This is a really easy Instant Pot butter chicken recipe that is moist and full of flavor. It only takes 5 minutes to cook and the perfect family dinner with a side of naan. If you’re never tried making pressure cooker butter chicken this is an easy one to start with. Add your own spices to make it just right for you!
I came up with this easy Instant Pot butter chicken recipe that tastes pretty similar to one at the restaurant! One of our favorite Indian dishes listed on our Instant Pot recipes roundup. (originally published 7/17, affiliate links present)
If you need easy Ninja Foodi recipes, you can use that pot instead.
I went out to eat Indian food with a few friends when I went to a conference in Utah. I hadn’t had it in years and wasn’t sure what to order so my friend suggested butter chicken since it was a milder dish and she said “everyone loves it”.
Let’s start with a few basic tips:
- Make sure to Bookmark our InstaPot recipes page. We add new ones each week!
- Then LIKE our IP Facebook page for new ideas daily.
- This is a great InstaPot cookbook and set of wooden utensils are great to grab too.
- I HIGHLY recommend you buy this non stick pot. It is easier to clean and will avoid the burn message too.
For reference, this is the pressure cooker I have and use for all recipe creations.
It. Was. Amazing! Now that I am all about my pressure cooker I was sure I could make a simple version (my take on it).
- Served with a side of rice and/or naan this easy butter chicken recipe is definitely a winner at our house when I make it!
First you have to pick up the main protein, chicken! I do typically veer toward thighs because they’re so cheap and come out more tender than breasts. That is totally your choice, decide which boneless skinless you want.
If you don’t have one of these life changing kitchen appliances, or are scared to use it, let me convince you why it’s amazing.
- I’m a busy mom with three kids and we both work full time. One thing we love is eating one meal together. This is one of our most popular Instant Pot recipes we can all enjoy together.
- The more I worked the more our dinners together dropped off, until I got my Instant Pot. Now easy chicken Instant Pot recipes only take 30 minutes or less to make.
Why do cooks love the Instant Pot?
With a super short cooking time, you can make this dish in under 30 minutes. Throw it all in, set to high pressure with a quick release and it’s done. Pressure cooking rocks!
I am sure there are a lot of variations of recipes for butter chicken. Of course with any sort of recipe you should adjust the spice level to your liking. I will say this one is on the milder side of things. So if you like more spice or a more pungent flavor, then just add more:
- chili powder
- garam masala
- cumin
- or all 3
Instant Pot butter chicken
- Of course there are many ways to make butter chicken so this may not be totally authentic. It is my take on it and tastes very similar to the one I loved.
Is butter chicken bad?
Meaning is it unhealthy?? Well there are several versions, if you’d like to make a healthy butter chicken with more tomato sauce you can try this one.
It’s very much a throw it in and go kinda’ meal and if I am in a real rush I throw on some Minute rice on the stovetop and they are done in less than 10 minutes flat…now that’s a quick dinner!
I haven’t made homemade naan myself yet and haven’t found a store in town that carries it on a regular basis so I use rice but making it myself is on my list of things to do.
- Until then I found this super easy homemade naan bread recipe you can use and pair with my easy Instant Pot butter chicken, seeing a trend here…EASY. 😉
Like I said, if you have specific spices you use, and amounts, then go with that if it is to your liking but use my timing so you can make it in your pressure cooker.
Indian butter chicken Instant Pot recipe
- Pressure cooker
- I HIGHLY suggest you get a non stick pot too, it almost eliminates the burn notice from coming on for all recipes.
- Garam Masala
- Cumin
- Chopped Ginger
- Chili Powder (optional but good even if you only add a bit, my version is not spicy)
- Heavy cream
- If you need it to be dairy free you could try coconut milk. It just won’t be as thick.
- Rice – this is how you make fluffy Instant Pot white rice
If you want to thin it out at the end you can use chicken broth.
Here are a few questions you might have before you get started here. I hope these help:
Depends on who you ask but I prefer this recipe over marsala.
There are a few different versions of this as well. Some are more tomato based and others are heavier with cream.
I’ve heard it called Indian chicken before. I guess that’s because you typically won’t find this on any other restaurant menu. BUT now you can make it right at home using my directions below so that’s fun!
Um…well for obvious reasons, there is butter in it.
Beyond that it does definitely have a creamy butter flavor to it.
Do NOT use butter substitutes, you have to go all out.
Salted butter is best, we prefer organic.
Now let’s get going shall we?
Don’t have this brand of electric pressure cooker?
NO problem!
- You can make this into Ninja Foodi butter chicken just by using the pressure cooker lid and the instructions below.
- Works well for the Crockpot Express too. Just use brown button instead of this one saying saute. Those are the same functions.
- Mealthy pots will use the same instructions below too.
Butter chicken with chicken breasts
Sure you can do this! I personally like thighs because they’re a lot more tender but I do swap the two types depending on what I have on hand.
If I find a really good sale too I will use that. Why not right??!!
What type of rice is used in Indian food?
A long grain variety of rice is commonly used in Indian recipes. Basmati rice is commonly available at most grocery stores and is available in both white and brown rice varieties. I like this and Jasmine rice personally.
- Either one can be used with our Instant Pot white rice instructions. We serve this butter chicken recipe over the top and it’s a complete meal everyone loves.
Can you reheat butter chicken?
I will start by saying we rarely if ever have any leftovers but if you do, yes you can. Although it’s a less popular option, chicken and other meats can certainly be reheated on the stovetop. Do so in a small saucepan over low heat to avoid overcooking.
If you don’t have a microwave or are short on time, this is a good method. Add some oil or butter to the pan to thin out sauce.
- Reheating leftovers in a microwave are a bit easier. Do so in a microwave safe dish in 30 second intervals stirring in between times.
Looking for more Instant Pot chicken recipes?
- We’ve made Instant Pot butter beef you see above!
This is our tasty sesame chicken recipe. Served over rice it will get raving reviews from everyone in your family for sure.
- Sweet Instant Pot orange chicken recipe is healthier with no breading but tons of flavor.
- Spicy honey Instant Pot chicken is our own creation that has gone crazy with everyone who tries it.
- Kid fave Pressure cooker cheesy chicken spaghetti is loaded with cheese and tons of flavor.
Instant Pot spicy teriyaki chicken thighs are amazing with a simple homemade teriyaki sauce recipe.
This one has an Asian twist to it so if you like to try foods from other countries, or try to make them at home, this one is great too. You can certainly adjust the heat level on both of these.
That is what is so great about cooking homemade meals right? There is nothing worse than getting a delicious dish that was made so hot that you can’t taste anything else.
I mean, you know it’s good but your mouth is on fire and you’re just disappointed. Just add a bit when cooking and more later at the end if you desire after tasting it.
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Time needed: 8 minutes.
Instant Pot Butter Chicken Recipe
- Saute
Turn your pressure cooker to saute, and add your butter. When butter is melted add cubed chicken and onions. Cook just enough for chicken pieces to cook just a touch on the outside and are no longer pink.
Use wooden spatula to deglaze pot to remove stuck on meat. This will help you avoid the burn notification. Turn pot off. - Add ingedients
Add all other ingredients into your pressure cooker and mix together well.
- Cook
Put lid on and close steam valve. Set to low pressure for 5 minutes. (4 minutes on high) When done allow to naturally release for 1 minute (to avoid splatters), then do a quick release.
- Serve
Carefully lift lid. Serve immediately over some pressure cooker rice or just in a bowl.
- Thicken
If you want the sauce thicker, remove chicken and set to saute low for just a few minutes. Put some of the hot liquid in a small bowl with 1 tbsp of cornstarch and whisk together, add back into the pot and stir.
May do this again with another tbsp. depending on how thick you want the sauce to be. Sauce will thicken more as it sits. Turn off, add chicken back in, and serve with rice and/or naan.
Here’s the best ever butter chicken recipe you can make in your Instant Pot tonight.
Easy Instant Pot butter chicken
Ingredients
- 6 chicken thighs boneless, skinless, cut into bite size cubes
- 1 1/2 c heavy cream
- 1 1/2 c tomato sauce
- 1/2 onion
- 5 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp garlic minced
- 1 tbsp ginger chopped
- 1 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 1 1/2 tsp cumin
- 3 tsp garam masala
- 2 tbsp corn starch optional to thicken sauce at the end
Instructions
- Turn your pressure cooker to saute, and add your butter.
- When butter is melted add cubed chicken and onions.
- Cook just enough for chicken pieces to cook just a touch on the outside and are no longer pink.
- Add all other ingredients into your pressure cooker and mix together well.
- Put lid on and close steam valve.
- Set to low pressure for 5 minutes.
- When done allow to naturally release for 1 minute (to avoid splatters), then do a quick release.
- Carefully lift lid. Serve immediately or remove chicken and set to saute low for just a few minutes. Put some of the hot liquid in a small bowl with 1 tbsp of cornstarch and whisk together, add back into the pot and stir. May do this again with another tbsp. depending on how thick you want the sauce to be.
- Sauce will thicken more as it sits. Turn off, add chicken back in, and serve with rice and/or naan.
Video
Cécile
Tuesday 27th of July 2021
I never comment on recipe blogs. But I had to come here to say that my local Indian restaurant is not liking you very much right now. After trying a good half a dozen butter chicken recipes, I have found the perfect one with taste and ease of cooking. So glad I'll be saving money and also avoid the plastic/polystyrene takeaway containers. Thank you!!!
The Typical Mom
Friday 30th of July 2021
Oh that makes me happy!!
Jules
Thursday 15th of October 2020
I just want to thank you for this recipe. I have made this lots of times and we love it! I'm about to go make some now.
Kati
Sunday 9th of August 2020
This was delicious! My store was out of fresh ginger so I subbed a tsp of ground. Still tasty. Served it with basmati and naan. Also had a zucchini and broccoli salad as a starter. All went very well together.
The Typical Mom
Monday 10th of August 2020
Yay glad it was a hit
Angry Cool
Friday 22nd of May 2020
Why do we have to suffer having to scroll through gibberish before we get to the written recipe? Oh, I know! It's to force us to look at the ads. Well, EFF YOU!
Cherri
Friday 26th of November 2021
@Angry Cool, Ease up on the anger there Mr/Ms Cool. It’s all good....including the recipe.
Karen
Sunday 2nd of August 2020
Why are so many people so hateful. Thank you- I can't wait to try this recipe.
OndLei
Wednesday 10th of June 2020
It's a blog, not a recipe site. Scrolling won't kill you. Don't like it, don't go to blogs! You don't have to be a jerk.
Jeff Gifford-Weaver
Sunday 17th of May 2020
Love the recipe and the family eats it up. Wondering if anyone has doubled it though and if so do you just double everything? Leave the liquids the same or increase? Appreciate it.