Slow Cooker Butter Chicken

Slow Cooker Butter Chicken

6 servings
Chicken simmered in a slow cooker with curry spices and a mild, savory sauce!

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1 large onion

    diced

  • 5 cloves garlic

    minced

  • 1 tablespoon ginger

    minced & fresh or 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

  • 1 tablespoon garam masala
  • 1 teaspoon coriander
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 14 ounces crushed tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • ½ teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1 ½ cups heavy cream

    divided

  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 3 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • ⅓ cup cilantro leaves
  • ½ teaspoon salt
    or to taste

Directions

  1. 1

    Heat butter over medium heat. Add onion and cook until tender, about 5 minutes.

  2. 2

    Place onions in a slow cooker with garlic, ginger, spices, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, lemon zest and 1 cup of the heavy cream. Stir to combine.

  3. 3

    Add chicken, stir and cook on low 4-5 hours.

  4. 4

    Combine remaining cream with cornstarch. Stir half of the cream into the sauce and let sit for a few minutes to thicken. Add remaining cream mixture if needed. Cover and cook 15 minutes more.

  5. 5

    Sprinkle with cilantro and serve over basmati rice.

Slow Cooker Butter Chicken

Slow Cooker Butter Chicken

270 min6 servings

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About this Recipe

Imagine coming home to the comforting aroma of rich, creamy butter chicken, ready and waiting to be enjoyed. This slow cooker recipe takes all the effort out of weeknight cooking, delivering a deeply satisfying, savory dish with minimal fuss. It’s the perfect way to bring authentic, mild curry flavors right to your dinner table.

The beauty of the slow cooker is how it gently transforms simple ingredients into complex flavors, allowing the aromatic spices like garam masala, coriander, and turmeric to meld perfectly over hours. This method ensures every bite is infused with a mild, savory warmth, resulting in exceptionally tender chicken that truly falls apart.

You can look forward to incredibly tender, fall-apart chicken thighs that have slowly absorbed the rich, aromatic spices and savory sauce. The result is a luxuriously creamy dish, with a sauce that's mild yet deeply flavorful, making it a crowd-pleaser for various palates. The medley of garam masala, coriander, turmeric, cumin, and chili powder creates a nuanced warmth, complemented by the subtle tang from crushed tomatoes and tomato paste. A bright hint of lemon zest cuts through the richness, while the heavy cream delivers that signature velvety, comforting finish.

This slow cooker butter chicken is wonderfully adaptable to your pantry and preferences. For a slightly different texture, boneless, skinless chicken breasts can be used in place of thighs, though thighs tend to remain exceptionally juicy over longer cooking times. If fresh ginger isn't on hand, a smaller amount of ground ginger works well in a pinch. You can also adjust the chili powder to your liking for a milder or spicier kick. Always finish with fresh cilantro for a burst of herbaceous flavor and vibrant color.

Serve this hearty slow cooker butter chicken over fluffy basmati rice or with warm naan bread to soak up every drop of that delicious sauce. It’s perfect for a cozy family dinner, a casual gathering, or when you need a comforting meal with minimal active cooking time.

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