Butter chicken (murgh makhani) is a mild, creamy, mildly sweet curry of tomato, butter and warm spices — rich and comforting rather than fiery. The creamy tomato sauce, gentle spice and slight sweetness pair best with aromatic, off-dry whites and fruity rosé, whose fruit echoes the sweetness and acidity cuts the richness. Riesling and Gewürztraminer are ideal, their aromatics complementing the spice. Avoid tannic reds; fruit, freshness and a touch of sweetness against the creamy, lightly sweet sauce make for the most harmonious match.
Sommelier quick take
#1 pick — Off-dry Riesling is #1 for butter chicken: cream, tomato, and mild spice love residual sugar.
If you only buy one — If you only buy one: a $15 Riesling. Light Pinot Noir works if you insist on red — serve cool.
Skip these
- Big Cabernet
- Very oaky Chardonnay
- High-alcohol Zinfandel
Our sommelier's picks
Save to Pinterest#1Off-dry aromatic white
8–11°C (46–52°F)Riesling · Mosel, Germany
Riesling's fruit and acidity tame the gentle spice and cut the rich, buttery sauce.
If you only buy one: a $15 Riesling. Light Pinot Noir works if you insist on red — serve cool.
Exotic aromatic white
10–12°C (50–54°F)Gewürztraminer · Alsace, France
Its lychee and ginger echo the warm spices and flatter the creamy curry.
Alsace offers reliable quality.
Fruity rosé
8–10°C (46–50°F)Grenache · Spain
A fruit-forward rosé refreshes and its fruit balances the mild sweetness.
Spanish rosado is great value.
Aromatic white
10–12°C (50–54°F)Viognier · France
Viognier's apricot richness flatters the creamy, lightly sweet sauce.
New-World Viognier offers value.
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Questions about pairing Butter Chicken
What wine pairs with butter chicken?
Off-dry aromatic whites like Riesling and Gewürztraminer, or a fruity rosé — their fruit echoes the mild sweetness and acidity cuts the creamy, buttery sauce.
Should I avoid red wine with butter chicken?
Tannic reds clash with the spice; if you want red, choose a soft, fruity, low-tannin one served cool.
Does the sweetness affect the pairing?
Yes — the lightly sweet sauce is flattered by fruit-forward, off-dry wines like Riesling.
Naan and mango chutney on the side?
Chutney sweetness reinforces the Riesling pick. Keep reds fruity if you pour them at all.