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Keto Creamy Butter Chicken Skillet

Close-up of tender chicken pieces coated in rich, orange, creamy sauce from the Keto Creamy Butter Chicken Skillet recipe.
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Make a rich, creamy, and authentic-tasting butter chicken entirely keto-friendly using a simple one-pan skillet method. This recipe uses heavy cream for richness and avoids all added sugars and starches.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 2 tablespoons avocado oil or ghee
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon Garam Masala
  • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
  • 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, drained well (or 1/2 cup low-carb tomato puree)
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, cubed
  • 1 tablespoon erythritol or monk fruit sweetener (optional, for balance)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Fresh cilantro, chopped, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Season the chicken pieces lightly with salt and pepper.
  2. Heat the oil or ghee in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned on all sides, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
  3. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the chopped onion to the skillet and cook until softened, about 4 minutes.
  4. Add the minced garlic and grated ginger. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  5. Stir in the cumin, coriander, Garam Masala, turmeric, and cayenne pepper. Cook the spices for 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
  6. Add the drained diced tomatoes (or puree) to the skillet. Cook for 2 minutes, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
  7. Pour in the chicken broth and bring the mixture to a simmer.
  8. Stir in the heavy cream and cubed cream cheese. Continue stirring until the cream cheese has fully melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy. If using, add the sweetener now.
  9. Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for 10 minutes, allowing the chicken to finish cooking and absorb the sauce flavors.
  10. Taste the sauce and adjust salt, pepper, or spice levels as needed.
  11. Garnish with fresh cilantro before serving over cauliflower rice or with keto naan.

Notes

  • For a thicker sauce without adding carbs, simmer uncovered for an extra 5 minutes after adding the chicken back in.
  • If you prefer a smoother sauce, blend the sauce mixture (before adding the chicken back) with an immersion blender until smooth.
  • Use full-fat heavy cream for the best keto-friendly texture and fat content.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookifyme.com/keto-creamy-butter-chicken-skillet/