Indulge in the comfort of butter chicken pasta.
This fusion dish combines tender chicken in a creamy, spiced sauce with al dente noodles, offering a delightful twist on traditional butter chicken.
Perfect for a cozy dinner, it’s easy to make and simply delicious.
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Butter chicken pasta is a delightful fusion dish that brings together the creamy, spiced flavors of traditional butter chicken with the comforting texture of al dente pasta.
This recipe is perfect for those who love the classic taste of butter chicken but want to enjoy it in a new and exciting way.
This dish starts with tender pieces of chicken marinated in a blend of yogurt and spices, then cooked until they are juicy and flavorful.
The creamy tomato-based sauce, enriched with butter and cream, is the heart of this recipe, combining perfectly with the chicken.
When tossed with your favorite pasta, it creates a harmonious blend of Indian and Italian cuisines.
The origins of butter chicken, or "Murgh Makhani," date back to 1950s Delhi, India, where it was created by combining tandoori chicken with a rich, buttery tomato gravy.
This butter chicken pasta retains the essence of that classic dish while introducing a new dimension with the addition of pasta.
To prepare butter chicken pasta, cook the marinated chicken and prepare the creamy tomato sauce with spices like garam masala, cumin, and coriander.
Once the sauce is ready, toss it with cooked pasta until well-coated. The result is a dish that’s both flavorful and comforting, offering a unique twist on traditional butter chicken.
Serve this butter chicken pasta with a sprinkle of fresh herbs and a side of garlic bread for a complete meal.
It’s perfect for a cozy dinner at home, providing the familiar comfort of pasta with the exotic flavors of butter chicken.
Enjoy this delightful fusion dish that’s sure to become a favorite in your recipe collection.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- This butter chicken pasta recipe features a fusion of creamy Indian flavors with Italian pasta.
- Perfect for pasta lovers seeking a new twist.
- Great for casual dinners or potluck parties.
- Budget friendly choice using basic pasta and sauce ingredients.
- Quick and easy to prepare, even in larger quantities.
Cost To Make
Estimated cost = $6.45 or $1.62 a serve
Ingredients
Please note that below is a guide for some of the ingredients we used in the recipe. The printable recipe further down the page has the complete list of ingredients, including quantities and step-by-step instructions.
- Dried Pasta Of Choice: Such as rigatoni, spirals, fettuccine, spaghetti.
- Plain Yogurt
- Lemon Juice
- Turmeric Powder
- Chili Powder
- Ground Cumin
- Garam Masla
- Minced Garlic
- Grated Ginger
- Boneless Chicken Thigh Fillets: Or you could use chicken breast. Cut into bite sized pieces.
- Butter: Or ghee.
- Tomatoo Puree
- Thickened Cream: Or you could use heavy whipping cream. Alternatively you could use half the amount of cream and the other half with milk.
- Sugar
- Salt
- Fresh Cilantro (Coriander) Leaves: Finely chopped, to garnish.
Instructions
This recipe for butter chicken noodles serves 4. The ingredient quantities can easily be adjusted to suit how many serves you need to make.
Step One: Combine all marinade ingredients in a mixing bowl with the chicken.
Coat the chicken well in the marinade and then cover and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes (for better flavor, refrigerate overnight).
Step Two: Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Drain the pasta, reserving about 1 cup of pasta water, and set aside.
Step Three: While the pasta is cooking, heat butter (or ghee) in a large fry pan over high heat.
Place chicken pieces into hot pan and cook until the chicken is fully cooked (this could take around 3-4 minutes and the chicken should turn white all over).
When adding chicken to the pan, use tongs to transfer it directly from the marinade. Avoid pouring excess marinade from the bowl into the pan; this helps the chicken retain its marinade while cooking.
Step Four: Reduce the heat to low medium, add the tomato puree, cream, sugar, salt, and any remaining marinade left in the bowl. Mix well.
Taste for seasoning and add more salt if necessary. You want it to be slightly salty so that when you add the cooked pasta, it is seasoned well.
Step Five: Turn off heat and mix through cooked pasta.
If you want your pasta to have a bit more sauce, mix through some of the reserved pasta water. Adjust seasoning as necessary.
Serve, garnished with freshly chopped cilantro (optional).
Tips for Success
- Add a touch of crushed red pepper flakes for a hint of heat to complement the buttery flavors.
Substitutions / Variations
- Butter Chicken Alfredo: Combine butter chicken sauce with Alfredo sauce for an extra creamy pasta dish.
- Butter Chicken Penne Bake: Mix cooked penne pasta with butter chicken sauce, top with cheese, and bake until bubbly.
- Butter Chicken Spaghetti Carbonara: Toss spaghetti with butter chicken sauce, crispy bacon, and Parmesan cheese.
- Butter Chicken Lasagna: Layer lasagna noodles with butter chicken sauce, ricotta cheese, and mozzarella.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve pasta in individual bowls garnished with chopped cilantro and a dollop of plain yogurt.
- Pair with garlic bread or naan for a fusion of Indian and Italian flavors.
Storage
This butter chicken noodles recipe can be stored in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 2 to 3 days.
FAQ
Butter chicken sauce typically consists of tomatoes, cream, butter, yogurt, and a blend of spices such as garam masala, cumin, and turmeric.
It has a rich and creamy texture with a mildly spiced flavor.
Butter in pasta sauce adds richness, creaminess, and a velvety texture.
It enhances the flavor profile by smoothing out the acidity of tomatoes and blending the other ingredients together harmoniously.
Butter chicken sauce is thickened primarily by the combination of cream, yogurt, and the natural reduction of tomatoes during cooking.
Additionally, some recipes may use cashew paste or ground almonds to add thickness and richness to the sauce.
Made this recipe? Let us know how it went in the comments below! We'd love to hear how it turned out.
Recipe
Butter Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 320 grams (11.28 ounces) dried pasta, e.g. rigatoni, spirals, fettuccine, spaghetti
Chicken Marinade
- ½ cup (120 grams, 4.14 ounces) plain yogurt
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon (1 – 2 cloves) minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon ginger minced
- 750 grams (1.50 pounds) boneless chicken thigh fillets or chicken breast, cut into bite sized pieces
- 1 teaspoon salt
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter or ghee
- 1 cup tomato puree tomato passata
- 1 cup thickened cream or heavy whipping cream
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons salt or to taste
- Fresh cilantro coriander leaves, finely chopped, to garnish
Instructions
- Combine all marinade ingredients in a mixing bowl with the chicken. Coat the chicken well in the marinade and then cover and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes (for better flavor, refrigerate overnight).
- Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Drain the pasta, reserving about 1 cup of pasta water, and set aside.
- While the pasta is cooking, heat butter (or ghee) in a large fry pan over high heat. Place chicken pieces into hot pan and cook until the chicken is fully cooked (this could take around 3-4 minutes and the chicken should turn white all over). (see note 1).
- Reduce the heat to low medium, add the tomato puree, cream, sugar, salt, and any remaining marinade left in the bowl. Mix well. Taste for seasoning and add more salt if necessary. (see note 2)
- Turn off heat and mix through cooked pasta. If you want your pasta to have a bit more sauce, mix through some of the reserved pasta water. Adjust seasoning as necessary. Serve, garnished with freshly chopped cilantro and drizzle with yogurt if desired.
Notes
- When adding chicken to the pan, use tongs to transfer it directly from the marinade. Avoid pouring excess marinade from the bowl into the pan; this helps the chicken retain its marinade while cooking.
- You want it to be slightly salty so that when you add the cooked pasta, it is seasoned well.
Gracelyn says
As a lover of butter chicken, I just had to try this recipe. And I must say, I was not disappointed at all. I just love it so much!