Wait, did you say VEGAN butter chicken? You betcha. I teamed up with my friends at
Mountain Rose Herbs to whip this creamy, easy, vegan butter chicken up for you.
Butter chicken is often something someone who is vegan would never think of trying to recreate to make vegan-friendly, however, I did it, and you’ll love it. I promise. This recipe is easy, is loaded with those Indian flavours we love and it’s seriously I think one of my best curry dishes I’ve made to date.
Butter chicken originated in Delhi, India, the capital of India, sometime during the 50s. The legend says that the cooks of Moti Mahal (a Delhi restaurant) would mix leftover marinade juices with butter and tomato and then stew the tandoori cooked chicken in the sauce. These cooks definitely did something right because here we are, decades later, and still loving butter chicken all the way back here in Canada.
Incase you need me to state the obvious, there isn’t actually any chicken in this easy butter chicken dish. Surprise! I’m still vegan ;)! Instead, I’ve used chickpeas and potatoes to really make this Indian curry fill you up and make it a hardy dish for fall and winter.
Why chickpeas?
Chickpeas are an extremely versatile ingredient that is used a ton in vegan cooking, and especially in Indian cooking. Chickpeas are packed with not just protein, but also nutrients, such as:
- Folate
- Iron
- Phosphorus
- Copper
- Manganese
They also benefit your digestion and help you keep healthy blood sugar levels + more. Combining the chickpeas with the flavours of the garlic, and this creamy coconut sauce really makes a dish that warms you from the inside out.



Garam Masala = a butter chicken necessity
Garam masala is a key spice to get all the flavours into this Indian butter chicken recipe. I used Mountain Rose Herbs garam masala to get all the authentic Indian flavour into this curry. Their garam masala is organic and filled with all the spices you need to make your house smell absolutely to die for. Their combination of spices include:
Image how annoying it be to have to buy ALL these spices individually? That’s why I love this powder that already mixes all of these flavours into one to make my life easier, and also make sure I have the perfect amount of all the Indian spices needed to make this dish as authentic and loaded with flavour as the real thing.
I find any curry to be seriously addictive. Nothing beats the flavour that comes along with a good curry and this butter chicken doesn’t fall short. Many vegans think they can’t eat butter chicken but think not, you can enjoy the flavours of it in a vegan way. Just minus the chicken!
Enjoy this comforting meal with rice and garlic naan bread and garnish your dish with cilantro for some extra fresh flavour. If you need a dish that is for sure loaded with flavour but don’t feel like having a million dirty dishes and spending hours in the kitchen, this dish is for you. Loaded with that punch of flavour you need, but easy, and can be made in one pot!
Need more inspiration on how to use Mountain Rose Herbs in your cooking and home? Check out some of my other posts:
Delicious!! I made this with chickpeas and it was creamy, flavorful and made big portions. Will definitely be making again. Thank you Maria!
★★★★★
Thank you so much for the love, Emily! So glad you enjoyed this!
If you’re using potatoes do you cook them prior to adding to the sauce for the last 15 minutes? Or does that cooked part only apply to if you are doing lentils?
I would cook them slightly before adding them to the sauce to simmer. Depending on how large you cut them that will also dictate how long they need to cook. I hope that helps!
This recipe was incredible. I was craving butter chicken tonight and this absolutely hit the spot. So satisfying! I used chili oil instead of flakes and it kicked up the intensity. Thanks again Maria!
★★★★★
You’re so welcome Rebecca! I am so glad you enjoyed this!!!
Super delicious. The whole family loved it.
★★★★★
So happy about this Tracy! Thanks so much for the love!