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Whole30 Instant Pot Butter Chicken

177 · May 29, 2021 · 18 Comments

Lunch & Dinner, Whole30

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Two white bowls full of Butter Chicken with rice and sprinkled with cilantro.

This Instant Pot Butter Chicken is a quick and easy Whole30 compliant take on the classic Indian dish that is made in less than 30 minutes using your favorite pressure cooker but tastes like it simmered all day! You’ll love this rich and comforting dish. Crock pot instructions also included.

Originally published on March 8, 2020. Last updated on May 29, 2021.

Two white bowls with cauliflower rice and butter chicken sprinkled with chopped cilantro leaves.

Instant Pot Whole30 Butter Chicken

This Instant Pot Whole30 Butter Chicken Curry combines my love of quick and easy instant pot meals with my love of flavor and spice easily found in Indian cooking! With only 7 minutes of pressure cooking needed this is one of the fastest and simplest weeknight recipes you can find!

This post may include affiliate links, by making a purchase through a link I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Click here to read my policy.

Inside the Instant Pot with Butter Chicken Curry after cooking before the coconut milk.
Inside the Instant Pot with Butter Chicken Curry after cooking with the coconut milk poured in but not yet stirred.
Inside the Instant Pot with Butter Chicken Curry ready to eat.

How To Make Instant Pot Butter Chicken Curry

This paleo Butter Chicken Recipe is incredibly easy! *Full instructions below in the recipe card. Once you toast the spices over sauté mode you will add everything but the coconut milk to your pressure cooker. Cook on high pressure for 7 minutes. Then stir in the coconut milk and serve! Truly a simple and satisfying healthy comfort food meal.

How To Make Butter Chicken Curry in the Crock Pot

Making slow cooker butter chicken is so easy! *Full instructions below in the recipe card. You will use a skillet to toast the spices and then add everything but the coconut milk to the crockpot and cook on low for 6-8 hours.

Can I Make Healthy Butter Chicken Dairy Free?

Yes, this recipe already uses coconut milk in place of the traditional cream so all you have to do is swap out the ghee for refined coconut oil. Make sure it’s refined to eliminate any added coconut flavor.

Instant Pot Butter Chicken Coconut Milk

Coconut milk is used in this recipe in place of cream. What I’m often asked is, “But does it taste like coconut?” And the answer is no IF you use the brand of coconut milk I recommend. Not all canned coconut milks are the same, some are thinner and some are thicker. Some are sweeter and more coconuty and some are more neutral. The one I’ve linked to is both thick, creamy and neutral in flavor so your finished dish doesn’t taste like coconut.

Two white bowls full of butter chicken curry and cauliflower rice with cilantro.

Do I Need To Have Garam Masala To Make This?

Yes, garam masala is a non-negotiable ingredient for this dish. It simply isn’t the same without it and there aren’t any substitutions for it.

Are Chicken Tikka Masala and Butter Chicken The Same?

No, these are two different Indian dishes. Some of the main differences are that Butter Chicken is a saucier dish of less spice and no onions than Chicken Tikka Masala.

Butter Chicken also known as Murgh Makhana was originally created in Northern India. It’s as a saucy dish meant to keep leftover chicken from drying out. Whereas Chicken Tikka Masala is said to have been created in Glasgow, Scotland as an Indian adaptation. Both dishes are still loved throughout Europe today.

Should I Get An Instant Pot?

I get asked this question a lot! And while I have included Crock Pot Instructions for this recipe my answer to this question is YES! I can’t say enough good things about my Instant Pot! I’ve been obsessed from day one. My Instant Pot makes my life and meal time so much easier with the added bonus of meats coming out more tender and everything coming out more flavorful because of the pressure that packs flavor into food. It’s the ideal way to make recipes like this Whole30 Chicken Curry.

Spoon scooping out a bite of butter chicken curry from a white bowl with cilantro and cauliflower rice.

More Healthy Instant Pot Recipes:

  • Instant Pot Taco Soup
  • Instant Pot Chicken Wings
  • Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin with Balsamic Glaze
  • Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli
  • Korean Beef

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Two white bowls full of Butter Chicken with rice and sprinkled with cilantro.

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Two white bowls with cauliflower rice and butter chicken sprinkled with chopped cilantro leaves.

Instant Pot Butter Chicken Curry

★★★★★ 5 from 15 reviews
  • Author: Nicole
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 7 minutes
  • Total Time: 12 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x
  • Category: Lunch & Dinner
  • Method: Instant Pot
  • Cuisine: Indian
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Description

This Instant Pot Butter Chicken is a quick and easy Whole30 compliant take on the classic Indian dish that is made in less than 30 minutes using your favorite pressure cooker but tastes like it simmered all day! You’ll love this rich and comforting dish. Crock pot instructions also included.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1/4 cup ghee (to make dairy free replace the ghee with 1/4 cup refined coconut oil) *If not Whole30, you can also use butter or vegan butter if preferred.
  • 10 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 Tablespoons fresh ginger, grated
  • 1 Tablespoon curry powder
  • 2 teaspoons garam masala
  • 2 teaspoons unrefined sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
  • 2 cups strained tomatoes (I always use these)
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 cup full fat unsweetened coconut milk (my favorite coconut milk that has a mild taste)
  • chopped cilantro leaves for garnish

Instructions

Instant Pot Instructions:

  1. Add the ghee, garlic, ginger, curry powder, garam masala, salt, smoked paprika and black pepper to your cold Instant Pot. Then turn the pot to Sauté mode and sauté the ghee and spices for 5 minutes while stirring.
  2. Deglaze the Instant Pot with the strained tomatoes and water and thoroughly scrap up any bits stuck to the bottom of the pot.
  3. Add the cut up chicken to the pot and stir into the sauce.
  4. Lock the lid, set the steamer valve to sealing and select pressure cook / manual on high for 7 minutes.
  5. After the cooking is compete, quick release the pressure then remove the lid.
  6. Stir in the coconut milk. Taste and add more salt if desired.
  7. Serve over cauliflower rice (or basmati rice if not doing a Whole30) topped with cilantro. Enjoy!

Crockpot Instructions:

  1. To a cold skillet on the stove top, add the ghee, garlic, ginger, curry powder, garam masala, salt, smoked paprika and black pepper. Turn the skillet to medium-low heat and sauté the spices for 5 minutes while stirring. Then transfer the spice mixture to the crockpot.
  2. Add the strained tomatoes and cut chicken and stir, cover with the lid and slow cook on low for 6-8 hours.
  3. Remove the lid once cooked and stir in the coconut milk, taste and add more salt if desired.
  4. Serve over cauliflower rice (or basmati rice if not doing a Whole30) topped with cilantro. Enjoy!

Keywords: whole30 butter chicken, paleo butter chicken, whole30 chicken curry, healthy butter chicken,

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @finishedwithsalt on Instagram and hashtag it #finishedwithsalt

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177

Lunch & Dinner, Whole30 posted by Nicole on May 29, 2021
18 Comments

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Comments

  1. Jennifer says

    June 22, 2020 at 12:28 pm

    This is aaaaaaaaaaaaamazing! I made it the other night and it will be on my regular rotation. I don’t have an instapot, so I made it on the stove and it came out perfectly. Thank you!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Nicole says

      June 23, 2020 at 8:00 am

      Hi Jennifer, I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe! It is a favorite in my house too! Thanks for sharing it works on the stove top also!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
  2. Pallavi says

    August 15, 2020 at 11:45 am

    Your recipe is great. May I just ask to introduce onions in the curry. Sautéed onions add more flavour to any Indian dish. One can mix it in blender with tomato paste to hide it.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Nicole says

      August 15, 2020 at 1:26 pm

      Hello Pallavi. I love onions! You could certainly add them to the curry. I just chose to leave them out since (though I’m not an expert on Indian cuisine) it is my understanding that traditionally Chicken Tikka Masala contains onions and Butter Chicken does not. Thank you for sharing!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
  3. SF says

    August 16, 2020 at 4:09 pm

    Delicious recipe, my whole family enjoyed it and have been asking for it again. Thanks

    Reply
    • Nicole says

      August 18, 2020 at 8:48 am

      Thank you so much for sharing. I’m so glad your family enjoyed it, it’s a favorite over here too!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
  4. Connie Kupke says

    September 25, 2020 at 3:26 pm

    This is so good and super easy! Hint: the coconut milk is essential I made it once with half-and-half and something seemed to be missing. I added coconut milk to the leftovers and they were delicious!

    Reply
    • Nicole says

      September 25, 2020 at 10:33 pm

      Thank you so much for sharing Connie! Glad you enjoyed it!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
  5. Emily says

    December 5, 2020 at 7:20 am

    So I’ve wanted to do this since you posted it and just got to it today. I’ve made many slow cooker chicken curry style recipes and this one is the only winner!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Nicole says

      December 5, 2020 at 11:08 am

      Thank you so much for sharing Emily! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe, it’s truly one of our favorites!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
  6. Lindsey Myers says

    June 13, 2021 at 8:18 am

    Could you add veggies to this? If so when would you do and which veggies would you recommend?

    Reply
    • Nicole says

      June 25, 2021 at 11:57 pm

      Hi Lindsey! I wouldn’t recommend adding anything to this dish since it would change the result quite a bit. However, you could serve it as pictured over cauliflower rice and certainly add a side of roasted veggies if you like.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
  7. Neora says

    March 8, 2022 at 4:09 pm

    I’m really enjoying the design and layout of your website.
    It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more enjoyable
    for me to come here and visit more often. Did
    you hire out a developer to create your theme? Fantastic work!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  8. Russ says

    September 8, 2022 at 12:06 pm

    Wish there were 10 stars available to rate this recipe, it deserves every one of them!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  9. Kristi says

    September 9, 2022 at 5:51 pm

    Simply the BEST! Incredible flavor, unbelievably tender and very easy to make.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  10. Charity says

    September 10, 2022 at 12:12 pm

    This recipe is Supreme! The end all be all to Butter Chicken!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  11. victoria says

    September 10, 2022 at 12:59 pm

    WOW! I could eat this everyday!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  12. matt says

    September 11, 2022 at 4:22 am

    No joke, the BEST butter chicken I’ve ever had!!!!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

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