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I’ve made this Instant Pot butter chicken curry dozens of times because it’s rich, comforting, and so easy to throw together. Tender pieces of chicken are pressure-cooked in a luxurious creamy tomato sauce, loaded with warm spices. I love that the Instant Pot makes a normally slow-cooked curry, quick and easy enough for busy weeknights. It’s better than takeout and completely irresistible when I’m craving something slightly exotic!
Whenever I’m hankering for restaurant-style Indian food at home, this creamy Instant Pot butter chicken curry is my absolute go-to. It’s become one of my favorite comfort foods, and every bite is filled with seriously bold spices, melt-in-your-mouth chicken, and an ultra-silky sauce. The flavors remind me of my Madras curry recipe, but with a buttery twist. I know this chicken curry dish looks like a handful to make, but all you need to do is throw everything in an Instant Pot, press a button, and let it do its magic. This hands-off meal is perfect for quick weeknight dinners served over fluffy rice or scooped up with fresh naan. Just one word of advice — make a big enough batch because this is seriously delicious!
Jessica – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ YES!!! I’ve been looking for a recipe that gives this kind of flavor! Thank you so much, it was awesome!
Serious Flavors – From the bold spices to the luxuriously creamy tomato-based sauce, this dish is the epitome of flavors. Plus, I love how this classic curry recipe fills up the kitchen with the most incredible aromas that make you think you’ve stepped into a restaurant!
Versatile – There’s so many great ways to enjoy this dish. Depending on my mood, I’ll either ladle a generous amount over fluffy basmati rice, or I’ll scoop up the tender chicken and every bit of that rich sauce with warm naan.
One-Pot Magic – This instant pot recipe uses the “Pressure Cook” setting on the Instant Pot which allows you to pack in hours of slow-cooked flavor in minutes! You get all the complexity of restaurant-made Butter Chicken, in a speedy recipe you can make in a pinch. You’ve got to love that.
Key Ingredients and Tips
Chicken: I recommend using boneless, skinless chicken thighs for super-tender butter chicken. Since it has a higher fat content, it won’t dry out as quickly as chicken breast will, resulting in juicier chicken. Make sure to cut the chicken up into bite-sized pieces.
Butter – Do not skip the butter! This is where this dish gets indulgent; after all, it is called butter chicken curry. Ghee, AKA salted clarified butter, gives this curry recipe its signature richness. But traditional butter will work as well.
Vegetables – Onions and garlic give this sauce a base of sweet and savory, bold flavors. I also use freshly minced ginger to add brightness.
Spices – To get those unmistakable aromas and flavors, I load up on a serious combo of spices like curry powder, garam masala, and smoked paprika. They give this curry an authentic flavor and color.
Tomato sauce– I use either canned tomato sauce or tomato puree, but whatever you choose, this ingredient is super important because it balances out the spices, and it creates a red color and a delicious tangy note to every bite.
Heavy cream– To make the sauce creamy, use regular full-fat heavy cream.
How to Make
Find the full recipe with ingredient proportions, detailed instructions, and a video tutorial in the printable form at the bottom of the post.
Cook the veggies – The first thing I do is place the butter, veggies, and spices in my Instant Pot to get them cooking. I let them sauté for a couple of minutes until they’re softened and tender.
Deglaze – Once the veggies are ready, I pour some water into the Instant Pot, and I deglaze the bottom of the pot with a spoon. This prevents any burning from happening, because who wants a burnt chicken curry?!
Pressure cook the chicken – Then I throw in the chopped chicken pieces and the tomato sauce, and I cook it on high for about 7 minutes. When it’s done, I turn it off, and I let the pot do a “Quick Release”. If you have an Instant Pot, you’ll know what I mean, but basically, once the sauce is ready, the valve will drop, letting you know it’s time to open that lid!
Make the sauce creamy – And finally, I stir in that rich heavy cream and watch the sauce thicken up. I sprinkle some fresh cilantro on top, and at this point, it’s time to enjoy!
Recipe Variations
Dairy-free – Use coconut oil or non-dairy butter spread instead of butter/ghee, and thick canned coconut milk (or coconut cream) instead of the heavy cream.
Vegetarian – Swap the chicken with chickpeas.
Veggies – Mix in some chopped bell peppers, cauliflower, green beans, or potatoes for a veggie boost.
Paneer – Swap or add in paneer, a type of firm Indian cheese, for extra texture.
Extra heat – Sprinkle a dash of cayenne pepper for extra spiciness!
Serving Suggestions
There are so many delicious ways to enjoy this creamy and rich butter chicken curry! Here are a few of my favorite and classic options:
Paired with brown rice, cauliflower rice, or quinoa
Scooped up with fresh naan or homemade roti
Served with a dollop of Greek yogurt to balance out the spices
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to marinate the chicken first?
Nope! That’s the beauty of this dish. Pop everything into an Instant Pot at once, press cook, and that’s it.
Can I use chicken breast instead?
Yes, but I prefer thighs because they are so much juicier and won’t dry out.
What if I don’t have an Instant Pot?
No instant pot? No problem! You can easily make this butter chicken in the slow cooker! Follow step 1 on the stovetop, then transfer the onions and spices to the crockpot of your slow cooker. Add the tomato sauce and chopped chicken, and stir. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Then, stir in the heavy cream and serve warm!
Storage Notes
Store cooled leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4 days. You can also freeze leftovers by placing them in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months. Reheat in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly, and add a splash of cream if the curry is too dry.
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I love butter and this Instant Pot butter chicken curry is one of the most decadent savory recipes I've tried. It's packed with succulent pieces of tender chicken in a luxuriously creamy tomato based sauce, and just fingerlickin' good!
Place the butter, chopped onions, garlic, ginger, and all spices in the Instant Pot. Set on Sauté for 5 minutes. Stir to make sure the ingredients don't burn. Once the onions are soft, turn off.
Pour 1/2 cup water into the pot. Then use a wooden spoon to scrub the debris off the bottom of the pot. (This ensures the burn notice will not go off!)
Add the chopped chicken thighs and canned tomato sauce. Lock the lid into place and turn the Instant Pot on Pressure Cook High for 7 minutes. Once finished, turn the Instant Pot Off, then perform a Quick Release to release the steam pressure. Once the valve button drops, unlock the lid and remove.
Stir in the heavy cream. Set the Instant Pot on Sauté again and simmer for 2-5 minutes to thicken the sauce. Sprinkle with chopped cilantro and serve with basmati rice.
Notes
Don’t have an Instant Pot? You can make this recipe in the slow cooker! Follow step 1 on the stove top, then transfer the onions and spices to a slow cooker. Add the tomato sauce and chopped chicken. Cover and slow cook for 6-8 hours on low. Then stir in the cream and serve.Burn Notice: Some Instant Pot users have reported they get a “burn notice” with this recipe. Although I have not experienced this personally, different models of IPs vary a little in the cooking process. If your IP is prone to flash the burn notice, be sure to thoroughly scrub the debris off the bottom of the pot before moving onto step 3. You can even add a little water to make sure this does not happen… 1/2 cup water should do the trick!Storing Leftovers – Store cooled down leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4 days.Reheating Leftovers – Place leftovers in freezer-safe containers and freeze for up to 3 months.Freezing Leftovers – Reheat in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly and add a splash of cream if the curry is too dry.
My 1st PERFECT butter chicken curry!!! I love it, and I have tried several recipes before this one….this one is the BEST ever! Like in a high end Indian restaurant! I did add finely chopped mushrooms (by an electric chopper) as I had them in the fridge. You cannot tell that they are in there but it turned out to be perfect!! THANK YOU for the delicious curry!!
This recipe is my jam, absolutely love it. I’ve noticed the 6qt pot cooks it without burning so I add chicken stock and a bit of oil to avoid burning in the 8qt model. I also add more veggies and mushrooms and hot peppers in after it’s done pressure cooking. So delicious.
You can just freeze the rest:) I do that sometimes with my favorite indian dishes as my family don’t eat them, it’s just me and my son so I always have plenty left. When I defrost they are still delicious and ready to go…
According to the IP website, you can half recipes without making any extra adjustments on ingredients or cook time. However, I have not tried it yet with this recipe. Let me know how it turns out if you give it a go!
I did get the burn notice so I dumped it into a bowl and cleaned and dried my pot. Then I put it all back in and instead of adding more liquid I pushed the “Pressure Cook” button until it said “low” and cooked it for a longer time (I did 20 minutes but it was already hot from the first attempt). When I opened the lid after a 15 minute natural release it was boiling hot and the chicken and vegetables were perfect. I need to read more about the Pressure Cook settings because I am wondering if normal may be too hot for certain recipes but I also want to make sure I cook meat at the proper temp.
I made this last week for my husband and house guests. EVERYONE went back for seconds and it was such a success I was asked to make it again, less than one week after I made the first batch! This is wonderfully easy and really really good. The only change I made was I had no tomato sauce so I diluted some tomato paste. I´m going to make at least 3 more batches and freeze them for when guests pop in unexpectedly (happens all the time). I served mine with basmati jeera rice and some sauteed spring vegetables.
Absolutely delicious comfort food! I did not get the burn error that some have mentioned and I even halved my recipe. I served mine over basmati rice, like recommended and then I had the leftovers over a spring salad mix for lunch the next day! This will definitely be a regular at my house, thank you!!
WOW! I made this tonight for lunches at work…it is delicious! I had to tweak it as I’m allergic to tomatoes so I didn’t put any tomato sauce. I did everything else but at the end, I love spicy, so I added a dash of ground scorpion pepper and WOW! I am more certain it’ll taste even better tomorrow at work after the flavors sit. Thank you for this wonderful recipe! Oh, also, I added a cup of water since I had no liquid (tomatoe sauce) and I did not get the “burn” like others.
Making this recipe for the 5th time tonight! It is always a favorite. I do add a can of coconut milk with the chicken and tomato sauce step, stir it all together and then let it pressure cook. I do add the cup of water and it doesn’t take away from the delicious flavor at all. Served over some jasmine rice, YUM! Thank you for making this wonderful recipe!
I made the recipe without halving in the duo mini. Just delicious! I used a whole 15 oz can of diced tomatoes plus half a can of tomato sauce plus a little extra water. I didnt have smoked paprika so i used chipotle pepper flakes.
This is absolutely a keeper! The best IP Butter Chicken recipe I’ve tried. After sauteing the onion & garlic on the stove, I cooked it with the rice in a stacking PIP- delicious and a time saver. I added 2 cups of water to the big outer pot.
by Sommer Collier — last updated on Feb 9, 2026 
My 1st PERFECT butter chicken curry!!! I love it, and I have tried several recipes before this one….this one is the BEST ever! Like in a high end Indian restaurant! I did add finely chopped mushrooms (by an electric chopper) as I had them in the fridge. You cannot tell that they are in there but it turned out to be perfect!! THANK YOU for the delicious curry!!
This recipe is my jam, absolutely love it. I’ve noticed the 6qt pot cooks it without burning so I add chicken stock and a bit of oil to avoid burning in the 8qt model. I also add more veggies and mushrooms and hot peppers in after it’s done pressure cooking. So delicious.
FIVE stars for authentic, delicious flavor!!
My sauce didn’t really thicken though so it was a bit like a soup, but served over basmati rice it was fine.
I am eager to make this but 8 servings is a bit much for just me! What modifications would I have to make if I want to cut the recipe in half?
You can just freeze the rest:) I do that sometimes with my favorite indian dishes as my family don’t eat them, it’s just me and my son so I always have plenty left. When I defrost they are still delicious and ready to go…
Hi Brenna,
According to the IP website, you can half recipes without making any extra adjustments on ingredients or cook time. However, I have not tried it yet with this recipe. Let me know how it turns out if you give it a go!
My husband and I just got the instapot and made this for our first dinner. Didn’t change a thing and it was awesome. Thanks for sharing :)
I did get the burn notice so I dumped it into a bowl and cleaned and dried my pot. Then I put it all back in and instead of adding more liquid I pushed the “Pressure Cook” button until it said “low” and cooked it for a longer time (I did 20 minutes but it was already hot from the first attempt). When I opened the lid after a 15 minute natural release it was boiling hot and the chicken and vegetables were perfect. I need to read more about the Pressure Cook settings because I am wondering if normal may be too hot for certain recipes but I also want to make sure I cook meat at the proper temp.
CORRECTION: I put it on “LESS” not low pressure. I am assuming that means a lower temp.
Great idea. I may have to try the lower setting next time instead of adding water.
I made this last week for my husband and house guests. EVERYONE went back for seconds and it was such a success I was asked to make it again, less than one week after I made the first batch! This is wonderfully easy and really really good. The only change I made was I had no tomato sauce so I diluted some tomato paste. I´m going to make at least 3 more batches and freeze them for when guests pop in unexpectedly (happens all the time). I served mine with basmati jeera rice and some sauteed spring vegetables.
Absolutely delicious comfort food! I did not get the burn error that some have mentioned and I even halved my recipe. I served mine over basmati rice, like recommended and then I had the leftovers over a spring salad mix for lunch the next day! This will definitely be a regular at my house, thank you!!
WOW! I made this tonight for lunches at work…it is delicious! I had to tweak it as I’m allergic to tomatoes so I didn’t put any tomato sauce. I did everything else but at the end, I love spicy, so I added a dash of ground scorpion pepper and WOW! I am more certain it’ll taste even better tomorrow at work after the flavors sit. Thank you for this wonderful recipe! Oh, also, I added a cup of water since I had no liquid (tomatoe sauce) and I did not get the “burn” like others.
Absolutely love but get the “burn” message every time I make this, tips on avoiding this annoying error?
Deglaze and scrape after saute and before pressure cooking
I used the ‘meat stew’ setting and it stopped giving the overheat notice and cooked out just fine.
Making this recipe for the 5th time tonight! It is always a favorite. I do add a can of coconut milk with the chicken and tomato sauce step, stir it all together and then let it pressure cook. I do add the cup of water and it doesn’t take away from the delicious flavor at all. Served over some jasmine rice, YUM! Thank you for making this wonderful recipe!
I made the recipe without halving in the duo mini. Just delicious! I used a whole 15 oz can of diced tomatoes plus half a can of tomato sauce plus a little extra water. I didnt have smoked paprika so i used chipotle pepper flakes.
This is absolutely a keeper! The best IP Butter Chicken recipe I’ve tried. After sauteing the onion & garlic on the stove, I cooked it with the rice in a stacking PIP- delicious and a time saver. I added 2 cups of water to the big outer pot.