Gluten Free Instant Pot Butter Chicken

Total time55 min

Prep time15 min

Cook time30 min

Tender chicken thighs get a warm hit of garam masala, cumin, and turmeric before they simmer into a deeply spiced tomato sauce built from softened onion, garlic, and fresh ginger. The Instant Pot works fast here, pressure-cooking everything until the chicken is fall-apart tender, then a quick blend turns the sauce silky smooth. A final swirl of heavy cream and butter mellows the spice into that classic rich, orange-hued gravy butter chicken is known for. Scoop it over fluffy basmati rice and scatter fresh cilantro on top for a restaurant-quality dinner made entirely in one pot. This one is a great fit for a gluten free kitchen, no extra planning required beyond what's already in the ingredient list.

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Ingredients

4 servings

For the chicken

1 ½ lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1 ½-inch pieces
1 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp garam masala
Simply Organic Garam Masala Spicely Organic Garam Masala, 1 each Frontier Co-Op Organic Garam Masala - 1 lb Frontier Co-Op Garam Masala Spice Hunter Garam Masala Blend - 1.8 OZ
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½ tsp ground cumin
½ tsp ground turmeric

For the sauce

2 tbsp unsalted butter
1 medium yellow onion, roughly chopped
5 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
1 ½ tsp garam masala
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp sweet paprika
½ tsp ground cumin
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes
½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 tsp sugar

To finish

½ cup heavy cream
2 tbsp unsalted butter
1 tsp kosher salt, or to taste

For serving

2 tbsp fresh cilantro, roughly chopped (optional)
cooked basmati rice or naan, for serving (optional)

Instructions

1
In a large bowl, toss the chicken pieces with 1 tsp kosher salt, 1 tsp garam masala, 1/2 tsp cumin, and 1/2 tsp turmeric until evenly coated. Set aside while you prepare the sauce base.
2
Set the Instant Pot to Sauté (Normal). Add 2 tbsp butter and let it melt. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes.

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