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Almost effortless, One Pan Spicy Sesame Butter Chicken – incredibly delicious and nutritious comfort food. Indian-inspired butter chicken made with plenty of spice, creamy coconut milk, and even some sesame seeds for a unique little twist. Finish each bowl off with steamed rice, then serve with spicy chili butter. You’ll have the perfect dinner that can be enjoyed any night of the week. This meal is quickly made all in one dish. Then simply bake and serve, easy peasy!
Without a doubt, this is my favorite recipe I’ve been able to share in quite a while. It’s not that it’s anything incredibly creative or different. It’s more that I was able to take a recipe we all LOVE and make it in such a simple, almost effortless, way.
And the outcome is just as delicious (if not more so) than the traditional way of making butter chicken on the stovetop. I’m so happy to share this recipe with you all! I know this is going to be a staple for many of you!
Often, when my brothers are here in Colorado, they request recipes I’ve already shared with you all: tacos, ramen, and the very popular butter chicken.
I love making my brothers new recipes, but I also love making them their favorites too. So when the boys asked for butter chicken, I started thinking of a few ways to reinvent the recipe.
Unfortunately, I made a variation of this dish twice before calling it quits. So I put aside the idea for a sesame butter chicken and decided I was done with it. But after about a week, something gave me the idea to try baking the dish instead. To my surprise, the baked variation turned out INCREDIBLE. The flavors are perfect, the sauce is creamy, and what’s possibly even more exciting – it’s the easiest recipe!
The Details
Step 1: season the chicken
Start with the chicken. For this dish, I use boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Sometimes, I use chicken breasts, too, but since the chicken is baked, I didn’t want the breasts to dry out in the oven. Small chicken thighs work perfectly.
In a baking dish, toss the chicken with yogurt and add plenty of garlic and fresh ginger. Then, add all of the spices: garam masala, cumin, turmeric, and cayenne.
If time allows, you can marinate the chicken for 30 minutes or overnight. If you’re in a time crunch, just start cooking. I’ve now made this both ways, and there’s not a huge difference.
Step 2: everything else
Now, top the chicken with a chopped onion. Pour over a can of coconut milk, add the tomato paste, and mix it all together until you have a very creamy sauce. Make sure you season with salt too.
Add pats of cold butter over the chicken, then sprinkle the entire dish with sesame seeds.
Step 3: bake
And now you bake. In about 30 to 40 minutes, you’ll have perfectly cooked butter chicken in a very creamy, very delicious sauce.
All you have to add to this is steamed rice. Well, ideally some warm, buttery naan too. Oh, and fresh cilantro, can’t forget that! And if you’re up for going over the top, I did a quick chili butter using butter, chili flakes, and paprika. It makes the dish just a touch more special. We love the extra sauce and spice!
How are the leftovers?
They taste even better the following day. The flavors have time to mend, and the sauce is just that much more intense.
I can’t tell you how much I love this recipe. I’m already looking forward to remaking it for my parents and Asher now that they’re back. This dish is so flavorful, so full of color, and even though they’re small, the sesame seeds are such a nice addition. I really think you’ll love this!
Looking for other Indian-inspired dinners? Here are my favorites:
30 Minute Butter Chicken Meatballs
Super Simple Coconut Chicken Tikka Masala
Gingery Coconut Sweet Potato and Rice Stew with Chili Oil
30 Minute Spicy Indian Butter Chicken
Crockpot Creamy Coconut Chicken Tikka Masala
Lastly, if you make this One Pan Spicy Sesame Butter Chicken, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Easy Baked Spicy Sesame Butter Chicken
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 529 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds small boneless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 6 cloves garlic, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh grated ginger
- 2 tablespoons garam masala
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1-2 teaspoons cayenne pepper, use to your taste
- salt and black pepper
- 4 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped
- 1 can (14 ounce) full-fat coconut milk
- 1/2 cup tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons cold, salted butter, sliced
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- steamed rice and naan, for serving
Chili Butter
- 3 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 teaspoons chili flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- 1. In a baking dish, toss together the chicken, yogurt, garlic, ginger, garam masala, cumin, turmeric, cayenne pepper, and 1 teaspoon salt. Let sit 5 minutes. 2. Preheat the oven to 400°.3. To the chicken, add the onion, then pour over the coconut milk. Add the tomato paste. Stir until creamy and well-mixed. Arrange the butter slices over the chicken. Sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake 30-40 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through. Top with cilantro. 4. Meanwhile, melt the butter, chili flakes, and paprika together. Cook until the butter is browning. Remove from the heat.5. Serve the chicken and sauce over bowls of rice with chili butter and naan. Enjoy!
Made this during the week and it was a hit with our family of four. I read some other reviews and rather than top the dish with the raw onions, I mixed the onion into the whole chicken mixture and it turned out well. I did find it quite tomato-y with a half cup of tomato paste however that could be because I used light coconut milk. Next time I’ll try the full fat coconut milk. It is a touch spicy but the spice level can be adjusted per Tieghan’s recipe notes. I will say the flavour is even better the next day and day after! This dish is a winner in our house. Thank you Tieghan for sharing a delicious and easy dinner!
Hi Samantha,
Perfect!! Thanks a lot for giving this dish a try and sharing what worked best for you:) So glad it was a hit! xT
Made this tonight and the flavor was great, wouldn’t really say it was butter chicken, but it was good. Only thing was the onions weren’t cooked through. They were crunchy which wasn’t a great texture. We even cooked it 10 mins longer than was required.
Hi Kaleigh,
Thanks for giving this dish a try and sharing your feedback! Sorry about the onions, I would chop them smaller for next time! xT
This is the best meal I have made in a very long time. I made it for my partner and two very hungry teenage boys. Needless to say next time I need to double the portion!
Hi Wendy,
Perfect!! So glad to hear this recipe turned out well for you, thanks so much for giving it a try! xT
Omg!!! This was super amazing. I make Butter Chicken but the Indian style and this was even better. The coconut milk instead of heavy cream is much nicer. One thing I adjusted was the garlic ginger to garlic ginger and chilli paste(homemade). Super delicious and easy to make. I will make it again for a bug gathering next time. Thanks
Hey Roshni,
So glad to hear this! Thanks for making this dish and your comment! Have a great Thursday! xT
Made this tonight and we loved it! Flavorful, easy, and delicious. Thank you for an easy weeknight meal!
Hey Jenneane,
Fantastic!! Thanks so much for trying this dish and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear it was a hit! xT
This was very good! Easy recipe and delicious. Thanks!
Thanks so much Louise!! So glad to hear this dish turned out well for you:) I appreciate you making it! xT
I followed the recipe and all I can say is WOW! The chicken was tender and so full of flavor. My family loved the chili butter. Thank you for the very clear directions and for making my house smell like my favorite Indian restaurant.
Hey Paula,
Amazing!! Thanks so much for trying this recipe and your feedback! Love to hear it was a hit! xT
Made this last night…. It was good.
I used thighs and breast pieces. We all agreed, it needed a bit more salt….
Will make again. It was easy to put together….
Hi Juli,
Thanks for trying this dish and your feedback! Glad to hear it was enjoyed by your family! xT
I was disappointed with this recipe. It was one noted & really needed some acid.
Hi Amy,
So sorry to hear this! Please let me know if I can help in anyway. Thanks for trying the recipe! xT
This was FABULOUS!!!! Bursting with flavor! This will be on regular rotation in my house! Thank you for sharing your delicious recipes 😊
Hi Stephanie,
Happy Monday!! Thanks a lot for trying this recipe out and your feedback! Love to hear it turned out well! xT
!!!SO YUMMY!!!
Thanks so much Sharon!! So glad you enjoyed this dish:) Have a great week! xT
We made this for dinner- SO GOOD!! Definitely easy enough for weeknights and the flavor?! ❤️❤️
Hey Rhonda,
Happy Sunday!! Thanks a lot for trying this recipe and your comment, love to hear that it turned out well for you! xT
I am cooking this tonight and am doing all the prep this morning. In the ingredients why the split of 4 tablespoons of salted butter then 2 tablespoons of cold salted butter sliced? The chili butter is very clear, but the other is not.
Hi Betsy,
So sorry for any confusion, it’s just the 6 tablespoons of butter sliced on top:) I hope you love this dish! xT
Didn’t really turnout for me…. Wasn’t the greatest fan unfortunately. The chicken took wayyyyy longer to cook and I found the sauce to be oily from the butter.
Hi Deanna,
Thanks for trying this recipe and sharing your feedback, so sorry to hear it wasn’t enjoyed! Please let me know if there is anything that I can help with! xT
I agree. Is it 6 tablespoons to place on top?
Yes, that is correct:) Sorry for any confusion!!
Delicious dish! My husband and I really enjoyed the flavors. It came together easily, popped in the oven and looked beautiful. I will make this again and try with different proteins.
Hey Jennifer,
Wonderful! So glad to hear this recipe turned out for you, thanks for giving it a try! Happy Friday! xT
Making this for dinner tonight. I am super excited to try it. I will come back and let you know how my family of 7 ages 79 to 17 like it 💜
Looking forward to trying this! My husband doesn’t like the taste of Greek yogurt – can I substitute sour cream or something else?
Hi Jillian,
Totally, sour cream would also work well for you here! Let me know how this dish turns out, I hope you love it! xT