The Best Butter Chicken Meatballs Recipe
I’ve been craving a big helping of butter chicken these days! The creamy sauce, tender pieces of chicken, all served over a bed of warm rice and a side of buttery naan. Isn’t it just so dreamy? It’s exactly what I crave when I want to treat myself to something special. Since I haven’t posted a meatball recipe in a while, I figured I’d combine the urgency for a new meatball recipe on the blog with my cravings. Let me tell you; it turned out incredible. I mean, it’s not all that different from a regular butter chicken! After trying this version with those juicy and flavorful meatballs, I think I actually prefer it over the original recipe.
Onion – I used half a white onion. You can use a full small onion if that’s what you have. Instead of chopping the onion try grating it, this is so much better for meatballs, no more huge chunks of onion in your meatballs. Breadcrumbs – I used panko. Regular breadcrumbs will also work. Ground chicken – Or ground turkey. Egg – One large egg. Cilantro – Freshly chopped both for the meatballs and as a garnish. You can use parsley instead if you don’t like cilantro. Salt & pepper – Season to taste. Olive oil – Avocado, safflower, sunflower, grapeseed, vegetable, or canola oils will work instead. Butter – Unsalted. Garlic & ginger – I used fresh, however you can use jarred if you have it handy. Tomato passata – Or tomato sauce. Tomato paste – Make sure you’ve grabbed tomato paste, it will be very thick, this will give the sauce a richer taste. Spices – garam masala, smoked paprika, turmeric, cumin, and coriander. Chicken broth – Low sodium. Heavy cream – Anything 35%+. If you want lower fat, you can go as low as 10%.
I Can’t Find Garam Masala
This aromatic mixture of spices is a must-have for many different cuisines around the world, and especially recreating Indian cuisine. You can make a quick replacement using my recipe for Garam Masala! Garam masala blends can contain over 30 ingredients so if you have to opportunity, grabbing a good quality garam masala from a spice specialty shop will go a long way! Other blends like masala curry powder, sambhar masala, chaat masala, or ras el hanout can be used instead of garam masala.
How to serve
These would be a great addition to an appetizer table or contribution to a potluck! We always see the same rendition of meatballs in a sweet and savory sauce served at parties. Time to bring something different to the table, literally! When I made these meatballs we enjoyed them as a main course. I steamed a pot of white rice and cooked up a batch of fresh naan. It was absolutely perfect!
Leftovers
Transfer all your leftover butter chicken meatballs to an airtight container and store in the fridge for 2-3 days. You can reheat in the microwave, but make sure to cover the leftovers to avoid splatters. You’ll need to reheat until the meatballs are warmed through, so the sauce will end up getting quite hot. You can also reheat leftovers in a skillet on the stovetop. Transfer them to a skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring often, until the sauce and meatballs are heated through. You can add a splash or chicken broth or water if you find the sauce is reducing too much.
How to freeze leftovers
If you’re planning on turning these butter chicken meatballs into a freezer meal, I would suggest freezing the sauce and meatballs separately. They will last 3-4 months frozen. Place the cooked meatballs on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and cover them with plastic wrap. Freeze for 1-2 hours, or until solid. Then, you can transfer all the meatballs to a large airtight container or freezer bag. Make sure the sauce is fully cooled down before transferring it to an airtight container and freezing. To reheat, you can microwave the sauce or heat it up in a skillet. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400F. Place the frozen chicken meatballs on a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes, or until heated through. Add the meatballs to the sauce and serve.
Other Great Recipes To Try
Instant Pot Butter Chicken Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala Baked Tandoori Chicken Chicken Korma French Onion Chicken Meatballs Thai Chicken Meatballs with Peanut Sauce Turkey Meatballs Butter Chicken Korean Meatballs Creamy Butter Lemon Chicken
