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Creamy Instant Pot Butter Chicken Recipe Easy Homemade with Step-by-Step Guide

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A quick and easy creamy butter chicken made in the Instant Pot, featuring tender chicken thighs in a rich tomato cream sauce with authentic spices. Perfect for busy weeknights or impressing guests.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 can (14 oz / 400g) diced tomatoes
  • 3/4 cup (180ml) heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) plain yogurt, preferably whole milk
  • 2 teaspoons garam masala
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder (adjust to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
  • Salt to taste
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) water or chicken broth
  • A handful fresh cilantro, chopped

Instructions

  1. Trim any excess fat from chicken thighs and cut into bite-sized pieces. Pat dry with paper towels.
  2. Set Instant Pot to ‘Sauté’ mode. Melt butter, add chopped onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes.
  3. Add minced garlic and grated ginger; stir for 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Add garam masala, ground cumin, ground coriander, chili powder, and turmeric. Stir constantly for 30 seconds to toast spices.
  5. Stir in tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes to deepen flavor.
  6. Add diced tomatoes and water or chicken broth. Mix well, scraping bottom to loosen browned bits.
  7. Add chicken pieces and stir to coat in sauce. Turn off ‘Sauté’ mode.
  8. Seal Instant Pot lid and pressure cook on high for 8 minutes. Allow about 10 minutes to come to pressure.
  9. Perform quick pressure release and open lid when safe.
  10. Stir in heavy cream and plain yogurt until smooth and creamy. Season with salt to taste.
  11. Switch Instant Pot to ‘Sauté’ mode and cook for 3-5 minutes to warm through and thicken sauce slightly.
  12. Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro and serve hot with basmati rice or naan.

Notes

Use whole milk yogurt and full-fat cream for best texture. For dairy-free version, substitute heavy cream with coconut cream and yogurt with coconut yogurt. Adjust chili powder to taste for spice level. Pat chicken dry before browning for better caramelization. Do not add cream and yogurt before pressure cooking to avoid curdling.

Nutrition

Keywords: butter chicken, instant pot, creamy butter chicken, easy butter chicken, Indian chicken recipe, pressure cooker butter chicken, weeknight dinner

Find it online: https://sofiaspice.com/creamy-instant-pot-butter-chicken-recipe-easy-homemade-with-step-by-step-guide/