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Home » Recipes » Instant Pot Butter Chicken

Instant Pot Butter Chicken

July 10, 2020 by Alida Ryder 24 Comments

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This Instant Pot butter chicken recipe is an easy, delicious dinner recipe. The aromatic sauce and juicy chicken is perfection serve with steamed rice.

Instant Pot Butter Chicken

Ingredients

  • Chicken. I prefer using boneless, skinless chicken thighs but breast can also be used.
  • Butter + Vegetable oil. 
  • Fresh garlic. 
  • Fresh ginger.
  • Spices: I prefer using a combination of Garam Masala, paprika, cardamom and coriander. You can however use any curry powder/blend that you have or like.
  • Tomatoes. I used tomato puree (not paste). Passata can also work. Chopped tomatoes are also fine but I prefer the rich, smoothness the puree adds.
  • Chicken stock. 
  • Cream. Heavy / Whipping.
  • Sugar. Optional, but I like the way it mellows the acidity of the tomatoes.
  • Salt and pepper. 

How to make butter chicken in an Instant Pot.

Instant Pot Butter Chicken.

How to make butter chicken in an Instant Pot

  1. Marinate the chicken: This step is optional but it can be done up to 24 hours ahead of time. Combine the chicken with oil and half of the spices. Cover and allow to marinade for 10 minutes or up to 24 hours in the fridge.
  2. Cook the curry: Set the Instant Pot to sauté function. Add the butter and a tablespoon of oil. Allow to melt together then add the ginger and garlic. Cook for a minute until fragrant then add the remaining spices. Cook for a few seconds then add the chicken, tomato puree, stock, sugar, salt and pepper. Place the lid on and turn to sealing position. Cook the curry on the meat function for 6 minutes. Quick-release the pressure.
  3. Finish and serve: Remove the lid and set back to the sauté function. Pour in the cream and allow to simmer for 10 minutes until the sauce has reduced slightly. Season to taste then serve with fresh coriander / cilantro over steamed rice.

What to serve with butter chicken

  1. Cheese-stuffed Naan Bread
  2. Quick and easy curry rice
  3. Easy flatbread

Butter chicken with rice and roti.

Easy curry recipes

  1. Creamy shrimp curry
  2. Cauliflower korma curry
  3. Creamy Mughlai chicken curry
Butter chicken curry

Instant Pot Butter Chicken

This Instant Pot butter chicken recipe is an easy, delicious dinner recipe. The aromatic sauce and juicy chicken is perfection serve with steamed rice.
4.4 from 53 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Indian
Keyword: butter chicken, Butter chicken recipe, Instant Pot Butter Chicken
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Marinating time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 419kcal
Author: Alida Ryder

Ingredients

For the marinated chicken

  • 750 g (1½lbs) chicken thighs boneless + skinless
  • 2 tbsp canola oil / vegetable oil
  • 2 tbsp Garam Masala
  • ½ tsp ground cardamom
  • ½ tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • 1 tsp salt

For the butter chicken

  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 tbsp canola oil
  • 2 tsp garlic crushed
  • 1 tsp ginger crushed
  • 2 tsp garam masala
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp ground cardamom
  • 400 g (14oz) Tomato puree (not paste) Passata or crushed tomatoes are good substitutes
  • 1/2 cup chicken stock
  • 1-2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp pepper
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1½ cups heavy / whipping cream

To serve

  • Steamed rice
  • Fresh coriander / Cilantro

Instructions

  • Combine the chicken with oil and the spices. Cover and allow to marinade for 10 minutes or up to 24 hours in the fridge.
  • Set the Instant Pot to sauté function. Add the butter and a tablespoon of oil. Allow to melt together then add the ginger and garlic.
  • Cook for a minute until fragrant then add the remaining spices. Cook for a few seconds then add the chicken, tomato puree, stock, sugar, salt and pepper.
  • Place the lid on and turn to sealing position. Cook the curry on the meat function for 6 minutes. Quick-release the pressure.
  • Remove the lid and set back to the sauté function. Pour in the cream and allow to simmer for 10 minutes until the sauce has reduced slightly.
  • Season to taste then serve with fresh coriander / cilantro over steamed rice.

Directions for cooking without Instant Pot

  • Marinate the chicken according to above directions.
  • Heat a large pot over medium heat and saute the ginger and garlic with the spices for a few seconds. Add the marinated chicken, tomatoes and stock. Season with salt, pepper and sugar.
  • Cover and allow to simmer for 20-30 minutes until the chicken is cooked and tender.
  • Remove the lid, pour in the cream and cook for another 10 minutes until the sauce has reduced.
  • Season and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 419kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 185mg | Sodium: 928mg | Potassium: 666mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1258IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 66mg | Iron: 3mg

Filed Under: Chicken Recipes, Curry Recipes, Dinner Recipes, Gluten Free, Recipes Tagged With: Butter Chicken, Butter chicken curry, Chicken Curry, Indian recipe, Instant Pot, Instant Pot Butter Chicken, Instant pot recipe

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kay

    January 25, 2021 at 2:19 AM

    Hi Alida
    Thanks for the recipe.

    If I don’t have stork , May I omit this ingredient?

    Reply
    • Alida Ryder

      February 5, 2021 at 12:32 PM

      Substitute with water.

      Reply
  2. Carol Knowles

    July 28, 2020 at 9:10 PM

    Tried this today and it was delicious.

    Reply
    • Alida Ryder

      July 29, 2020 at 12:49 PM

      Great, so glad you liked it Carol.

      Reply
  3. Leigh Myers

    July 23, 2020 at 1:12 PM

    Do you think this would work with bone in thighs?

    Reply
    • Alida Ryder

      July 26, 2020 at 1:19 PM

      Absolutely!

      Reply
  4. Stephanie

    July 16, 2020 at 5:06 PM

    Can I use coconut cream instead of normal cream?

    Reply
    • Alida Ryder

      July 19, 2020 at 11:22 AM

      Yup!

      Reply
  5. Mel

    July 15, 2020 at 8:17 AM

    Can this be cooked in a slow cooker?

    Reply
    • Alida Ryder

      July 15, 2020 at 10:36 AM

      It can, you might just need to transfer to a pot to simmer once the cream has been added to reduce the sauce and thicken.

      Reply
  6. Lorella

    July 15, 2020 at 8:06 AM

    Hi. Thank you for the lovely recipes . I have a question. What make of tomato puree do you buy? I use passata, but when I can’t find it I find that most types of puree are too acid. Thanks
    I live in Durban

    Reply
    • Alida Ryder

      July 15, 2020 at 10:36 AM

      I bought the Woolworths canned one. But most passata varieties also work well.

      Reply
  7. Deepti Hari

    July 12, 2020 at 5:45 PM

    Sounds divine. Confirming, is that 2tbsp of garam masala for the marinade? Thanks

    Reply
    • Alida Ryder

      July 15, 2020 at 10:40 AM

      Yes, but use more or less if you prefer more or less flavor.

      Reply
  8. Laura

    July 12, 2020 at 2:32 AM

    Made this for dinner tonight with rice and your flatbread recipie. It was delicious! I added some ground coriander to the butter chicken sauce as I read that marinade was smaller quantities of the same spices in the sauce. Should there be ground coriander in the sauce? Will definitely make this again.

    Reply
    • Alida Ryder

      July 12, 2020 at 11:44 AM

      So happy you liked it. I didn’t add more coriander into the sauce but you absolutely can.

      Reply
  9. Sherri

    July 10, 2020 at 10:43 PM

    That should read, cooking.

    Reply
  10. Sherri

    July 10, 2020 at 10:42 PM

    Can you give directions for coming without an instant pot?

    Reply
    • Alida Ryder

      July 12, 2020 at 11:46 AM

      Done! See at the bottom of the recipe. 🙂

      Reply
  11. Ana

    July 10, 2020 at 10:24 PM

    How much stock?

    Reply
    • Alida Ryder

      July 10, 2020 at 10:26 PM

      I’ve just amended the recipe, thanks for letting me know!

      Reply
    • Gill

      July 14, 2020 at 6:08 PM

      Half a cup

      Reply
  12. Florence

    July 10, 2020 at 10:12 PM

    How much chicken stock? I reviewed your ingredients list and cannot locate the quantity.

    Reply
    • Alida Ryder

      July 10, 2020 at 10:27 PM

      I’ve just amended the recipe. Thanks for letting me know!

      Reply

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Hi! I'm Alida, mom of twins and creator of Simply Delicious. I hope to encourage a love for cooking by creating fool-proof recipes that are easy and delicious. Read More…

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