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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
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 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. Pour in the broth and scrape the bottom of the pot until no browned bits remain.
  4. Cook chicken: Add the marinated chicken and stir to coat with the spices. Pour the tomato sauce evenly over the top and do not stir.
  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 3-5 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.