Calories in butter chicken
A 200g serving of butter chicken typically runs 350–490 calories, and it's almost entirely a function of how much butter and cream went into the gravy — the chicken itself contributes a fairly fixed amount regardless of which restaurant made it.
Not sure how rich the gravy really was?
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| Version | Approx. calories (200g) | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Home-style, lighter cream | 320–380 kcal | Tomato-forward base, butter used sparingly |
| Standard restaurant | 380–450 kcal | Generous butter finish, cream stirred through |
| Rich/premium restaurant | 450–490+ kcal | Extra butter, cream, sometimes a touch of sugar for balance |
Butter chicken's tomato-onion base is fairly consistent in calories on its own — it's the finishing butter and cream swirl that varies most, and it's applied right at the end, often after the dish already looks "done," which makes it easy to underestimate from appearance alone.
Macros per serving (approx., 200g, standard restaurant version)
Protein
22–26g, mostly from the chicken
Carbs
10–14g
Fat
24–32g
Sodium
600–800mg
Butter chicken is a solid protein source per serving, but the fat content is the highest among common Indian chicken curries — worth factoring in if you're pairing it with naan or rice rather than eating it on its own.
Butter chicken vs. chicken tikka masala vs. chicken curry
- Butter chicken: ~350–490 kcal per 200g. Built specifically around a butter-and-cream finish.
- Chicken tikka masala: ~330–450 kcal per 200g. Similar tomato-cream base, though the chicken is usually grilled/tandoori-marinated first rather than simmered from raw.
- Home-style chicken curry: ~300–420 kcal per 200g. Oil-based rather than butter-and-cream, generally the lightest of the three.
Why this dish is hard for photo-based calorie trackers
Like paneer butter masala, butter chicken hides its highest-calorie ingredient in plain sight: the butter and cream are folded fully into the gravy, not sitting visibly on top. A photo shows a smooth, orange-red gravy whether it's the lighter home-style version or the richer restaurant one — the visual difference is subtle even though the calorie gap can be 100+ calories.
MyCal AI's scanning reasons about typical preparation for a dish like this rather than defaulting to the lightest plausible version — a glossy, restaurant-style gravy gets estimated toward the richer end of the range, and you can always adjust the portion or note a home-style prep if that's what you actually had.
Frequently asked questions
Is butter chicken healthy?
In moderation, yes — it's a good protein source, but the butter-and-cream gravy makes it calorie-dense, so portion size and frequency matter more than for a leaner curry.
How many calories in butter chicken with naan?
A 250g serving of butter chicken with one butter naan typically totals 700–850 calories, with the naan contributing 250–320 on its own.
Is butter chicken or tikka masala lower in calories?
They're close, but butter chicken is usually slightly richer since the base is built specifically around butter and cream, while tikka masala's tomato base can be made with less added fat depending on the kitchen.