Instant Pot Indian Butter Chickpea Curry
Creamy, spiced chickpeas cooked quickly in an Instant Pot with a buttery tomato sauce infused with traditional Indian spices. This Indian-inspired Instant Pot recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 30 minutes, pairs canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed, unsalted butter, onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 5, 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.
Ingredients
- 2 cans (15 oz each) canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 medium, finely chopped onion
- 1 tbsp ginger paste
- 1 tbsp garlic paste
- 1 cup tomato puree
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 tsp garam masala
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
- 1/2 tsp red chili powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup water
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
The Instant Pot we’d make this in → Best Instant Pots & Electric Pressure Cookers for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Set the Instant Pot to sauté mode and melt 3 tbsp unsalted butter. Add 1 medium finely chopped onion and cook for 5 minutes until soft and translucent.
- Step 2: Stir in 1 tbsp ginger paste and 1 tbsp garlic paste, cooking for 1 minute until aromatic. Then add 2 tsp garam masala, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp ground coriander, 1/2 tsp turmeric powder, 1/2 tsp red chili powder, and 1 tsp salt. Stir to coat the onions and spices for 1 minute.
- Step 3: Add 2 cans (15 oz each) drained and rinsed chickpeas, 1 cup tomato puree, and 1 cup water. Stir well, then seal the Instant Pot lid and set to pressure cook on high for 10 minutes.
- Step 4: After cooking, carefully quick-release the pressure. Open the lid and stir in 1/2 cup heavy cream. Switch back to sauté mode and simmer for 3 minutes until the curry thickens slightly.
- Step 5: Garnish with 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves before serving hot with rice or naan.








