Description
Slow Cooker Butter Chicken is a rich, creamy, and flavorful Indian-inspired dish made with tender chicken thighs simmered in a spiced tomato sauce enriched with butter and cream. Perfect for a comforting meal, this recipe is easy to prepare and lets the slow cooker do the work, resulting in juicy chicken and a luscious sauce ready to be served with basmati rice and naan.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 5 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 tablespoons fresh ginger (grated)
- 16 oz tomato sauce (or passata)
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons garam masala
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar (or honey)
- 2 lb chicken thighs
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (cut into small cubes)
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, mint, or cilantro (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce: In the slow cooker, combine minced garlic, grated ginger, tomato sauce, ground cumin, garam masala, smoked paprika, ground turmeric, chili powder, salt, and sugar. Stir thoroughly to mix all the spices and ingredients well.
- Add the chicken: Place the chicken thighs into the slow cooker and coat them evenly with the spiced sauce mixture, ensuring all pieces are well covered.
- Add the butter and cook: Scatter the small cubes of unsalted butter over the chicken and sauce. Cover the slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 1 hour 30 minutes or on LOW for 4 to 6 hours. The chicken is cooked when its internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Remove and cool chicken: Take the cooked chicken out and place it on a cutting board to cool enough to handle safely.
- Make the sauce creamy: Stir the heavy whipping cream into the sauce remaining in the slow cooker and whisk until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Cut and return chicken: Slice the cooled chicken into bite-sized pieces and return them to the creamy sauce.
- Serve and garnish: Serve the butter chicken with basmati rice and naan bread. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley, mint, or cilantro for a bright finish.
Notes
- This dish is gently spiced but not overly hot, making it family-friendly and suitable even for those sensitive to spicy foods.
- Use chicken thighs for juicier and more tender results compared to chicken breasts.
- For a richer sauce, use full-fat heavy cream or double cream.
- Garam masala can be homemade or store-bought; homemade often has a fresher flavor.
- You can substitute fresh parsley, mint, or cilantro depending on your preference or availability.
- Serve with steamed basmati rice and warm naan bread to enjoy the sauce fully.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 580 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 1369 mg
- Fat: 58 g
- Saturated Fat: 23 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 34 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 11 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 286 mg
