๐Ÿฅ„ Homestyle recipes, tested & loved
๐Ÿฅ˜Recipes by Nani
Dinner

Creamy Instant Pot Butter Chicken

A rich and comforting butter chicken that comes together quickly in your pressure cooker.

By Recipes By Naniยท ๐ŸŒ Indianยท July 20, 2026
Creamy Instant Pot Butter Chicken
recipesbynani.com
Prep
10 minutes
Cook
20 minutes
Total
30 minutes
Serves
4

There is something so special about coming home to the smell of warm spices and creamy tomato sauce. This butter chicken has become a staple in my house because it tastes just like a favorite takeout meal but is so much easier to make right in your own kitchen.

My biggest tip is to make sure you use full fat yogurt and heavy cream to get that signature velvety texture. If you want a little extra heat, feel free to add a pinch more cayenne pepper to the spice blend before you start the pressure cooker.

๐Ÿงบ Ingredients

  • 1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite sized pieces
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
  • 1 tablespoon garam masala
  • 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt

๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐ŸณInstructions

  1. 1

    Turn your Instant Pot to the saute setting and heat the oil.

  2. 2

    Add the onion and cook until it is soft and translucent, which takes about 5 minutes.

  3. 3

    Stir in the garlic, ginger, garam masala, turmeric, cumin, chili powder, and salt. Cook for one minute until fragrant.

  4. 4

    Add the chicken pieces and the tomato sauce to the pot. Stir well to combine everything.

  5. 5

    Secure the lid and set the valve to sealing. Cook on high pressure for 10 minutes.

  6. 6

    Once the timer goes off, let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes before flipping the valve to vent.

  7. 7

    Stir in the butter, heavy cream, and Greek yogurt until the sauce is smooth and creamy.

  8. 8

    Serve warm over a bowl of fluffy basmati rice.

๐Ÿ’ก Tips

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. You can serve this with warm naan bread or over steamed basmati rice for a complete meal. If you have extra sauce, it freezes beautifully for a quick lunch later.

Made this recipe? Let us know how it went.

You might also like