Butter Chicken Meatballs are a super quick and easy recipe that is extremely delicious. Chicken Meatballs are tossed in a sweet and Indian spiced Buttery sauce which will bowl you over. This can also be served as an appetizer or as a dinner with Naan Bread or Fried Rice and it's surely going to be hugely popular. Easy to make but high on flavors this Butter Chicken Meatballs is even better than the Original Butter Chicken Recipe. Have you tried my Slow Cooker Butter Chicken Yet?

Butter Chicken Meatballs
Hey friends. So, following my Indian roots, I made these soft and comforting Butter Chicken Meatballs today. This is not a typical Indian recipe, but surely a hugely popular Indian American Recipe. And what's not to love about it!

It's just another name for everything so delicious. The Velvety and Sweet Sauce with Chicken Meatballs. This makes for a quick appetizer and here these are tossed in a super buttery and flavorful Makhni Sauce, which I have served with some Naan Bread and Rice, and that's just an extremely amazing combination. Makes for a perfect Saturday Night Dinner 🙂
Ingredients needed to make Butter Chicken Meatballs

For the Chicken Meatballs
- Ground Chicken
- Panko Breadcrumbs
- Eggs
- Turmeric
- Paprika
- Salt & Pepper
For the Sauce
- Butter
- Garlic (minced)
- Ginger (finely chopped)
- Onions (finely chopped)
- Turmeric
- Ground Cumin
- Curry Powder
- Smoked Paprika
- Garam Masala
- Tomato Sauce (1 CAN) or 4 Large Tomatoes (finely chopped)
- Heavy Cream or Coconut Milk (use Coconut milk for Low carb version)
- Chopped Cilantro (for garnish)
How to make Garam Masala at home
Indian recipes require a special ingredient and it's Garam Masala. Garam Masala lends a special touch to Indian recipes. It's not too spicy although, it is a bit spicy. I know it's funny that way, but that's how dramatic Indian cuisine is right!

Although Garam Masala is extremely easily available everywhere now, you can even find it on Amazon, however, you can also make it at home. At least, that's what my Nana used to do. She used to take her time out from her busy day and ground these spices using a mortar and pestle and carefully store it in an air-tight container and use it for days at end! 🙂
To make Garam Masala and store at home, just use the following ingredients
- In a jar combine -
- 1 teaspoon of Curry Powder,
- 1/2 teaspoon Ground Cumin,
- 1 teaspoon Ground Coriander,
- 1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon,
- 1/2 teaspoon Ground Nutmeg,
- 1/2 teaspoon Ground Cardamom,
- 1/2 teaspoon Ground Cloves
This can stay fresh forever in an air-tight jar. You can use it in any Indian Curry recipe and you will never miss out on authentic Indian flavors.
How to make Butter Chicken Meatballs
Below is a brief description of how to make Butter Chicken Meatballs. Jump to the recipe below for the detailed Printable Recipe or Jump to Video for a Quick Visual.
STEP 1: MAKE THE CHICKEN MEATBALLS
- In a mixing bowl, combine Ground Chicken with Egg, Panko Breadcrumbs, Turmeric, Paprika, Salt, and Pepper. Do not overmix. Just mix with a spoon until combined.

- Use a Melon Scooper or a Tablespoon to scoop out small portions of the Mixture.
- Roll it into a ball.

STEP 2: FRY THE CHICKEN MEATBALLS
- Heat Canola Oil or Vegetable Oil in a Pan.
- As the Oil shimmers, add the Chicken Meatballs, carefully, one at a time. DO NOT CROWD THE PAN.
- Fry each side for 2 minutes over medium-low heat until they turn Golden Brown
- OR, TO BAKE THE CHICKEN MEATBALLS
- Preheat the oven to 400F or 200C.
- Grease a Baking Dish with Cooking Spray and Line with Parchment Paper.
- Place the Chicken Meatballs in the baking dish.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes. Toss after 15 minutes interval.
STEP 3: MAKE THE SAUCE
- Heat butter in the same pan.
- As the Butter melts, add minced Garlic, chopped Ginger, and Finely Chopped Onions.
- Saute over medium-low heat for 2-minutes until the onions start to caramelize.

- Add the spices - Turmeric, Ground Cumin, Curry Powder, Paprika, Garam Masala, Salt & Pepper.
- Toss to combine everything and cook the spices for 2-minutes until the raw smell goes away.
- Next, add the Tomato Sauce, stir to combine everything, and cook for 2 minutes.

- Next, add the Heavy Cream, and stir until combined thoroughly.

- Finally, add some Chicken Broth and stir to combine.
- Allow the sauce to simmer for 5-minutes over low heat.

STEP 4: ADD THE CHICKEN MEATBALLS
- Finally, add the Chicken Meatballs.
- Carefully toss so that the Meatballs, get coated with the sauce.
STEP 5: GARNISH & SERVE
- Garnish the Butter Chicken Meatballs with some Heavy Cream drizzle and some chopped Cilantro.
- Serve hot.

What to serve Butter Chicken Meatballs With?
- If you want to serve these Butter Chicken Meatballs as an Appetizer, then simmer the sauce until it thickens.
- Just after you add the Heavy Cream, the sauce will start to thicken.
- Stir after every 1-minute, and simmer until the sauce thickens
- As the sauce thickens, add the Chicken Meatballs, toss to combine, and serve with skewers inserted on top.
- If you want to serve this with Naan Bread or Rice, then you do not have to simmer the sauce for long.
- Just as it begins to thicken, add the Chicken Meatballs, toss to combine, and serve immediately.

I personally just love this with steamed rice or naan bread. The sauce is so delicious, that you would want to wipe it clean with your Naan bread until the last drop! Seriously!!! 🙂
LOW CARB ALTERNATIVES

- For a Low Carb version, replace Heavy Cream with Coconut Milk.
- It gets even more delicious with Coconut milk
- BAKE the Chicken Meatballs.
Other Indian Recipes
I hope you liked this recipe. If you happen to make this recipe, then comment below and rate this recipe. Also, tag me @recipemagik with #recipemagik on Instagram.
Authentic Butter Chicken Meatballs
INGREDIENTS
For the Chicken Meatballs
- 1 lbs Ground Chicken
- 1 large Egg
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Pepper
- ½ teaspoon Turmeric
- ½ teaspoon Paprika
- 1 cup Panko Breadcrumbs
For the Sauce
- 1 Stick Butter
- 4 cloves Garlic minced
- 1 inch Ginger finely chopped
- 1 medium sized Onion finely chopped
- 1 can Tomato Sauce
- 1 cup Heavy Cream
- 1 cup Chicken Broth
Spices for the Curry
- ½ teaspoon Turmeric
- 1 teaspoon Cumin
- 1 Tso Curry Powder
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
- 1 teaspoon Garam Masala
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Pepper
Garnish
- chopped Cilantro
- heavy cream
INSTRUCTIONS
- In a bowl combine all the ingredients of the Meatball. Do not overmix. Make 1 tablespoon size of Ball and deep fry them in hot oil until golden brown on both sides.
- Heat butter in a pan. As the butter shimmers, add garlic, ginger, and onions. As the onions caramelize, add the Tomato Paste, and all the spices. Saute until combined and cook for 3 minutes over low heat. Finally, stir in the Heavy Cream and Chicken Broth. Allow simmering for 5 minutes.
- Stir in the Chicken Meatballs. Toss to combine.
- Garnish with chopped Cilantro and Heavy Cream. Serve with Naan Bread or Rice
Video
Notes
TO BAKE THE CHICKEN MEATBALLS
- Preheat the oven to 400F or 200C.
- Grease a Baking Dish with Cooking Spray and Line with Parchment Paper.
- Place the Chicken Meatballs in the baking dish.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes. Toss after 15 minutes.
For Low Carb Version
- Replace Heavy Cream with Coconut Milk
- Bake the Chicken Meatballs
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