Creamy butter chicken meatballs. Infuse tender meatballs with classic butter chicken spices and cook in the oven until brown and juicy, then soak in butter chicken sauce for extra deliciousness. The beautiful vibrant sauce and the fresh herb topping definitely makes it a celebratory dish and is a welcome addition to both weeknight meals as well as special occasions. This elegant dish tastes absolutely delicious when served with rice, pasta, garlic bread, or even with a side of salad greens.
Why I Love This Easy Indian Fusion Comfort Food
When you hear the word “butter chicken”, the popular Indian dish, you might not immediately think meatballs, but I’m pretty sure it definitely makes your mind wander around the color, aroma and taste of the classic. While the meatballs are either pan fried or baked, the sauce creates the right backdrop loaded with the perfect flavors to tantalize your taste buds and totally embraces the basic elements of the traditional recipe.
These butter chicken inspired meatballs start with a delicious mixture of ground or minced chicken, spices like cumin and garam masala, garlic, ginger, egg, breadcrumbs and a dash of lemon juice. Basically, we are replacing chunks of chicken with meatballs making the dish more versatile and a crowd pleaser. The sauce is tomato-based but infused with the richness of butter and cream. Apart from this stove top-bake version, you can also slow cook these meatballs by gently poaching them in the sauce. Either way, the deep, luxurious flavors make them perfect for both weeknights or entertaining.
Key Ingredients In Butter Chicken Meatballs
- Chicken - Ground or minced chicken is the basic ingredient.
- Spices - Cumin and garam masala for flavor.
- Butter - For the signature richness of the sauce.
- Cream - The second element adding richness.
- Breadcrumbs - The binding agent.
How To Make Butter Chicken Meatballs
Make meatballs - Simply combine together minced chicken, ginger, garlic, ground cumin, garam masala, egg, breadcrumbs and a dash of lemon juice with the right amount of salt and pepper. Roll into balls, and bake or pan fry until tender.
Make the sauce - The recipe starts with sautéing onions, ginger and garlic. Bloom the spices including ground cumin, garam masala and red chili powder. You will also need butter and lemon juice. Finally, stir fry the tomato paste and stir in the cream to deglaze the pan before adding in the meatballs.
Ingredients
Meatballs:
- ▢ 500 g ground (minced) chicken
- ▢ ½ teaspoon minced ginger
- ▢ ½ teaspoon minced garlic
- ▢ 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ▢ ½ teaspoon garam masala
- ▢ ¼ cup breadcrumbs
- ▢ 1 egg
- ▢ Juice of ½ of lemon
- ▢ Salt and pepper to taste
Sauce:
- ▢ 1 tablespoon oil
- ▢ ½ cup chopped onion
- ▢ 2 garlic cloves chopped
- ▢ 1 cm ginger chopped
- ▢ 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ▢ 1 teaspoon garam masala
- ▢ ½ teaspoon red chili powder
- ▢ 100 g unsalted butter
- ▢ Juice of ½ of lemon
- ▢ 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- ▢ ¼ cup cream
- ▢ Salt and pepper to taste
Garnish:
- ▢ Coriander leaves (cilantro)
To serve:
- ▢ Naan, garlic bread, rice, pasta
Instructions
Cook meatballs:
- Preheat oven to 200 C or 400 F. Line a baking tray with baking paper.
- Combine together chicken, ginger, garlic, ground cumin, garam masala, breadcrumbs, egg and lemon juice in a large bowl.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Roll into balls.
- Transfer balls to the baking tray.
- Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until browned.
- Alternatively, pan fry meatballs until browned and cooked through.
Make sauce:
- Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat.
- Add onions. Saute, stirring occasionally, for about 2-3 minutes or until soft and translucent.
- Add garlic and ginger. Saute, stirring, for about 2 minutes or until fragrant.
- Add ground cumin, garam masala and red chili powder. Saute, stirring, for about a minute or until aromatic.
- Add butter and lemon juice. Stir to combine.
- Add tomato paste. Saute, stirring, for about 1-2 minutes.
- Stir in cream. Simmer for about 4-5 minutes.
- Add cooked meatballs. Toss.
- Garnish with coriander (cilantro) leaves.
- Serve with your favorite - naan, rice, pasta or garlic bread.
Video
Notes
- Make ahead - Make the meatballs a day ahead and then toss them in the sauce before serving. Great for meal prep!
Nutrition
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Check out more butter chicken recipes:
- Butter Chicken Pie
- Creamy Butter Chicken Soup
- Butter Chicken Burger
- Butter Chicken Samosa
- Butter Chicken Lasagna
- Butter Chicken Biryani
- Butter Chicken Pizza
Ingredients
Meatballs:
- ▢ 500 g ground (minced) chicken
- ▢ ½ teaspoon minced ginger
- ▢ ½ teaspoon minced garlic
- ▢ 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ▢ ½ teaspoon garam masala
- ▢ ¼ cup breadcrumbs
- ▢ 1 egg
- ▢ Juice of ½ of lemon
- ▢ Salt and pepper to taste
Sauce:
- ▢ 1 tablespoon oil
- ▢ ½ cup chopped onion
- ▢ 2 garlic cloves chopped
- ▢ 1 cm ginger chopped
- ▢ 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ▢ 1 teaspoon garam masala
- ▢ ½ teaspoon red chili powder
- ▢ 100 g unsalted butter
- ▢ Juice of ½ of lemon
- ▢ 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- ▢ ¼ cup cream
- ▢ Salt and pepper to taste
Garnish:
- ▢ Coriander leaves (cilantro)
To serve:
- ▢ Naan, garlic bread, rice, pasta
Instructions
Cook meatballs:
- Preheat oven to 200 C or 400 F. Line a baking tray with baking paper.
- Combine together chicken, ginger, garlic, ground cumin, garam masala, breadcrumbs, egg and lemon juice in a large bowl.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Roll into balls.
- Transfer balls to the baking tray.
- Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until browned.
- Alternatively, pan fry meatballs until browned and cooked through.
Make sauce:
- Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat.
- Add onions. Saute, stirring occasionally, for about 2-3 minutes or until soft and translucent.
- Add garlic and ginger. Saute, stirring, for about 2 minutes or until fragrant.
- Add ground cumin, garam masala and red chili powder. Saute, stirring, for about a minute or until aromatic.
- Add butter and lemon juice. Stir to combine.
- Add tomato paste. Saute, stirring, for about 1-2 minutes.
- Stir in cream. Simmer for about 4-5 minutes.
- Add cooked meatballs. Toss.
- Garnish with coriander (cilantro) leaves.
- Serve with your favorite - naan, rice, pasta or garlic bread.
Video
Notes
- Make ahead - Make the meatballs a day ahead and then toss them in the sauce before serving. Great for meal prep!
