Low Fat Butter Chicken Recipe (Unofficial Slimming World + Keto Options)

A delicious creamy tomato unofficial Slimming World butter chicken from scratch that is also low carb and perfect for a keto diet. Tender pieces of chicken, cooked and simmered in under 30 minutes! I'll also show you how you can make an instant pot butter chicken using the same recipe.

I'm always looking for new ways with chicken.  But one that I had to create was this tasty butter chicken, also known as Murgh Makhani. Ok, so it's really a no butter chicken. It really reminds me of a chicken tikka butter masala, but without the tikka.

I also love a good curry. In fact, I have a habit of always ordering a chicken bhuna takeaway. But this creamy butter chicken recipe made a lovely change, with not a drop of butter in sight.

But of course, if you're following a low carb diet and actually not low fat, then you can very quickly make it as a butter chicken keto recipe. I'll show you how to, shortly!

How to Make Butter Chicken Curry for (Unofficial) Slimming World

Disclaimer: This is an unofficial page and has no affiliation or endorsement from Slimming World.  Slimming World's website can be found at https://www.slimmingworld.co.uk/
*Any syn values are personal estimates and not verified by Slimming World.

First, you'll find a printable recipe card and full list of ingredients for my easy butter chicken at the bottom of this page. But in other recipes, you'll find you need to make a butter chicken marinade.

Instead, my creamy butter chicken is made in 30 minutes, simmering all of the flavours together. I think this is the best butter chicken for anyone who's short of time. And if you take a look at my step by step below, I:

1. Fry my chicken until golden using oil spray, but make sure the butter fried chicken doesn't go too try. *You may need to add more cooking oil spray or a dash of water
2. Saute the onions and garlic until softened for a few minutes
3. Add the butter chicken spices and seasoning and stir well to ensure the chicken is coated and fry for another 2 minutes to release the butter chicken sauce flavours
4. Add the tomato puree, yogurt (or creme fraiche), water and lemon juice, then simmer and stir occasionally for 10-15 minutes. Or until your lemon butter sauce for chicken has thickened until your desired consistency.

Optional Ingredients in Butter Sauce for Chicken

1. If you want more of an authentic butter chicken, then you can stir in 1 level tablespoon of butter (estimated at 5 syns) at the end
2. Quickly turn it into an unofficial Slimming World peanut butter chicken curry by again, adding 1 level tablespoon of peanut butter (estimated at 5 syns)
3. Stir in a Butterbuds, which is 10 calories teaspoon (or a 2g sachet)
4. Or, try PB2 peanut butter powder, which apparently is 2 tablespoon for 2.5 syns (estimated). *I am yet to try this.

There! Your homemade butter chicken can be ready to eat in 30 minutes and ready to eat!

Keto Butter Chicken Curry Options

Now, for those who don't know, a keto curry can be enjoyed for those wanting a low carb curry that's high in fat. And I personally think butter chicken curry is perfect for this diet, which I follow most of the time.

The idea is that low fat diets aren't sustainable for everyone and a little bit of good fat is satisfying. I've lost 1.5 stone to date and believe my body started to store carbs, hence the switch. However, it does mean that on Keto, tucking into butter chicken and naan bread on the side is a no-no.

So if you are following a low carb diet similar to the Fast 800 (5:2 diet), I have a few choices you can make:

• Fry the chicken in ½ or 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• Stir in a tablespoon of butter into the butter chicken mix at the end
• Instead of fat free yogurt, you could use full fat creme fraiche or make butter chicken with coconut milk
• Serve with a low carb side, such as a leafy green salad or swap normal rice for cauliflower rice which I almost always do
• You even have the opportunity to make it as a peanut butter chicken by stirring in 4 tablespoons, which tastes amazing by the way! I prefer smooth peanut butter, but you can opt for crunchy!
• Why not give it a red pepper satay sauce base?

Once I started realising that my side salads with a drizzle of oil or quick satay sauce dressing tasted better than plain carbs, I have not looked back.

Can I Make Crockpot Butter Chicken Using This Recipe?

Yes, you can easily make this as a slow cooker butter chicken curry. However, to ensure the chicken chunks in your slow cooker Indian butter chicken don't completely fall apart in the pot, I prefer to fry them first.

Then, once everything is in the slow cooker, I set it on low for 3-4 hours or high for 6-7 hours.

Can I Make It As Pressure Cooker Butter Chicken Curry?

Yes! In fact, when I first made this chicken butter curry, I made it in my Tefal cook4me multicooker. For those who don't know, it's an electric pressure cooker.

I've since moved on to making a keto butter chicken instant pot version, which it cooks exactly the same way. Again, sear your chicken, then add everything to the pot and cook for 10 minutes.

Alternatives for egetarian Butter Chicken

• Tofu
• Quorn
• Diced potato
• Lentils

What Butter Chicken Spice Mix Can I Use?

It's all down to personal preference. I tend to use a mix of ginger, chilli,  mild chilli powder, turmeric, cumin, garam masala and paprika.

More Ideas Like this Unofficial Slimming World Chicken Curry

• Prawn bhuna curry
• Slow cooker chicken curry
• Beef bhuna
• Leftover gammon curry
• Slow cooker tuna curry
• Slimming chicken jalfrezi
• Healthy red lentil curry
• Fish curry in a hurry
• Mushy pea curry
• Chicken and red lentil curry

How to Make Butter Chicken Sauce Low Fat

📖 Recipe

Pin Healthy Butter Chicken

This recipe was originally published in October 2016. It has since been adjusted and updated in November 2020 with new ingredients and photos.