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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: Chicken
Cuisine: Instant Pot Recipes
Keyword: Instant Pot Butter Chicken
Servings: 6 People
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 from the chicken thighs with a pair of kitchen scissors and cut them into chunks. Marinate the chicken with 1/2 tablespoon of chili powder and lemon juice. Set aside.
    Butter chicken ingredients
  • Turn on the Instant Pot and set it to Saute Mode. When the pot is fully heated, add the butter and melt it. Add the garlic and ginger, and stir a few times. Add the chicken and sauté 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, select Manual, and set it to High Pressure for 10 minutes.
  • When it beeps, turn to Quick Release. Once the valve drops, carefully remove the cover, add the heavy whipping cream and chopped cilantro, and stir to mix well.
    Butter chicken
  • Drizzle additional heavy cream on top of the Butter Chicken before serving, if desired.

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