Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala
Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala is the perfect dinner for busy days, made with chicken thighs in a creamy sauce mixed with spices, cream, and yogurt, served over rice and topped with fresh cilantro!
Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala is one of my family’s favorite comfort meals, made with simple ingredients, and perfect for a busy weeknight dinner. We like to make it spicy, but you can add as little or as much heat as you’d like. You can pair this with basmati rice, fresh cilantro, and more yogurt. We also like to make Slow Cooker Butter Chicken!
Slow cooker recipes are perfect for busy nights, because you can set it up earlier in the day and have a hot meal ready for dinner. For more great ideas, check out this Slow Cooker Turkey Chili and Slow Cooker Chicken and Potatoes!
Chicken Tikka Masala isn’t exactly a traditional Indian dish because it gained its popularity in the UK, but it is based off of two other more traditional Indian dishes. It is considered a British national dish today. There are a few different stories about its origin. The most prominent story attributes this dish to a Pakistani chef living in the UK named Ali Ahmed Aslam. You can read more about Aslam’s story here.
Table of contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Gluten Free: This recipe gives you the flavor of your favorite take-out dish, but let’s you stay 100% confident that it is gluten free!
- Set it and forget it: It may have a longer ingredients list, but this is still very easy to put together and has a ton of flavor. Then you can get on with your day until dinner is done!
- Unbelievable flavors: It simmers during the day in the slow cooker, which really helps those flavors combine, and creates a really nice comforting dinner at the end of a busy day.
- Easy Cleanup: You only need one pot to make this! They even sell slow cooker liners for the easiest cleanup ever.
- Leftovers: I’m usually making this for 2-4 people, depending on who is home that night. We usually have enough to pack lunches for the next day or two!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Chicken. This recipe works with boneless skinless chicken breast or boneless skinless chicken thighs. Just cut them into smaller bite-sized pieces before adding to the slow cooker.
Chicken thighs will be more tender when the dish is done cooking.
Tomato Puree. This is the base of the sauce, which becomes a rich creamy tomato sauce with incredible flavor from the spices.
Tomato Paste. This helps thicken the sauce. If your sauce is too thin, you can add a little more tomato paste (or corn starch).
Olive Oil. This adds a little fat to the sauce and helps make everything creamy.
Unsalted Butter. This melts into the sauce and adds a really nice flavor, along with some fat, helping to get that creamy texture. I like to use unsalted butter so I can add kosher salt to taste.
Plain Yogurt. This helps balance out the flavors and heat in the dish, and adds a little tangy flavor that works really well in the sauce. Use full fat yogurt for the best flavor and texture in the sauce.
Alternatives: You can also use fat free yogurt for a lighter version, or plain greek yogurt.
Heavy Cream. The cream is added last, so it doesn’t curdle while cooking. This adds a creamy texture to the sauce, as well as helping to balance the heat of the spices.
Alternatives: You can also use full-fat milk or half and half.
Bell Pepper. These add some flavor to the dish, and is also a great way to add vegetables.
Alternatives: If you want more heat, you can use a poblano pepper or fresh jalapeno pepper.
Onion. You can use a yellow onion or a sweet onion like Vidalia.
Fresh Lemon Juice. This helps balance the flavors in the dish and adds some brightness.
Spices. The combination of spices adds a lot of amazing complex flavor to this recipe. A mixture of garam masala, ground ginger, ground cumin, paprika, garlic powder, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, kosher salt, and black pepper.
You can increase or decrease the cayenne pepper, or leave it out entirely, depending on if you enjoy a mild or spicy sauce. The current spice level will give you a medium heat. You can also add a pinch of chili flakes.
Sugar. This balances out the spice in the dish. If you add too much heat, you can add another teaspoon of sugar to help balance everything out. I use granulated sugar but you can also use brown sugar.
Corn Starch. This helps thicken the sauce. Because we’re using a crock pot and not a skillet, we aren’t cooking the sauce down to thicken it.
Cilantro. This is for flavor, and added as a garnish at the very end.
Kitchen Tools
- Slow Cooker: For this recipe I use a regular 6-quart slow cooker (crockpot). Everything fits easily into the pot with room to stir without spilling.
How to Make Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala
Time needed: 4 hours and 15 minutes
- Whisk the sauce together.
In a large mixing bowl stir together yogurt, tomato puree, lemon juice, tomato paste, olive oil, spices, and sugar. You can also do this directly in the slow cooker pot for less cleanup later.
- Add the veggies and bay leaves.
Add onions, bell pepper and bay leaves and mix in until well combined.
- Coat the chicken in the sauce.
Add the chicken, stirring until chicken is well-coated with sauce.
- Add butter on top and slow cook.
Add butter on top of chicken mixture (it will melt and mix in as it cooks). Cover slow cooker and slow cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours, stirring occasionally, until the chicken pieces are cooked through.
- Stir in cream and cornstarch.
About 20 minutes before the slow cooker is done, whisk together cornstarch and heavy cream. Add this to the slow cooker while stirring everything together. Place the crockpot lid back on and allow to finish cooking. Remove the bay leaves and discard. Serve over rice and top with fresh cilantro.
Recipe Variations
- If you have a larger crowd to feed, I usually increase the amount of chicken and bell pepper to make sure there’s enough for everyone. I also serve with a choice of basmati or brown rice.
- I like to add more veggies just because that’s what works for my family. Try it with broccoli, peas, carrots, or green beans.
Recipe Tip! If you want a deeper flavor, cook the onions in a skillet and sear the chicken before adding to the slow cooker.
Frequently Asked Questions
If the sauce turned out too thin, you can easily thicken it by adding more cornstarch. Whisk together 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1/4 cup cold water. Slowly stir into the sauce, then place the lid back onto the slow cooker. As the cornstarch heats, it will begin to thicken the sauce.
If your sauce is too thick, you can add half a cup of water and stir to combine, adding more or less as needed.
You can make chicken tikka masala dairy free with a few easy substitutions. Replace the heavy cream with canned full-fat coconut milk (you may need to whisk it together first, as it can separate in the can), and replace the butter and yogurt with vegan butter and vegan yogurt.
Just double check that the brand you use is gluten free. You can also use light coconut milk, but the sauce won’t turn out as creamy.
Recipe Tip! If you feel your dish turned out too spicy, top with some plain greek yogurt. The yogurt will help bring the spice level down.
More Slow Cooker Recipes
- Crockpot Sloppy Joes
- Crockpot Cabbage Rolls
- Slow Cooker BBQ Spare Ribs
- Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
Storage
Refrigerate this slow cooker chicken tikka masala recipe in an airtight container for 2-3 days.
Freeze leftover chicken tikka masala in a freezer-safe container for 2-3 months. Defrost in the refrigerator, and reheat in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring often.
Cooking Tips
- If you want the charred flavor that you’d get in a more traditional chicken tikka masala, you can marinate the chicken in the yogurt and spices for about 3 hours in the refrigerator. Sear the chicken and onions in a pan before adding to the slow cooker.
- You also have the option of switching to fresh ginger (grated ginger) and a few fresh cloves garlic if you are cooking the onions before adding to the slow cooker.
- Use fresh spices for the best flavor. If your spices are old or oxidized, it won’t taste as good.
If you loved this recipe, be sure to leave a 5 Star review below, and tag me with a photo of your finished recipe on Instagram @Jacqui_DishingDelish!
Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups plain yogurt
- 29 ounces tomato puree, (1 big can)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon white sugar
- 2 tablespoons garam masala
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 3 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, (optional)
- 1 small yellow onion, chopped
- 1 medium bell pepper , (any color) chopped
- 3 medium bay leaves, (remove after cooking and discard)
- 3 pounds chicken thighs, boneless, skinless, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon corn starch
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 bunch fresh cilantro, roughly chopped (for garnish)
Equipment
- 1 6-Quart Slow Cooker
Instructions
- In the slow cooker whisk together yogurt, tomato puree, lemon juice, tomato paste, olive oil, sugar, and spices.
- Add onions, bell pepper, and bay leaves and mix in until well combined. Add chicken, stirring until well-coated with sauce. Add butter on top (it will melt and mix in as it cooks).
- Cover slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours OR on high for 4 hours.
- About 20 minutes before the slow cooker is done, whisk together cornstarch and heavy cream. Add to the slow cooker while stirring everything together. Cover slow cooker again and allow to finish cooking.
- When time is up, remove bay leaves and discard. Serve with rice and fresh cilantro.
Notes
- If you want the charred flavor that you’d get in a more traditional chicken tikka masala, you can marinate the chicken in the yogurt and spices for about 3 hours in the refrigerator. Sear the chicken and onions in a pan before adding to the slow cooker.
Nutrition
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We love Indian food and everytime I see a recipe I want to try (like this one!) I say Oh I can’t wait to make this! And then I never do. I absolutely MUST change that. Love the use of the slow cooker, too. That makes it double appealing for me because I heart my slow cooker.
Definitely try this one, the slow cooker makes it so easy! My household loves Indian food, too!
This looks delicious and is one of my family’s favourites.
Thanks! Tikka Masala is one of my family’s favorites, too. Isn’t it great to come home to a warm slow cooker full of it? 🙂
We love Chicken Tikka and we love slow cooked meals. Love the combination of spices that you have used. I will need to pull out the slow cooker and give it a try.
Must make soon! I love chicken tikka masala and slow cooker recipes are such a lifesaver – this is going to be a winner! Pinning now! Thanks for sharing!
Sounds fantastic and so easy to make! Love a good slow cooker meal!
I’m already starting to dream about fall foods, this is perfect!
Me too! only a month left until I can start making all of the savory comfort food that fall brings! So excited!
This dish looks amazing!! I have never heard of doing this in a slow cooker .. what a great idea! I can’t wait to try this!!
I think I would really love Indian food as well. I love spice but in Iowa it is few and far between! This looks really yummers. I am pinning! Thanks.
Thanks for linking up at #HomeMattersParty!
I recently was gifted a slow cooker, and I regularly cook BBQ chicken in it. This dish looks so good, I can see this becoming one of my favourites!
Oh, what a great gift! My slow cooker is my favorite kitchen appliance by far! There are so many great recipes out there. Let me know what you think of this chicken tikka, I’d love to hear the feedback 🙂
Slow cooker?!?! Um, YES! We use our slow cooker all. the. time. and this would be an amazing addition to our list of SC dinners.
My fiancé and I ate the whole thing lol. It’s delish, I hope you like it, too! Let me know 🙂