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Butter chicken served with rice and naan on a white plate, with fresh cilantro and butter chicken in a serving bowl in the background.

Crockpot Butter Chicken

This Crockpot Butter Chicken is rich, creamy, and full of warm Indian spices. It’s a slow cooker version of the restaurant favorite, made with tender chicken thighs, crushed tomatoes, and a buttery tomato-cream sauce. Just set it, walk away, and come back to a cozy, comforting dinner.
5 from 2 votes
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Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 6 hours
Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Indian
Servings: 6
Author: Shilpa

Equipment

Ingredients

For the Chicken:

  • 2 pounds chicken thighs boneless, skinless, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 small onion finely chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon ginger grated

For the Sauce:

To Finish:

  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter cubed
  • ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt optional, for extra creaminess
  • 2 tablespoons cilantro for garnish

Instructions

  • Add the chopped onion, garlic, and ginger to the bottom of a 5–6 quart slow cooker. Place the chicken on top.
  • In a bowl, combine the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, garam masala, cumin, paprika, turmeric, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Mix well and pour the sauce over the chicken.
  • Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours or HIGH for 4 hours, until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.
  • Stir in the heavy cream and cubed butter. Cover and cook for another 10–15 minutes on LOW, until the sauce is creamy and smooth. If using yogurt, stir it in slowly at this stage to avoid curdling.
  • Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve hot with basmati rice or naan.

Notes

  • Chicken breasts can be used, but thighs give better texture and flavor.
  • Adjust chili powder for the spice level.
  • Use tomato puree if you prefer a smoother sauce.
  • Yogurt is optional but adds a nice tang if stirred in at the end.
  • Leftovers reheat well and are perfect for meal prep.

Nutrition

Calories: 588kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 48g | Saturated Fat: 21g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 214mg | Sodium: 269mg | Potassium: 668mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1394IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 86mg | Iron: 3mg
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