Butter Chicken Pasta
Creamy Butter Chicken Pasta combines classic butter chicken flavors with pasta for a quick, comforting meal. Tender chicken is tossed in a smooth tomato-butter sauce, making this an easy 30-minute weeknight dinner.
Servings: 2
Calories: 415kcal
Ingredients
For the sauce
- 15 g butter 1 tbsp
- 15 ml oil
- 70 g onion finely chopped (1 small onion)
- 6 g garlic minced (2 cloves)
- 5 g grated ginger 1 tsp
- 5 g garam masala 1 tsp
- 5 g ground cumin 1 tsp
- 2.5 g chili powder ½ tsp
- 200 g tomato purée
- 120 ml cream ½ cup
- Salt to taste
For the pasta
- 200 g penne or rigatoni
- 200 g cooked or grilled chicken sliced
- 15 g butter 1 tbsp
- Fresh coriander for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta water.
- In a large pan, heat butter and oil. Add onion and cook 3–4 min until soft.
- Stir in garlic, ginger, and spices. Cook 1 min until fragrant.
- Add tomato purée and simmer 5 min. Stir in cream and season with salt.
- Add the pasta, chicken, and a splash of the reserved water. Toss to coat.
- Finish with butter and coriander. Serve warm.
Notes
Ingredient swaps
- Use paneer or mushrooms instead of chicken for a vegetarian version.
- Replace cream with cashew cream for a dairy-free option, keeping the sauce smooth.
- Any short pasta like fusilli or farfalle works well if penne or rigatoni aren’t available.
- Cook the spices briefly in butter and oil to release their aroma without burning.
- Keep the heat low after adding cream to prevent the sauce from splitting.
- Reserve a little pasta water and add it gradually if the sauce feels too thick.
- The sauce can be made up to one day ahead and stored in the fridge.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
- Reheat gently on low heat, adding a splash of water or cream to loosen the sauce.
- Serve on its own as a one-bowl meal or with a simple green salad on the side.
- Finish with fresh coriander for freshness and balance.
- A squeeze of lemon just before serving brightens the flavors.
- Add a pinch of smoked paprika for a subtle smoky note.
- Stir in a spoon of butter at the end for extra richness.
- Add lightly sautéed bell peppers for color and texture.
Nutrition
Calories: 415kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 42g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 100mg | Sodium: 141mg | Potassium: 193mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1665IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 84mg | Iron: 2mg