Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala
The ultimate comfort food, Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala is a creamy and spiced dish that's perfect for any night of the week. With tender chicken, aromatic spices, and a rich sauce, it's an easy weeknight dinner that everyone will love. Make it tonight for a satisfying meal!
Equipment
- Instant Pot
- Mixing Bowl
- Wooden Spoon
- Saucepan
- Chef's Knife
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-size pieces
- 1.5 teaspoons kosher salt divided
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter or coconut oil, ghee, or extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion finely chopped
- 3 large cloves garlic minced (about 1 tablespoon)
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
- 1 tablespoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon ground chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 0.25 teaspoon ground cayenne use more if you like the dish spicy
- 1 can no salt added tomato sauce (8 ounces)
- 1 can light coconut milk (14 ounces)
- 0.75 cup frozen peas
- 0.5 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
- Prepared brown rice or naan, for serving
- Fresh cilantro for serving
Instructions
- Season the chicken with 1 teaspoon kosher salt and set aside.
- Add the butter to an Instant Pot and set to SAUTE. Once melted, add the onion, garlic, ginger, garam masala, chili powder, cumin, turmeric, and cayenne. Cook, stirring often, until the onion is soft and the spices are very fragrant, about 5 minutes.
- Add the chicken pieces, stir to coat with the spices and onion, and cook, stirring often, just until the outsides start to brown, about 4 minutes.
- Add the tomato sauce and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Stir to combine. Cover and cook on HIGH pressure for 8 minutes. Vent to immediately release the pressure.
- Uncover and stir in the coconut milk. Turn the Instant Pot back to SAUTE. Bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring occasionally, and let it continue to simmer until the sauce thickens slightly, about 10 to 15 minutes.
- Turn the Instant Pot off, and then stir in the peas. Let cool for 3 to 4 minutes, and then stir in the Greek yogurt (do not stir in the Greek yogurt right away or it may curdle). Enjoy warm with rice or naan and a sprinkle of fresh cilantro.
Notes
- Tip 1: Garam masala is a blend of many spices and is very important to the final flavor of the recipe. It is available in most grocery stores.
- Tip 2: Instant Pot Brown Rice: Use 1 cup long-grain brown rice to 1 ΒΌ cups water. Cook on high pressure for 22 minutes.
- Tip 3: TO STORE: Store chicken tikka masala in an airtight storage container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Tip 4: TO REHEAT: Gently reheat leftovers in a large pot on the stovetop over medium-low heat until hot.
- Tip 5: TO FREEZE: Place cooked and cooled leftovers in an airtight freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.