An Easy Family Favorite: Simple Slow Cooker Butter Chicken

A Family Favorite

When our oldest was just under a year old, my husband started experimenting with homemade Indian dishes.

He spent a significant amount of time on a delicious homemade butter chicken meal.

We all enjoyed the meal, but it wasn’t a whip it up quickly recipe.

The next time he suggested he make it I was equally excited and dreading it.

The last thing I wanted on the weekend was a solo parenting afternoon while my husband spent 2-3 hours on a butter chicken recipe and the associated clean up.

Enter simple slow cooker butter chicken.

Simple Slow Cooker Butter Chicken

To circumvent hours in the kitchen while keeping a meal we all enjoyed as an option, I scoured the internet for butter chicken recipes, tips, and general slow cooker tips to replicate the flavor my husband achieved but with only 20 minutes in the kitchen and one dish to wash. 😉

I say this is a fall family favorite, but this recipe has been a multi-year success in our home and makes the monthly meal plan 2 (or more) times per month!

Slow Cooker Butter Chicken

• Serves 6-8
• 15-20 minutes of prep work
• Ready in 2-3 hours

Ingredients

• ¾ cup chicken bone broth
• 1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons grated ginger (I use 1-ish tablespoons ginger paste most days)
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons cumin
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 2 teaspoons garam masala
• 1.5-2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast
• ¼ cup yellow onion (1-2 frozen onion cubes)
• 4 tablespoons salted butter, cut into 4 pieces
• ½ cup heavy cream

Directions

1. In a base of your slow cooker mix together the chicken bone broth, tomato paste, lemon juice, garlic, ginger, cinnamon, salt, cumin, turmeric and garam masala until fully combined. Add in the chicken, onion, and butter and lightly stir. Cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours.
2. Once cooked, shred the chicken then stir in the heavy cream.
3. Serve over rice or alongside warm naan and enjoy!

Notes

• The day of this meal was a travel day for my husband, and we had naan on hand from the freezer. I’m all about making my life easier while filling bellies and keeping peace. While we skipped the rice this night, my favorite way to eat this meal is over rice. 😊