Description
This Slow Cooker Butter Chicken recipe delivers a rich, creamy, and aromatic Indian-inspired dish with tender chicken thighs simmered in a flavorful spiced tomato and cream sauce. Perfect for busy days, this hands-off recipe allows the slow cooker to meld all the vibrant flavors together for an ultimate comfort meal served with rice or naan.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into chunks
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1 can (6 oz) tomato paste
- 1 can (14 oz) tomato sauce
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
Spices and Seasonings
- 2 teaspoons garam masala
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
Garnish and Serving
- Chopped fresh cilantro (for garnish)
- Cooked basmati rice or naan (for serving)
Instructions
- Prepare the base: Place the finely chopped onion, minced garlic, and grated ginger in the bottom of the slow cooker to create a flavorful aromatic base for the dish.
- Add the chicken: Arrange the cut chicken thighs on top of the onion mixture inside the slow cooker.
- Make the sauce: In a separate bowl, whisk together the tomato paste, tomato sauce, heavy cream, Greek yogurt, unsalted butter, garam masala, cumin, paprika, turmeric, chili powder, salt, black pepper, and lemon juice until thoroughly combined.
- Combine and cook: Pour the sauce mixture evenly over the chicken in the slow cooker. Stir gently to coat all the chicken pieces with the sauce without disturbing the layers too much.
- Slow cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook the dish on the low setting for 6 to 7 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours, until the chicken is tender and fully cooked through.
- Finish and serve: Before serving, stir the sauce well to combine all ingredients evenly. Adjust seasoning as needed. Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro and serve hot with basmati rice or naan bread.
Notes
- For a richer and deeper flavor, sear the chicken pieces in a hot skillet until browned before adding them to the slow cooker.
- To make a dairy-free version, substitute the heavy cream and Greek yogurt with coconut milk.
