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Instant pot butter chicken
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4.59 from 39 votes

Instant Pot Butter Chicken

Instant Pot Butter Chicken - the best Indian butter chicken recipe with rich, creamy and delicious tomato butter chicken sauce. This easy recipe takes only 10 minutes.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Instant Pot Recipes
Cuisine: Chicken
Keyword: Instant Pot Butter Chicken
Servings: 6 People
Calories: 421kcal
Author: Bee Yinn Low

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs (1kg) skinless and boneless chicken thighs
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3 cloves garlic finely minced or pureed
  • 1 piece ginger finely minced or pureed (1 inch/ 2.5cm)
  • 1/2 cup tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 1/2 - 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro

Instructions

  • Trim off the excess fat on the chicken thighs with a pair of kitchen scissors. Cut into chunks. Marinate the chicken with 1/2 tablespoon chili powder and lemon juice. Set aside.
    Butter chicken ingredients
  • Turn on the Instant Pot and set to Saute Mode. When the pot is fully heated, add and melt the butter. Add the garlic, ginger and stir a few times. Add the chicken and saute until the surface turns white.
    Butter chicken in Instant Pot.
  • Add the remaining chili powder, tomato paste, ketchup, Garam Masala, salt, sugar and water. Cover the pot and select Manual and set to High pressure for 10 minutes.
  • When it beeps, turn to Quick Release. When the valve drops, remove the cover carefully, add the heavy whipping cream and chopped cilantro, stir to mix well.
    Butter chicken
  • Drizzle more heavy cream on top of the Butter Chicken before serving, if you like.

Video

Notes

I used a 6-quart Instant Pot.You can skip Garam Masala but this spice mix is what gives Butter Chicken its iconic Indian flavor and aroma.You may use chicken breasts. If you use frozen chicken, increase the pressure cooking time by 50%, or a total of 15 minutes.If you don’t have an Instant Pot, you can make this Butter Chicken on a stove top using a pot. Simmer on low heat until the chicken thighs are cooked through and becomes tender.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 421kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 222mg | Sodium: 609mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 9g