Instant Pot Tikka Masala

A bowl of raita next to a bowl of chicken tikka masala and rice.

5 from 11 votes

Instant Pot tikka masala is one of my favorite Indian dishes so simple I can make it any night of the week. The sweet and savory spices mixed with tender chicken create the perfect comfort dish.

Prep Time20

Cook Time20

Marinating Time30

Total Time1 10

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Indian

Keyword: Chicken, Chicken Tikka Masala, indian, Instant Pot

Servings:

Calories: 463kcal

Author: Kelsey Crist

Equipment

Instant Pot Pressure Cooker

Ingredients

For the Chicken

2 pounds chicken breast cut into cubes
1 cup plain yogurt
2 Tablespoons lemon juice
1 Tablespoon garam masala see note for substitution
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 Tablespoon fresh grated ginger
salt and pepper

For the Sauce

2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 onion diced
1 clove garlic minced
2 Tablespoons garam masala see note for substitution
2 cups tomato sauce
14 ounces fire roasted diced tomatoes
1 cup heavy cream
2 Tablespoons butter

For Serving (Optional)

Instructions

For the Chicken

Combine the yogurt, lemon juice, garam masala, cayenne pepper, ginger, and salt and pepper. Pour over cubed chicken.
Stir until the chicken is evenly coated. Cover with plastic wrap and store in the fridge for 30 minutes to marinate.

For the Sauce

Turn the Instant Pot to "Saute" mode. Add vegetable oil. Once the oil is heated, add onion, garlic, and garam masala. Cook until onions are tender.
Add tomato sauce and diced tomatoes. Stir to combine. Then add chicken and all the marinade.
Place the lid on the Instant Pot and move the vent to the "Sealing" position. Set the Instant Pot to "Poultry" and set the timer for 5 minutes. When the timer goes off, let the pressure release naturally for about 10 minutes. Then do a quick release. Remove the lid and stir the contents.
Add heavy cream and butter. Stir to combine. If the sauce is too thin, set the Instant Pot to "Saute" and cook until the desired consistency is reached.
Serve over rice or with naan bread. Optional: top with fresh chopped cilantro.

Notes

Garam Masala Substitution Note: Garam Masala is an amazing Indian spice blend. You can find it at most grocery stores, but if it is not available near you, you can substitute it. Combine 4 parts cumin with 1 part allspice. For example, 1 tablespoon of cumin and 1/4 tablespoon allspice.

Instant Pot Note: We use a 6-quart Instant Pot brand pressure cooker that we bought in 2016. Different or newer versions may be more sensitive to the "BURN" notice. If you are concerned about the burn notice, we have found this article to be helpful: "What Does Burn Mean on my Instant Pot".

Nutrition