Description
This Easy Baked Spicy Sesame Butter Chicken is a flavorful and creamy dish combining tender chicken baked in a rich blend of Greek yogurt, spices, coconut milk, and tomato paste. Finished with a spicy chili butter and sprinkled with toasted sesame seeds and fresh cilantro, it’s perfect served over steamed rice or with warm naan for a delicious, comforting meal.
Ingredients
Units
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Chicken Marinade
- 2 lb small boneless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 6 cloves garlic, chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh grated ginger
- 2 tbsp garam masala
- 2 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1-2 tsp cayenne pepper, use to your taste
- Salt and black pepper, to taste (1 tsp salt recommended)
Cooking and Sauce Ingredients
- 4 tbsp salted butter
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped
- 1 can full-fat coconut milk (about 13.5 oz)
- 1/2 cup tomato paste
- 2 tbsp cold salted butter, sliced
- 2 tbsp sesame seeds
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- Steamed rice and naan, for serving
Chili Butter
- 3 tbsp salted butter
- 1 tsp chili flakes
- 1/2 tsp paprika
Instructions
- Marinate the Chicken: In a baking dish, combine the chicken pieces with Greek yogurt, chopped garlic, grated ginger, garam masala, cumin, turmeric, cayenne pepper, and salt. Toss until the chicken is evenly coated. Let it sit for 5 minutes to absorb the flavors.
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 400°F (200°C) to get it ready for baking the chicken.
- Prepare and Bake the Chicken: Add the chopped onion directly to the marinated chicken. Pour the full-fat coconut milk over the mixture, then add the tomato paste. Stir gently until everything is creamy and well combined. Lay the slices of cold salted butter on top of the chicken and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake uncovered for 30-40 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked and tender. Once done, garnish with fresh chopped cilantro.
- Make the Chili Butter: While the chicken is baking, melt the butter for the chili butter in a small pan over medium heat. Add the chili flakes and paprika, cooking until the butter begins to brown and develop a nutty aroma. Remove from heat to prevent burning.
- Serve: Serve the baked spicy sesame butter chicken hot over bowls of steamed rice. Drizzle with the prepared chili butter and accompany with warm naan bread for a complete meal. Enjoy!
Notes
- You can adjust the cayenne pepper quantity to make the dish milder or spicier according to your preference.
- Use boneless skinless chicken thighs for more tender and juicy results, though breasts work well too.
- For a dairy-free version, substitute the Greek yogurt with coconut yogurt and use dairy-free butter alternatives.
- Make sure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) for safe consumption.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
