Instant Pot Butter Chicken
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Yes, you can EASILY make restaurant-quality butter chicken right in your pressure cooker! The flavors are amazing and the chicken is perfectly melt-in-your-mouth tender! Serve with rice and naan for the best home-cooked meal ever.
It’s been so good to be home.
With endless cuddles with Butters. And his hot, rancid fish breath right in front of my face.
It’s been absolutely great. That and having this butter chicken in bed.
The best part about it though?
The Instant Pot, of course!
The chicken comes out perfectly every single time, with all the flavors melding just right.
No, wait. I lied.
The best part is all the toasted naan that you get to dip in the leftover sauce.
Instant Pot Butter Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 cup basmati rice
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- ½ sweet onion, diced
- 1 small red bell pepper, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
- 1 ½ teaspoons garam masala
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper, optional
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can petite diced tomatoes
- 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
- ½ cup chicken stock
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch chunks
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
Instructions
- In a large saucepan of 2 cups water, cook rice according to package instructions; set aside.
- Set a 6-qt Instant Pot® to the high saute setting. Add butter, onion and bell pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until tender, about 3-5 minutes. Stir in garlic, ginger, garam masala, turmeric, paprika, cumin and cayenne pepper, if using, until fragrant, about 1 minute; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Stir in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, chicken stock and chicken.
- Select manual setting; adjust pressure to high, and set time for 10 minutes. When finished cooking, quick-release pressure according to manufacturer’s directions.
- In a small bowl, whisk together heavy cream and flour; set aside.
- Select high sauté setting. Stir in heavy cream mixture and cook, stirring frequently, until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes. Stir in cilantro; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Serve immediately with rice.
Did you make this recipe?
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Sorry, looks delish but no instant pot. Hope you will publish a crock-pot version.
Thanks anyways I do love all your other recipes.
Here is a slow cooker version: https://damndelicious.net/2014/03/14/slow-cooker-butter-chicken/.
My tastebuds are dancing at the thought of eating this, it’s one of my favorite Indian food.
Do you think I could use half & half in place of the heavy cream? I’m looking to save calories, when able. My concern is, will it noticeable change the flavor and be a thinner sauce?
Thank you.
Yes, absolutely!
Wouldn’t you recommend adding more flour if using half and half? Or leave the portions as they are?
You can leave the portions as is, but you can certainly add additional flour if you prefer.
Hi Hon,
Your wonderful recipes always blend in perfectly with your humor, attractiveness and delightful magnetism, you are (the) one of a kind perfect CHUNGAH.
Hi there, what are the net carbs/serving? I’m on a very low carb diet. Naturally I’d leave out the rice. I’m assuming it’s pretth low carb.
The nutrition value is now added below the recipe 🙂
Does the nutrition information include the rice? I’m assuming you’re using 2-3 cups as serving size. We made this tonight and it was a huge success! All 3 kids ate it up. We will need to use a bit more rice next time. Our family of 5 has dinner tomorrow already made.
Yes, the nutritional information includes the rice.
Thanks so much for the instant pot recipes!! I am going to try this today.
Looks good!
But would you have an equivalent recipe without the Instant Pot?
Not at this time. Sorry!
I make a delicious, easy butter chicken without an instant pot. The recipe I use is from a Quebec chef. I am not computer smart so do not know how to send the link .. try Ricardo easy butter chicken recipe, if you are successful, I promise you will not be disappointed.
Thanks, I’ll try to find it.
Thank you!
This is easily accomplished using a standard Dutch Oven in place of the instant pot.