Holiday or Special Occasion meal whipped up effortlessly in the Instant Pot…
Cooking meals for special occasions or holidays in the Instant Pot is an absolute breeze. I whipped up these dishes in the Instant Pot for my birthday.
Whole chicken pressure cooked & air fried in the Instant Pot, easy & delicious gravy & flavored basmati rice.
Absolutely scrumptious meal.
Cooking Video
Instant Pot Air Fried Whole Chicken
Instant Pot Air Fried Whole Chicken
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
Author: Thasneen
Recipe type: Main
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients
- Whole chicken- 1.5 kg or 3 lbs
For making marinade
- Kashmiri chili powder- 1 tbsp
- Chili powder- 1 tsp (for more heat)
- Turmeric powder- ¼ tsp
- Coriander powder- 1 tbsp
- Garam masala- 1 tsp
- Ginger-garlic paste- 1 tbsp
- Salt- 2 tsp
- Corn starch- 1 tbsp
- Lemon juice- 1 tbsp
- Water- 2 tbsp
Instructions
Marinating chicken
- In a bowl, add all the above-mentioned ingredients for marinating the chicken. Make into a thick smooth paste.
- This marinade can be made ahead of time & stored in the refrigerator for a week.
- I've taken whole chicken,1.5 kg or 3 lbs, skinned & rinsed thoroughly under running water.
- Using a sharp knife, add some lines over the flesh.
- Apply the marinade all over the chicken, inside & out.
- Cover the bowl with a cling wrap.
- Let marinate the whole chicken in the refrigerator for 3 hours or overnight.
Pressure Cooking Whole chicken in the Instant Pot
- I've first pressure cooked the whole chicken in the Instant Pot & then air fried it.
- For pressure cooking, I've used Instant Pot Ultra model, 6 quarts.
- Place the marinated chicken breast side down into the stainless steel pot.
- Add 1 cup water to the bowl used for marinating the chicken, there will be some marinade left in the bowl, rinse well.
- Add the water to the whole chicken.
- Close the pot with the lid.
- Select pressure cook setting, set time to 15 minutes at high pressure.
- Click start, if using Instant Pot Ultra model.
- After 10 minutes of pressure cooking, let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes and then do a quick pressure release.
- Open the lid.
- Remove the whole chicken from the pot.
- There will be chicken broth in the stainless steel pot, save that in a bowl & keep covered, will be adding this broth while cooking gravy & basmati rice.
Air frying whole chicken
- Next, let's air fry the pressure cooked chicken, that will make the chicken crispy & golden brown.
- I've used Instant Pot duo crisp + air fryer 8 quarts for air frying.
- Grease the air fryer basket with oil.
- Place the chicken breast side up in the air fryer basket.
- Place the air fryer basket in the stainless steel pot.
- Note: while air frying, do not add water to the stainless steel pot.
- Close the pot with the air fryer lid.
- If you don't have an Instant Pot air fryer, you can grill or broil in the oven at 400 F or 200 C for 15 minutes.
- Select Air fry on the Instant Pot. Set time to 10 minutes at 400 F temperature.
- After 10 minutes of air frying, open the lid.
- Wear a mitten, remove the air fryer basket from the stainless steel pot.
- Cover with aluminum foil & keep aside.
Instant Pot Gravy
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
Author: Thasneen
Recipe type: Main
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients
- Dried bay leaves- 2
- Onions, chopped- 3
- Ginger garlic paste- 1 tbsp
- Carrot, chopped- 1
- Green pepper, chopped- 1
- Green chilies, halved- 2
- Turmeric powder- ¼ tsp
- Coriander powder- 2 tsp
- Garam masala- ½ tsp
- Ground black pepper- ½ tsp
- Tomato ketchup- 2 tbsp
- Salt- ½ to 1 tsp
- Cilantro, chopped- ¼ cup
- Mint leaves, chopped- ¼ cup
- Chicken broth- ½ cup (the liquid that's left after pressure cooking whole chicken)
Instructions
- To the stainless steel pot, add all the above-mentioned ingredients. Combine well.
- Close the pot with the lid.
- Select pressure cook setting, set time to 3 minutes at high pressure.
- After 3 minutes of pressure cooking, do a quick pressure release.
- Delicious vegetable gravy is ready, keep it covered.
Instant Pot Flavored Basmati Rice
Instant Pot Flavoured Basmati Rice
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
Author: Thasneen
Recipe type: Main
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients
- White Basmati rice, rinsed- 2 cups
- Chicken broth- 1 cup (the liquid that's left after pressure cooking whole chicken)
- Water- 1¼ cups
- Saffron- 1 tsp
- Salt- ½ tsp (if required, chicken broth has salt in it)
Instructions
- To the stainless steel pot, add all the ingredients.
- In the Instant Pot, for 2 cups basmati rice, 2¼ cups broth or water has to be added for pressure cooking.
- Close the pot with the lid.
- Select pressure cook, time 6 minutes at high pressure.
- After 6 minutes of pressure cooking, let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes and then do a quick pressure release.
- Open the lid, perfectly cooked fluffy basmati rice.
- Cover the pot with the lid & keep it aside.
Instant Pot Easy Holiday Meal | Air Fried Whole Chicken | Gravy | Flavourful Basmati Rice
Author: Thasneen
Recipe type: Main
Ingredients
Assembling
- Air fried whole chicken
- Gravy
- Basmati rice
- Salad
- Raita
Instructions
- On a large platter, spread the gravy & make a bed.
- Place the air fried whole chicken on the gravy.
- Garnish with lemon slices, cilantro & mint leaves.
- Serve cooked basmati rice in a bowl.
- Make raita: add chopped onion, tomato, carrot, green chilies, cilantro & salt to yogurt, combine well.
- Make salad: onions sliced, tomatoes slices, carrot sliced, lemon slices, sprinkle with ground black pepper & salt.
- Enjoy, absolutely delish meal.
