Healthy Instant Pot Butter Chicken (2024)

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Posted: Dec 12, 2017 Last Modified: Jul 7, 2019 by Carmy · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Butter chicken… my go-to comfort food but it can take a while to cook. This Healthy Instant Pot Butter Chicken is a lightened up version that takes less than 30 minutes to make and is still rich and creamy. Whole30 option available!

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Simple and Fast Healthy Instant Pot Butter Chicken

Ilove butter chicken. I grew up near Little India in the east end and to this day, I still go to the same restaurant whenever I’m craving comfort food. I almost always without fail order butter chicken and I love putting it over a plate of beef biryani. For ages I’ve wanted to try my hand at making my own butI’ll be the first to admit that I was a little intimidated but how Indian food then to be spice heavy and complicated.

However, over the years of eating my weight in butter chicken and getting a lot more comfortable in the kitchen, I’ve gotten more confident in attempting to make butter chicken at home. Through a lot of trial and error, I think I’ve gotten the spices down and simplified it. I’ve never seen how “authentic” butter chicken is made and I’ve heard there is coal involved. Instead, I’m using an Instant Pot so not only is this butter chicken simple but it’s fast!

How Simple Is Simple? How Is This Instant Pot Butter Chicken Healthy?

What You’ll Need To Make Healthy Butter Chicken in the Instant Pot

Tomato Paste
Garlic Paste
Smoked Paprika
Coriander Seeds
Turmeric
Garam Masala
Ground Cumin
Tomato Passata
Milk
Better Than Bouillon

I also used flour to thicken the sauce because to make this butter chicken healthier, I omitted whipping/heavy cream and used milk instead. I also used garlic paste instead of garlic to keep the sauce smooth.

Other options instead of using heavy cream is to sub in with yogurt or use a food processor to blend raw cashews into a paste like consistency.

Make This Healthy Instant Pot Butter Chicken Whole30 Compliant

To make this Instant Pot Butter Chicken Whole30 compliant, you just need to swap out 2 ingredients!

Tomato Paste(make sure it is just made with tomatoes and salt)
Tomato Passata (make sure it is just made with tomatoes and salt)
Swapmilk for coconut milk(make sure that it does not contain any form of sulfates)
Swap Better Than Bouillon for a homemade chicken broth or check for a Whole30 compliant store bought version

So what’s an Instant Pot?

I have the Duo Plus 9 in 1 Instant Pot. The DuoPlus replaces 9 commonly used kitchen appliances – Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice/Porridge Cooker, Yogurt Maker, Cake/Egg Maker, Sauté/Searing, Steam, Warm and Sterilize. It’s quite the multi-use product! That’s how I’m able to make butter chicken in less than 30 minutes!If you want to learn more about the Instant Pot and find more delicious and healthy Instant Pot recipes, here’s my What’s An Instant Pot post that also breaks down each model!

How to Make Butter Chicken in the Instant Pot

On the sauté function of your Instant Pot, place in your garlic paste, tomato paste, spices, and passata and stir.
After 2 minutes, mix in your chicken stock, and add your chicken. The liquid should cover your chicken.
Set 15 minutes on the Pressure Cook option.
After the cycle is over, following the manufacturer’s guide, open the lid. Switch the Instant Pot setting back to sauté and add in the milk (or coconut milk).
On the sauté function, let it cook down for a couple minutes/simmer if it is not as thick as you’d like it yet.
If the sauce isn’t as thick as you’d like it (because we are not using heavy cream), in a small bowl, put 2 tbsp of flour and a scoop of the sauce and mix together until the flour as dissolved in. Add more liquid if needed. Once the sauce in the bowl has thickened, stir it back into your Instant Pot. If you are on Whole30, skip the flour/cornstarch method and just let the sauce simmer until thickened.
Turn off the Instant Pot and garnish with parsley. Serve warm over rice and/or with a naan. If you are on Whole30, serve with cauliflower rice

Healthy Instant Pot Butter Chicken

This Healthy Instant Pot Butter Chicken is a lightened up version that takes less than 30 minutes to make and is still rich and creamy. Whole30 option available

5 from 19 votes

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Prep Time: 8 minutes mins

Cook Time: 15 minutes mins

Total Time: 23 minutes mins

Servings: 4 people

Ingredients

4 tsp garlic paste
5 tsp tomato paste
1 cup tomato passata
3 - 4.5 tbsp* garam marsala , OR to taste, see note
0.5 tbsp coriander
0.5 tsp cumin
1 tbsp smoked paprika
1 tsp turmeric
1 cup chicken stock (using 1 tsp Better than Bullion Chicken mixed with water)
2 lb chicken thighs, drumsticks, breast
1 cup milk, swap for coconut milk for whole30
2 tbsp flour or cornstarch , skip for whole30
optional: parsley for garnish

Instructions

On the sauté function of your Instant Pot, place in your garlic paste, tomato paste, spices, and passata and stir.
After 2 minutes, mix in your chicken stock, and add your chicken. The liquid should cover your chicken.
Set 15 minutes on the Pressure Cook option. (Please follow the manufacturer's guide)
After the cycle is over, following the manufacturer's guide, open the lid. Switch the Instant Pot setting back to sauté and add in the milk (or coconut milk).
On the sauté function, let it cook down for a couple minutes/simmer if it is not as thick as you'd like it yet.
If the sauce isn't as thick as you'd like it (because we are not using heavy cream), in a small bowl, put 2 tbsp of flour and a scoop of the sauce and mix together until the flour as dissolved in. Add more liquid if needed. Once the sauce in the bowl has thickened, stir it back into your Instant Pot. If you are on Whole30, skip the flour/cornstarch method and just let the sauce simmer until thickened.
Turn off the Instant Pot and garnish with parsley. Serve warm over rice and/or with a naan. If you are on Whole30, serve with cauliflower rice
See Also
Prime Rib vs Ribeye What's The Difference & How Are They Similar?The Best Desserts of 2023 Asian Style Udon Noodles with Pork and Mushrooms 40 Nearly Forgotten Comfort Food Dinners

Notes

*I've had feedback that thegaram marsala is too strong but I've also had feedback that it was fine. Best I can say is use your best judgement. Add 1/3 to 1/2 first and when you QR to cook down the liquid, give it a taste and see if you need more before letting it simmer a bit.

Tried this recipe?Did you make this recipe? I'm always so happy to hear about it! I'd love to see how it turned out. Tag me at @CarmysHungry on Instagram so I can see it! If you enjoyed the recipe, I'd really appreciate a comment with a 5 star rating! ♥

Author: Carmy

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Indian

Nutrition Disclaimer

Let’s Chat! What is your go to comfort meal? Do you own an Instant Pot?