Butter Chicken Meatballs Recipe

These Butter Chicken Meatballs combine juicy and tender, spiced meatballs with a rich and creamy tomato-based sauce, delivering all the bold flavors of classic butter chicken in an easy, comforting dish. Perfect for serving over rice or with naan, this homemade recipe is a flavorful, restaurant-quality meal that’s simple enough for a weeknight dinner.

Butter Chicken Meatballs are a fun twist on the classic Indian dish, murgh makhani. This recipe takes the rich, creamy sauce we all love and pairs it with tender, spiced ground chicken meatballs for a flavorful meal the whole family will enjoy. Whether you serve it over basmati rice, cauliflower rice, or with a side of naan, this dish is perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep. Let’s dive into why this easy recipe works so well!

Why This Recipe Works

• Packed with Flavor: The meatball mixture is seasoned with garam masala, curry powder, and cumin, giving each bite a bold and aromatic taste.
• Rich & Creamy Sauce: Made with tomato paste, coconut milk, and a blend of warm spices, this butter chicken sauce is velvety smooth and coats the meatballs perfectly.
• Versatile & Meal-Prep Friendly: You can easily swap ground chicken for ground turkey, adjust the spice level, and store leftovers in an airtight container for 2-3 days.

Supplies Needed

To make this butter chicken recipe, you’ll need:

• Large mixing bowl – To mix the meatball ingredients together.
• Cookie scoop or Tablespoon – Helps create evenly sized meatballs for consistent cooking.
• Baking sheet & parchment paper/ foil – To bake the meatballs to golden brown perfection.
• Large skillet or pan – For cooking the butter chicken sauce.
• Immersion blender (optional) – To blend the sauce for a smoother consistency.

Ingredients

Meatballs:

• Ground chicken (or substitute with ground turkey if desired)
• Plain bread crumbs (use panko breadcrumbs, almond flour, or gluten-free breadcrumbs as an alternative)
• Egg
• Garlic cloves, minced
• Lemon zest
• Salt and black pepper
• Curry powder, garam masala, and cumin powder

Butter Chicken Sauce:

• Butter or ghee
• Onion, finely minced
• Fresh ginger and garlic cloves, minced (substitute with garlic powder and dried ginger if needed)
• Tomato paste
• Coconut milk (full fat for a richer taste)
• Salt, cumin, garam masala, and coriander powder

How To Make Butter Chicken Meatballs

Butter Chicken Meatball Preparation

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the meatball ingredients, mixing well with your hands.
3. Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to portion out the meatball mixture into 2-inch balls. This should make about 24 flavorful meatballs.
4. Place the meatballs onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them evenly.
5. Bake for 12 minutes, then broil for an additional 2-3 minutes to get a golden brown crust. The internal temperature should reach 165°F.
6. Remove from the oven and set aside while you prepare the butter sauce.

Butter Chicken Sauce Preparation

1. While the meatballs bake, melt the unsalted butter or ghee in a large skillet over medium-low heat.
2. Add the finely diced onion and sauté until translucent (about 4-5 minutes).
3. Stir in the minced garlic, fresh ginger, salt, garam masala, cumin, and coriander powder. Cook on medium heat for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
4. Whisk in the tomato paste, then slowly pour in the coconut milk, whisking continuously. Reduce to medium-low heat to prevent separation.
5. If you prefer a smoother sauce, use an immersion blender to blend the sauce before adding the meatballs.
6. Add the cooked meatballs into the sauce, letting them simmer for 2-3 minutes until fully coated.

Expert Tips

• For extra moisture, add a splash of chicken broth to the sauce.
• Want a thicker sauce? Let the sauce cook for a couple of minutes longer or blend it with an immersion blender.
• Make it dairy-free by using olive oil instead of butter.
• Add a little spice with a pinch of cayenne pepper or red chili flakes.
• For a richer flavor, substitute some of the coconut milk with heavy cream.

What To Serve With It

Butter Chicken Meatballs pair well with many sides, making it a versatile main course. Here are some serving ideas:

• White Rice or Basmati Rice – The classic choice for soaking up the creamy sauce.
• Cauliflower Rice – A great option for a low-carb meal.
• Side of Naan – Perfect for scooping up the butter sauce. You can also use pita bread or lavash too.
• Indian Curries or Roasted Vegetables – Serve with other Indian food favorites like roasted bell peppers, spinach, or a cucumber salad.
• Meal Prep Option – Store leftovers in an airtight container and reheat for an easy meal the next day.

More Recipes To Try

Grilled Butter Chicken Skewers

Smoked Meatballs

Bison Meatballs

Easy Keto Meatballs

Low Carb Flatbread

Butter Chicken Meatballs

These Butter Chicken Meatballs combine juicy and tender, spiced meatballs with a rich and creamy tomato-based sauce, delivering all the bold flavors of classic butter chicken in an easy, comforting dish. Perfect for serving over rice or with naan, this homemade recipe is a flavorful, restaurant-quality meal that's simple enough for a weeknight dinner.

4.06 from 19 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course, Recipes

Cuisine: American, Indian

Keyword: Butter Chicken Meatballs Recipe

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 24 Meatballs

Calories: 68kcal

Author: Bon Appeteach

Ingredients

Meatball Ingredients

• 1 lb. Ground Chicken
• 1/4 cup Plain Bread Crumbs sub with gluten free bread crumbs or almond flour
• 1 Egg
• 2 Garlic Cloves minced
• 1 tsp. Lemon Zest
• 1/2 tsp. Salt
• 1/4 tsp. Dried Ginger
• 1 tsp Cumin Powder
• 1 tsp. Curry Powder
• 1 tsp. Garam Masala

Sauce Ingredients

• 3 tbsp. Butter or Ghee
• 1/4 cup Onion finely minced
• 1/4 tsp. Ginger fresh works best but you can sub with dried
• 2 Garlic Cloves minced
• 2 Tbsp. Tomato Paste
• 2 cups Coconut Milk full fat works best
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1 tsp. Cumin
• 1/2 tsp. Garam Masala
• 1/2 tsp Coriander powder

Instructions

Butter Chicken Meatball Prepartion

• Preheat your oven to 375 F. and line a baking sheet with foil.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine all the meatball ingredients. Mix well to combine by using your hands.
• Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon sized measuring spoon to make even sized meatballs. This will make approxiamtely 24 meatballs.
• Place each meatball onto the prepared baking sheet, slightly spaced out. on the Bake for 12 minutes. Broil the meatballs for 2-3 minutes or until slightly browned on the tops. Remove from the oven and set them aside.

Butter Chicken Sauce Preparation

• While the meatballs are baking, melt the butter or ghee in a large saucepan on medium-low heat. Once melted add in the small diced onion. Sauté until translucent, about 4-5 minutes.
• Add the garlic and all the remaining spices (salt, cumin, garam masala, and coriander). Allow this to cook on low until it smells fragrant.
• Whisk in the tomato paste, then slowly whisk in the full fat coconut milk. If your heat is too high the sauce can separate, so watch your temperature and whisk often.
• Add the chicken meatballs into the sauce to fully coat and combine. Let them simmer for 2-3 minutes before serving over basmati rice or with naan.

Notes

Want a smoother, thicker sauce? Use an immersion blender to blend in the bits of onion in the sauce before adding the meatballs.

Nutrition

Serving: 1meatball with sauce | Calories: 68kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 112mg | Potassium: 151mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.3g | Vitamin A: 24IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 1mg