Easy Slow Cooker Butter Chicken

Name: Easy Slow Cooker Butter Chicken
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 6 h
Total time: 6 h 15 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients: 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite sized pieces; 1 yellow onion, finely diced; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated; 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce; 2 tablespoons tomato paste; 1 tablespoon garam masala; 1 teaspoon ground turmeric; 1 teaspoon ground cumin; 1/2 teaspoon chili powder; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 cup butter, cubed; 3/4 cup heavy cream; Fresh cilantro for garnish

This creamy and flavorful chicken dish is a total crowd pleaser that basically cooks itself in your crockpot.

By Enzo81 Kitchen· Indian· October 16, 2026

enzo81.xyz

Prep

15 minutes

Cook

6 hours

Total

6 hours 15 minutes

Serves

I love making this butter chicken when I want something comforting but do not want to stand over a stove all evening. It has all the warm spices you expect from your favorite takeout spot, but it is much easier on the wallet and just as delicious for a family dinner.

Using chicken thighs makes a big difference here because they stay so juicy during the long cook time. If you like a little extra kick, you can add a pinch more chili powder to the sauce before you turn on the slow cooker.

Ingredients

2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite sized pieces
1 yellow onion, finely diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon garam masala
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, cubed
3/4 cup heavy cream
Fresh cilantro for garnish

7Instructions

1
Place the diced onion, minced garlic, and grated ginger into the bottom of your slow cooker.
2
Add the chicken pieces on top of the onions and aromatics.
3
In a small bowl, whisk together the tomato sauce, tomato paste, garam masala, turmeric, cumin, chili powder, and salt.
4
Pour the tomato spice mixture over the chicken and stir everything until the meat is well coated.
5
Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
6
Stir in the heavy cream and the cubes of butter until the butter has melted and the sauce is smooth and glossy.
7
Serve your butter chicken warm over basmati rice or with a side of toasted naan bread.

Tips

You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. The flavors actually improve the next day as the spices continue to settle. If you are prepping ahead, you can chop the chicken and onions the night before to save time in the morning.

#slow cooker #chicken #indian #comfort food #easy dinner

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