Easy Instant Pot Butter Chicken
Ingredients
- 1.50 pounds Boneless Chicken Breast diced into 1.5" chunks
or use boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 3+2 tbsp Unsalted Butter
you can use more or less
- 16 oz tomato sauce
I used two 8 oz cans, 225 g each can
- 1 tbsp Tomato Paste
- 1/2 cup Heavy Whipping Cream
- 2 tbsp Honey
or 2 tbsp white sugar, you can use more too
- to tasteSalt
- 1/2 tbsp Garlic Powder
or 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1/2 tbsp onion powder
- 1/2 tbsp Cayenne Pepper Powder
- 1/2 tbsp Paprika
- 1/2 tbsp Tandoori Masala
or use 1 tsp cumin powder + 1 tsp garam masala powder
- 1/2 tsp Ground Black Pepper
- 1 tsp dry fenugreek leaves crushed
or chopped cilantro
Directions
- 1
Dice the boneless chicken breasts or thighs into 1.5" chunks. Wash them and pat them dry completely. Coat them with the Tandoori Masala Powder, cayenne pepper, crushed black pepper & salt.
- 2
Set the Instant Pot on SAUTE & set it on NORMAL. Add 3 tbsp butter. When the butter is sufficiently hot gently release the chicken pieces and sear them until opaque or lightly golden around the edges.
- 3
Set aside the chicken pieces and add more 2 tbsp butter to the pot.
- 4
Add all the other ingredients except the cream and the honey, like the tomato sauce, tomato paste, the rest of the dry spices, salt and give everything a very good mix.
- 5
De-glaze the pot very well with the help of a spatula so that there are absolutely no bits and crumbs stuck at the bottom of the steel pot of the Instant Pot.
- 6
Add back the seared chicken pieces. Give everything a very good mix until all the chicken pieces are well coated with the sauce.
- 7
CANCEL the SAUTE function. Close the lid of the Instant Pot. Seal the valve and PRESSURE COOK for 4 minutes on HIGH.
- 8
When the pressure cooking cycle is over the Instant Pot will begin to beep. Do a QUICK PRESSURE RELEASE (QPR) by moving the valve from the sealing to the venting position.
- 9
Open the lid when the pin drops, CANCEL the Pressure Cook function and turn back the SAUTE function, set it at LOW. Add the heavy cream and the honey, mix well.
- 10
Cook down the sauce for 5 more minutes or until it reaches your preferred consistency. The right consistency is that the sauce should be thick enough to coat the back of your ladle.
- 11
Garnishing the Butter Chicken dish is totally optional. If you want to add the dry fenugreek leaves do add them as a garnish and mix well with the sauce. However, you can even sprinkle a few finely chopped cilantro and serve it or skip the garnish totally. Enjoy!
Easy Instant Pot Butter Chicken
Similar Recipes
Ratings & Reviews
Based on 7 ratings
Rating Breakdown
About this Recipe
Craving rich, creamy butter chicken but short on time? This easy Instant Pot recipe delivers authentic flavors with minimal effort, making weeknight Indian takeout a thing of the past.
The magic of the Instant Pot truly shines here, transforming simple ingredients into a deeply flavored curry in a fraction of the traditional time. With just one minute of prep and nine minutes of cooking, you get incredibly tender chicken enveloped in a luscious sauce, making it perfect for even the busiest evenings.
Prepare for a wonderfully aromatic experience with every spoonful. You'll find succulent, diced chicken breast (or thighs) bathed in a velvety sauce that balances the bright tang of tomato with the subtle sweetness of honey, all mellowed by rich heavy cream and unsalted butter. The carefully chosen blend of spices like paprika, cayenne, and tandoori masala (or cumin and garam masala) creates a complex, savory profile that is both comforting and exhilarating. The dish is naturally savory with a hint of spice, leaving you with a satisfying warmth.
Customization & Variations
Feel free to tailor this dish to your pantry or preference. You can easily swap boneless chicken breast for boneless skinless chicken thighs for a different texture. If you're out of honey, white sugar makes an excellent substitute, and you can always adjust the amount to your taste. For spices, if you don't have tandoori masala, a combination of cumin powder and garam masala powder works beautifully. Minced garlic can stand in for garlic powder, and fresh chopped cilantro is a lovely alternative to dry fenugreek leaves for garnish.
This delightful butter chicken is perfect for a cozy family dinner or a quick, impressive meal for guests. Serve it hot with fluffy basmati rice or warm naan bread to soak up every drop of that irresistible sauce.