Delicious and Easy Chicken Tikka Masala Instant Pot & Slow Cooker
on Nov 12, 2018, Updated Oct 29, 2023
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Here’s an easy and flavorful Indian dish two ways! Enjoy great flavor with a slow cooker chicken tikka masala recipe, or if you’re short on time, here’s also a chicken tikka masala instant pot version. This recipe is mom tested and kid approved. Make it tonight!!
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Easy Chicken Tikka Masala Instant Pot Recipe {+ Slow Cooker Directions too}
I’ve been making this easy chicken tikka masala recipe for quite some time and my family agrees that it is a keeper. We serve it with rice and a salad. Add Naan if you have it (cornbread works in a pinch too LOL). However you eat it, tikka masala is a family favorite at my house.
While I generally make the chicken tikka masala Instant Pot version, it’s also a great recipe to make in the slow cooker. So I’m telling you how to make it in both appliances. There are no excuses to make this recipe! Add it to your menu plan this week.
To make this flavorful tikka masala recipe, you’ll need fresh ginger, garlic, cumin, tumeric, chicken, tomatoes, chicken broth, cream and a few other ingredients. Making it in the pressure cooker is very easy and results in the least amount of dirty dishes. Just saute onions, garlic, and ginger, add the other spices, tomatoes, broth, and chicken, cook on high pressure for only 7 minutes.
Do a quick pressure release and add heavy cream (half and half works fine too, in my opinion) and fresh squeezed lemon juice. Serve over rice and enjoy!
Tips for Making this Chicken Tikka Masala Instant Pot Recipe
If you’re scared of using fresh ginger, don’t be. I buy organic fresh ginger and then store it in the freezer. Whenever I make a recipe that calls for it, I just pull a piece out of the freezer and grate it on my favorite microplane. Seriously, if you don’t have this microplane, I highly recommend getting one! If there’s left over ginger, I just put it back in the freezer. It’s easy peasy.
I also like to use homemade chicken stock. I have started cooking a whole (frozen!) chicken in my instant pot about once a week. After I have picked the meat off the bones, I put the carcass back in the instant pot and make stock. Here’s my recipe for homemade stock, and it works just fine in the instant pot too. Homemade stock is so easy, flavorful, and good for you!
Flavorful Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala
Don’t have an electric pressure cooker?? Why not??? Well, you can also make slow cooker chicken tikka masala too. To cook it in a slow cooker you’ll have to get an extra pan dirty to saute the onions, garlic, and fresh ginger. Then put all ingredients except cream and lemon juice in the slow cooker. Cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4-5. One time’s up, shred or chop the chicken and add it back to the pot. Add in the cream and lemon juice and enjoy.
Delicious and Easy Chicken Tikka Masala Instant Pot & Slow Cooker
Easy and flavorful Indian Chicken Tikka Masala made easy in the instant pot or slow cooker.
Ingredients
- 2 TBS butter
- 1/2 onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and grated
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 2 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- Big pinch of cayenne
- 1 tbs honey to cut the acidity
- 28 ounces crushed or diced tomatoes (with juice)
- 4 medium chicken breasts or thighs (~1 1/2 to 2 lbs)
- 1/2 cup chicken stock
- 1/2 tsp REAL salt
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup heavy cream (half and half works just fine too)
- juice of 1 lemon
Instructions
Using the Instant Pot
- Preheat the Saute feature on the Instant Pot and add butter. After it's melted and nice and sizzly, add the onion, garlic, and ginger. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the onion is translucent.
- Select Cancel, and add the cumin, paprika, turmeric, cayenne, salt and pepper. Stir well, then add honey, tomatoes, chicken, and broth.
- Select Manual and cook on high heat for 7 minutes.
- Once cooking is complete, quickly release the pressure. Remove chicken and chop or shred.
- Select Saute and simmer for 4-5 minutes. Add cream and chicken.
- Add lemon juice and stir. Add more salt and pepper as needed.
Using a Slow Cooker
- Heat butter in a small pan over medium high heat. Saute garlic, onion, and ginger for 4-5 minutes until the onion is translucent.
- Put all ingredients except cream and lemon juice in a slow cooker.
- Cook on high for 4-5 hours or on low for 8 hours.
- Season as needed and enjoy.
Notes
Cooking time changes if you make this in the slow cooker.
If you liked this easy chicken tikka masala recipe, you’ll like these recipes too:
Slow Cooker Sausage and Cabbage
Instant Pot Rotisserie Chicken
Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
Immune Boosting Creamy Creamy Chicken Stew
