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Butter Chicken Pasta

Butter Chicken Pasta
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Butter Chicken Pasta is a quick and easy fusion dish combining tender chicken simmered in a creamy, spiced tomato sauce with perfectly cooked pasta. Ready in under 30 minutes, it blends the rich flavors of Indian butter chicken with the comforting texture of pasta for a family-friendly, flavorful meal perfect for busy weeknights.

Ingredients

Scale

Proteins

  • 500g boneless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces

Pasta

  • 250g penne or fusilli pasta

Base Ingredients

  • 3 tbsp butter
  • 1 cup tomato puree
  • 1 cup heavy cream or cashew cream
  • 2 tbsp garlic and ginger paste
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped

Spices

  • 1 tsp garam masala
  • 1/2 tsp chili powder (adjust to taste)
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
  • Salt to taste

Garnish

  • Fresh cilantro leaves, chopped

Instructions

  1. Prepare the chicken: Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces and season lightly with salt, chili powder, and garam masala. Sauté in butter over medium heat until golden and cooked through, then set aside to rest.
  2. Cook the pasta: Boil salted water and cook your pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and reserve a little pasta water before setting the pasta aside.
  3. Make the sauce: In the same pan, add more butter and sauté finely chopped onions until translucent. Stir in garlic and ginger paste and cook until fragrant. Pour in the tomato puree and let it simmer for about 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
  4. Add spices and cream: Add garam masala, turmeric, chili powder, and salt, then stir well. Slowly mix in the heavy cream, reducing the heat to avoid curdling. Simmer gently until the sauce thickens to a luscious texture.
  5. Combine and finish: Toss the cooked chicken back into the sauce, adding reserved pasta water if needed for consistency. Mix in the cooked pasta, coat everything evenly, and heat through for a couple of minutes. Garnish with fresh cilantro before serving.

Notes

  • Use room temperature chicken for even cooking and tenderness.
  • Don’t skip the reserved pasta water; it helps bind the sauce and pasta without thinning the flavor.
  • Sauté onions low and slow to ensure sweetness and depth.
  • Adjust spice levels gradually to suit your taste.
  • Use fresh cream rather than canned for richer sauce and to prevent separation.

Nutrition

Keywords: butter chicken pasta, Indian fusion, creamy tomato pasta, easy dinner, quick weeknight meal, Indian pasta recipe, creamy chicken pasta

Find it online: https://linacorner.com/butter-chicken-pasta/