Name: Pressure Cooker Pumpkin Curry Chicken
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 4 min
Total time: 14 min
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients: 4 pounds Chicken Breasts Boneless/Skinless (cut into 2" chunks); 2 Tablespoons Ghee ( or Coconut Oil); 1/4 - 1/2 cup Potato Starch (Rice Flour or Corn Starch); 4 Curry Leaves (for frying (optional)); 15 oz Homemade Pie Pumpkin Puree (or one can); 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 Maple Syrup (or to taste); 1/4 cup Coconut Milk (Heavy Cream or Half & Half); See my Pressure Cooker Perfectly Cooked Pot in Pot Rice recipe

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.

Pressure Cooker 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 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 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 Curry flavor, the Curry 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.

It is so easy to make and store.

A can of Pure Pumpkin Puree can be used in its place.

Just remember, that the Canned Pumpkin is very processed and may have more liquid than fresh.

However, if you process a bunch of Pie Pumpkins and use a Foodsaver, you can have homemade Pumpkin Puree all year round!

Pressure Cooker 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.

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.

Pressure Cooker Perfectly Cooked Pot In Pot Rice

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 Round Stainless Steel Pan and a Tall Legged Stainless Steel Steaming Rack/Trivet.

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 DUO!

Pat Dry the Chicken and Season

Start with very dry chicken. Add your seasonings and mix to coat all the chunks of chicken.

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 tp 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 your 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

Place the Stainless Steel Pot in Pot Pan of rice on top of your 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.

Kitchen Equipment and Essentials

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Here is the handy printable recipe: