Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala

Prep: 30 mins

Cook: 360 mins

Difficulty: Easy

Servings: 6 Servings

I didn’t think chicken tikka masala could really get much better, but then I remembered my best gadget friend: the slow cooker. This is a curry dish that benefits from a nice, long simmer anyway, so why not let that happen while I’m off doing other things? That’s what I call smart cooking. Spooned over some steamed rice, this easy slow cooker tikka masala is about to make your busy days very happy indeed.

Ingredients

2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 cup whole-milk plain yogurt (not Greek)
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 large yellow onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon peeled and minced fresh ginger
2 teaspoons ground coriander
2 teaspoons garam masala
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
3/4 cup heavy cream or coconut milk
Chopped fresh cilantro
Cooked rice or naan, for serving

Instructions

Place the chicken, yogurt, and 1 teaspoon of the salt in a 4-quart or larger slow cooker and stir to combine.
Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic, ginger, coriander, garam masala, cumin, and turmeric and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the tomato paste and cook until darkened in color, about 1 minute. Add the drained tomatoes and remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt and bring to a simmer, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Transfer to the slow cooker and stir to combine with the chicken.
Cover and cook on the HIGH setting for 4 hours or LOW setting for 8 hours. Stir in the cream or coconut milk. If you prefer a thicker sauce, leave the slow cooker uncovered and cook on the HIGH setting for 30 minutes. Taste and season with salt as needed. Serve garnished with cilantro with rice or naan.