Instant Pot Coconut Chicken Curry

Introduction

Instant Pot Coconut Chicken Curry puts a world of flavor on your dinner table in no time. The irresistible combination of succulent chicken, creamy coconut milk, and aromatic spices creates a comforting curry that’s both rich and soothing. With the convenience of the Instant Pot, dinner is not just delicious—it’s fast, making this dish a weeknight hero for busy households and curry lovers alike.

Deliciously Unique Instant Pot Coconut Chicken Curry

What sets this curry apart is its ultra-creamy sauce and streamlined preparation. The bold flavors of ginger, garlic, and curry powder come together beautifully with coconut milk to create an aromatic and vibrant meal. The Instant Pot does all the heavy lifting, locking in flavor and tenderizing chicken in record time—no need for hours on the stovetop.

Making the Creamiest Coconut Curry Sauce

For the best coconut curry, opt for full-fat coconut milk for a luscious, velvety texture. Take advantage of the Instant Pot’s sauté function to bloom your spices and develop deep flavor before pressure cooking. Customize the heat level by adjusting your chili flakes or fresh chili, and add a handful of fresh baby spinach or frozen peas at the end for a pop of color and nutrition.

Assembling Your Instant Pot Coconut Chicken Curry

After cooking, stir in a generous squeeze of lime juice and garnish with chopped cilantro to brighten every spoonful. Serve over fluffy steamed rice or with warm naan bread to soak up every drop of sauce. Leftovers taste even better the next day, making this an ideal meal for prepping ahead.

Serving Suggestions for a Show Stopping Curry

Pair your coconut chicken curry with aromatic basmati rice, toasted naan, or even cauliflower rice for a lighter twist. For a complete meal, serve with a crisp cucumber salad or quick pickled onions on the side. A sprinkle of toasted coconut flakes or roasted cashews makes a beautiful and flavorful garnish.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields about 4 hearty servings. Each serving contains approximately 410 calories (excluding rice or bread), with plenty of protein, healthy fats from coconut milk, and a rich array of comforting flavors.

Instant Pot Coconut Chicken Curry (Recap)

Creamy, aromatic, and deeply satisfying—this chicken curry comes together quickly in the Instant Pot, making it a family favorite that’s perfect for both busy nights and meal prep. The mix of coconut milk and bold spices ensures a curry that’s as irresistible as it is easy.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and robust weekly meal planning.

Instructions

1. Set the Instant Pot to Sauté mode. Add the coconut oil and then the onions. Cook, stirring often, until the onions are soft and golden, about 3-4 minutes.
2. Add garlic and ginger, and sauté for another minute until fragrant.
3. Stir in curry powder, turmeric, cumin, and chili flakes (if using). Cook for 30 seconds, letting the spices bloom.
4. Add chicken pieces and sprinkle with salt. Sauté until just lightly browned, about 3 more minutes.
5. Stir in tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, and coconut milk. Mix well, making sure nothing is stuck to the bottom of the pot.
6. Seal the Instant Pot lid, set the valve to Sealing, and cook on Manual (High Pressure) for 7 minutes.
7. When cooking time ends, allow a natural pressure release for 5 minutes, then do a quick release.
8. If adding spinach or peas, stir them in now, then let the curry sit for 2-3 minutes with the lid off to wilt the spinach and thicken the sauce slightly.
9. Stir in lime juice. Taste and add salt as needed. Serve hot, garnished with cilantro.

Weekly Meal Planning

This Instant Pot Coconut Chicken Curry is fantastic for meal prep—it stores and reheats beautifully. Save and schedule this recipe to your weekly meal plan to automatically consolidate your grocery list with all the exact ingredients and quantities required.

Planning Benefits:

• Automatically calculates ingredient totals across all your recipes
• Organizes shopping lists by grocery store section for fast, purposeful trips
• Reduces duplicate purchases and forgotten items
• Simplifies meal prep so you can cook efficiently all week

Pro tip: If you’re planning additional meals this week that use overlapping ingredients (like onions, garlic, or coconut milk), schedule the recipes together to let CookifyAI tally up how much you really need. It’s a smarter way to plan, shop, and cook.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes (including pressure build/release)
Total Time: 35 minutes

Enjoy a fast, flavorful, and creamy Instant Pot Coconut Chicken Curry—with meal planning made easier every week!