Indian Butter Chicken is comfort food, Indian style. With this classic Indian dish, chicken simmers in a buttery, creamy tomato sauce until it’s fall apart tender. My version, that I developed for Mealthy.com, takes the mystery out of Indian cooking by using simple ingredients, and making it in the slow cooker makes it foolproof.
You need just a few ingredients to whip up a simple sauce from tomato paste, garam masala, and coconut milk. Add the sauce to your slow cooker with the chicken, then set it and forget it. The chicken simmers slowly in the flavorful sauce for hours resulting in perfectly tender and delicious chicken.
This recipe makes a large batch, but leftovers freeze well. Simply portion into plastic containers and freeze for those nights that you just don’t feel like cooking.
Classic Indian Butter Chicken couldn't be easier than when you make it in the slow cooker. Whip up a simple sauce with tomato paste, garam masala and coconut milk. Add to your slow cooker with chicken, then set it and forget it. It slowly simmers for hours resulting in perfectly tender and flavorful chicken.
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, chopped
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh ginger
- 1 6-ounce can tomato paste
- 1 1/2 tablespoons garam masala
- 1 13.5 ounce can coconut milk
- 1/2 cup chicken stock
- 3 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 2-inch pieces
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1/4 cup cilantro leaves, for garnish (optional)
- cooked basmati or jasmine rice, for serving
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Melt butter over medium-high heat in medium saucepot and cook onions until softened, about 3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium and add garlic and ginger and cook 2 minutes. Add tomato paste and garam masala and cook, stirring frequently 2 minutes. Stir in coconut milk and broth and season to taste with salt.
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Arrange chicken in slow cooker and pour sauce mixture over chicken. Add cinnamon stick and cook on High 3 to 4 hours or Low 6 to 7 hours or until the chicken is tender. To serve, stir sprinkle with cilantro and serve with basmati rice and naan.
Tip: Use oil or non-dairy butter instead of butter for a dairy-free dish.
To make this Keto friendly, serve with riced cauliflower.
While this recipe works with chicken breasts or thighs, chicken breasts tend to get a bit dry if cooked for too long in the slow cooker while thighs stay very moist even with a longer cook time.
