Why Butter Chicken Needs a Healthy Makeover
Butter Chicken is comfort food at its finest: creamy, spiced, and downright crave-worthy. But the traditional recipe often leans heavy on cream and butter. That’s why I set out to create Paul’s Healthy Butter Chicken — a dish that keeps the authentic flavor while trimming the calories and fat.
The Savory Spice Starting Point
I began with the Spice & Easy Butter Chicken kit from Savory Spice. Their blend layers savory, warm, and floral spices into one simple packet.
What’s inside the mix:
Salt, sugar, onion, garlic, vinegar powder, tomato, turmeric, coriander, cumin, cardamom, black pepper, aji amarillo, chiles, cloves, mace, orris root, thyme, cinnamon, bay leaves.
The base recipe calls for:
- 1 ¾ cups heavy cream
- ½ cup butter
- 2 pounds chicken
- 28 oz diced canned tomatoes
- Spice & Easy Butter Chicken Mix
Delicious — but definitely indulgent.
Make Your Own Copycat Spice Mix
If you’d like to DIY, here’s my copycat spice blend inspired by the Savory Spice mix:
Copycat Butter Chicken Spice Mix
- 2 tbsp salt
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp tomato powder (optional)
- 2 tsp vinegar powder (or citric acid)
- 2 tsp turmeric
- 2 tsp ground coriander
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp ground cardamom
- 1 tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp aji amarillo (or paprika + chili)
- ½ tsp cayenne or chili powder
- ½ tsp cloves
- ¼ tsp mace (optional)
- ¼ tsp orris root (optional)
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- 1 crushed bay leaf
👉 Store airtight. Use 2–3 tbsp per batch of butter chicken.
Paul’s Healthy Butter Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken breast, cubed
- 28 oz diced canned tomatoes
- 1 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2–3 tbsp Savory Spice mix or DIY Copycat Spice Mix
Instructions
- Heat butter and olive oil in a large skillet. Add chicken and sear until lightly browned.
- Add tomatoes and spice mix. Simmer 15–20 minutes until chicken is cooked through.
- Remove from heat and stir in Greek yogurt for creaminess.
- Serve with cauliflower rice, brown basmati rice, or quinoa.
Nutrition Comparison (per serving, 6 servings)
| Recipe | Calories | Protein (g) | Fat (g) | Carbs (g) |
| Original | 767 | 34.5 | 60.0 | 5.7 |
| Healthier | 157 | 41.3 | 15.3 | 4.3 |
What you save:
- 611 fewer calories per serving
- 45 g less fat
- 7 g more protein
Why This Works
By swapping heavy cream for Greek yogurt, cutting butter in half, and using lean chicken breast, this recipe keeps all the flavor while becoming a nutrient-dense, high-protein meal.
Final Thoughts
Butter Chicken doesn’t have to be a cheat meal. With just a few swaps, you can enjoy a lighter, healthier version of this classic any day of the week.
Try Paul’s Healthy Butter Chicken — your taste buds (and your body) will thank you.