28 Amazing Indian Recipes You Can Make In Your Instant Pot

Indian cuisine can be as wonderfully hot as it is varied! There are so many different types of recipes to choose from, albeit predominantly curries.

I was over the moon when I discovered just how easy it is to replicate Indian dishes in my instant pot. And when I did, I spent a great deal of time checking out and testing different Indian instant pot recipes I found on the net,

And now, I’m going to take this opportunity to share my favorites with you. And you don’t have to worry – if you have to cater for palettes that can’t take as much heat as you, I’ve thrown some milder tasting recipes in the shortlist too.

I’ve got a whopping 28 amazing Indian instant pot recipes to introduce, and then I’m going to top that off with a brief section where I answer your most frequently asked questions on the subject.

Now, get those taste buds ready, because here we go!

1. Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe From Crème De La Crumb

Let’s kick things off with a classic!

Chicken tikka masala is very much seen as an Indian dish and has become incredibly popular in the Western world. However, the precise origins are unclear. Some say that chicken tikka masala may derive from butter chicken, a popular dish in the northern Indian subcontinent.

This dish is creamy, tomatoey, and isn’t too hot. It’s quite the crowd pleaser!

2. Instant Pot Coconut Chicken Curry Recipe From Piping Pot Curry

If you love coconut flavors, trust me, you’re going to love this recipe!

It’s made with creamy coconut milk, along with ginger, garlic, onions and a myriad of flavorful spices.

What’s more, it’s easy to make and is ready to eat in as little as half an hour.

3. Coconut Rice In Instant Pot Recipe From Easy Indian Cookbook

If you love hot, flavorful curry, you probably appreciate it to be paired with milder side dishes such as cooling coconut flavored rice to balance things out. And in my opinion, this is the best Instant Pot coconut rice recipe on the net.

It features real grated coconut, not just coconut oil, and it’s got flavorful additions such as cashew nuts, dhal, coriander leaves, and more.

4. Low Carb Lamb Rogan Josh Recipe From Twosleevers

This is a classic, Kashmiri, Indian dish, with a host of flavorful ingredients, such as red onion, minced garlic and ginger, tomato paste, yogurt, and an array of different spices. This particular version is low in carbs, which is perfect if you’re watching your sugar intake.

It’s super simple to make, you just mix everything, put it in the Instant pot, and just let it do its thing. Better yet, each serving comes in at just 127 calories!  

5. Instant Pot Vegetable Korma Recipe From Piping Pot Curry

Do you have delicate tummies to cater for? Or you are cooking for those unaccustomed to curries? Then this is the dish you need. Kormas are the mildest of Indian curries.

This particular Indian korma recipe is suitable for both vegetarians and vegans, with vegetables such as wholesome potato, cauliflower, carrots, peas, and green beans. And it also features a range of different spices in a creamy coconut based sauce.

It’s ready to eat in just 30 minutes and is just 277 calories per serving.

6. Instant Pot Naan Bread Recipe From Caramel Tinted Life

Naan bread is a particularly popular Indian side dish, and often pairs perfectly with curries and such. 

This naan bread recipe is simple to prepare right in your Instant Pot (see also ‘35 Simple Recipes For Instant Pot Chicken‘). You use the Instant Pot to prove the naan dough, then use a cast iron pan to cook the naan. 

It features easy to source ingredients, and comes out wonderfully soft and pillowy.

7. Best Ever Chicken Jalfrezi Recipe From Super Golden Bakes

This is actually a Slimming World friendly fake away curry recipe, and I am pleased to report that it certainly does not compromise on taste!

It consists of stir-fried vegetables, spiced chicken, and a wonderful jalfrezi sauce made with the likes of 0% fat natural yogurt and tomatoes, and passata, and is served with lime wedges.

You can adjust the number of green chilies to your particular liking.

8. Instant Pot Cauliflower Tikka Masala Recipe From Full Of Plants

This wonderful cauliflower tikka masala recipe is 100% vegan-friendly and comes in at just 196 calories per serving.

It features non-dairy yogurt (or cashew cream), maple syrup, and a host of yummy spices! What’s more, it’s ready to eat in less than half an hour.

9. Instant Pot Beef Vindaloo Recipe From Corrie Cooks

If you love your curry hot, then this is the dish for you! It features chunks of beef shin in a sauce made with such flavorful ingredients as ghee, ground cinnamon, honey, onion, tomatoes, chilies, and more.

The combination of honey and tamarind adds a punch of sweet and sour flavors to the dish, and is sure to satisfy!

10. Instant Pot Tandoori Chicken Recipe From Foodies Terminal

I just love this recipe – you get juicy chicken on the bone, with a nice char, and a delicious tandoori marinade.

It’s simple to make, and features flavorful ingredients such as star anise powder, Tandoori masala, ginger and garlic paste, paprika, and lime or lemon juice.

11. 30-Minute Instant Pot Indian Butter Chicken Recipe From Two Sleevers

This restaurant quality dish is ready to eat in less than half an hour, and tastes amazing! 

It features boneless skinless chicken thighs, canned tomatoes, butter, heavy cream, and a range of wonderful Indian spices. What’s more, it’s so low in carbs that you can even enjoy it on a ketogenic diet!

12. Instant Pot Macaroni Tikka Masala Recipe From Full Of Plants

I just love this Indian twist on the classic American mac and cheese!

It’s wonderfully creamy, thanks to ingredients like vegan butter, and coconut milk, and it also features a delicious array of spices, such as garam masala, cumin, and turmeric, alongside tomato paste, sweet maple syrup, and minced onion and garlic. Yum!

13. Instant Pot Lamb Bhuna Curry Recipe From Recipe This

This delicious lamb bhuna curry recipe truly delivers! It’s got such ingredients as tomatoes, thick, Greek yogurt, onion, and seasonings such as cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, cumin, garlic and ginger, and more. 

It takes just over 35 minutes to cook, and each serving comes to only 211 calories.

14. Restaurant Style Dal Makhani Recipe From Swasthi’s Recipes

This classic Indian dish is one of the most popular lentil dishes from the Punjab region of India and Pakistan.

It features black lentil, red kidney beans, ghee, ginger and garlic paste, garam masala, onion, cream, and more. It does take a long time before it’s ready, but I can promise you it’s absolutely worth the wait!

15. Instant Pot Indian Tomato Coconut Soup Recipe From Food 52

How about a starter course? This simple to make tomato coconut soup is sure to really whet everyone’s appetite ready for the main course.

It’s made with easy to source, flavorful ingredients, such as minced garlic and ginger, honey, tomatoes, onion, coconut milk, turmeric and cayenne pepper.

16. Instant Pot Chicken Biryani Recipe From My Heart Beets

Why cook your curry and rice separately if you’re just going to combine them together anyway? That’s where biryani recipes come – they feature rice made with your meat, in a spiced sauce.

This particular recipe features chicken thighs, ghee, basmati rice, and a long list of ground and whole spices. But what really makes it for me is the crunchy addition of cashew nuts!

17. Instant Pot Veggie Lentil Dhansak Recipe From Vegan Richa

This lovely recipe is 100% vegan-friendly. It’s made with vegetables such as eggplant, zucchini, squash, pumpkin, or sweet potato, chopped greens, along with minced garlic and ginger, mustard seeds, and more.

It’s ready to eat in just 45 minutes, is low in calories, and also happens to be gluten-free.

18. Paneer Butter Masala Recipe From Ministry Of Curry

This classic Indian dish features a wonderfully creamy tomato based sauce, and cubes of paneer cheese. It’s lightly spiced, with the likes of ground turmeric and garam masala. It’s quite the crowd pleaser.

The recipe yields 6 servings, and comes in at just 372 calories per serving.

19. Instant Pot Green Peas Pulao Recipe From Dassana’s Veg Recipes Of India

No Indian curry dish is complete without a side dish of naan bread or rice. And this simple rice recipe is 100% vegan and gluten-free, and can be made in the Instant Pot.

It features basmati rice, healthy green peas, caramelized onions, and aromatic spices such as cumin, cloves, and cardamom. What’s more, it’s ready to eat in less than half an hour.

20. Instant Pot Palak Paneer Recipe From Piping Pot Curry

This is one of my favorite Indian dishes! It’s a simplified one pot version of the authentic palak paneer dish from North India.

It’s made with spinach and cottage cheese, and is infused with such flavors as ginger, garlic, onions and aromatic spices such as garam masala and cumin.

It’s nutritious, low in carbs, gluten-free and suitable for vegetarians.

21. Instant Pot Easy Chana Masala Recipe From Ministry Of Curry

For those of you who don’t already know, chana masala is basically an Indian chickpea curry. It is packed with fiber and is very filling.

This recipe produces an authentic Punjabi Chana Masala flavor, thanks to the full-bodied sauce with its bold garam masala and deep tomato flavors. It’s delicious.

22. Instant Pot Aloo Gobi (Potato & Cauliflower Stir Fry) Recipe From Piping Pot Curry

This vegetarian Indian dish is quite the staple dish in Indian restaurants. And with this recipe you can make it in your own home with the aid of your Instant Pot.

It’s got potato, cauliflower, onion, tomato, and wonderfully aromatic spices including the likes of turmeric and garam masala.

23. Instant Pot Iced Lemongrass Tea With Ginger Recipe From Two Sleevers

Did you know you can make drinks in the Instant Pot, too? This American-Indian drink is just delicious. And you only need a handful of ingredients to make it, lemongrass leaves, ginger, sugar, lemon juice, and water. And it’s ready in under half an hour.

24. Instant Pot Shrimp Biryani Recipe From Ministry Of Curry

How about a seafood curry dish with the curry and the rice all in one Instant Pot? That’s what this recipe has to offer. It features fragrant basmati rice, tender-cooked shrimp, diced potato and tomato, minced ginger and garlic, and caramelized onions. And there are warm spices like turmeric, cumin, and garam masala.

25. 20 Minute Instant Pot Mushroom Masala Recipe From Vegan Richa

This delicious Indian dish is 100% vegan, and it also happens to be gluten-free and soy-free as well. It features mushrooms, chickpeas, cashews, tomatoes, peas in a deliciously creamy sauce with spinach, sugar, and an array of aromatic Indian spices.

26. Instant Pot South Indian Coconut Tamarind Chicken Curry Recipe From Two Sleevers

This easy to make recipe features coconut milk and tamarind to achieve a divine, tangy, creamy flavor. It’s also got the usual garlic, ginger and onion flavors, together with turmeric and cayenne pepper.

27. Garlic Dill Lentils Instant Pot Recipe From Ministry Of Curry

In this hearty Indian dish, cooking the dill with lentils mellows the distinctive grassy flavor of the herb. And who doesn’t love garlic, am I right? Each serving comes to a mere 211 calories, and it’s ready to eat in just 20 minutes.

28. Instant Pot Lemon Rice Recipe From Indian Veggie Delight

This South Indian rice pilaf recipe has a distinctive, tangy flavor, thanks to ingredients like fresh lemon juice, roasted nuts, chili, ginger, mustard seeds and more. It’s 100% vegan and is ready to eat in just 20 minutes.

Answers To Your Most Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Worth Getting An Instant Pot?

I would argue that it certainly is worth investing in an Instant Pot for your kitchen. An Instant Pot is effectively 6 different machines for the price of one, with all the different types of cooking it can do. It’s a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, and more. 

And once you get into the habit of using it, you will wonder how you ever got by without one.

Is The Instant Pot Good For Indian Cooking?

I am pleased to confirm that the Instant Pot is excellent for cooking Indian cuisine, and I would go so far as to argue that some Indian dishes come out even better when made in an Instant Pot than they otherwise would.

It’s great for curries, rice, dhals, and more.

What Is The Difference Between An Instant Pot And A Regular Pressure Cooker?

The key difference between an Instant Pot and a regular pressure cooker is the pressure level. A standard model Instant Pot has a lower pressure than a regular pressure cooker, coming in slightly lower at 12 pounds per square inch, whereas a regular pressure cooker has a pressure of 15 pounds per square inch.

Wrap Up

I hope that you’ve enjoyed browsing through my shortlist of 28 Indian Instant Pot recipes, and that I’ve whetted your appetite enough to give one or two of the recipes a try. They can be quite easy to make, and they taste amazing. Enjoy!