Go Back
Melt in your mouth butter chicken over steamed rice served with fresh sourdough naan bread.

Cozy Instant Pot Butter Chicken (Creamy + Easy)

5 from 1 vote
A creamy, comforting Instant Pot butter chicken made with simple spices, tender chicken thighs, and a rich tomato sauce. Perfect for easy weeknight dinners.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 6 minutes
Come to pressure & reducing sauce 15 minutes
Total Time 31 minutes
Servings: 5 medium portions
Course: dinner
Cuisine: Indian
Calories: 550

Ingredients
  

  • 3 TBSP butter
  • 5 cloves of garlic
  • 2 inch ginger root (grated)
  • 2 tsp garam masala
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1/2 tsp chili powder
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 lbs chicken thighs (boneless)
  • 1 15 oz can tomato sauce
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream or coconut milk
  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro or mint leaves

Equipment

  • 1 pressure cooker

Method
 

  1. Set your Instant Pot to sauté and let the butter melt completely. Once hot, add the garlic and ginger and cook briefly until fragrant, about one minute.
  2. Sprinkle in all of the spices and salt, stirring constantly so they don’t burn. If anything sticks to the bottom, add a small splash of water and scrape it up gently.
  3. Pour in the tomato sauce along with ¼ cup water, then turn off the sauté function.
  4. Add the chicken pieces and stir until everything is well coated in the sauce.
  5. Lock the lid in place, set the valve to sealing, and pressure cook on high for 6 minutes. It will take about 10 minutes to come to pressure before cooking begins.
  6. Once finished, carefully release the pressure. Remove the lid and switch back to sauté mode. Stir in the cream and let the sauce simmer for a few minutes until slightly thickened.
  7. Taste and adjust salt if needed. Serve warm over rice and finish with fresh herbs.

Notes

  • Coconut milk makes this recipe completely dairy free.
  • Chicken thighs stay the most tender, but chicken breast works too.
  • This freezes well and tastes even better the next day. You may freeze for up to 3 months or keep in the fridge for 3-4 days.