Description
This Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet combines the creamy, spiced richness of butter chicken with the rustic, seared finish of a cast-iron skillet meal. It’s a bold, comforting fusion dish loaded with flavor, perfect with mashed potatoes, cornbread, or warm flatbread.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken
- 1½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into large chunks
- 1 tablespoon Texas-style seasoning (or smoked paprika + garlic + cayenne)
- 1 tablespoon oil or butter for searing
For the Butter Sauce
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 cup tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon chili powder or cayenne (optional, for heat)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup heavy cream or half-and-half
- 2 tablespoons sour cream or Greek yogurt (for tang)
- Optional: 1 tablespoon honey or brown sugar (to balance acidity)
Garnish
- Fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped
- A pat of butter on top for a sizzling finish
- Serve with: mashed potatoes, skillet corn, or flatbread
Instructions
1. Sear the Chicken
- Heat oil or butter in a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.
- Season chicken with Texas-style seasoning.
- Sear until browned on all sides (about 6–8 minutes), then transfer to a plate.
2. Make the Butter Sauce
- In the same skillet, melt butter and sauté onion until soft.
- Add garlic and tomato paste; cook 1–2 minutes until aromatic.
- Stir in tomato sauce, paprika, chili powder, and salt. Simmer 5–7 minutes.
- Stir in cream and sour cream. Let the sauce simmer until creamy and slightly thickened.
3. Return Chicken & Finish
- Return seared chicken to the skillet and coat with sauce.
- Simmer for 8–10 minutes until chicken is cooked through and tender.
- Finish with a dollop of butter on top for a classic “Roadhouse-style” finish.
4. Serve
- Sprinkle with chopped parsley or cilantro.
- Serve straight from the skillet with your favorite sides.
Notes
- Grill it: For added smokiness, grill chicken first before finishing in the sauce.
- Low-Carb Option: Serve with cauliflower mash or sautéed greens
- Make it Spicier: Add chipotle powder or hot sauce
- Tex-Mex Twist: Add corn, black beans, or poblano peppers to the skillet
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Skillet Recipes
- Method: Skillet-Seared
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 490 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 160 mg