Instant Pot Butter Chicken
A delicious, creamy, and comforting meal that captures the rich flavors of traditional butter chicken in a fraction of the time.
Equipment
- Instant Pot
Ingredients
Butter Chicken Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 5 cloves garlic, minced (about 5 teaspoons)
- 2 inches fresh ginger root, grated (about 2 tablespoons)
- 2 teaspoons garam masala
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 0.5 teaspoon chili powder (optional)
- 1 teaspoon salt (add more if needed)
- 2 pounds chicken thighs, skinless, boneless, diced (900 grams)
- 1 15-ounce can tomato sauce or passata (425 grams)
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream or coconut milk (or half and half)
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or mint or cilantro (for garnish)
Instructions
- Step 1: Start your Instant Pot on the ‘Sauté’ mode. Once it’s hot, add the unsalted butter. Allow it to melt and become bubbly. Next, add the minced garlic and grated ginger. Sauté for about 1-2 minutes until fragrant, making sure not to let the garlic burn.
- Step 2: Add the garam masala, ground cumin, smoked paprika, ground turmeric, chili powder (if using), and salt to the pot. Stir everything together and let it cook for another minute to bloom the spices.
- Step 3: Add the diced chicken thighs to the pot. Stir well to coat the chicken pieces evenly with the spice mixture.
- Step 4: Add the tomato sauce (or passata) to the pot. Mix everything together to ensure the chicken is submerged in the sauce.
- Step 5: Close the lid of the Instant Pot, ensuring the valve is set to sealing. Select the ‘Pressure Cook’ function and set the timer for 10 minutes on high pressure. Once the cooking time is finished, allow the pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes, then carefully switch the valve to venting to release any remaining pressure.
- Step 6: After the pressure is fully released, open the lid and stir in the heavy whipping cream (or your choice of coconut milk or half and half). Mix well until everything is fully combined.
- Step 7: Taste your butter chicken and adjust seasoning with more salt if needed. Serve it hot, garnished with freshly chopped parsley, mint, or cilantro.
Notes
For a thicker sauce, use a cornstarch slurry before the pressure cooking step. Letting the butter chicken rest for a few minutes after cooking allows the flavors to meld together beautifully.