Slow cooker chicken tikka masala has tender pieces of chicken in a rich, flavorful tomato sauce that's seriously scrumptious!
Do y'all have those dishes that you are always excited to eat?
Doesn't matter day of the week or time of the year, you are always an emphatic YES when that's on the menu?
That's how I feel about today's recipe.
Previously I've shared my easy chicken tikka masala, which is a great at-home version of the restaurant favorite.
Is it 100% authentic? No. Is it 1000% delicious and soul warming? Yes.
And today we're making a slow cooker chicken tikka masala for those days when you want to get dinner ready earlier in the day.
This version is every bit as flavorful!
We don't marinate the chicken in advance; just for a few minutes while we're getting the recipe ready. But because it slow cooks in the crock pot, it absorbs all those flavors.
And we've got a heavy hitting line up of seasonings that all come together in the delicious, rich tomato sauce.
It's seriously so good!
You'll be greedily mopping up the sauce from your plate.
(You might also like this slow cooker butter chicken. Another flavor-to-the-max dish that I adore.)
OK, let's get cooking!
Ingredient Notes:
Chicken: You can use boneless, skinless chicken breasts or substitute chicken thighs. It really helps to cut them into chunks to absorb the marinade and stay nice and juicy.
Yogurt: I use a 2% or 5% Greek yogurt for the creaminess. You could also use sour cream or whole milk plain yogurt or heavy cream in its place. I don't recommend nonfat.
Ginger: Fresh ginger is preferred, but you can substitute ground ginger if needed.
Garam masala: I always use Garam masala for this dish, but you could substitute curry powder in a pinch. While Garam masala has a stronger profile, they are similar in their ingredients.
Spicy: If you want a spicy kick, add ¼ to ½ teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes (and skip some or all of the black pepper).
Butter: I use butter for richness and it melts down and cooks into the sauce. Alternatively, you could stir in ¼ cup of heavy cream or half and half at the end of the cooking time if you prefer.
And if you have some cilantro or parsley, I highly recommend adding that to finish off the dish when serving. It adds a punch of brightness.
And be sure to save the extras; they store and reheat great! (Details in the recipe post below.)
I think all that saucy goodness is what helps keep the leftovers so moist and yummy and makes it great to eat another day.
Whether this is an old favorite or a new-to-you recipe, I hope you give this a try. I think you'll fall in love.
Happy cooking and enjoy!
XO,
Kathryn
Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut in 2-inch pieces
- 3 tablespoons plain yogurt (I use Greek yogurt)
- 2 tablespoons fresh grated ginger (or sub 2 teaspoons ground ginger)
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons Garam Masala (or sub curry powder)
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon coriander
- 1 ½ teaspoons turmeric
- 1 ½ teaspoons paprika
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
- ¾ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, sliced
For serving:
- 3 tablespoons chopped, fresh parsley or cilantro (optional)
Instructions
- Combine the yogurt, ginger, lemon juice, garam masala, cumin, coriander, turmeric, paprika, salt and pepper in a bowl and mix until well combined. Add the chicken pieces and stir well to coat evenly. Set aside.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring regularly, until tender, about 5-6 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
- Place the chicken and all of the yogurt marinade in the insert of a slow cooker. Top with the sautéed onions and then pour the tomato sauce over everything. Add the slices of butter on top.
- Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours, until the chicken is cooked through.
- Serve with fresh parsley or cilantro.
Flight Reward Hub says
This slow cooker chicken tikka masala sounds like the perfect comfort meal! The tender chicken in that rich, flavorful tomato sauce must be absolutely delicious. A simple and scrumptious dish for any night of the week!