Slow Cooker Butter Chicken Recipe

This Slow Cooker Butter Chicken Recipe is based on the popular Murgh Makhani Indian dish
known for its flavorful sauce.

This chicken in this recipe is slow cooked to perfection in a savory creamy tomato sauce seasoned with curry.

What is butter chicken?

Butter chicken is a classic Indian dish (aka Chicken Makhani) featuring chicken that has been marinated and cooked in a creamy sauce which includes tomatoes, butter, yogurt (or similar dairy) and seasonings.

I like how slow cooking this chicken makes it even more tender, juicy and flavorful.

Have you tried my Crockpot (slow cooker) Chipotle Chicken Pasta?

That Crockpot Slow Cooker Chipotle Chicken Pasta is a delicious meal recipe featuring chicken and pasta in a creamy chipotle sauce. Both this butter chicken recipe and that chipotle chicken pasta recipe are delicious and easy chicken recipes that can be made in a slow cooker.

Make this recipe even more authentic my using garam masala spice blend. You can find a selection of garam masala here.

Why we love this homemade butter chicken.

Butter chicken has a unique velvety texture that has a rich balance of savory, tangy, and somewhat sweet flavors. The texture of the sauce makes it perfect for pairing with other foods and beverages.

Here is what else we like about this recipe.

• This is an impressive dish that is relatively simple to make.
• The spices can be easily adjusted to your liking.
• For anyone looking to learn how to cook Indian inspired dishes, this one is a great place to start.
• The butter and heavy whipping cream or yogurt tenderize the chicken to make it incredibly easy to eat.
• Murgh Makhani goes especially well when served with basmati rice or naan bread as they can absorb the additional sauce for you to enjoy even more.
• Personalizing this recipe is as easy as adding freshly minced ginger or fresh cilantro.

Ingredients needed to make butter chicken in a slow cooker.

• Tomato Sauce. Canned sauce or crushed tomatoes for more texture can be used.
• Tomato Paste. This helps to bring out the tomato flavor.
• Seasonings. Including paprika, red chili powder, cumin, red pepper flakes, garam masala, and ginger.
• Chicken Breasts. Boneless and skinless, cut into bite sized pieces (two inch cubes). You can use a clean paper towel to pat off any moisture.
• Onion. Your onion should be diced.
• Garlic. The garlic should be minced.
• Water. Added to help keep the moisture while slow cooking.
• Butter. Ghee can alternatively be used for even more flavor and moisture. The butter should be softened to room temperature.
• Heavy Whipping Cream. For a thicker texture you can use plain Greek Yogurt instead.
• Cilantro or parsley for serving.

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Tips for making the best butter chicken.

There are a lot of different seasonings used to give this dish a variety of flavors. Feel free to adjust the seasonings to your likings.

More helpful tips for you.

1. Marinating the chicken before adding it to the slow cooker is one way to make it even more tender. Greek yogurt is perfect for this because of the acidity.
2. Use a full fat dairy ingredients to maximize the moisture in this recipe. This includes the butter, heavy whipping cream, and/or yogurt.
3. Take this dish up a notch by adding chopped chili peppers.
4. Adding up to a tablespoon of citrus juice (lemon or lime) gives a nice balance and helps to tenderize the chicken.
5. Using as little as a teaspoon of Dried fenugreek will give this dish a more authentic taste.
6. While some folks prefer the chicken breasts, this recipe can also be made with chicken thigh meat that is skinless and boneless.

How to make this Slow Cooker Butter Chicken Recipe.

Prep Time: 20 minutes .
Slow Cook Time: 4 hours 15 minutes .
Servings: 4.

1. Start by making the marinade. In a large bowl, blend together the tomato sauce, tomato paste, and the seasonings until smooth. Then stir in the garlic and onion followed by the chicken.
2. Let the ingredients sit for at least 15 minutes to marinate or cover and refrigerate it up to overnight.
3. Transfer the marinated ingredients to your slow cooker and then add the butter and water.
4. Cover the slow cooker and slow cook in high for four hours or until the chicken is fully cooked.
5. Stir in the heavy whipping cream or yogurt and bump down the heat to low. Slow cook for another 10 minutes stirring as needed. Then turn off the slow cooker and let the food rest for 10 minutes before serving.
6. Garnish with cilantro and serve with rice and naan bread or as desired.

Expert Tip 👉 If your sauce is too thick for your liking, you can stir in a tablespoon or two of butter when you let the food rest at the end.

How to store Murgh Makhani.

Once the chicken has fully cooled it can be stored in an airtight container. When properly stored, this dish should keep for up to five days refrigerated or up to a few months when frozen.

You may also be interested in these ideas.

• Crock Pot Marry Me Chicken (Slow Cooker)
• Slow Cooker (Crock Pot) Satay Chicken
• Slow Cooker (Crock Pot) Parmesan Garlic Chicken
• Easy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe
• Instant Pot Creamy Chicken With Mushrooms Pasta.
• Instant Pot Chicken Wings (video)

Print the recipe for Slow Cooker Butter Chicken Recipe

Slow Cooker Butter Chicken Recipe, a simple and delicious meal idea, also known as Murgh Makhani, cooked in a creamy tomato sauce.

Please see recipe post for further details on this recipe.