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Instant Pot butter chicken in a creamy tomato sauce

Instant Pot Butter Chicken

Craving a rich, flavorful Indian dish but short on time? Instant Pot Butter Chicken delivers all the authentic taste with a fraction of the effort, transforming ordinary chicken into a velvety, aromatic meal in just 30 minutes.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 pounds boneless chicken thighs, cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 1/4 cup plain yogurt for marinade
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 3 tablespoons butter or ghee
  • 1 large onion, finely diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
  • 2 tablespoons garam masala
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 can (14 oz) tomato sauce
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons honey or sugar
  • Salt to taste
  • Fresh cilantro for garnish

Method
 

  1. Quick marinade: In a bowl, combine chicken pieces with yogurt and lemon juice. Let sit while you prepare other ingredients (even 10 minutes makes a difference).
  2. Sauté aromatics: Set Instant Pot to Sauté mode. Add butter/ghee and melt. Add onions and cook until translucent (about 3 minutes). Add garlic and ginger, sautéing for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Add spices: Stir in garam masala, paprika, turmeric, and cumin. Toast for 30 seconds to bloom the spices.
  4. Cook chicken: Add marinated chicken and stir to coat with spices. Pour in tomato sauce and mix well.
  5. Pressure cook: Secure lid, set valve to Sealing position. Cook on High Pressure for 8 minutes, followed by a 10-minute natural release. Then manually release remaining pressure.
  6. Finish the sauce: Open lid and set to Sauté mode. Stir in heavy cream and honey. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened. Season with salt to taste.
  7. Serve: Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve hot with rice or naan.

Notes

Use chicken thighs instead of breast for juicier, more flavorful results. For a smoother sauce, blend the tomato mixture before adding the cream.