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Butter Chicken Meatballs Recipe

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  • Author: Emily
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 20 servings 1x
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Indian-Inspired

Description

These Butter Chicken Meatballs are a flavorful and easy twist on a classic Indian dish! Tender chicken meatballs are simmered in a rich and creamy tomato-based sauce with fragrant spices. Served with rice and naan bread, it’s a delicious and satisfying meal that’s perfect for a weeknight dinner or a special occasion.


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • Meatballs:

    • 1 lb ground chicken
    • 1/4 large yellow onion, grated
    • 1 large egg
    • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil, for frying
  • Sauce:

    • 4 tablespoons butter, divided
    • 1/2 onion, diced
    • 5 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
    • 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
    • 1 tablespoon garam masala
    • 2 tablespoons curry powder
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
    • 6 oz can tomato paste
    • 1 1/2 cups whole milk
    • 1/2 cup chicken stock (or water)
  • For Serving:

    • Cooked rice
    • Naan bread
    • Fresh cilantro, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Make Meatballs: In a bowl, combine ground chicken, grated onion, egg, breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper. Mix well and shape into 20 meatballs.
  2. Cook Meatballs: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook meatballs until browned on all sides and cooked through (internal temperature of 165ยฐF/74ยฐC). Set aside.
  3. Make Sauce: In the same skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook until softened. Stir in garlic and ginger, then add turmeric, garam masala, curry powder, salt, and pepper. Immediately stir in tomato paste, then whisk in milk until smooth. Pour in chicken stock and bring to a simmer. Add remaining butter and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens.
  4. Simmer Meatballs in Sauce: Add meatballs to the sauce and toss to coat. Simmer for 5 minutes, or until heated through.
  5. Serve: Serve meatballs with sauce over cooked rice and with naan bread. Garnish with fresh cilantro.

Notes

  • You can use ground turkey or a mixture of ground chicken and turkey for the meatballs.
  • If you don’t have fresh ginger, you can substitute with ยฝ teaspoon ground ginger.
  • Adjust the amount of spices to your liking.
  • For a richer sauce, use heavy cream instead of whole milk.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4 meatballs with sauce
  • Calories: 450
  • Sugar: 10g
  • Sodium: 800mg
  • Fat: 30g
  • Saturated Fat: 15g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 12g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 20g
  • Fiber: 2g
  • Protein: 30g
  • Cholesterol: 100mg