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Slow-Cooker Butter Chicken Recipe for Tender, Creamy Meals

This crock pot butter chicken is a rich, flavourful curry featuring tender chicken cooked in a creamy tomato-and-butter sauce with warming spices. The slow cooker does most of the work and prep takes roughly 15 minutes — what’s not to love?

A bowl full of boiled rice and crock pot butter chicken with some sliced red onion and naan bread in the corner of the bowl.

This crock pot butter chicken is creamy, gently spiced and easy to make in a slow cooker. It yields a velvety sauce and tender chicken that pairs perfectly with fluffy rice or naan.

Mild enough for kids but with plenty of warming flavour, this dish is ideal for a comforting family dinner.

📋 Ingredients

Ingredients for crock pot butter chicken on a large wooden chopping board.

I usually use diced chicken breast for this recipe, though boneless skinless thighs also work well — thighs can be more forgiving during long cooking. Both produce juicy results in this recipe.

  1. Begin by sealing the chopped chicken and onion in a pan (or use your slow cooker’s sear function) with butter and a little oil.
  2. Add garlic, ginger and the spices and cook briefly to bloom their flavours.
  3. Stir in the chicken stock, chopped tomatoes, tomato puree (tomato paste) and sugar.
  4. Transfer everything to the slow cooker, cover and cook 4–5 hours on high or 6–8 hours on low.
  5. When cooked, remove the cardamom pods, stir through the cream, warm through and serve.

Recipe Tips

Sew the cardamom pods together with a piece of cotton or kitchen twine so you can fish them out easily after slow cooking.

If your slow cooker doesn’t have a searing option, brown the chicken and soften the onions in a large frying pan, then transfer the mixture into the slow cooker.

Overhead picture of crock pot butter chicken in the slow cooker bowl, sprinkled with a little fresh coriander with a wooden spoon in the corner.

🍽️ What to serve it with

Serve this slow cooker butter chicken with:

  • Fluffy basmati rice or fried rice,
  • Garlic naan or lightly charred flatbread,
  • A sprinkle of fresh coriander (cilantro) and a few nigella seeds if you like,
  • Thinly sliced onions or a simple tomato-and-onion salad for freshness,
  • Mango chutney on the side for a sweet-tangy contrast.

For a low-carb option, serve with cauliflower rice. The small black seeds sometimes used as a garnish are nigella seeds; they add a subtle, distinctive flavour but are optional.

Overhead picture of a dark bowl full of boiled rice and crock pot butter chicken with some sliced red onion and charred naan bread in the corner of the bowl, with a fork and a board with more naan bread in the background.

Leftovers

Allow leftovers to cool, then store in an airtight container in the freezer for a convenient future meal. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator (larger portions can take longer). Reheat gently in a saucepan over medium heat or in the microwave, stirring occasionally, until piping hot throughout.

If you don’t have a slow cooker you can make butter chicken on the hob using a stovetop method — this recipe adapts well to that approach as well.

🍲 More easy Slow-Cooked recipes

This butter chicken was one of my first slow cooker experiments and has become a regular. If you love simple slow-cooked dinners, try other easy recipes like slow-cooked chilli, smothered pork chops or beef madras for more inspiration.

Square close-up overhead image of slow cooker pork and beef chilli in a slow cooker with a wooden spoon sticking out. There is a little sprinkle fresh coriander on top.

Slow Cooked

Slow Cooker Pork and Beef Chilli

Square close-up image of smothered pork chops with mushrooms and gravy in the pan of a slow cooker. There is chopped parsley sprinkled on top.

Pork

Slow Cooker Smothered Pork Chops

Square overhead image of slow cooked beef madras in a black bowl with rice and pieces of naan bread. There is coriander (cilantro) sprinkled on top. The bowl is on a dark surface and there are ingredients scattered around.

Curries

Slow-Cooked Beef Madras

📺 Watch how to make it

Full recipe with detailed steps appears in the recipe card below.

If you try this crock pot butter chicken or any of my other recipes, please rate it and tell me how it went in the comments — I love hearing your feedback and variations!

Overhead picture of a dark bowl full of boiled rice and crock pot butter chicken with some sliced red onion and charred naan bread in the corner of the bowl.

Crock Pot Butter Chicken Recipe

This crock pot butter chicken is an easy, hands-off meal where the slow cooker does the hard work. It’s simple to adjust the heat so both adults and children can enjoy it.

Ingredients

  • 3 tbsp butter
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 large onion, peeled and diced
  • 700 g (1 1/2 lbs) chicken breast, diced (approx. 4 large breasts)
  • 4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
  • 1 tsp minced ginger
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 tbsp garam masala
  • 1 tbsp curry powder
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 240 ml (1 cup) chicken stock (water + stock cube works)
  • 2 x 400 ml tins chopped tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp tomato puree (paste)
  • 2 tsp sugar
  • 6 cardamom pods (tie together for easy removal)
  • 125 ml (1/2 cup) double/heavy cream
  • Handful of chopped coriander to serve

Instructions

  • Preheat your slow cooker to high.
  • Heat the butter and oil in a large pan. Add the onion and chicken and cook 5–6 minutes until the onion has softened and the chicken is sealed.
  • Add garlic, ginger, salt, garam masala, curry powder, paprika and cinnamon. Stir and cook 1–2 minutes to release the spices’ aromas.
  • Add the stock, chopped tomatoes, tomato puree, sugar and cardamom pods. Stir, transfer to the slow cooker and cook 4–5 hours on high or 6–8 hours on low.
  • Remove the cardamom pods, stir in the cream and warm through.
  • Serve over rice, sprinkled with chopped coriander.

Video

Notes

Which slow cooker do you use?

I use a slow cooker with a searing function and dishwasher-safe bowl — it makes the initial browning easy and clean-up simpler.

Can I change the spice level?

Increase the heat by using a spicier curry powder, such as madras, or add up to 1/2 tsp chilli powder when adding the spices.

Nutritional information is per serving and does not include rice.

Nutrition

Calories: 311 kcal | Carbohydrates: 8 g | Protein: 27 g | Fat: 19 g | Saturated Fat: 9 g

Nutrition information is an approximation and will vary depending on ingredients and portion sizes.

This crockpot butter chicken recipe was first published in February 2015 and updated in February 2024 with new photos, a video and clarifications to help you make a delicious dinner at home.

Some links on the original post may be affiliate links; if you make a purchase through those links the site may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Nutrition details are approximate.