One of my favorite things to order at Indian restaurants is Chicken Tikka Masala. My Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala recipe brings you all the same flavors from that classic dish but keeps it super easy to make.
Just throw everything in the crock pot, let it slow cook and simmer in all those delicious spices and come back to the most tender, flavorful chicken ever.
WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS EASY CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA
Hands-off cooking: With just a few minutes of prep, you can let the slow cooker do the rest. A true set it and forget it recipe.
Authentic flavor: The perfect mix of seasonings and spices create a rich, authentic taste that’s hard to beat.
Perfect for meal prep: This dish stores beautifully and tastes even better the next day, making it ideal for leftovers or packing lunches.
For another delicious and easy crock pot recipe, check out my super popular Slow Cooker Italian Chicken!
INGREDIENTS
Chicken Breast: Tender and lean, chicken breast is the perfect base for this flavorful sauce.
Coconut Milk: Adds creaminess and a subtle sweetness that balances the bold spices.
Tomato Sauce: Provides a rich, tangy base for the sauce that helps bring everything together.
Tomato Paste: Deepens the flavor of the tomato sauce and adds a thicker texture to the dish.
Seasonings: A mix of garam marsala, curry, cumin, turmeric, salt and pepper give this chicken all it’s delicious flavor. If you aren’t familiar with garam marsala, it’s a mix of different spices including coriander, cumin, cardamom, cinnamon and black pepper. You can typically find it with all the other seasonings in the seasoning aisle.
Garlic – I always have a jar of minced garlic in the refrigerator because it’s so much easier to cook with! However, if you don’t have minced garlic on hand, you can chop up about 3 cloves instead.
Butter – Just a little bit of butter adds richness and a velvety finish to the sauce. It rounds out the sauce perfectly!
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS
Spray your crockpot with nonstick cooking spray. Add the coconut milk, tomato sauce, tomato paste, garam marsala, curry, cumin, turmeric, salt and minced garlic. Stir until everything is mixed well.
Trim your chicken and cut each breast into ⅓’s. Sprinkle a generous amount of black pepper on top of the chicken. Then, lay the chicken pieces in the crockpot carefully and push down so that they are completed covered in the sauce.
Add the slices of butter to the top of the sauce and cover. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-7 hours.
Once cooked, you can serve the chicken as is or remove it and shred into even smaller pieces. Serve over a bed of rice and garnish with chopped cilantro and a dollop of plain Greek yogurt. Enjoy!
TIPS & NOTES
Make it spicy: If you prefer a spicier dish, add some red chili flakes or a chopped fresh chili to the slow cooker.
Creamier sauce: For an extra creamy sauce, stir in a little more coconut milk or a splash of heavy cream towards the end of cooking.
Storage Instructions: You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Serving Suggestions: Serve with basmati rice, naan bread, or a simple side salad for a complete meal.
Easy Chicken Tikka Masala (Slow Cooker)
Ingredients
- 1½-2 lbs chicken breast
- 1 can (14 oz) full fat coconut milk
- 8 oz tomato sauce
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tbsp garam marsala
- 1 tsp curry powder
- ½ tsp cumin
- ½ tsp turmeric
- ½ tsp salt
- ground black pepper
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 2 tbsp butter
Optional Topping:
- fresh cilantro chopped
- plain Greek yogurt
Instructions
- Spray your crockpot with nonstick cooking spray. Add the coconut milk, tomato sauce, tomato paste, garam marsala, curry, cumin, turmeric, salt and minced garlic. Stir until everything is mixed well.
- Trim your chicken and cut each breast into ⅓'s. Sprinkle a generous amount of black pepper on top of the chicken. Then, lay the chicken pieces in the crockpot carefully and push down so that they are completed covered in the sauce.
- Add the slices of butter to the top of the sauce and cover. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-7 hours.
- Once cooked, you can serve the chicken as is or remove it and shred into even smaller pieces. Serve over rice, with naan bread or alongside a salad. It's great as is, but if you want to add some toppings, chopped cilantro and a dollop of plain Greek yogurt go great with this. Enjoy!
- If you make this recipe and have a quick second, I would really appreciate if you could scroll down to the very bottom of this page and rate it. Just click on the number of stars you give this. Thank you so much in advance!
Nutrition
