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Instant Pot Butter Chicken

Close-up of succulent chicken pieces swimming in a rich, creamy orange sauce of Instant Pot Butter Chicken.
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Make rich, creamy Butter Chicken quickly using your Instant Pot. This recipe skips the long simmering time while keeping the authentic flavor.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin powder
  • 1 teaspoon coriander powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
  • 1 (14.5 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup water or chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup plain yogurt (full fat recommended)
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Set the Instant Pot to the Sauté function. Add olive oil. When hot, add the chicken pieces and cook until lightly browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. Remove the chicken and set aside.
  2. Add the chopped onion to the pot and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the minced garlic and grated ginger and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  3. Stir in the salt, garam masala, turmeric, cumin, coriander, and cayenne pepper. Cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
  4. Pour in the crushed tomatoes and water or broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
  5. Return the browned chicken to the pot. Secure the lid and set the vent to Sealing.
  6. Cook on Manual/Pressure Cook setting on High for 6 minutes.
  7. Once the cooking cycle is complete, allow for a Natural Pressure Release (NPR) for 10 minutes, then carefully move the valve to Venting for a Quick Release (QR) of any remaining pressure.
  8. Open the lid. Stir in the yogurt, heavy cream, sugar, and lemon juice. Stir well until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
  9. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve hot, garnished with fresh cilantro.

Notes

  • For the best flavor, you can marinate the chicken in yogurt and spices for 30 minutes before cooking, but it is not required for this quick recipe.
  • Stirring in the cream and yogurt after pressure cooking prevents them from curdling.
  • Serve this dish over basmati rice or with warm naan bread for dipping.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://spoonswirl.com/instant-pot-butter-chicken-recipe/