Julie Clark
Posted:
Slow Cooker Butter Chicken
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Try this easy slow cooker butter chicken with cream and yogurt! A creamy butter chicken sauce covers tender chicken.
We have an authentic Indian restaurant near us that the kids discovered with their college friends. They go get the spiciest chicken curry on the menu. But me? I opt for creamy tomato based butter chicken or chicken tikka masala.
With my kids love of Indian food, I often make this for Slow Cooker Butter Chicken for Sunday lunch. Since they bring their friends, this is a safe, low spice Sunday dinner that everyone can enjoy! Serve with naan bread and white rice.
Ingredients for Slow Cooker Butter Chicken
This slow cooker butter chicken recipe calls for pantry staples with potentially one exception. Garam Masala. This is an Indian spice mix with earthy flavors of cinnamon, cardamom, coriander and cumin. Don’t have it? Mix your own at home.
- Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts if you prefer, but the sauce may end up a little runnier.
- I keep a tube of ginger paste on hand in the fridge for Asian dishes such as this and our pepper steak, chicken stir-fry, teriyaki meatballs and honey sesame chicken.
✨ See the recipe card below for full ingredients and amounts. ✨
How can I make the sauce thicker?
To make the sauce thicker on this slow cooker butter chicken, you can cook the dish uncovered for the last 30 minutes. You can also skip the additional heavy cream if you prefer a thicker sauce.
For the thickest sauce, make a cornstarch slurry: combine two tablespoons cornstarch and three tablespoons water in a small bowl. Whisk well and drizzle it slowly into the chicken when you add the yogurt. The cornstarch will thicken the sauce.
What to Serve with Butter Chicken
Serve the chicken with basmati rice or cauliflower rice.
A simple side veggie of steamed broccoli, roasted asparagus, roasted potatoes or green beans.
Can I make this recipe dairy-free?
Yes, to make this slow cooker butter chicken recipe dairy-free, replace the Greek yogurt with a dairy-free yogurt (such as coconut yogurt) and substitute the butter with olive oil or ghee. Use coconut milk or cream instead of heavy cream to maintain the creamy texture.
Other Slow Cooker Recipes
- slow cooker chicken gnocchi soup
- slow cooker pork chops and sauerkraut
- slow cooker honey mustard chicken
- crock pot salsa verde tacos
And try our creamy corn pasta!
Slow Cooker Butter Chicken
Try this easy slow cooker butter chicken with cream and yogurt! A creamy butter chicken sauce covers tender bites of chicken.
Servings 6
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 10 minutes
Ingredients
- 3 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite size pieces
- 1 medium yellow onion diced
- 1 can tomato sauce 15 ounces
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tablespoon ginger paste
- 1 tablespoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- 3 tablespoons salted butter
- ⅓ cup heavy cream
- snipped cilantro for garnishing
Instructions
- In the crockpot, combine the chicken, diced onion, tomato sauce, minced garlic, ginger paste, garam masala, turmeric, cumin, salt, chili powder, and pepper. 3 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, 1 medium yellow onion, 1 can tomato sauce, 4 garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon ginger paste, 1 tablespoon garam masala, 1 teaspoon ground turmeric, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon chili powder, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours.
- When the chicken is tender, gently stir in the Greek yogurt, butter and heavy cream. Mix well until the sauce is smooth and creamy. 1 cup Greek yogurt, 3 tablespoons salted butter, ⅓ cup heavy cream
- Garnish with fresh cilantro. Serve the butter chicken with rice, naan, or vegetables. snipped cilantro
Notes
- For more tomato flavor, use tomato puree or a tablespoon of tomato paste.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Freeze in an airtight freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Reheat in the microwave or in a saucepan on the stove top.
- The spice levels can be adjusted to your taste. If you prefer a milder dish, reduce the chili powder and garam masala. You can also add a pinch of sugar to balance the heat and spices.
- Make sure the Greek yogurt is at room temperature before adding it to the crockpot to prevent curdling. Stir gently after adding it to keep the texture smooth.
- Serve with basmati rice, naan, or cauliflower rice for a low-carb option. You can also pair it with roasted vegetables or a simple green salad for a complete meal.
- If you don’t have garam masala, you can substitute with a mixture of cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and cardamom, though the flavor won’t be exactly the same.
- Refer to the article above for more tips and tricks. The calories shown are based on the recipe serving 6, with 1 serving being ⅙ of the chicken and sauce. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. **
Nutrition
Calories: 420kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 54g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 177mg | Sodium: 1254mg | Potassium: 1292mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 985IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 88mg | Iron: 2mg
