Slow Cooker Butter Chicken
Slow cooker butter chicken is an easy at home version of your favorite Indian dish. Perfectly spiced, you’ll never know this fall apart chicken didn’t come from the local Indian restaurant.
I tell you all the time how expensive ordering in gets for our family.
When you have so many hungry boys one takeout meal is basically the cost of a utility bill.
Ok, maybe not that bad, but still, my wallet disapproves.
So I love to make takeout style dishes for us right at home like this slow cooker butter chicken.
What is butter chicken?
Butter chicken is a type of chicken curry from New Delhi, India.
It features chicken with a rich, spiced tomato and butter sauce, sort of similar to chicken tikka masala but creamier.
Is butter chicken sweet or spicy?
Butter chicken is mildly spicy, but boldly flavorful, with its blend of aromatic spices.
It’s also got a hint of sweetness from the coconut milk and brown sugar.
Ingredients
To make this you’ll need:
- Butter
- Onion– Diced yellow onion
- Spices– Minced garlic, ginger paste, garam marsala, turmeric, salt and pepper
- Tomato paste– To give it that rich tomato flavor
- Sugar– Brown sugar for that sweet background flavor
- Coconut milk– Canned, full fat coconut milk. You can find this in the Asian section or the Mexican section of the grocery store.
- Lime juice– You could sub lemon juice if needed.
- Chicken– Roughly chopped boneless skinless chicken thighs
- For serving– White rice and naan bread
- For garnish– Cilantro leaves
How to Make
This butter chicken recipe is very easy.
To do it, melt the butter in a hot skillet set it over medium heat.
When the butter has melted, sauté the onion until it begins to soften, stirring often.
Once the onion starts to soften, stir in the ginger and garlic.
Cook for another couple minutes, just until the spices release their fragrance.
Transfer this mixture to the bottom of the bowl of your slow cooker.
Stir the tomato paste, seasonings, and sugar together in a mixing bowl until evenly combined.
Then whisk in the coconut milk, broth, and lime juice.
Add the chicken to the slow cooker, and pour the sauce evenly out overtop.
Stir to combine.
Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours, or HIGH for 3-4 hours.
Serve the butter chicken over steamed white rice, and garnish with fresh cilantro leaves.
Enjoy!
Storing Leftovers
Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Reheat in the microwave until warmed through.
Tips and Tricks
- You can substitute chicken breasts for chicken thighs if you want.
- Don’t use reduced fat coconut milk. You want the extra creaminess from the fat for this dish.
- Can’t find ginger paste? Grate some fresh ginger in its place.
- Want a little heat? Sprinkle in some crushed red pepper flakes.
Other Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes
Slow cooker butter chicken tastes exactly like the version of this dish you’d order at your favorite Indian restaurant.
Make it today and enjoy!
Looking for other slow cooker chicken recipes?
Try these:
- Slow Cooker Chicken Curry
- Slow Cooker Jerk Chicken Chili
- Slow Cooker Creamy Italian Chicken
- Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken
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Slow Cooker Butter Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1/3 cup diced yellow onion
- 1 1/2 tbsp minced garlic
- 2 tbsp ginger paste
- 8 oz tomato paste
- 1 tbsp garam marsala
- 1 tsp brown sugar
- salt & pepper to taste
- 1/2 tsp turmeric
- 1 15 oz can full fat coconut milk
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 tbsp lime juice can sub lemon juice
- 2 - 2 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs roughly chopped
- steamed white rice for serving
- naan bread for serving
- cilantro leaves for garnish
Instructions
- Add the butter to a hot skillet set over medium heat. Add the onion and saute, stirring often, just until they've begun to soften.
- Stir in the ginger & garlic, cooking another couple minutes. Transfer this mixture to the bottom of the bowl of your slow cooker.
- In a mixing bowl add the tomato paste, seasonings, and sugar. Stir together until evenly combined. Add the milk, broth, and lime juice- whisk together just until evenly combined.
- Add the chicken to the slow cooker, and pour the sauce evenly out overtop. Stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours, or HIGH for 3-4 hours.
- Serve the butter chicken over steamed white rice, and garnish with fresh cilantro leaves.
Notes
- You can substitute chicken breasts for chicken thighs if you want.
- Don't use reduced fat coconut milk. You want the extra creaminess from the fat for this dish.
- Can't find ginger paste? Grate some fresh ginger in its place.
- Want a little heat? Sprinkle in some crushed red pepper flakes.
Nutrition