Oh, you know how it is! Sometimes you just crave that rich, buttery, restaurant-quality flavor, but you really, really don’t want to do a mountain of dishes afterward. That’s exactly why I perfected this recipe. Forget those complicated, multi-pot curry recipes that feel like a weekend project. I’m so thrilled to share my guide on How to Make Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet (Foolproof chicken Recipe) right on your stovetop.
What makes this my weeknight MVP? It’s fast—we’re talking dinner on the table in under 40 minutes—and it manages to capture that deep, savory, slightly tangy magic of the restaurant version in one large skillet. Trust me, once you try this easy chicken recipe, you won’t look back. It’s pure comfort food magic with minimal cleanup!
Why This How to Make Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet (Foolproof chicken Recipe) Stands Out
Listen, I know there are a million butter chicken recipes out there, but mine is different because it’s engineered for speed without cheating the flavor. It just works! You get that amazing restaurant quality right when you need it most. I really mean it when I call this the foolproof chicken recipe. Seriously, it’s nearly impossible to mess up.
Here’s what makes this skillet version our go-to choice:
- Quick Prep and Cook Times: We only need about 15 minutes of actual prep time before the stove is working its magic. With only 25 minutes budgeted for cooking, dinner is ready in 40 minutes total. Who needs takeout?
- One-Pan Simplicity for Easy Cleanup: This is the best part of the whole Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet experience. Everything happens in one large skillet. A quick soak for that one pan, and you’re done cleaning!
Essential Equipment for How to Make Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet (Foolproof chicken Recipe)
Setting up your kitchen right is half the battle when you’re aiming for speed and perfection. You don’t need a dozen fancy gadgets for this easy chicken recipe, but the right tools make the difference between a great meal and a masterpiece. For this particular Butter Chicken Skillet, we are keeping the gear minimal, which is why it’s so appealing for a Tuesday night!
Here’s what you absolutely need to have ready to roll before you chop that first piece of chicken:
- A Large Skillet: This isn’t optional, folks. You need a good, large skillet—I’m talking about one that can comfortably hold about 1.5 pounds of chicken without making it feel crowded when you start browning. Crowding leads to steaming, and we want a nice sear here to build that foundational flavor! Non-stick is great, but cast iron works like a dream if you manage your heat right.
- Small Bowl: We use this for tossing the chicken with the initial seasonings—salt, pepper, and paprika. It keeps your cutting board clean!
That’s it! See? I told you this was simple. Having that large skillet ready means we can move quickly from searing the chicken to building the glorious sauce right on top of those yummy browned bits. Don’t even think about grabbing anything smaller; this recipe needs space to shine!
Gathering Ingredients for Your How to Make Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet (Foolproof chicken Recipe)
Okay, ingredient gathering time! If you stick to this list, I promise your Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet is going to nail that savory, rich restaurant flavor. You know me, I like to keep things organized so nothing gets missed when the heat is on. We’ll break this down into two simple groups: what goes on the chicken first, and what makes that luscious sauce second.
Being precise with your measurements, especially for the spices, is what takes this from *good* to *OMG, I have to send the recipe to everyone I know*. This is the blueprint for a truly foolproof chicken recipe!
For the Chicken Marinade and Searing
We start simple here. You need 1.5 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts, and please make sure you cut them into nice, even 1-inch pieces; consistency really matters for even cooking in the skillet! These pieces are going to get a quick toss in salt (1 tsp), black pepper (1/2 tsp), and paprika (1 tsp) until they are well coated. I use olive oil—2 tablespoons worth—to help them get that beautiful golden-brown crust when they hit the hot pan. Don’t skip that oil; it’s what helps us build flavor later!
Creating the Signature Butter Sauce
This is where the magic happens, my friend. The heart of the flavor comes from a full 4 tablespoons of butter melting down first. Add 2 cloves of garlic, minced up super fine, and let it just get fragrant—don’t let it burn, or the whole sauce tastes bitter! Then we bloom those amazing spices: 1 tablespoon of tomato paste first for depth, followed by 1 teaspoon of cumin, 1 teaspoon of coriander, and a little kick with 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Taste your cayenne jar first, though, because you can adjust that spice level to whatever makes your tongue happy!
To build volume and creaminess, we need 1 cup of chicken broth and 1/2 cup of heavy cream. Yes, heavy cream makes it rich—don’t substitute if you can help it! Finally, a little bit of balance comes from 1 tablespoon of sugar. We are finishing the whole dish by coating the seared chicken back in this sauce. Don’t forget to chop up about 1/4 cup of fresh cilantro to sprinkle over the top right before serving. That pop of green makes it look restaurant-worthy!
Step-by-Step Instructions: How to Make Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet (Foolproof chicken Recipe)
We’re getting down to business now! These steps are designed to be followed quickly. Because we are using just one pan, timing is everything to ensure the chicken is perfectly cooked and the sauce is velvety. Read these through once, and then let’s get cooking on this amazing Butter Chicken Skillet!
Seasoning and Browning the Chicken
First things first: grab that large skillet and get your 1.5 lbs of 1-inch chicken pieces ready. We’re seasoning them right in that small bowl you gathered. Toss the chicken thoroughly with 1 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper, and 1 teaspoon of paprika. I like to use my hands here to make sure every single cube is lightly dusted!
Now, heat that olive oil—2 tablespoons—in your large skillet over medium-high heat. You want the oil shimmering just slightly before the chicken goes in. Drop the seasoned chicken pieces into the hot oil. Okay, here’s an expert tip: *do not* overcrowd the skillet! If you have too much chicken in there, it will steam instead of getting that beautiful, restaurant-style browning we are after. If you have to, cook it in two batches; it’s worth the extra minute. Let the chicken cook until it’s browned nicely on all sides and fully cooked through, which usually takes about 6 to 8 minutes total. Once it’s done, scoop that chicken out onto a clean plate and set it aside. Don’t wipe the pan clean!
Building the Flavor Base in the Skillet
Lower the heat down to medium now, because we don’t want our aromatics to burn! Add those 4 tablespoons of butter straight into the same skillet—let it melt down over the flavorful chicken drippings. Once that butter is sizzling gently, toss in your 2 minced garlic cloves. You only cook those for about 60 seconds until the kitchen smells amazing. Watch them closely; garlic burns fast!
Next up is the spice pop! Stir in 1 tablespoon of tomato paste and let it cook for just a minute. This wakes up the tomato flavor. Then, immediately add in your dry spices: 1 teaspoon of cumin, 1 teaspoon of coriander, and that 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Stir this mixture constantly for a full minute; this process is called blooming the spices, and it makes their flavor way deeper and richer. Once you’ve got that aromatic paste going, pour in the 1 cup of chicken broth. Get your wooden spoon and scrape up every single browned, caramelized bit stuck to the bottom of the skillet. That fond is pure gold and necessary for the richness of this foolproof chicken recipe!
Simmering the Cream Sauce and Finishing the How to Make Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet (Foolproof chicken Recipe)
Right after you’ve scraped up all those good brown bits, it’s time for the good stuff! Stir in the 1/2 cup of heavy cream and the 1 tablespoon of sugar you measured out earlier. Bring everything back up to a gentle simmer. Let this sauce bubble softly for about 3 to 5 minutes, just stirring occasionally until you can see it thickening up nicely. It won’t be super thick yet—that’s okay!
Now, take your seared chicken pieces off that side plate and slide them right back into the skillet. Give everything a good stir so that every piece of chicken gets coated in that luxurious, buttery sauce. Heat it all through for just 1 or 2 minutes—we just want it hot, not overcooked. That’s it! Your How to Make Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet (Foolproof chicken Recipe) is done! Sprinkle the top generously with that fresh, chopped cilantro we set aside earlier, and get ready to dig in immediately.
Pro Tips for the Perfect How to Make Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet (Foolproof chicken Recipe)
Even though I call this a foolproof recipe, I always have a few little tricks up my sleeve to make your Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet absolutely spectacular every single time. Little tweaks like these are what separate a good cook from someone who owns the kitchen!
The key to getting that professional finish on this easy chicken recipe isn’t just following the steps; it’s knowing where you can safely adjust things based on what you have or what you like. I’ve tried this recipe probably twenty times, tweaking heat and fat sources, just to make sure you get the best result!
Ingredient Substitutions and Adjustments
Life happens, and sometimes you’re missing that one specific ingredient. Good news: you can still nail this Butter Chicken Skillet!
If you don’t have heavy cream, you can absolutely use half-and-half, but I must warn you—it will be significantly thinner. You’ll need to simmer the sauce for a few extra minutes (maybe 7 or 8 instead of 5) to help it reduce and thicken up enough to coat the chicken properly. It won’t be quite as indulgent, but it still tastes great!
For the spice level in this foolproof chicken recipe, that cayenne pepper is your main dial. If you love heat, go ahead and bump that up to 3/4 teaspoon. If you’re feeding little ones, use only a tiny pinch, or skip it entirely and add a dash of black pepper instead for warmth without the burn. Seriously, taste the sauce right before you add the chicken back in, and make sure it tastes perfect to *you*.
Also, the quality of your butter matters! Since butter is such a huge component of the sauce—we use 4 tablespoons, remember?—using a good quality, high-fat butter really creates a better mouthfeel. Skip the margarine if you can; the flavor difference in this specific sauce is huge when you use real dairy butter.
Lastly, if you prefer dark meat for extra flavor and juiciness in your How to Make Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet (Foolproof chicken Recipe), go ahead and swap the breasts for boneless, skinless thighs. Just cut them the same size, and add an extra minute or two to the browning stage, because thighs are a little more forgiving!
Serving Suggestions for Your How to Make Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet (Foolproof chicken Recipe)
The Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet is so incredibly flavorful and rich that it really demands a great partner to soak up every last drop of that incredible sauce. Remember how I mentioned in the notes that rice or naan bread are fantastic? Well, let’s talk specifically about how to build a complete meal around this already amazing dish.
You can’t just serve this rich skillet by itself; you need something neutral underneath to act as a sponge for that buttery goodness. My usual go-to for the foolproof chicken recipe is simple, steamed white rice. It’s fast, easy, and lets the sauce truly shine.
If you’re feeling a little more adventurous or just want to sneak some greens into the mix, try these pairings:
- Naan Bread Heaven: Seriously, skip the boring dinner rolls and grab some warm naan. I love tearing off chunks of the bread and dipping it straight into the sauce—it’s messy, but so delicious. If you can find garlic naan, even better!
- Basmati or Jasmine Rice: These offer a bit more fragrance than plain white rice and pair beautifully with the cumin and coriander in our sauce. Cook it exactly as the package says; no need to overcomplicate the carb side of things when the main dish is this flavorful.
- Simple Steamed Greens: To balance out all that creamy richness, you need something fresh and slightly crisp. I often steam broccoli florets quickly or blanch some green beans. A little salt and pepper on the veggies is all they need before serving them alongside the skillet content. They just cut through the richness perfectly.
For me, the ideal way to serve this Butter Chicken Skillet is a scoop of fluffy rice topped with a generous serving of the sauce-coated chicken, finished with that cilantro garnish you added right at the end. You get protein, fat, and the starch all in one bowl! Enjoy every bite of this wonderful easy chicken recipe.
Storage and Reheating the How to Make Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet (Foolproof chicken Recipe)
One of the absolute best things about making a skillet meal like this Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet is that you almost always end up with leftovers! And trust me, this tastes just as good, if not better, the next day when the flavors have really had a chance to hang out together.
If you are prepping ahead for your weeknight meals—which I totally encourage you to do, because who wants to cook five nights in a row?—storing this properly is key to keeping that sauce velvety and not splitting. This is the secret to enjoying your foolproof chicken recipe long after the first serving.
Here’s my routine for saving those extra servings of your amazing Butter Chicken Skillet:
For storage, you want an airtight container—no exceptions here! Use glass containers if you can, as they don’t tend to hold onto odors like plastic can, especially with garlic and spices. Make sure the chicken and sauce are completely cooled down before sealing the lid and tucking them into the fridge. If you store it correctly, this skillet meal will stay fresh and delicious for about three to four days. More than that, and I start getting nervous about the cream content, you know?
Now, reheating! This is where technique matters. You *could* microwave it, and it will eventually be fine, but the microwave tends to heat liquids unevenly, and sometimes the cream can get a little grainy or seize up. For the absolute best, restaurant-quality reheat, you have to go back to the stovetop.
Put your portion of the How to Make Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet (Foolproof chicken Recipe) into a small saucepan or a very small skillet over low to medium-low heat. You need to stir this gently and constantly as it warms up. When you notice it starting to steam, add just a tablespoon or two of water or extra chicken broth—this is the trick! Adding a tiny bit of liquid right before reheating helps loosen up that rich sauce and brings it right back to that beautiful consistency it had right off the stove. It takes maybe 5 minutes total, and boom! Your perfect easy chicken recipe is ready for round two. Enjoy those leftovers!
Frequently Asked Questions About This Chicken Skillet
When people try this dish for the first time, they always have a few great questions pop up. It’s totally normal, especially when you’re trying to get that restaurant copycat flavor right at home! I’ve pulled together the most common ones I get about making a truly delicious easy chicken recipe like this one.
Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts?
Yes, absolutely, and I encourage it if you prefer dark meat! Chicken thighs are packed with more flavor and they stay incredibly moist, even if you accidentally leave them simmering for an extra minute or two. You’ll want to use the same 1-inch bite-sized pieces you would use for the breasts. Since chicken thighs are a bit tougher initially, I often suggest adding them in right at the beginning when you add the oil and browning them for about 8 to 10 minutes total, just to ensure they are tender before you start the sauce. They are phenomenal in this sauce!
How spicy is this skillet dish, really?
That’s a great question that depends entirely on you! The heat level in this recipe comes solely from the cayenne pepper, and I wrote the recipe calling for just 1/2 teaspoon. For me, that gives it a pleasant, warming background spice—not aggressively hot, but you can definitely taste that little bit of kick. If you are sensitive to spice, you can cut that way back to just a tiny pinch, or skip the cayenne entirely. If you love heat, feel free to go right up to 3/4 teaspoon or even a full teaspoon. Always taste the sauce before adding the chicken back in, so you can adjust that cayenne to your perfect middle ground!
Is there a way to make this recipe dairy-free?
This is the trickiest adaptation because the name literally has “Butter” and “Cream” in it! To make this dairy-free, you’ll need a few swaps. First, replace the 4 tablespoons of butter with a high-quality, unsalted vegan butter substitute. Second, replace the 1/2 cup of heavy cream. My best suggestion here is to use full-fat canned coconut milk (the thick cream part from the top of the can) or a plain, unsweetened oat cream alternative. The texture might be slightly different, but the flavor profile from the spices will still shine through beautifully in this chicken skillet.
What’s the best way to serve this if I don’t want rice or naan?
If you’re watching your carbs or just want a lighter meal, this Butter Chicken Skillet is fantastic served over cauliflower rice! It soaks up the sauce almost as well as traditional rice but keeps things light. Another super satisfying option is to serve it wrapped inside large butter lettuce cups or fresh romaine hearts; the cool, crisp lettuce is a fantastic textural contrast to the rich, warm sauce. It turns dinner into an easy, low-carb wrap night!
Estimated Nutrition Breakdown for How to Make Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet (Foolproof chicken Recipe)
I always like to share the numbers after we’ve all enjoyed the cooking process, right? Knowing what’s in your plate helps you plan for the rest of your day, especially when we’re making something as wonderfully rich as this Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet. Remember, these figures are estimates based on the exact ingredients and amounts listed above for four servings. When you start substituting things—like switching heavy cream for something lighter—the numbers will shift, but this gives you a great baseline for this easy chicken recipe.
This is a fairly protein-heavy meal thanks to the chicken, but it certainly brings in some healthy fats from that essential butter and cream that makes the sauce so dreamy. No cheating allowed on the flavor bus for this foolproof chicken recipe!
Here is the estimate for one serving:
- Calories: 450
- Protein: 45g (That’s a big win for keeping you full!)
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 12g (That’s where the rich cream and butter sit!)
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Sugar: 5g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Cholesterol: 150mg
- Potassium: 600mg
- Iron: 2mg
You can see how serving the How to Make Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet (Foolproof chicken Recipe) with simple rice will add carbs to the total, so keep that in mind when you’re deciding on your side dish. But honestly, seeing 45 grams of protein in a skillet meal that tastes this decadent? I consider that a huge win for a weeknight dinner!
Share Your Experience Making This Recipe
Now that you know exactly How to Make Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet (Foolproof chicken Recipe), I absolutely need to hear about it! This is the part of cooking I love the most—seeing how this simple recipe fits into *your* kitchen and your busy life.
Seriously, don’t be shy! If you made this easy chicken recipe, please head down to the comments section below and let me know how it went. Did you spice it up with extra cayenne, or did you go super mild for the kids? Did you pair it with my suggested rice, or did you try something totally different?
I’m always tweaking and improving, and your feedback is the most valuable ingredient I could ever ask for. Please rate this Butter Chicken Skillet out of five stars! Even if you only made one small change to my method, sharing that little adjustment helps the next person who attempts this foolproof chicken recipe. Your success stories and your notes on substitutions are what keep this community cooking!
I’m genuinely excited to read what you think of this ultra-simple, flavor-packed dish. Head to the comments section at the bottom of the blog and tell me everything!
Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Season the chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and paprika. Toss to coat evenly.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken and cook until browned on all sides and cooked through, about 6 to 8 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
- Reduce the heat to medium. Add the butter to the same skillet. Once melted, add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Stir in the tomato paste, cumin, coriander, and cayenne pepper. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
- Pour in the chicken broth and bring the mixture to a simmer. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet.
- Stir in the heavy cream and sugar. Let the sauce simmer gently for 3 to 5 minutes until it thickens slightly.
- Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Stir to coat the chicken completely in the sauce. Heat through for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Serve the butter chicken skillet immediately, garnished with fresh chopped cilantro.
