIONAL METHOD

  • Combine marinade ingredients in a non-reactive bowl coating chicken well. Cover and chill for 1-2 hours or leave overnight.
  • Melt ghee in a pan over moderate heat. Add onion, garlic, ginger, cardamom, coriander, garam masala, turmeric, and chilli powder. Stir well and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
  • Add fenugreek leaves, tomatoes and tomato paste. Bring to a simmer and reduce by a third. Add the chicken to the pan and reduce heat to a low simmer. Simmer chicken for 10-12 minutes or until cooked through.
  • Add the butter, cream and almond meal. Stir continuously until the butter has melted and the sauce begins to thicken. Leave to rest, covered, for 10-15 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken. Season to taste. Serve with cauliflower rice, coriander leaves and extra yoghurt.

THERMOMIX METHOD

  • Combine marinade ingredients in a non-reactive bowl coating chicken well. Cover and chill for 1-2 hours.
  • Place onion and garlic into mixer; chop 3 sec/speed 6. Add the ghee, ginger, cardamom, coriander, garam masala, turmeric, and chilli powder to mixer; cook 2 min/100℃/MC off/stir.
  • Add fenugreek leaves, tomatoes and tomato paste; cook 14 min/100℃/MC off/basket on top/stir.
  • Add the butter, cream almond meal and chicken. Stir using a spatula to ensure chicken is completely covered in the sauce. Cook 12 min/100℃/basket on top/reverse /stir. Leave to rest, covered, for 10-15 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken. Season to taste. Serve as above.

INSTANT POT OR PRESSURE COOKER METHOD

  • Combine marinade ingredients in a non-reactive bowl coating chicken well. Cover and chill for 1-2 hours.
  • Add all ingredients to Instant Pot except butter, cream and almond meal. Set Pot to 10 minutes high pressure/naturally release for 10 minutes then release remaining pressure.
  • Add the butter, cream and almond meal. Stir continuously until the butter has melted and the sauce is thickened. Leave to rest, covered, for 10-15 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken. Season to taste. Serve with cauliflower rice, coriander leaves and extra yoghurt.

Notes

TO SERVE
I recommend a small serving of Cauliflower Rice, extra Greek yoghurt (or our 2 Ingredient Yoghurt) and coriander leaves. Simple and delicious. Serve with Stuffed Keto Naan which you will find in our Keto Breads eBook.
STORING Low carb butter chicken will also store in the fridge for up to 3 days. Otherwise, freeze in individual serves in an airtight container for when you need an easy meal. 
INGREDIENTS & SUBSTITUTES
Kashmiri chilli powder is a very mild Indian chilli powder. It adds flavour and colour to the low carb Butter Chicken without adding heat.
Black or brown cardamom pods are available at Indian/Asian grocers and have a different flavour profile than green cardamom pods.
Fenugreek leaves are authentic to a butter chicken gravy. They are completely different to the powder or seeds for adding flavour and I strongly recommend sourcing them and using them in this recipe.
To make dairy free butter chicken or paleo butter chicken recipe replace butter with coconut oil and swap cream to coconut cream.  Swap breast or chicken on the bone, if preferred. The chicken can be grilled before adding it to the gravy.
For a vegan butter chicken alternative, use tofu or cauliflower. For more tasty low carb chicken recipes try our Baked Italian Chicken Thighs, Chicken Tikka, Baked Tandoori Chicken or Chicken Korma.

Your Own Notes

Click here to add your own private recipe notes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serve | Calories: 318kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 130mg | Sodium: 358mg | Potassium: 843mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 691IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 63mg | Iron: 2mg | Magnesium: 58mg | Net Carbs: 6g
Tried this recipe?Mention @meganellam or tag #madcreations!

You will find a lot of keto chicken recipes here as well as keto Indian recipes. I am a little bit of a fan so you will find more each month.

Megan Ellam is an Australian keto recipes blogger living in Thornton, NSW. She is the author of amazing keto cookbooks such as Slow Cook Keto, Keto Loco, The Healthy Family Keto Cookbook and Every Day Keto.

Share This Recipe

105 responses to “Easy Keto Butter Chicken Recipe”

  1. Paige

    5 stars
    Wow, I bet this chicken is super tender too…it looks great and I’ll serve it over some cauliflower rice with more butter!!

    Reply
    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      The chicken is so tender either way with breast and thigh. Cauliflower Rice is also heightened with a little warmed coconut cream, ghee, saffron and turmeric. #sogood

      Reply
  2. Veena Azmanov

    5 stars
    Love the color of the dish and presentation too. Definitely yummy with all the combination of ingredient.

    Reply
    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      Thanks so much for leaving a review Veena. I am so happy you enjoyed it.

      Reply
  3. Shelley

    5 stars
    Oh my goodness – thank you for this adaptable (3 ways to cook it!!) recipe! Butter Chicken is absolutely my daughter’s most favorite Indian dish, and I keep telling myself I need to make it more often at home. I love that this recipe is easier and with fewer ingredients – because you’re so right – who has time these days to spend hours in the kitchen?!? Thank you!

    Reply
    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      Absolutely Shelley! Time is precious so easy meals like this are always a regular in my kitchen. Thanks for leaving a rating too

      Reply
  4. Deb

    5 stars
    OMG!!! We loved it and my curry loving daughter whose favourite meal from our local Indian restaurant is Butter Chicken said this was even better then the one from there. The taste was amazing!!! I chose the pressure cooker method and the chicken was tender and the flavour was sensational, a party in our mouths. Thanks Megan for another awesome recipe ๐Ÿ’•

    Reply
    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      Woohoo! I am so happy that everyone enjoyed the meal you cooked Deb. There is nothing better than a home cooked meal that everyone enjoys. No need for takeaway anymore, just pop on the pressure cooker and sit back and wait. Thanks for testing the recipe and leaving a review Deb, it means a lot. x

      Reply
    2. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      Woohoo Deb! So happy you loved it. Easier, cheaper and better at home too. Thanks for giving the recipe a try and leaving such a stellar review!

      Reply
  5. Kristy Jane

    5 stars
    Can I leave a 100 star review?
    Best butter chicken I have ever made & tasted!
    It was super easy to make, directions easy to follow & the taste was intense!
    I used the Thermomix & chicken breast, almond meal. Next time will try with thigh & collagen in the instant pot.
    I just ate a bowl at 1030pm & want to go back for seconds.
    Thank you Megan, you are a superstar ๐Ÿคฉ๐Ÿคฉ๐Ÿคฉ

    Reply
    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      Haha! Thanks Kristy for a great review. I will take the 100 stars lol. Glad you enjoyed even with the leaner cut of breast. I tested both ways too and I am happy with either. Let us know how you go with the IP as well.

      Reply
  6. Colleen F

    4 stars
    This recipe was delicious. Be aware, it does make a lot of sauce! The only thing different thing that I used was the cardamom pods (only green ones available here in regional WA). I did find the sauce was quite liquid, even after doubling the amount of almond meal. Next time I might try using the gelatine or perhaps some xanthum gum.

    Reply
    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      Hi Colleen, thanks so much for trying the butter chicken and leaving a review. Maybe the tomatoes you used were a little watery? The sauce should definitely be thick”ish”. I use Ardmona rich and thick if I used tinned, but I also tested this with fresh tomatoes as well. Let us know how next time round goes and thanks again for the feedback.

      Reply
  7. Denise Williams

    Wow what a flavour I cooked mine in the instant pot although I have a TM I was eager to try the IP . I found the chicken caught a bit so maybe next time I would add a little more liquid. I didn’t have fenugreek leaves so used 1/2 TSP of powder. Can’t wait to try with the leaves cus this was pretty dam good and will not hesitate to make again. Thx Megan

    Reply
    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      Thanks so much for trying the recipe Denise and your feedback. A bit of extra liquid will be fine of course in the IP as it does seem to reduce well.

      Reply
  8. Vicki

    This butter chicken recipe is next level. My family really enjoyed this butter chicken as it (in there words ) wasnโ€™t too sweet . It smelt amazing cooking and was easy to make

    Reply
    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      Thanks so much for reviewing our newest recipe Vicki. I am so happy that the family enjoyed the meal you made for them. If there is any changes you would makke just let me know

      Reply
  9. Nat

    5 stars
    Yum yum…. the spices are really lovely in this Butter Chicken (not just a boring creamy tomato gravy like some). I cooked in Thermomix TM5 and instructions were perfect. Not too much left over gravy like other recipes either, although i think I’ll add a couple of extra tblspns of almond meal just to thicken it up a bit more like Megan suggests. The chilli is not hot at all, my 3yo and 6yo devoured it.

    Reply
    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      Yay! Awesome Nat. I love that the kids enjoyed it too. Thanks for the review and trying out the recipe.

      Reply
  10. Nicole O’loughlin

    5 stars
    Best keto butter chicken recipe I have ever tasted. Very enjoyable also for my non keto family. I cooked the thermomix recipe and it was very easy to follow.
    Great work Megan, another amazing recipe.

    Reply
    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      Yay that is so good to hear. I am so happy you enjoyed it and that it was of course an easy recipe to prepare. Thanks for try it out and leaving a review Nicole.

      Reply
  11. Chris

    5 stars
    This dish is the bomb. Megan, the flavours are spot on! My kids declared it on par, if not better than the authentic recipe I have been using for years that is far more time consuming and involved to make. I have tried many Thermomix butter chicken recipes over the years and none of them come close to this one. Even the steamed broccoli was slathered in the sauce and wolfed down. So, if you are a butter chicken fan, forget the rest and put this one on top of your list. Next time, I’m going to double the recipe, making the sauce in the Thermomix and then finishing it off on the stove top.

    Reply
    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      Hi Chris, that is so good to hear. I would do exactly the same with the broccoli too. Thanks so much for giving the recipe a go and reviewing it.

      Reply
  12. Karen

    Hi Megan- can I use fenagreek powder as this is what I have. Also is it too hot? Can I leave out the chilli โ€˜cause of kids? X

    Reply
    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      Hi Karen, the butter chicken is hot at all the amount of spice added over the quantity of sauce and serves. I totally recommend getting the fenugreek leaves as it is a lot different than the powder. It is up to you to substitute. If you don’t usually have any chilli powder in foods then you can leave it out. I will add that the Kashmiri chilli powder is not hot, it is made with mild chillies.

      Reply
  13. Lucy

    5 stars
    OMG this butter chicken is tastier than any I have ever tasted in a restaurant. It is full of flavour and the perfect blend of herbs and spices that make this dish so popular. It has more flavour rather than heat, if you are worried it is too hot. The longest part is marinating the chicken. It is so easy to make. I will be cooking this healthy meal at least once a week. It is just perfect. Thank you Megan.

    Reply
    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      Woohoo! I am so glad you love it Lucy. Thanks for testing and reviewing the recipe for us.

      Reply
  14. Mia

    5 stars
    This super easy recipe is a flavour bomb.
    I served it to my bestie for lunch. She raved about it and then rang her sister to tell her how Iโ€™d just made the BEST Butter Chicken she can remember.
    Says it all really.

    Reply
    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      Yay! Awesome love raving friends. Thanks Mia and I am so glad you have found a recipe worth sharing.

      Reply
  15. Sue

    5 stars
    Hot diggity, this is the most delicious butter chicken. Love the new version. The flavour is yum. The whole family loves it and have asked for a repeat meal..
    Thankyou for another winner.

    Reply
    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      Thanks so much Sue. I am so glad you loved it and thanks again for leaving a review.

      Reply
  16. Kelly Anthony

    5 stars
    This low carb butter chicken is sure to impress anyone with the bold flavors and beautiful presentation.

    Reply
    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      Thanks Kelly. I hope you love the recipe.

      Reply
  17. Ben

    5 stars
    Holy moly! Those flavors sound amazing. I love that deep, red color, too.

    Reply
    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      Yeah it is a little bright isnt it Ben. Maybe I carried away with the colour lol. Thanks for leaving a review.

      Reply
  18. Christine

    5 stars
    This is a cracker of a recipe. It was super easy & quick to prepare but full of flavour. Was a big hit with our family & will be made again.
    Thanks for another amazing recipe.

    Reply
    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      Thanks for the review Christine and your feedback to create a great recipe.

      Reply
  19. Lynda

    5 stars
    I have made a few butter chickens over the years and itโ€™s my daughters most requested meal when she comes home to visit. I made this and she was over in a flash as it was being served up . โ€œBest Butter chicken ever โ€œ was the compliment and we all loved it too.
    My husband ate it for lunch 3 days in a row and said the flavour developed and got better each time he ate it.
    Winning with this recipe as itโ€™s simple and so full of flavour.
    I loved your previous butter chicken but this one is even better.

    Reply
    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      Love it when the whole family loves a good recipe. Thanks so much for your review Lynda and I am so happy it was a hit at home.

      Reply
  20. Natusha

    5 stars
    Amazing. My kids loved it as much as I did. This is really delicious!

    Reply
    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      I am so happy the kids loved it Natusha. Nothing like an easy meal that everyone can enjoy. Thanks for leaving a review too. x

      Reply
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4.96 from 47 votes

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