Instant Pot Chicken Curry
- By Amy Dong
- Published Jan. 16, 2020
- Updated Sep. 4, 2023
This Instant Pot Chicken Curry needs only 5 minutes of cook time in the pressure cooker. Tender, flavorful, and healthy. Happens to be gluten free and dairy free.
How to make incredible Instant Pot Chicken Curry
When you’re looking to kick up the flavors while keeping dinner quick ‘n easy, look no further than this Instant Pot Chicken Curry. It requires only 5 minutes of pressure cook time and is teeming with ingredients you feel great about.
Curry is a broad term that refers to a diverse collection of dishes, many of which originate in Indian and Asian cultures. Curry can be in the form of pastes with unique colors, depending on the specific chilies used. We adore this Thai Green Curry Chicken, which showcases the beauty of green chilies. Red curry paste is scrumptious in this Red Thai Curry Mussles dish, a standout appetizer (I pile my plate so high, mine is more like a meal.)
For an incredibly easy way to amp up the flavors of an easy weeknight stew, we turn to madras curry powder, which is an Indian-British based aromatic spice mix that includes tumeric, cardamom, coriander, and cumin. It has a similar flavor profile to the spices used in our popular Sweet Potato Chicken Curry.
Today’s Instant Pot Chicken Curry is a delicious, nutritious answer to “what’s for dinner?” even on a busy weeknight. You can keep everyone’s taste buds happy while feeling great about the ingredients, all in about 30 minutes.
What spices go into chicken curry
- Rather than measuring out 5 to 6 individual spices, we use madras curry powder and plenty of it. Madras curry powder tends to be milder than others, so feel free to kick up the heat with 1 tsp chili powder if you like.
- Ginger powder provides glorious aromatics and is way easier than chopping/mincing/grating fresh ginger on busy weeknights.
- Fresh onions and garlic are a must. Tip: I often buy pre-peeled packages of fresh garlic cloves – a total time saver.
- Dried bay leaves help to infuse an earthy, aromatic layer to your curry. Be sure your bay leaves aren’t old, or they won’t have much flavor to them.
Variations and options
- We add 1/4 cup dry lentils to our Instant Pot Chicken Curry, which provides extra nutrition, heartiness, and texture. Feel free to sub with other legumes, beans, or potatoes.
- We use fire roasted canned tomatoes, as it imparts a special roasted flavor to the stew. If you prefer to use another style of canned tomatoes, you can certainly do that. Just be sure to include all the juices.
- For kicked-up heat, add 1 tsp chili powder to the stew.
- Feel free to swap out the chicken for any firm white fish fillet; if doing so, reduce pressure cook time to 21/2 minutes.
- Try adding any variety of extra veggies: diced or sliced bell peppers, cauliflower, and thinly sliced carrots are all good options.
what to serve with chicken curry
We adore warm pita bread of all kinds; even gluten-free varieties are now available. Jasmine rice or perfectly cooked brown rice are amazing with this pressure cooker chicken curry as well.
This naan bread is simply divine with any slurp-worthy stew. On that note, keep in mind that this particular Instant Pot Chicken Curry recipe is meant to be served over rice or with pita or naan bread to sop up the broth. If you’re opting to serve the curry by itself, then decrease kosher salt to 1/2 tsp and just add a bit more to taste at the end.
Most importantly, enjoy more time at the table and less time in the kitchen. Curry on.
You may love this thai basil chicken, too:
Did you make this?
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Instant Pot Chicken Curry
Ingredients
- 2 TB olive oil
- 1 large onion, diced
- 6 garlic cloves, chopped
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-size pieces, excess moisture removed with paper towels
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 3 TB curry powder
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- 1 14.5oz can fire-roasted tomatoes, with juices
- 2 cups about 1 can unsweetened whole coconut milk (the kind that's found in Asian aisle of most major grocery stores.)
- 3 bay leaves
- ¼ cup dry lentils
- Optional: freshly chopped cilantro and lemon slices for garnish
Instructions
- Set Instant Pot to sauté mode and add oil into inner pot. Once oil is hot add onion and stir fry for 1-2 minutes or until aromatic. Add garlic, stirring another minute. Add chicken, kosher salt, curry powder, and ginger. Stir 2 minutes until aromatic and chicken turns opaque on exterior.
- Add fire-roasted tomatoes with juices, coconut milk (be sure to shake can well before opening,) and stir to combine well. Once mixture is smooth, add the bay leaves and lentils. Seal lid closed and set on pressure cook for 5 minutes. Keep in mind it will take pressure cooker a bit of time to reach high pressure status, before it automatically starts its 5 minute countdown,
- Do Quick Release once timer goes off. If needed, add kosher salt or about 1 tsp chili pepper, to taste. If desired, serve with slices of fresh lemon and chopped cilantro. Serve warm, with pita bread, naan bread, or over Jasmine rice.
