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Keto Creamy Butter Chicken Skillet

Close-up of rich, orange-red Keto Creamy Butter Chicken Skillet pieces garnished with fresh cilantro in a white bowl.
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Make a rich, creamy, and authentic-tasting butter chicken entirely keto-friendly using a quick one-pan skillet method. This recipe skips sugar and starches for a high-fat, low-carb Indian favorite.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 2 tablespoons avocado oil or ghee
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
  • 1/2 cup no-sugar-added tomato paste or crushed tomatoes (check label for zero sugar)
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon xantham gum (optional, for extra thickness)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Fresh cilantro, chopped, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Season the chicken pieces generously with salt and pepper.
  2. Heat the oil or ghee in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned on all sides, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
  3. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the chopped onion to the skillet and cook until softened, about 4 minutes.
  4. Add the minced garlic and grated ginger. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  5. Stir in the cumin, coriander, garam masala, turmeric, and cayenne pepper. Cook the spices for 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
  6. Stir in the no-sugar-added tomato paste or crushed tomatoes. Cook for 2 minutes, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
  7. Pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
  8. If using, whisk the xantham gum into a tablespoon of cold water first to prevent clumping, then stir it into the sauce until dissolved.
  9. Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Stir to coat.
  10. Simmer gently for 5-10 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly and the chicken to finish cooking through.
  11. Stir in the lemon juice. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
  12. Garnish with fresh cilantro before serving.

Notes

  • For the most authentic flavor, use ghee instead of avocado oil.
  • If you do not have xantham gum, simmer the sauce uncovered for an extra 5-10 minutes to reduce it naturally, though it will be slightly less thick.
  • Serve this dish over cauliflower rice or with keto naan bread.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://tasteportfolio.com/keto-creamy-butter-chicken-skillet-recipe/