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If you crave the flavors of Indian food you need to add this Slow Cooker Butter Chicken to your menu. Chicken breasts are slow cooked in a warm, flavorful sauce and served over basmati rice with cilantro and a side of naan bread.
There is something about Indian inspired dishes that warm me up this time of year. I feel satisfied and happy after I eat a meal rich in spices and flavors, and today’s Slow Cooker Butter Chicken is no exception. I have been wanting to share a butter chicken recipe with you guys and am excited to finally have perfected my version to warm you guys up in the cooler months.
Today’s recipe for Slow Cooker Butter Chicken uses boneless, skinless chicken breasts that are slow cooked in a sauce made using coconut milk and tomato paste along with a combination of garam masala, ginger, curry powder, turmeric, chili powder and cayenne pepper.
It is one of those meals that you can put in the crockpot before work, go about your day and have a mouthwatering meal waiting for you when you return home.
We often have at least three crockpot chicken recipes on rotation during one month including this Crockpot Apple Chicken Breast Recipe, Green Chili Chicken Soup or this Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken.
Why We Love this Slow Cooker Butter Chicken
If you want a meal that cooks in the crockpot but is so full of flavor this is for you! Here is why we love it:
• Spices: In my opinion, the spices are everything. The combination of these spices creates an explosion of flavor when you take a bite of this chicken.
• Low & Slow: The chicken cooks low and slow in the sauce which helps infuse those flavors into every bite. I don’t know about you but this is just another reason to love my crockpot.
• Savory & Rich: The butter helps create the savory, rich flavor that we all love in butter chicken. I have made this dish without the butter to see how I liked it, and it was still good. But if I had to choose, butter all the way. A little butter never hurt anyone, right?
Recipe Ingredients
See full list of simple ingredients below in recipe card with exact measurements.
- Chicken: The chicken is the star of the show. I used chicken breasts because they are thicker and work great in the slow cooker. Other slow cooker chicken recipes I love using chicken breasts in are this Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken, Slow Cooker Chicken Curry or this Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup.
- Butter: You have to have butter in butter chicken, right? I used 2 Tablespoons of butter in my recipe but if you want it to be even richer you can use 3 or 4 Tablespoons.
- Spices: The spice mixture is what gives this dish its warm, rich flavor. This butter chicken recipes uses curry, turmeric, garam masala, turmeric, ginger, cayenne pepper and chili powder.
- Rice: I like to put my butter chicken over rice. Try using brown rice or basmati rice.
Recipe Variations
- Try adding vegetables to the slow cooker half way through cooking. Try chopped cauliflower, carrots and bell pepper.
- I like to add a dollop of plain yogurt to my butter chicken. It also helps thicken up the sauce.
- Another great addition to this meal is chickpeas or white beans.
How to Make Slow Butter Chicken
Step 1: Add Ingredients to Crockpot: Place the chicken, garlic, onion and jalapeño in the slow cooker and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add the chunks of butter.
Step 2: Create Sauce: In a medium mixing bowl combine the curry powder, garam masala, turmeric, chili powder, ginger and cayenne pepper and stir. Add the coconut milk and tomato and whisk until combine. Pour over the chicken mixture and give it a good stir.
Step 3: Slow Cook: Cover and cook on low for 5 hours. Serve warm garnished with cilantro over basmati rice and naan bread.
More Chicken Recipes
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Slow Cooker Butter Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 1/2-2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into large chunks
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 of a sweet onion, finely chopped
- 1 jalapeño, seeds removed, diced
- 2 tablespoons butter {or ghee}, cut into small chunks
- 1 tablespoon curry powder
- 2 teaspoons garam masala
- 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 – 14.5 ounce can of coconut milk
- 1 – 6 ounce can of tomato paste
Instructions
- Place the chicken, garlic, onion and jalapeño in the slow cooker and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add the chunks of butter.
- In a medium mixing bowl combine the curry powder, garam masala, turmeric, chili powder, ginger and cayenne pepper and stir. Add the coconut milk and tomato and whisk until combine. Pour over the chicken mixture and give it a good stir.
- Cover and cook on low for 5 hours. Serve warm garnished with cilantro over basmati rice and naan bread.
Notes
- While the butter does add a savory flavor to the chicken, it still tastes great without it if you want a lighter version.
- You can use coconut oil in place of the butter.
- Feel free to add vegetables to this dish. I really like adding chopped cauliflower and carrots, which you can add when you add the chicken to the slow cooker.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Actually Indian foods aren’t my thing but my family members really love them and their choices is what I give most priority. Interestingly, the recipe looks very easy and I’ve never tried slow cooked Chicken Breasts, so it’s really worth of a try for my family.
I hope they enjoy it.
The recipe looks great!
When do I add the butter? While it’s cooking or at the end of the cooking time before serving?
So sorry! Add it when you add the chicken to the slow cooker. I updated the recipe.
I bet this is yummy and it doesn’t seem so difficult to make. I can’t wait to try this out later! Thanks for sharing Julia!
The ginger called for—is it fresh or powder?
I used 1/2 teaspoon ginger powder. You can sub fresh ginger but I would grate a bit more in than the 1/2 teaspoon.
This looks so good! Thanks for this!
I agree with Dorothy – I’ve always shied away from butter chicken for the same reason, but after seeing your recipe, I HAVE to make it! Plus, it’s a win in the slow cooker!
Hope you enjoy it!
Butter chicken is one of my fav things in the WORLD! Cannot wait to try this version!
I am going to make this, I promise. My family loves these flavors!
I always thought butter chicken had a TON of butter in it, but I see yours does not. I am going to try it…I am ready for an explosion of flavor!
I think the traditional does sometimes but I decided to try it without tons of butter. I still liked it! Hope you enjoy it too!