Not OP, but we get a packet of butter chicken flavor paste (it's like $2). Follow its directions and throw in whatever protein you like: chicken, pork, chick peas, etc. it's a very easy meal!
Edit: I think we use this brand - Amazon sells a 6 pack
I get this spice mix from Amazon: Kitchens of India Paste for Butter Chicken Curry, 3.5-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 6) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000V17MLS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_EujDAbMZCPKT0 I like it a lot, I also add potatoes and cauliflower sometimes for variety and it turned out well.
If I'm having a bad craving for biryani I'll get the Saffron Road biryani from the frozen food aisle. I have seen it at Target, at some organic food stores etc. They nailed the smell, the spice is on the lighter side but it will satiate my craving.
Just a warning: The Kitchens of India stuff recently changed their recipe (and the packaging is now blue). It's now a good bit higher in carbs -- from 3g/serving to 7g/serving.
I haven’t had it there yet! I’ve been making my own ever since I discovered these packets off Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Kitchens-India-Butter-Chicken-3-5-Ounce/dp/B000V17MLS I know it’s cheating to use one of those but wow does it taste delicious. I finish it off with coconut milk and naan!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000V17MLS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_MQhjFbABSKTHY
This one, my roommate turned me on to it and it's damn good, usually use thighs but I had a pound of breast in the freezer so that's what I used this time around, you can mostly ignore the instructions as long as you add enough liquid to simmer in but not so much that it never thickens up, and just cook until the chicken falls apart and the sauce thickens up
It won't help at the restaurant, but I get butter chicken seasoning packets off A-Zon by the case, and you add your own chicken into them, or not. No reason you couldn't make it without.
My family uses this
Ends up being maybe 6-8 dollars to make, and could feed four.
You could also get the instant butter chicken packets off Amazon. Indian here, and we prefer using them for lunch prep instead of making it from scratch.
Kitchens of India Paste, Butter Chicken Curry, 3.5-Ounces, Pack of 1 (6 count) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000V17MLS/ref=cm_sw_r_em_apa_i_7pRpEb88V1AMD
My husband and I have the same problem, and our go-to lazy meal is Butter Chicken. Our local Kroger sells a pre-made curry paste that we love (Kitchens of India, Butter Chicken Curry), and we eat that like most families eat spaghetti. Dice up some chicken, add whatever veggies you like, and make some rice and/or naan on the side. We also add a bit of ghost pepper because we like it really spicy, but our weak friends think it's very flavorful without no additional spices (except salt/pepper while the chicken is browning).
I also really enjoy fish as an easy, relatively healthy meal. Tilapia filets take no time to thaw in tepid water, so I just keep some in the freezer for easy, spur-of-the-moment dinners if I can't think of anything else. I season the fish with salt & pepper and either blackening spice or harissa seasoning (our local spice market sells a pre-made blend of dried spices that is my favorite thing ever). I usually nuke some frozen vegetables and make either rice or couscous on the side and add the same spices to the sides that I put on the fish. I usually make an extra meal to re-heat (in my HOME microwave) for lunch the next day.
I love butter chicken and making it with all the spices myself is wonderful but I like this paste just fine: https://www.amazon.com/Kitchens-India-Butter-Chicken-3-5-Ounce/dp/B000V17MLS I bet you could get away with skipping the butter if you wanted (but it isn't all that much butter really) and you could maybe use coconut milk.. but I just use a splash of cream, toss the rest of the little half pint in my mixer and make butter (which some of that goes into the butter chicken!) and I add red lentils or chicken, whichever I have lying around. It is great with either. I follow the recipe on the package for chicken or add I think about 1.5 cups of red lentils to the package ingredients for water/butter. I sometimes serve over rice (usually over rice if not using lentils).
Also, lentil tacos instead of ground beef. Use all the same seasonings one would in making ground beef, add in some onion, delish! And not to mention, lentils are ridiculously cheap and nutritious!
Its kind of cheating but the best butter chicken I've been able to make comes from a packet. Using this with some boneless thighs is fantastic and super easy.
As for rice I just throw jasmine rice in my rice cooker. While neither the curry or rice are authentic they taste good.
Not the healthiest, but I really like to make "butter chicken" with this spice packet. It calls for a lot of butter, but doensn't really need that much. I add cream to it at the end, but that's all depending on your tastes (I'm a wimp for spicy foods, and the cream cuts it). It's good with rice and cauliflower, all mixed together, and super easy to make.
I don't make it from scratch. Another user in this sub posted about the Kitchens of India brand pastes and I decided to try them out. http://www.amazon.com/Kitchens-India-Butter-Chicken-3-5-Ounce/dp/B000V17MLS
It does have a tiny bit of sugar, but not enough to where I feel any cravings after eating it. Also, one of the paste packets is said to be for 1 pound of chicken, but I've used more than 1 pound with one packet, which definitely helps reduce the grams of sugar per serving.
I know you asked for a recipe, but I swear this stuff is really good. And it's less than $3 USD per package w/ about 3-4 servings each.
I hope curry! A friend turned me on to this a few years ago and it's the only thing I have on monthly order from amazon. Highly recommend!
Kitchens of India are great and easy on Amazon.
Kitchens Of India Paste for Butter Chicken Curry, 3.5-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 6) https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B000V17MLS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_KYPHWPPEJKMQMDQCCD36?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
If you like Indian food,
is a killer dish.
Also Thai curry
Both dishes take about 30 minutes to prepare.
I used THIS paste (it's crazy good), and added potatoes, carrots, onions, peas, and bamboo shoots. I use coconut cream instead of the water the recipe calls for.
I make butter chicken with this and riced cauliflower: https://www.amazon.com/Kitchens-India-Butter-Chicken-3-5-Ounce/dp/B000V17MLS
I use this butter chicken curry paste in my slow cooker and it was fantastic over rice.
I use this with some cashew milk instead of cream or water. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000V17MLS/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_YtDnvb0RY72ZB