Now you can have restaurant style Butter Chicken homemade and in only 30 minutes. This Instant Pot Butter Chicken is extraordinary with a rich and creamy sauce and a fantastic blend of spices.
As promised, here’s my super easy butter chicken recipe that’s done in 30 minutes start to finish in an Instant Pot. I am absolutely in love with my Instant Pot and I’m just wondering what took me so long to get one. Doesn’t matter. It’s here to stay and I’m super happy with it. Especially when it’s so easy to make my favorite Indian dish, butter chicken.
I’ve made butter chicken before because as I’ve just mentioned, it is my favorite. It was always something that would take me over an hour. I mean it takes longer to order butter chicken from a restaurant and have it delivered. As I always say homemade is always better.
WHAT IS BUTTER CHICKEN
Butter chicken is a modern Indian dish of chicken in a tomato, butter and cream sauce.
I love Indian food in general but for some reason butter chicken is always my go to dish. I think it’s the rich and creamy tomato sauce that I love so much and that chicken that practically melts in your mouth. Which is why I love to use chicken thighs for this dish because they are juicier. However, chicken breast works as well. Totally up to you.
The great part about using the Instant Pot to make this is that the chicken cooks really quick. 5 minutes to be exact.
WHAT SPICES GO IN BUTTER CHICKEN
The thing that might scare you away from making butter chicken are all the spices. What I usually do is once or twice a month I’ll buy a spice that I don’t have, so within a few months you have all sort of spices and it won’t feel like you had to spend all that money at once.
The main spices that go in butter chicken are garam masala, coriander, cumin, smoked paprika, turmeric and salt. In the grand scheme of things, there are not too many spices.
WHAT IS GARAM MASALA
Garam masala is a staple spice which when translated it means “warm spice”. It usually includes cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, cumin, coriander, nutmeg and peppercorns.
LOOKING FOR MORE INSTANT POT RECIPES? TRY THESE:
Instant Pot Butter Chicken
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp butter unsalted
- 8 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tsp fresh ginger minced (or paste)
- 1 cup tomato puree or passata
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 3 tsp garam masala
- 1 tbsp coriander ground
- 1 tsp cumin ground
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 lbs chicken thighs boneless and skinless, cut into pieces
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup whipping cream
- 2 tbsp parsley chopped
Instructions
- Turn your Instant Pot to the saute setting. (See your manufacturer's guide for detailed instructions on how to use your instant pot.)
- Add the butter and cook until the butter has melted. Add the garlic and ginger and saute for another minute or until the garlic becomes aromatic. Do not cook too long because you don't want to burn it.
- Add the tomato puree and tomato paste to the Instant Pot and stir. Add the garam masala, coriander, cumin, paprika, turmeric and salt to the Instant Pot, stir and cook for about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Add the chicken thighs, water and stir everything together. There should be enough liquid in the pot to cover the chicken, so add more water if needed.
- Close the lid (follow the manufacturer's guide for instructions on how to close the instant pot lid). Set the Instant Pot to the Poultry setting and set the timer to 5 minutes.
- Once the Instant Pot cycle is complete, wait until the natural release cycle is complete, should take about 10 minutes. Follow the manufacturer's guide for quick release, if in a rush. Carefully unlock and remove the lid from the instant pot.
- Switch the Instant Pot to the saute setting (do not put the lid on). Add the whipping cream and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. The sauce should thicken and reduce a bit. You don't want it to reduce too much.
- Turn off the Instant Pot and garnish with fresh parsley. Serve warm over rice and with naan.
Video
Notes
- I strongly recommend reading the manufacturer's guide for instructions on how to use your Instant Pot before attempting this recipe.
- Chicken breasts can also be used.
- Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used.
Nutrition
Yummy, but it needs a little bit more spice. Also, make sure you have a good quality Garam Masala spice. The one I bought lacked the above mentioned spices.
Next time I make it, I will add more cumin. Also, the sauce was a little thin, don’t know why. I will definitely make it again.
Outstanding! I used the pot in pot method to make half the recipe. I used breasts too instead of thighs. After finishing my first serving, I was just eating spoonfuls right from the pot. My picky 8 year old liked it too, which means this recipe is a keeper.
That sounds exactly how I like to eat it too! 🤣 We’re so glad you two love the recipe. Happy cooking!
I love this recipe and I used dried fenugreek leaves instead of cilantro, I added them with the other spices. It was a big hit. Thank you.
My pleasure, glad you enjoyed it!
What vegetables could I serve with this?
You can serve anything you like! Even a mixed salad would be great.
This was great!
I unfortunately got the burn warning the first time, but I scraped the bottom and added an extra cup of water and put it back for 3 mins. I will add more water from the start next time.
This was sooooo good and easy, I might never order it out again.
I did throw in 1 tsp of cayanne pepper as we like a little more heat.
I have just bought the Nova Plus IP from Costco and the above mention manual setting is named Pressure Cook
Good to know about those new Instant Pot! We’re so glad you love the recipe 🙂 Enjoy your IP!
I love this recipe and have made it for friends from India who have given it 5 stars as well. Super easy and very delicious.
What size of IP is this for?
We have the Duo Mini… will this recipe fit?
I have a 6quart IP. Not sure how big the duo Mini is.
Just wanted to update, in case it’s helpful for others.
The Duo Mini is a 3 qt instant pot.
As I wasn’t sure if this recipe would fit in my smaller cooker, I found a different recipe that people had said did fit (even though that other recipe was also made for the 6 qt cooker).
In making that other recipe, it used about 3 cups of liquid, with the same amount of chicken, as this recipe, and it JUST fit in my 3 qt cooker, without going over the maximum capacity line.
If I’m reading this recipe correctly, there is only about 2 cups of liquid for this one?
Assuming that’s correct, I bet it will fit in the mini cooker just fine.
I might try this recipe next time I make butter chicken and compare the two. 🙂
I did it in the duo mini, no problem.
I just got my instant pot delivered today and am so excited to try this recipe! Hi can you please come out with an Instant Pot recipe book??!!
Ha! There’s an idea, I’ve been thinking of topics. 🙂
Yes! I am already sold!
Also is there an easy way to figure out how to take your existing recipes and making them in the IP?
Unfortunately, no. The only way is to experiment with them. I usually do IP recipes quite often and try and convert some existing recipes, so stay tuned. Be sure to check out all the existing IP recipes that I already have. 🙂
This was my first instant pot recipe! Tried it with my Indian girlfriend today and we were blown away! We added about a cup of diced white onion to the recipe and were impressed. Great taste!
Wow what a great compliment! Thank you, we’re happy to hear you and your girlfriend love it 🙂
I made this and now its on my Instant Pot go to list…I’d give it 6stars…. I’ve always made this on the stove top this is wonderful…well done Jo.
We love making this one all the time, too! Thanks for the review, we’re happy you love it 🙂
Great recipe! I added a small amount of sugar a I’m used to my jitter chicken being a bit on the sweet side.
Made this tonight and it was delicious!! My husband and I almost finished the whole pot. The sauce is so flavorful!
I recently got an IP and it doesn’t have the Poultry button. If I set it to manual, would I still cook for 5 minutes?
Yes, 5 min on Manual is good.
Good evening, how much time would this take in the oven or crock pot?
If you use a slow cooker, you can do 4-5 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low. If you use an oven, bake it covered for 40 minutes.