Dairy Free Butter Chicken
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Dairy Free Butter Chicken
Easy Dairy Free Butter Chicken that uses coconut milk instead of dairy to create a buttery sauce covering the yummy sauteed chicken.
It’s a simplified version of butter chicken.
With spices like cayenne pepper, chili, onion, and garlic this recipe is sure to be a favorite.
I’ve made this dish 3 times! Each time I keep making it spicier and perfecting the sauce.
To be perfectly honest I don’t remember how spicy or “curry-like” keto butter chicken is supposed to taste.
I haven’t had “real” butter chicken in at least 5 years.
This recipe was inspired by Rob, a guy I share an office with. We often swap recipe ideas.
Quiz each other on what we are making for dinner. Drool over it and brag about what we plan to make next. Rob makes butter chicken a couple of times a week. I asked like I usually do, “how do you make that?”
I get out my bright pink post-it notes and write it all down! One problem, Rob never gives me measurements! He is one of those chefs who add a little of this and that.
Armed with my pink post-it note, I tried to make Paleo Butter Chicken, Ditch The Wheat style.
Low carb, gluten-free, and low on dairy, if possible.
I took out all of my spices and poured olive oil in the pan. The secret, according to Rob, is to put oil olive (or any cooking fat) in your pan and put your spices in then turn on the heat allowing the spices to warm up.
I’ve been using this method for a few other things and I like the result.
I sprinkled in my spices, stirred it into the oil, and turned on the heat. The aroma of curry took over the kitchen.
I cooked my cubed chicken in the spices. Everything was going well. I was ready for the sauce. I used coconut milk and butter.
Rob uses yogurt but you can also use heavy cream. Opps! I was simmering the sauce, thinking I want it as thick as possible and I noticed the coconut milk was beginning to separate.
The coconut milk evaporated leaving me with the oil! In a panic, I poured some more coconut milk in the pan. Whew, I saved it. The result tasted great but was very greasy.
The next two times I worked on the sauce and realized that even though it is called “Butter Chicken” my sauce was becoming greasy because of the added fat. When I tried the recipe without the butter the flavor did not change and zero grease!
Although I had no intention of making this recipe dairy-free it nicely ended up that way.
Tools to use for this recipe
For this recipe you will need:
- frying pan
- mandoline
- large bowl
- airtight storage container for leftovers
Dairy Free Butter Chicken Ingredients:
- Olive Oil (or any cooking oil)
- Cayenne Pepper
- Chili Spice
- Onion Powder
- Garlic Powder
- cinnamon
- Boneless chicken breast, cubed
- Full Fat Coconut Milk (I exclusively use Aroy-D Coconut Milk)
- Cauliflower
How to make Dairy Free Butter Chicken:
Pour some oil in a frying pan. Mix your spices into the oil and turn the temperature to medium.
When you smell the aroma of the spices add the diced chicken. Reduce the heat to medium-low and let the chicken slowly cook.
When the chicken is cooked, pour in the coconut milk. Mix the coconut milk with everything in the pan.
Keep the temperature at med-low. Let the sauce simmer, reduce, and thicken.
While you are doing this rice your cauliflower. I used a mandoline to quickly “rice” my cauliflower. You can also use a grater or a food processor.
When you feel your sauce is thick enough pour all of the contents of the pan into a bowl.
Sauté the cauliflower rice in the same pan. Sauté until desired doneness. I like mine slightly cooked.
Put the cauliflower rice in a bowl and pour the butter chicken over it.
Eat and enjoy! Drink lots of water, it’s spicy!
More Easy Gluten Free Dinner Recipes
- Paleo Meatloaf
- Paleo Shepherd’s Pie
- Honey Lemon Chicken
- Chorizo Pulled Pork
- Keto Cabbage Rolls
- Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs
- Instant Pot Turkey Chili
If you love snacks, here are more Paleo desserts and Paleo snacks! Make sure to check out my huge collection of gluten free dinner recipes.
If you loved this recipe, I would be really grateful if you can rate the recipe card and share any photos you took on Instagram using #ditchthewheat and tag me in your post or story.
Dairy Free Butter Chicken Recipe
Dairy-Free Butter Chicken
Easy Dairy-Free Butter Chicken that uses coconut milk instead of dairy to create a buttery sauce covering the yummy sauteed chicken.
Ingredients
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil (or any cooking oil)
- ½ tsp of Cayenne Pepper
- ½ tsp of Chili Spice
- ½ tsp of Onion Powder
- ½ tsp of Garlic Powder
- Light sprinkle of cinnamon
- 1 raw boneless chicken breast, cubed
- ½ Cup of Full Fat Coconut Milk (I exclusively use Aroy-D Coconut Milk)
- 2 florets of Cauliflower
Instructions
- Pour some oil in a frying pan. Mix your spices into the oil and turn the temperature to medium.
- When you smell the aroma of the spices add the diced chicken. Reduce the heat to medium-low and let the chicken slowly cook.
- When the chicken is cooked, pour in the coconut milk. Mix the coconut milk with everything in the pan.
- Keep the temperature at med-low. Let the sauce simmer, reduce, and thicken.
- While you are doing this rice your cauliflower. I used a mandoline to quickly “rice” my cauliflower. You can also use a grater or a food processor.
- When you feel your sauce is thick enough pour all of the contents of the pan into a bowl.
- Sauté the cauliflower rice in the same pan. Sauté until desired doneness. I like mine slightly cooked.
- Put the cauliflower rice in a bowl and pour the butter chicken over it.
- Eat and enjoy! Drink lots of water, it’s spicy!
DISCLOSURE: Not intended for the treatment or prevention of disease, nor as a substitute for medical treatment, nor as an alternative to medical advice. Use of recommendations is at the choice and risk of the reader. Ditch the Wheat is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog. I only endorse products that I believe in.
Carol Lovett is the founder of Ditch the Wheat and a Globe and Mail bestselling author of the cookbook, Ditch the Wheat. She has been eating gluten free since 2010. She loves all things food, natural living, and spiritual. She's also a reiki master and crystal healer.
Gluten Free Resources
Do you need help with gluten free meals?
I recommend this meal-planning app. It makes cooking gluten free dinners extremely easy and family-friendly.
What gluten free snacks can I eat?
Lots! I have a ton of practical gluten free snack recipes in my cookbook.
How can I eat dessert on a gluten free diet?
You can 100% eat dessert while eating gluten free. Try my dessert cookbook for easy gluten free dessert recipes.
How do I know what is gluten free and what isn’t?
I have a whole section is it gluten free?
How do I make substitutions?
If you need substitution advice I created a ton of resources here.
This looks so good! I love making Indian style dishes at home – they are easier than you would expect. That sauce looks divine – hand me a spoon!
I was very intimidated at first but now I make it weekly!
Mine wasn’t thick, but I added zucchini, squash, carrots, broccoli & whatever else was available….DDDDDD-LISH!