Pressure Cooker Pumpkin Curry Chicken is tender and succulent with a creamy pumpkin sauce. It’s a Fall feeling, with just a touch of curry.
Instant Pot Creamy Pumpkin Curry Chicken
Fall is the time of year for all things Pumpkin! The crisp air, the flavors of Autumn, the wonderful smells, puts a smile on my face. We keep scented pine cones by our front door and the house always smells amazing. I love to cooking food with wonderful aromatics.
Pumpkin Soup is so popular this time of year and I set out to make something a little different in my Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi or Pressure Cooker based on my Pumpkin Soup recipe (not yet posted).
This Pressure Cooker Pumpkin Curry Chicken is the result. The smell is amazing and the chicken is soft, tender and succulent. You don’t believe me, do you?
Succulent Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi or Pressure Cooker Chicken….impossible, unheard of. My method of cooking chicken in the Pressure Cooker always yields succulent chicken.
For those who don’t fancy the Indian curry” flavor the curry flavors can be omitted completely and you will still have a delicious and fragrant meal.
Fresh Pressure Cooker Sugar Pie Pumpkin Puree
I always have a wonderful supply of homemade Pressure Cooker Pumpkin Puree in my freezer. Because I love to use it year round, I make big batches when pumpkins are available and then use my Foodsaver so that I can safely store the fresh puree in my freezer.
A can of canned pumpkin puree can be used in its place. The canned stuff is a bit thicker than freshly made pumpkin puree, so you may not need to thicken the sauce at the end.
Cast of Ingredients for Instant Pot Creamy Pumpkin Curry Chicken
Pumpkin is the star of this recipe and it shines. The amount of spices used is minimal to give a stronger pumpkin flavor.
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Ingredients for Instant Pot Creamy Pumpkin Curry Chicken
You will only need a handful of ingredients.
- Chicken
- Butter
- Chicken Broth or Stock
- Pumpkin
- Seasonings
If you want more of a Curry flavor, just up the amount of seasonings.
Alternatively, if you want a more traditional Thanksgiving flavor, try using a touch of Cinnamon, instead of the Curry spices.
This recipe is totally not an Old World “authentic” Indian recipe. It is light and fun and will give you a sense of Indian flavor. If you would like to cook your rice at the same time and in the same pot with your Pressure Cooker Creamy Pumpkin Curry Chicken, please check out my Pressure Cooker Perfectly Cooked Pot In Pot Rice recipe for step by step instructions.
Pat Dry the Chicken and Season
If you prefer potatoes instead of rice, just use quartered potatoes instead of rice. 🙂 Easy, peasy.
Turn this Pressure Cooker Creamy Pumpkin Curry Chicken recipe into a one pot meal
You will just need these two accessories. One Ekovana Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker Stackable Pans Set and a Stainless Steel Tall/Short Trivet & Egg Cooker Set,
A delicious and authentic Indian Recipe is my Pressure Cooker Indian Butter Chicken and my Pressure Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala.
If you prefer a bread over rice, try my Authentic Indian Naan recipe or my Authentic Indian Chapati recipe. Both can be made with leftover Whey from Instant Pot Greek Yogurt and both can be proofed in the Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi!
Add Potato Starch
Add Potato Starch to your chicken chunks. I love to cook with Potato Starch, rather than cornstarch or flour.
The taste is better, it’s light and I feel it does a terrific job. The Potato Starch helps to seal in the juices and will provide some thickness to the sauce, without having to make a slurry.
Your chicken will end up juicy and very tender, using this method. I use this same method on my Pressure Cooker Chinese Orange Pepper Chicken.
Evenly coat the chicken with potato starch
Make sure your hands are very dry and coat the chicken well.
I use Tongs to move the chicken around, so that the Potato Starch won’t stick to my hands.
You want a very light coat, so that you don’t end up with a sticky mess that will adhere to the Pressure Cooker cooking pot and cause an overheat error.
Fry up the Curry or Sage Leaves
If you are using Curry Leaves or Sage Leaves fry them up in the Homemade Simple Ghee Recipe or Coconut Oil.
To make a stainless steel pot, non-stick, make sure to always heat any Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi or Pressure Cooker completely and then add your oil/fat. The oil needs to be added to a hot pot. If you add oil to a cold pan, your food WILL STICK and you will get an overheat error message.
Once the display on your Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker reads “Hot,” use the tongs and add the chicken to your Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker cooking pot. If you don’t have a display, just wait several minutes to make sure your pot is very hot.
Shake any excess Potato Starch from the chicken pieces before placing them into the Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker cooking pot.
Prepare the Pumpkin Sauce
Add some spices to your Homemade Pie Pumpkin Puree and set aside.
Canned Pure Pumpkin Puree is not as solid as homemade.
Lightly brown the chicken
Without over crowding your Pressure Cooker cooking pot, lightly and quickly brown the chicken in batches and then remove to a plate.
Just give them a quick little sear. They don’t need to be a dark brown color.
Note the little amount of Potato Starch on the chicken pieces. Don’t forget to shake off the excess Potato Starch .
Seared Chicken
This step of searing the chicken using Potato Starch, will guaranty you a very juicy and tender piece of chicken. Your chicken will not be rubbery, tough or dry.
It is a quick extra step that I like to use when cooking chicken in my Pressure Cooker.
Add the Pumpkin Puree to Deglaze Pot
Add your Pumpkin Puree and a little of your Chicken Stock and deglaze the pan.
Cook the pumpkin for a few minutes in order to wilt the garlic and toast the seasonings.
Add the Chicken to the Pumpkin Sauce
When your Pumpkin Sauce becomes fragrant, it is time to add the chicken. The Pumpkin Sauce will be luxurious.
Mix in the Maple Syrup and then return the chicken to the Pressure Cooker cooking pot. Add in the rest of the Chicken Broth.
If using your own Homemade Chicken Bone Broth, use half Broth and half water, since the Homemade Chicken Bone Broth is so thick.
If you are making this a One Pot Meal using my Pressure Cooker Perfectly Cooked Pot In Pot Rice recipe, add your Tall Legged Trivet and Rice now.
Place your rice or potatoes on top of the trivet
You are ready to lock on the lid and cook your entire dinner in ONE pot at the same time!!!
Perfectly Cooked Rice
Open the pot and remove the Pan of rice.
Place the lid on top of the rice to allow it to continue to steam and finish the cooking process. While the rice is steaming, go on to the next step.
Your rice will be perfectly cooked by the time the Pressure Cooker Creamy Pumpkin Curry Chicken is ready.
Simmer to thicken sauce and then add Coconut Milk
This recipe is not a proper Indian Curry recipe. It’s not Thai and it’s not Chinese…… it is just me playing around with a Blended Curry Powder Mix and fall spices.
I happen to love all kinds of Indian Curries (especially vegetarian), so I made up this recipe so that you have an option to have a little Indian flavor or more of a Fall Pumpkin flavor.
You don’t have to use Garam Masala. For a more traditional Pumpkin Soup flavor, use Cinnamon, instead. Your choice.
Simmer the sauce just a bit to thicken it up and then add Coconut Milk, Heavy Cream, Half & Half, or nothing. Taste it and adjust the seasonings to your liking.
Pressure Cooker Pumpkin Curry Chicken
Serve this Pressure Cooker Pumpkin Curry Chicken with my Pressure Cooker Triple Coconut Rice or Pressure Cooker Garlic Whipped Potatoes.
More Instant Pot Curry Recipes to Make:
- Pressure Cooker Japanese Beef Curry Stew {Instant Pot}
- Instant Pot Butter Chicken {Murgh Makhani}
- Pollo Tropical Creamy Curry Mustard Sauce
- Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Japanese Chicken Curry
Kitchen Equipment and Essentials
- Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi or Pressure Cooker
- J.A. Henckels Classic 8 inch Chef’s Knife
- Amco Advanced Performance 18/10 Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons
- Simply Gourmet (Dry) Stainless Steel Measuring Cups
- Anchor Hocking Glass (Liquid) Measuring Cups
- Cilio Olivewood Spatula
- Porcelain & Bamboo Salt Box with Spoon
- My FANTASTIC Teak Cutting & Charcuterie Board & Compartments
- Stainless Steel Tall/Short Trivet & Egg Cooker Set
- Ekovana Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker Stackable Pans Set
- OXO Stainless Steel Tongs
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Here is the handy printable recipe:
Ingredients
- 4 pounds Chicken Breasts Boneless/Skinless cut into 2" chunks
- 2 Tablespoons Ghee or Coconut Oil
- 1/4 cup Potato Starch Rice Flour or Corn Starch
- 4 Curry Leaves for frying (optional)
- 15 oz Pure Pumpkin Puree or (15 oz Homemade Pumpkin Puree)
- 6 cloves Fresh Garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons Curry Powder
- 1/4 teaspoon Ground White Pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon Whole Nutmeg
- 2 teaspoons Sea Salt or to taste
- 2 cups Chicken Stock/Broth
- 2 teaspoons Garam Masala or to taste (or Cinnamon)
- 2 Tablespoons Pure Maple Syrup or to taste
- 1/4 cup Coconut Milk Heavy Cream or Half & Half
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Instructions
- Place chicken chunks into a medium mixing bowl and sprinkle on 1 teaspoon of curry powder and mix through.
- Add Potato Starch and massage into chicken, making sure all pieces are coated.
- If making rice at the same time - Use a rice washing bowl and rinse rice until water runs clear.
- Place rice and water into stainless steel rice pan and cover with lid. Set aside.
- Select Sauté or Browning and allow Instant Pot (or pressure cooker) to completely heat. If your pressure cooker does not have an option for sauté or browning, select the meat button, or whatever is the highest setting.
- Add Ghee or Coconut Oil to cooking pot and swirl to coat the bottom.
- Optional - If using curry leaves, add to oil in the pressure cooker and stir leaves for 30 seconds. This will release the lovely flavor.
- Shake off any excess potato starch from chicken and add chicken chunks to pressure cooker.
- Sear each side of the chicken for 10 seconds (no longer!).
- Add minced garlic, pumpkin puree, 1 teaspoon curry powder, white pepper, nutmeg and sea salt to cooking pot and mix through to combine with the chicken.
- Add chicken stock and use a good heat resistant spatula to deglaze the bottom of the pot (scrape up any stuck on brown bits).
- Turn off pressure cooker.
- Add long legged trivet to pressure cooker on top of chicken and place the prepared pan of rice on top of trivet.
- Lock on lid and close Pressure Valve. Cook at High Pressure for 3 minutes.
- When Beep sounds, allow a 10 minute Natural Pressure Release.
- Remove rice and trivet and set aside so that rice can finish steaming.
- Push the Sauté/Browning button and add coconut milk.
- Simmer and allow the liquid to reduce a bit. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
- Add in 2 teaspoons Garam Masala (or Cinnamon) and mix through.
- Serve over rice.
Nutrition
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Pressure Cooker Pumpkin Curry Chicken
