Instant Pot Butter Chicken with Creamy Tomato Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Tender chicken simmered in a rich, spiced tomato and butter sauce made effortlessly in the Instant Pot for a comforting dinner. This Indian recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs boneless chicken thighs, unsalted butter, yellow onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 25 min Serves 4 Indian cuisine 420 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Set the Instant Pot to sauté mode and melt 3 tbsp unsalted butter. Add 1 medium finely chopped yellow onion, 4 minced garlic cloves, and 1 tbsp grated fresh ginger. Sauté for 4-5 minutes until onion is soft and fragrant.
  2. Step 2: Stir in 2 tsp garam masala, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1/2 tsp ground turmeric, and 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper. Cook spices for 1 minute to release aromas.
  3. Step 3: Add 1 lb cut boneless chicken thighs and 14 oz canned tomato sauce. Stir to coat chicken evenly. Cancel sauté mode.
  4. Step 4: Seal the Instant Pot lid and cook on high pressure for 8 minutes. Allow natural pressure release for 10 minutes, then quick release remaining pressure.
  5. Step 5: Stir in 1/2 cup heavy cream and 1 tsp salt. Set to sauté mode and simmer for 3 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.
  6. Step 6: Remove from heat and garnish with 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro before serving.

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