Instant Pot Indian Chicken Curry Recipe

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There are so many things you can do with chicken, but lately, we’ve been loving this spicy and aromatic North Indian-style chicken curry.

This simple and easy Indian curry chicken recipe is one more reason you’ll love cooking in your Instant Pot. 

Chicken curry, though it finds its origins in India, is a commonly found entree in many parts of the world. That is why there is no standard recipe to make it. Even in India, there are so many variations to this recipe because of cultural/regional influence that no two recipes are alike. 

I grew up in a south Indian household where chicken curries were made with coconut milk like this Mangalorean chicken curry recipe (Kori gassi). They were spicy and creamy and paired well with rutti (rice flakes), rice, or neer dosa. 

This recipe is different, though. It has a North Indian influence. What I mean by that is marinated chicken is added to a spice-infused onion-tomato gravy and then pressure cooked together. This results in a soft and moist curry chicken that is bursting with flavors. 

How to make chicken curry Indian style

If you think Indian chicken dishes end up bland when cooked in Instant Pot, I have two tips for you. 

• Saute the chicken before adding any liquid. This gives the meat a chance to brown and add flavor. 
• Or marinate the chicken for at least 20-30 minutes before pressure cooking it. 

Here are the steps to make this simple chicken curry recipe with yogurt

Chicken curry marinade

1. Mix yogurt, lime juice, oil, chili powder, garam masala, salt, and fenugreek leaves to prepare the marinade.
2. Make 3-4 incisions on the chicken drumstick on both sides. These incisions allow the marinade to seep in, making the chicken even more flavorful. 
3. Coat the chicken drumsticks with the marinade till all pieces are evenly covered. Set it aside for about 20 minutes till you get the curry ready.

The process of making the chicken curry sauce

1. Select the Saute setting in the Instant Pot and adjust it to normal.
2. Add oil, and once it is hot, add all the spices – bay leaf, cinnamon stick, black cardamom, green cardamom, black peppercorns, cloves, and fennel seeds (if using).
3. Let the spices sizzle in the oil for about 20 seconds or so. Add the chopped onions and let it cook till it is evenly browned (about 10 minutes).
4. Add the minced ginger and garlic. Let them saute for about a minute.
5. Add the chopped tomatoes and mix well. Cook till the tomatoes are soft and mushy (about 10 minutes).
6. Add salt and Kashmiri chili powder and mix well.
7. Add the marinated chicken to this curry and stir it in. Let it cook in the sauce for about 2 minutes.
8. Add 1/4 cup water and mix well. Deglaze – use a spatula to dislodge any bits stuck to the bottom of the pot.
9. Cover the Instant Pot, set the vent to sealing, and pressure cook on high for 10 minutes.
10. When the cooking cycle is complete, move the vent carefully to the venting position.
11. Open the lid, add garam masala and mix well.
12. Garnish the chicken with cilantro leaves and serve hot with rice, roti, or naan.

Indian Chicken Curry – step by step

Tips to make the best chicken curry

1. Marinating the chicken makes it moist and flavorful.
2. Make sure to cook the onions till it is evenly browned. Caramelized onions add an extra oomph to this dish.
3. Saute the chicken in the gravy before pressure cooking. This allows it to absorb the flavors. 
4. If possible, use either bone-in chicken or chicken thighs. These cuts are more flavorful than chicken breasts.
5. Instant Pot does not evaporate water, so you have to make sure you don’t add more than 1/4 cup of water to cook the chicken. Don’t worry; there will be enough liquid because of the yogurt and the tomatoes. 
6. Don’t forget to deglaze – use a spoon to dislodge any bits stuck to the bottom of the pot.

Variations

• Coconut chicken curry – Add about 1/4 cup of coconut milk along with water to make this chicken curry both creamy and south-Indian style. 
• Like it really spicy? Add 1-2 finely chopped green chilies along with minced ginger and garlic to amp up the spice levels in this Indian chicken curry recipe. 

Craving for some more easy and spicy chicken curry recipes? Here are a few of my favorite ones.

• Kori Gassi (Mangalorean chicken curry) – a coconut-based spicy chicken curry 
• Chicken ghee roast – a spicy and tangy chicken curry from Karnataka
• Chicken Vindaloo – A spicy chicken curry from Goa. 
• Chettinad chicken curry – spicy and aromatic chicken curry from central Tamil Nadu (a state in the Southern part of India)

And don’t forget to check out this extensive list of 30+ Indian curry recipes.