Butter Chicken Baked Rice
Basmati rice, chicken and peas baked in one dish with makhani sauce, an easy one-dish family supper with little washing up.
Made with Makhani (butter masala) base and Homemade chicken stock. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time1 hr 15
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £2.33 a head
- Oven190°C (170°C fan)
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Heat the oven to 190°C (170°C fan). Heat the oil in a flameproof casserole or deep ovenproof pan and brown the chicken for 5 minutes, then remove.
5 min - 2
Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in the rinsed rice and garam masala and cook for 1 minute.
6 min - 3
Add your ready made makhani base (see the base recipe), your homemade chicken stock (see the base recipe), 1 teaspoon salt and the chicken. Bring to a simmer.
- 4
Cover tightly with a lid or foil and bake for 30 minutes.
30 min - 5
Scatter the peas over the top, cover again and bake for 10 minutes more, until the rice is tender and the liquid has been absorbed.
10 min - 6
Rest, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and scatter over the coriander.
Tips
- Rinse the rice well, as this removes loose starch and stops it clumping.
- Cover tightly. If the lid is loose, steam escapes and the rice stays hard.
- Make sure the chicken has no pink inside before serving.
Storing and freezing
Cool the rice within 1 hour and refrigerate for up to 1 day. Reheat only once until steaming hot all the way through. Do not freeze cooked rice dishes more than once.
Questions
Can I use brown rice?
Yes, but it needs more liquid and time. Use 450 ml stock and bake for 55 minutes, checking it is tender.
Can I use chicken breast?
Yes. Cut it into large chunks and add it after the rice is partly cooked so it does not dry out.
Can I use stock cubes?
Yes. Use a gluten free stock cube in 350 ml water for a gluten free result.
More made with makhani (butter masala) base
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.