This low calorie butter chicken recipe is creamy, delicious and super easy to make. It tastes just like traditional butter chicken but with a massive reduction in calories and fat. This low calorie butter chicken recipe contains just 278 calories and is perfect with a side of rice or naan for a comforting dinner.
Although I share mainly low calorie desserts, I do love to cook and share some low calorie dinner recipes every now and again. I wanted to make a low calorie dinner recipe that is simple, delicious and comforting. This low calorie butter chicken recipe is just that, creamy, delicious and super comforting!
My low calorie Mac ‘n’ cheese and my 300 calorie lasagna recipe are some of the most popular on my blog. I get requests almost daily to make more dinner and savory recipes! This low calorie butter chicken is perfect for this time of year when it’s super cold out. It has such a comfort food feeling that you truly won’t feel like you’re missing out!
This recipe is seriously so simple and easy, it is the perfect make ahead dinner too and can easily be meal prepped. I like to make 3-4 servings of this and refrigerate to enjoy throughout the week.
This recipe has such a warming and delicious aroma, it is seriously so irresistible! It is one of the only dishes I wouldn’t mind having for breakfast lunch and dinner, it is that good. The best part is, this butter chicken can be ready in as little as 30 minutes!
Low calorie butter chicken
Butter chicken or Murgh Makhani, is a traditional Indian dish of chicken in a creamy, spiced tomato sauce. The recipe typically includes heavy cream, butter or ghee and lots of oil. This low calorie butter chicken recipe is just as creamy and delicious but contains no butter or heavy cream and just a dash of olive oil for some healthy fats.
This recipe is for just 1 serving which is perfect for weight loss. I loved single serve recipes throughout my weight loss journey because not only are they super easy to make, but there is no temptation to overeat!
Why you’ll love this recipe:
- Super creamy and delicious!
- This recipe is really easy to make.
- Tastes like classic butter chicken but for a fraction of the calories!
- Can easily be meal prepped for the entire week!
- This recipe has the most incredible aroma!
- This recipe is single serving so there is no temptation to overeat.
- The BEST low calorie butter chicken recipe ever!
Ingredients
Exact ingredient quantities can be found at the bottom of this page.
To make the best low calorie butter chicken you will need:
- Boneless chicken – This recipe calls for chicken breast but feel free to use any variation of chicken you would like. For a vegan alternative, you can use tofu or meat-free pieces.
- Fat-free yogurt – Yogurt is used in the marinade as well as in the sauce itself. It adds a delicious creaminess to the sauce which is perfect for substituting the cream. For a vegan substitute, use vegan yogurt.
- Olive oil – A little olive oil is required to cook the chicken and saute the onions.
- Onion – A delicious addition to any comforting dish!
- Chopped tomatoes – This recipe calls for chopped tomatoes but if you want to save time on blending, you can opt for tomato puree or passata!
- Fresh garlic & ginger – I love to use fresh garlic and ginger in the marinade but you can opt for ground versions of both.
- Seasonings – There are a TON of seasonings in this recipe. You can find a list of them and their exact quantites below.
- Sugar – A tiny sprinkle of sugar balances out the various flavors from the seasonings. You can choose to leave this out if you wish.
How to make low calorie butter chicken
- Make the marinade and let the chicken sit in the marinade for 20 minutes or overnight if possible.
- Heat the oil in a skillet or pan and cook the chicken until it has browned, about 4 minutes on each side and set aside. The chicken will finish cooking later on in the sauce.
- In the same pan, saute the onions until nicely browned, about 4 minutes. Add the ginger and garlic and saute for another minute or two. Add in the seasonings, chopped tomatoes and yogurt. Let this simmer for 10 minutes.
- Blend the sauce with the water using a hand blender. Add the chicken to the sauce and let this simmer for another 10-15 minutes.
- Garnish with coriander and a little yogurt. Serve hot with a side of rice or with some naan and enjoy!
Meal prep
This recipe can easily be meal prepped for 3-4 days. This low calorie butter chicken recipe is a single serving so multiply the ingredient quantities by however many servings you require and cook according to the recipe. Allow the butter chicken to cool before transferring to an airtight container and refrigerating.
Storage
This low calorie butter chicken will last in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and in the freezer for up to 3 months. Ensure that the butter chicken has completely cooled before transferring to an airtight container and refrigerating/freezing.
more low calorie dinners…
The best low calorie butter chicken recipe
Ingredients
- 100 g chicken breast cubed
- 1 tsp olive oil
Marinade:
- 50 g fat-free yogurt
- 1 clove of garlic
- ½ tsp garam masala
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
- ¼ tsp ground cumin
- ¼ tsp chilli powder
- ¼ tsp salt
Sauce:
- 50 g onion sliced
- 80 g chopped tomatoes
- 50 g fat-free yogurt
- 1 clove of garlic
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ½ tsp garam masala
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- ¼ tsp coriander
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp chilli powder
- ½ tsp sugar
- 75 ml water
Instructions
- Make the marinade by mixing the seasonings into the yogurt until well combined. Add in the chicken and mix until the chicken is well coated. Set aside in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes.
- Heat 1 tsp of oil in a skillet or pan and cook the chicken until it has browned, about 4 minutes on each side and set aside (keep the chicken warm). The chicken will finish cooking later on in the sauce.
- In the same pan, saute the onions until nicely browned, about 4 minutes. Add the ginger and garlic and saute for another minute or two. Add in the seasonings, chopped tomatoes and yogurt and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Blend the sauce with the water using a hand blender. Add the chicken to the sauce and let this simmer for another 10-15 minutes. Garnish with coriander and a little yogurt. Serve hot with a side of rice or with some naan and enjoy!
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Loved the honey hot chicken tenders & the butter chicken both easy to make & delicious
Thanks
Hi Ruth, so glad you enjoyed these recipes! I hope you come back and find more recipes you love 🙂