Recipes

Indian Butter Chicken Meatballs

By Jul 1, 2026 2 min read
Indian Butter Chicken Meatballs

Butter chicken is one of the most popular Indian dishes worldwide, and turning it into meatballs makes it faster to cook and easier for weeknight meal prep.

Why This Recipe Works

Butter chicken is one of the most popular Indian dishes worldwide, and turning it into meatballs makes it faster to cook and easier for weeknight meal prep.

Ingredients

  • 1.5 lb ground chicken
  • 1 tsp garam masala
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
  • 2 tbsp oil
  • 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • Cooked basmati rice, for serving
  • Fresh cilantro, for topping

Instructions

  1. Mix ground chicken with garam masala, cumin, half the garlic, and half the ginger. Form into meatballs.
  2. Sear meatballs in oil until browned on all sides, then set aside.
  3. In the same pan, cook remaining garlic and ginger, add tomato sauce, chili powder, and butter, and simmer 10 minutes.
  4. Stir in cream and return meatballs to the sauce. Simmer until cooked through.
  5. Serve over basmati rice, topped with cilantro and a swirl of cream.

Tips for Best Results

Searing the meatballs first before simmering locks in flavor and keeps them from falling apart in the sauce.

Indian Butter Chicken Meatballs

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 4
Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

  • 1.5 lb ground chicken
  • 1 tsp garam masala
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
  • 2 tbsp oil
  • 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • Cooked basmati rice, for serving
  • Fresh cilantro, for topping

Instructions

  1. Mix ground chicken with garam masala, cumin, half the garlic, and half the ginger. Form into meatballs.
  2. Sear meatballs in oil until browned on all sides, then set aside.
  3. In the same pan, cook remaining garlic and ginger, add tomato sauce, chili powder, and butter, and simmer 10 minutes.
  4. Stir in cream and return meatballs to the sauce. Simmer until cooked through.
  5. Serve over basmati rice, topped with cilantro and a swirl of cream.
Indian Butter Chicken Meatballs
Prep Time
15 minutes
Cook Time
25 minutes
Total Time
40 minutes
Servings
4
Difficulty
Easy

Ingredients

  • Mix ground chicken with garam masala, cumin, half the garlic, and half the ginger. Form into meatballs.
  • Sear meatballs in oil until browned on all sides, then set aside.
  • In the same pan, cook remaining garlic and ginger, add tomato sauce, chili powder, and butter, and simmer 10 minutes.
  • Stir in cream and return meatballs to the sauce. Simmer until cooked through.
  • Serve over basmati rice, topped with cilantro and a swirl of cream.

Instructions

  1. Mix ground chicken with garam masala, cumin, half the garlic, and half the ginger. Form into meatballs.
  2. Sear meatballs in oil until browned on all sides, then set aside.
  3. In the same pan, cook remaining garlic and ginger, add tomato sauce, chili powder, and butter, and simmer 10 minutes.
  4. Stir in cream and return meatballs to the sauce. Simmer until cooked through.
  5. Serve over basmati rice, topped with cilantro and a swirl of cream.
Free Newsletter
Food news, recipes & deals
in your inbox every week.
You Might Also Like

Helpful tools for this recipe

TopFoodNews may earn from qualifying purchases. These are practical kitchen staples that fit this kind of recipe, not random filler.

Affiliate disclosure: as an Amazon Associate, TopFoodNews earns from qualifying purchases.

Get weekly recipes + food deals

One quick TopFoodNews email with fresh recipes, grocery finds, fast-food drops, and kitchen shortcuts worth saving.