Slow Cooker Butter Chicken
This Slow Cooker Butter Chicken is rich, creamy, comforting, and packed with warm Indian-inspired flavors. Tender chicken thighs simmer low and slow in a fragrant tomato-based sauce with garlic, ginger, curry spices, and more until every bite is deeply flavorful and irresistibly creamy.
The best part? This easy crockpot butter chicken recipe gives you all the cozy comfort and bold flavor of restaurant-style butter chicken with minimal effort. Just add everything to the slow cooker, let it simmer away, then finish with creamy coconut milk for a silky smooth sauce perfect for spooning over rice with warm naan bread.
It is the ultimate comfort food dinner for busy nights.
Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Butter Chicken
We love butter chicken around here, and often make this Indian Butter Chicken Recipe or when I am short on time, this Easy Butter Chicken! But there is nothing quite as simple as this Slow Cooker version. It is rich and fragrant, and comes together so easily with just a few minutes of prep work.
- Easy dump-and-go slow cooker recipe
- Rich and creamy sauce
- Packed with bold flavor
- Tender, juicy chicken thighs
- Great for meal prep
- Better than takeout
This recipe delivers all the cozy flavor of traditional butter chicken in a simplified slow cooker version anyone can make.
What Is Butter Chicken?
Butter chicken is a classic Indian-inspired dish traditionally made with chicken simmered in a creamy tomato sauce seasoned with warm spices like garam masala, curry powder, ginger, and garlic.
This version uses coconut milk for richness and slow cooks the chicken until perfectly tender and flavorful.
The sauce is creamy, savory, slightly sweet, warmly spiced, and perfect for soaking into rice or scooping up with naan.
Ingredients You Need
For the Butter Chicken
- Chicken thighs
- Tomato sauce
- Tomato paste
- Onion
- Garlic
- Ginger paste
- Chili powder
- Turmeric
- Garam masala
- Curry powder
- Salt
- Butter
For the Creamy Finish
- Coconut milk
For Serving
- Rice
- Fresh cilantro
- Naan bread
The combination of coconut milk and warm spices creates an incredibly comforting sauce with rich flavor.
How to Make Slow Cooker Butter Chicken
Add Everything to the Slow Cooker
Combine the spices, garlic, ginger, tomato sauce, tomato paste, onion, and chicken thighs in the crockpot.
Dot the chicken with pats of butter. Put the lid on and let it cook.
As the chicken cooks, the spices bloom into the sauce, creating incredible depth of flavor.
Slow Cook Until Tender
Cook until the chicken becomes juicy, tender, and reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
Chicken thighs work especially well because they stay moist and flavorful during slow cooking.
Stir in Coconut Milk
Once the chicken is fully cooked, stir in the coconut milk to create a creamy, silky sauce.
If you prefer a thicker sauce, stir in a cornstarch slurry and let it simmer for a few minutes.
Serve and Enjoy
Serve over fluffy rice with warm naan bread and garnish with fresh cilantro.
Tips for the Best Butter Chicken
Use Chicken Thighs: Chicken thighs stay extra juicy and tender in the slow cooker.
Let the Spices Bloom: Cooking the spices low and slow helps deepen the flavor of the sauce.
Add Coconut Milk at the End: Adding the coconut milk after cooking keeps the sauce creamy and smooth.
Thicken the Sauce if Needed: For a thicker, richer sauce, use a simple cornstarch slurry.
What to Serve with Butter Chicken
This creamy butter chicken pairs perfectly with:
- Basmati rice
- Garlic naan
- Roasted vegetables
- Cucumber salad
- Steamed jasmine rice
- Flatbread
- Mango chutney
Variations and Add-Ins
Make it Spicier: Add cayenne pepper or red chili flakes.
Add Vegetables: Spinach, peas, or cauliflower are delicious additions.
Use Chicken Breasts: Chicken breasts work too, though thighs stay more tender.
Add Extra Creaminess: Stir in a little heavy cream at the end for an even richer sauce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is butter chicken spicy? This version is mild to medium in spice level with warm flavor rather than intense heat.
Can I make it ahead of time? Yes! The flavor gets even better the next day.
How long do leftovers last? Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Can I freeze butter chicken? Absolutely. Freeze cooled butter chicken for up to 3 months.
Other Slow Cooker Recipes
- Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
- Slow Cooker Mississippi Meatballs
- Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup
- Slow Cooker Ribs
Slow Cooker Butter Chicken
Equipment
- 1 slow cooker
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1¼ teaspoons turmeric
- 2¼ teaspoons garam masala
- 2 teaspoons curry powder
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons ginger paste
- 15 ounce can tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 onion diced or sliced
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1/2 cup butter cut into pieces
- 13.5 ounces coconut milk
For Serving
- Cooked rice
- Fresh cilantro
- Naan bread
Instructions
- Add the chili powder, salt, turmeric, garam masala, curry powder, garlic, ginger paste, tomato sauce, tomato paste, onion, and chicken thighs to the crock of the slow cooker.
- Stir everything together until the chicken is coated in the sauce. Dot with the pieces of butter.
- Cover and cook on high for 2 to 3 hours or low for 5 to 6 hours, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
- Stir in the coconut milk until smooth and creamy.
- If desired, thicken the sauce with a cornstarch slurry and cook for an additional 10 to 15 minutes.
- Serve over rice with fresh cilantro and naan bread.
Notes
Nutrition
Our recipe card software calculates these nutrition facts based on averages for the above ingredients, different brands, and quality of produce/meats may have different nutritional information, always calculate your own based on the specific products you use in order to achieve accurate macros for this recipe.
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