Instant Pot Butter Chicken

Instant Pot Butter Chicken

Instant Pot Butter Chicken (Creamy Coconut Milk Butter Chicken Recipe)

This Instant Pot butter chicken is rich, creamy, and packed with warm Indian spices. Made with tender chicken thighs, garlic, ginger, tomato sauce, and coconut milk, this easy butter chicken recipe delivers bold flavour in under 30 minutes. Perfect for weeknight dinners.

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced (about 5 teaspoons)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh ginger, minced
  • 2 tablespoons garam masala
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon curry powder
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder (optional)
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 pounds (900 g) boneless skinless chicken thighs, diced bite-size
  • 1 (15 oz / 425 g) can tomato sauce
  • 1 cup (250 ml) coconut milk
  • 1 tablespoons cornstarch + 1 tablespoons water (slurry)
  • Fresh parsley, cilantro, or mint for garnish

How to Make Instant Pot Butter Chicken

1. Sauté aromatics

Set Instant Pot to SAUTE. Melt butter, then add garlic and ginger. Cook about 1 minute until fragrant.

2. Bloom spices

Add garam masala, cumin, smoked paprika, curry powder, chili powder, and salt. Stir and cook 1 minute.
Deglaze with a splash of water if anything sticks.

3. Add tomato sauce

Pour in tomato sauce and ¼ cup water. Turn off SAUTE.

4. Pressure cook chicken

Add diced chicken and stir to coat. Seal lid and cook on HIGH PRESSURE for 6 minutes.
Quick release steam when finished.

5. Make the creamy sauce

Turn back to SAUTE and stir in coconut milk.

6. Thicken the butter chicken sauce

In a small bowl, mix cornstarch and water to make a slurry.
Slowly stir into the simmering sauce and cook 2–3 minutes until thick and restaurant-style creamy.

Taste and adjust salt if needed.

Serve & Enjoy

Serve this creamy coconut butter chicken over basmati rice, naan, or cauliflower rice. Garnish with fresh herbs.

Tips for Perfect Butter Chicken

  • Chicken thighs stay juicy and tender.
  • Cornstarch slurry gives a silky, restaurant-quality sauce.
  • Add cayenne for extra heat.
  • Even better the next day for meal prep.
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