This crockpot butter chicken takes everything you love about the classic dish and turns it into the easiest, most hands-off dinner. The sauce is rich, creamy, and full of warm spices, and the slow cooker does all the work while you go about your day. It’s simple, comforting, and exactly the kind of meal you’ll want to come home to.
I’ve adapted my popular butter chicken recipe into a crockpot version! Even though the original doesn’t take long to make, there are days when I want dinner prepped early, so it’s ready the moment we’re hungry.
This slow-cooker version is incredibly easy — it only takes a few minutes to put together, and then the slow cooker does all the work. By the time you lift the lid, the sauce is rich and flavorful, and the chicken is beautifully tender.
Tips for making crockpot butter chicken
- Butter chicken at some restaurants can be quite sweet. If that’s the version you love, simply add a little extra sugar at the end to tailor the sauce to your taste.
- Fresh spices make a huge difference here. Give yours a quick sniff before using them — if the aroma is faint or dusty, it’s time to replace them for the best flavor.
- For extra richness, stir in a small knob of butter or an extra splash of cream just before serving. It makes the sauce even silkier and more luxurious without much effort.
Serving ideas
A pot of basmat rice is almost mandatory. Coconut rice or ginger rice is nice if you want to switch things up. I love naan with butter chicken – pick some up at your grocery store to keep dinner simple.
If I want to add a vegetable to a curry dinner, it’s usually my creamy cucumber salad . Some roasted tandoori cauliflower is another good option. Or sometimes I’ll even go rogue and add some veggies to the curry, as I do in my loaded vegan butter chicken .
Tip: If you have leftovers, make my butter chicken poutine tomorrow!
Crockpot Butter Chicken Recipe
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Ingredients
- ▢ 28 ounce can crushed or diced tomatoes
- ▢ 1 yellow onion (chopped)
- ▢ 3 tablespoons chopped ginger
- ▢ 6 cloves garlic (crushed)
- ▢ 2 tablespoons EACH: almond butter and coconut sugar (can sub brown sugar)
- ▢ 1 tablespoon garam masala
- ▢ 1 teaspoon EACH: turmeric, coriander, cumin, chili powder, and salt
- ▢ 4 chicken breasts (cut into bite-sized pieces)
- ▢ ½ cup whipping cream, plain yogurt, or coconut milk
Instructions
- Add the canned tomatoes, onion, ginger, garlic, almond butter, coconut sugar, garam masala , turmeric coriander, cumin, chili powder, and salt to your blender and blend on high until smooth. Pour the sauce into your slow cooker. 28 ounce can crushed or diced tomatoes, 1 yellow onion, 3 tablespoons chopped ginger, 6 cloves garlic, 2 tablespoons EACH: almond butter and coconut sugar, 1 tablespoon garam masala , 1 teaspoon EACH: turmeric, coriander, cumin, chili powder, and salt
- Add the chicken and mix well. Turn your slow cooker to high for 3-4 hours or low for 7-8 hours. 4 chicken breasts
- When you are ready to eat, stir in the cream, yogurt, or coconut milk. Taste and add more salt, if needed. ½ cup whipping cream, plain yogurt, or coconut milk
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Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here .
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Crockpot Butter Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 28 ounce can crushed or diced tomatoes
- 1 yellow onion , chopped
- 3 tablespoons chopped ginger
- 6 cloves garlic , crushed
- 2 tablespoons EACH: almond butter and coconut sugar , can sub brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon EACH: turmeric, coriander, cumin, chili powder, and salt
- 4 chicken breasts , cut into bite-sized pieces
- ½ cup whipping cream, plain yogurt, or coconut milk
Instructions
- Add the canned tomatoes, onion, ginger, garlic, almond butter, coconut sugar, garam masala, turmeric coriander, cumin, chili powder, and salt to your blender and blend on high until smooth. Pour the sauce into your slow cooker. 28 ounce can crushed or diced tomatoes, 1 yellow onion, 3 tablespoons chopped ginger, 6 cloves garlic, 2 tablespoons EACH: almond butter and coconut sugar, 1 tablespoon garam masala, 1 teaspoon EACH: turmeric, coriander, cumin, chili powder, and salt
- Add the chicken and mix well. Turn your slow cooker to high for 3-4 hours or low for 7-8 hours. 4 chicken breasts
- When you are ready to eat, stir in the cream, yogurt, or coconut milk. Taste and add more salt, if needed. ½ cup whipping cream, plain yogurt, or coconut milk
