Most Popular Indian Dish: What Wins the Nation’s Heart?

If you’ve ever tried to figure out what the most popular Indian dish is, you probably won’t be surprised—it’s butter chicken. This creamy, rich, spiced chicken curry pretty much pops up at every Indian restaurant menu, from Delhi to New York City. Even folks who are new to Indian food usually start with butter chicken, and there’s a good reason for that.

Why does butter chicken win so many hearts? It isn’t just about the taste. This dish feels like comfort food at its best: tender chicken, silky sauce, just the right hit of sweetness and spice. You can make it mild or bold, and it just seems to go perfectly with naan or plain rice.

Here’s the cool part—even though it sounds fancy, it’s actually not that hard to whip up at home, especially with a little planning. Don’t worry if you don’t have every single “authentic” spice in your kitchen—simple tweaks can bring great results. And the leftovers? Somehow, they taste even better the next day, especially if you mop up the sauce with warm bread.

• The Reigning Champion: Butter Chicken
• Why Everyone Loves It
• Easy Tips to Cook It at Home
• Butter Chicken Around the World

The Reigning Champion: Butter Chicken

If you’ve ever scanned an Indian restaurant menu, there’s a huge chance you saw one dish front and center—butter chicken. Known as "murgh makhani" in Hindi, butter chicken first showed up in Delhi in the late 1940s, basically by accident. Kundan Lal Gujral, chef and co-owner of the iconic Moti Mahal restaurant, mixed leftover tandoori chicken with a tomato-based, buttery sauce to avoid food waste. People loved it. Word got around fast, and it quickly became the flagship Indian curry across the globe.

Butter chicken’s rise isn’t just about history—it’s about taste that works for pretty much anyone. The recipe is all about soft chicken pieces cooked in a rich, creamy, tomato-based sauce. The flavors are balanced: a little sweet, a little tangy, and not too spicy. It fits kids, spice-shy folks, and die-hard Indian food fans equally well.

Take a look at some real-world numbers:

*Based on top food delivery app trends and restaurant data gathered last year

Even celebrity chefs like Gordon Ramsay have featured butter chicken on their shows, calling out how Indian food wouldn’t be what it is without this dish. Restaurants love it because it’s always a hit with both regulars and first-timers. Home cooks love it because it’s actually one of the easier, forgiving Indian recipes—especially compared to complex biryanis or dosas.

And then there's the restaurant test. Walk into any city with a sizable Indian community and butter chicken will probably be the best-selling main dish. It even shows up as frozen meals and meal kits in grocery stores everywhere from Canada to Australia.

Why Everyone Loves It

Butter chicken isn’t just the top pick in India—it’s got fans everywhere. What makes this dish stand out? The answer is all about balance and flexibility. The sauce mixes tomatoes, cream, and spices in a way that hits sweet, tangy, and savory all at once. It’s rich enough for a special meal, but not so spicy that it scares off anyone new to Indian food.

This is the most popular Indian dish because it covers every base. If you love bold flavors, you can dial up the spice. If you have kids or guests who don’t do heat, just tone it down. Even picky eaters who skip curries for being "too strong" cant resist dipping bread into that sauce. Restaurants around the world have their own take—some even use tofu or paneer instead of chicken so nobody’s left out.

There’s another reason it works for everyone: leftovers. Most curries lose their punch after a night in the fridge, but butter chicken gets even better, because the spices keep soaking into the chicken. That makes it a great make-ahead dish for busy families.

If you’re looking for a meal that works for Grandma, friends coming over for dinner, or even those who “don’t really do Indian food”—this is it. That’s why butter chicken is always the winner at potlucks and parties, no matter where you are.

Easy Tips to Cook It at Home

You don’t need a giant spice rack or a chef’s diploma to nail butter chicken at home. The key is to focus on a few basics and not overthink it. Check out these real-world steps that save time and still give you restaurant vibes.

• Marinate your chicken: Don’t skip this step. Letting the chicken soak in yogurt, lemon juice, and simple Indian spices like garam masala, turmeric, and chili powder makes it super tender. Even 30 minutes helps, but overnight works best if you’ve got the patience.
• Use tomatoes for the sauce: Go with canned crushed tomatoes if fresh ones aren't handy—they blend smoother and cut your prep time in half.
• Don’t skimp on butter or cream: Butter chicken gets its signature flavor from, well, butter! About 2 to 3 tablespoons does the trick. A splash of cream at the end rounds out the sauce and gives you that rich, orange glow.
• Go easy on the spices: Stick to basics like cumin, garam masala, coriander, chili powder, and garlic. If you’re new, just start with smaller amounts—you can always throw in more.
• Finish with a pinch of sugar: This isn’t dessert, but a tiny bit of sugar balances the sauce and brings out the tomato flavor.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what you need for the classic home version:

Want shortcuts? You can totally use ready-made spice mixes or even leftover grilled chicken. Store-bought naan works great if making bread from scratch feels like too much. And here’s a pro tip many home cooks swear by: butter chicken tastes better the next day, so don’t be afraid to make extra.

For anyone new to most popular Indian dish, it’s okay if your first try isn’t perfect. Play around with the spices and cream until it’s just right for you. The hardest part? Trying not to eat the sauce straight from the pan.

Butter Chicken Around the World

Butter chicken didn’t just stop at being India’s favorite. The dish found fans everywhere, and today, it’s one of the most recognized Indian foods outside the country. Walk into any Indian or Pakistani restaurant in London, Sydney, or Toronto—this curry’s always on the menu.

Here’s a cool fact: In the UK, butter chicken was one of the top five most-ordered Indian dishes on food delivery apps in 2024. Even in Australia, cricket stadiums started offering butter chicken pies as a nod to local Indian communities. Toronto has entire food festivals dedicated to the dish, and you’ll find creative twists like butter chicken pizzas and poutines popping up in Canadian fast food.

The United States also caught the bug. According to data from Grubhub and DoorDash in 2024, orders for butter chicken went up by 42% compared to the previous year. Food trucks in New York City and Los Angeles now serve butter chicken tacos and burritos. Even airline menus are getting in on it, with major international carriers like Emirates and Singapore Airlines serving butter chicken to passengers in economy class—talk about a big jump from boring airplane food.

Here’s a look at butter chicken’s international popularity by numbers:

It’s easy to see why butter chicken stands out. The dish is super flexible—chefs around the world tweak the spices, adjust the sauce, or mix it into local meals. No matter where you are, you can probably find a plate (or pizza, or taco) inspired by this most popular Indian dish. If you’re traveling, trying the local take on butter chicken is one of the easiest ways to get a taste of home—just sometimes with a twist you never expected!