Slow Cooker Butter Chicken

Tender chunks of chicken swimming in a rich, velvety sauce that’s bursting with aromatic spices and buttery goodness – that’s the magic of Slow Cooker Butter Chicken. This beloved Indian-inspired dish transforms ordinary chicken into an extraordinary meal with minimal effort on your part. The slow cooker does all the heavy lifting, allowing the flavors to meld together into something truly spectacular. You’ll learn how to create restaurant-quality Slow Cooker Butter Chicken right in your own kitchen, impressing everyone at your dinner table.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This Slow Cooker Butter Chicken recipe is a game-changer for busy weeknights and special occasions alike. The contrast between the tender, juicy chicken pieces and the silky, complex sauce creates a textural paradise that keeps you coming back for more. Unlike takeout versions, this homemade slow cooker version allows you to control the spice level and ingredients while filling your home with intoxicating aromas throughout the cooking process.

The set-it-and-forget-it nature of this dish means you can go about your day while dinner essentially cooks itself. When you return, you’ll be greeted by perfectly cooked chicken that practically melts in your mouth and a sauce so flavorful you’ll want to soak up every last drop with naan or rice. The creamy consistency strikes the perfect balance—thick enough to cling to each piece of chicken but still luxuriously pourable.

What truly sets this Slow Cooker Butter Chicken apart is how the slow cooking method allows the spices to bloom and infuse every morsel with authentic flavor, creating a depth that quick-cooking methods simply can’t match.

Ingredients

For this irresistible Slow Cooker Butter Chicken, you’ll need:

• 2 lbs (900g) boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1.5-inch pieces
• 1 large onion, finely diced (about 1 cup)
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons (30g) fresh ginger, grated
• 2 tablespoons (30ml) vegetable oil
• 3 tablespoons (45g) butter
• 2 tablespoons (16g) garam masala
• 1 tablespoon (7g) ground cumin
• 1 tablespoon (7g) turmeric
• 1 teaspoon red chili powder (adjust to taste)
• 1 can (15 oz/425g) tomato sauce
• 1 cup (240ml) heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons (30ml) lemon juice
• 1/2 cup (120ml) plain yogurt
• 1/4 cup (4g) fresh cilantro, chopped, for garnish
• Salt to taste

The star ingredients are the garam masala, which provides that authentic Indian flavor profile, and the combination of heavy cream and butter that creates the signature richness this chicken curry is known for.

Pro Tips

Use Chicken Thighs: For the most tender and flavorful slow cooker butter chicken, always opt for chicken thighs over breasts. The higher fat content in thighs prevents them from drying out during the long cooking process, resulting in meat that’s incredibly juicy and practically falls apart with your fork. If you must use chicken breasts, reduce the cooking time by about an hour.

Bloom Your Spices: Before adding your spices to the slow cooker, take the extra two minutes to “bloom” them in a hot pan with a little oil. This quick step releases the essential oils in the spices, intensifying their flavors and aromas dramatically. Your butter chicken will have a much more developed and authentic taste profile that simply isn’t possible when raw spices are added directly to the slow cooker.

Two-Stage Dairy Addition: Never add dairy products like cream, yogurt, or butter at the beginning of the slow cooking process—they can separate and curdle. Instead, stir them in during the last 15-30 minutes of cooking time. This creates that signature creamy texture and velvety consistency that makes slow cooker butter chicken so irresistible without any risk of the sauce breaking.

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Chicken
Start by patting your chicken thighs dry with paper towels—this helps them brown better. Cut them into evenly sized chunks, about 1.5 inches each, ensuring they’ll cook uniformly and absorb the maximum amount of flavor. Season them generously with salt, allowing the meat to already begin developing taste before it even enters your slow cooker.

Step 2: Create the Flavor Base
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the vegetable oil. Once hot, add the diced onions and sauté until they become translucent and begin to caramelize slightly, about 4-5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and grated ginger, cooking for another minute until fragrant. This aromatic foundation is what gives your Slow Cooker Butter Chicken its complex flavor profile.

Step 3: Bloom the Spices
Reduce the heat to medium and add the garam masala, cumin, turmeric, and chili powder to the onion mixture. Stir continuously for about 30-60 seconds until the spices become intensely aromatic. This quick cooking activates the essential oils in the spices, transforming your dish from good to extraordinary. If the mixture seems too dry, add a splash of water to prevent burning.

Step 4: Combine in Slow Cooker
Transfer your spice and onion mixture to the slow cooker. Add the chicken pieces and tomato sauce, stirring well to ensure every piece of chicken is coated in the sauce. The acidity in the tomatoes will help tenderize the meat during the slow cooking process.

Step 5: Slow Cook to Perfection
Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 2-3 hours, until the chicken is fall-apart tender. The longer, slower cook time is preferable as it allows the flavors to meld more completely and the chicken to become incredibly tender. Your kitchen will fill with the mouthwatering aroma of authentic butter chicken.

Step 6: Finish with Dairy
During the final 30 minutes of cooking, stir in the butter until melted. In a separate bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, yogurt, and lemon juice, then gradually incorporate this mixture into the slow cooker. This prevents any curdling and creates that signature creamy texture that makes Slow Cooker Butter Chicken so luxurious.

Step 7: Final Adjustments
Taste and adjust the seasonings, adding more salt or a pinch more garam masala if needed. If you prefer a smoother sauce, you can use an immersion blender to puree some of the sauce before serving. Garnish with freshly chopped cilantro for a bright finish that complements the rich flavors.

Variations

Vegetarian Butter “Chicken”: Transform this dish into a meat-free delight by substituting the chicken with 2 cans of drained, firm chickpeas and 1 pound of cubed paneer cheese or extra-firm tofu. Add the paneer or tofu during the last hour of cooking to prevent it from breaking down too much. The chickpeas absorb the rich sauce beautifully while providing protein, creating a satisfying vegetarian version of butter chicken that doesn’t sacrifice flavor.

Coconut Butter Chicken: For a dairy-free alternative that maintains the creamy richness, replace the heavy cream and yogurt with 1 can (14 oz) of full-fat coconut milk. This variation adds a subtle tropical note that complements the Indian spices perfectly. The coconut flavor works harmoniously with the existing spice profile in slow cooker butter chicken, often making it a favorite even among those who can consume dairy.

Spicy Butter Chicken: Heat-seekers can amp up the traditional butter chicken recipe by adding 2-3 finely diced green chilies at the beginning of cooking and incorporating 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper with the other spices. For an additional layer of complex heat, stir in 1 tablespoon of hot Indian pickle (achaar) during the last 30 minutes of cooking. This creates a fiery version that still maintains the classic butter chicken’s beloved creamy texture.

Storage and Serving

Your Slow Cooker Butter Chicken will keep beautifully in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, actually improving in flavor as the spices continue to meld. For longer storage, freeze portions in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months. The sauce might separate slightly upon thawing, but gently reheating while stirring will bring it back to its creamy consistency.

Serve this luxurious dish over basmati rice to soak up the velvety sauce—the long, fragrant grains are the perfect complement to the rich flavors. For an authentic Indian meal experience, offer warm naan bread on the side for scooping up extra sauce. The pillowy softness of the bread with the creamy butter chicken creates an irresistible combination.

For a lighter option, serve your butter chicken with cauliflower rice and a side of cooling cucumber raita. The fresh, tangy yogurt sauce provides a perfect contrast to the rich, spiced main dish. Alternatively, spoon the butter chicken into butter lettuce cups for a low-carb appetizer that will wow guests at your next gathering.

FAQs

Can I use bone-in chicken for Slow Cooker Butter Chicken?
Yes, bone-in chicken thighs work wonderfully and add extra flavor, but increase cooking time by 1-2 hours and remove the skin before cooking to prevent excess grease.

Why is my Butter Chicken sauce too thin?
If your Slow Cooker Butter Chicken sauce is too thin, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water and stir this slurry into the sauce during the last 30 minutes of cooking with the lid off.

Can I make Butter Chicken in advance for a party?
Absolutely! Butter chicken actually improves with time as flavors develop. Make it 1-2 days ahead, refrigerate, and gently reheat before serving, adding a splash of cream if needed to refresh the sauce.

Is Butter Chicken spicy?
Traditional butter chicken is mild to medium in spiciness. This recipe allows you to control the heat by adjusting the chili powder amount. Start with less if you’re sensitive to spice.

What’s the difference between Butter Chicken and Tikka Masala?
While similar, butter chicken typically has a creamier, more buttery sauce with milder spicing, while tikka masala has a more pronounced tomato flavor and often a slightly higher spice level.

Conclusion

This Slow Cooker Butter Chicken is comfort food at its finest — a luxurious blend of tender chicken in a velvety, spice-infused sauce that feels like a warm hug in food form. It’s the kind of dish that bridges the gap between everyday convenience and special-occasion indulgence, proving that authentic Indian flavors can be achieved even on the busiest weeknights. Whether you’re a longtime fan of Indian cuisine or trying it for the first time, this foolproof recipe delivers restaurant-quality results with minimal effort, making it certain to become a treasured favorite in your recipe collection.

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