We have a daughter that just adores Butter Chicken! If we were trying to decide where to go out for food, we knew her vote would always be for this Indian food staple. Instead of always going out and paying high restaurant prices I decided to make a Healthy Slow Cooker Butter Chicken at home. She loves this with great Garlic Naan Bread too.
I consider Amber to be a butter chicken aficionado, so when she raved about the dish and said that it was just as good as her favorite restaurants, I knew I had a winner of a recipe and couldn’t wait to share it with all of you. Want another great Indian recipe, then try our amazing Mulligatawny Soup.
I wanted to try to keep it healthy, avoid using as much of the heavy cream and high-fat oils that the traditional recipe typically has in it.
With substituting a light coconut milk for the regular high fat version, I wondered if it would still have that buttery feel and taste. I didn’t need to worry as it turned out fantastic!!
There are loads of flavor from all the spices, and the coconut milk and tomato paste pair perfectly.
Plus this recipe could not be any easier. It all went into my gorgeous Kitchenaid Multi-Cooker and so very slowly cooked on low to the ultimate dish you see here.
How to Cook Butter Chicken in Slow Cooker
For those who do not have a multi-cooker, you can make the recipe in a saucepan and transfer it to a slow cooker set on low for the slow cook part. You can also reheat the meal in a slow cooker but we never have leftovers so I wouldn’t know about that!
The sauce is perfection, the chicken so perfectly cooked. I love using my KitchenAid Multi-Cooker.
It cooks at 190F which is really low for slow cooking.
This lets the meat stay together and you don’t have the stringy mess that you sometimes see in slow-cooked meals.
KitchenAid Multi-Cooker
To Purchase This Item
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- KitchenAid Multi-Cooker Candy Apple Red with Stir Tower
- Multi-Cooker-Stainless Steel (as shown) Canadian link
Slow cooking is not all this multi-cooker can do.
I did a full review with a delicious Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup, as the machine can also cook risotto, rice, sear, sauté, simmer, make soup, yogurt, boil/steam, slow cook high and low, and keep food warm (up to 24 hours).
You can go from morning to night making delicious recipes, therefore, getting great use out of this wonderful machine. I have tried almost all of the settings as we have this multi-cooker in use nearly all the time.
I can’t say enough about the wonderful value of such a great machine.
You now can get rid of all the other machines and keep just one, this amazing KitchenAid Multi-Cooker. You don’t need a separate rice cooker, slow cooker, or yogurt maker – this replaces all of them. If your kitchen is anything like mine, space is at a premium so you’ll love that you can replace several gadgets with this one.
The sear setting alone makes my life so much easier. If any recipe calls for you to cook something ahead of time you can do it in this wonderful machine. Fewer dishes and less mess – it is basically perfection!
Making The Best Butter Chicken
To make the recipe, simply heat a tablespoon of olive oil in your saucepan on medium-high heat or multi-cooker on sear. Add in 9 cloves of garlic, stirring it around continuously because it can stick and burn.
After about a minute, start adding the other ingredients in order: 14oz (1 can) light coconut milk, 6oz (1 can) tomato paste, and 2 tablespoons of flour. Stir well and add in spices: 2 teaspoons of Garam Masala (look for it in the ethnic foods aisle if it’s not in the spice section).
Then add in ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper; 1 teaspoon each of coriander, turmeric, and cumin; a tablespoon of paprika; one and a half teaspoons Kosher salt; and ground pepper to taste (start with ½ a teaspoon).
Stir this while it cooks until it’s thoroughly combined – about 2 minutes. Then add in the boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch pieces.
How Long to Cook Butter Chicken in Slow Cooker
Stir to make sure the chicken is covered by the sauce. If you’re using a multi cooker, set to slow cook on low for 5-6 hours; if you’re using a traditional slow cooker, transfer contents of pot to slow cooker and cook on low for 5-6 hours. Serve with rice or naan bread.
The wonderful spices used in traditional Indian cooking add amazing flavors to this dish. We added turmeric, cumin, Garam Masala, cayenne, coriander, and paprika, plus lots of garlic to the recipe and all of the spices are nicely balanced out by the coconut milk.
It was a perfect butter chicken and one that you will want to be sharing with your family too. Everyone who has tried it has loved this recipe and they are always amazed when I tell them I did it in one pot with my multi cooker.
It’s such an easy recipe to do too – once it’s slow cooking you don’t have to think about it until you’re ready to serve. Try this wonderful recipe for traditional butter chicken tonight!
Healthy Slow Cooker Butter Chicken
Video
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp. olive oil
- 9 cloves garlic crushed
- 1 14 oz. can light coconut milk
- 1 6 oz. can tomato paste
- 2 Tbsp. flour
- 2 tsp. garam masala
- 1/2 tsp. cayenne or to taste
- 1 tsp. dried coriander
- 1 Tbsp. paprika
- 1 tsp. turmeric
- 1 tsp. cumin
- 1 1/2 tsp Kosher salt or to taste
- Freshly ground pepper to taste
- 2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces.
Instructions
- Heat the oil in the multicooker (or a saucepan) on sear. Add the garlic and cook, continuously stirring for about 1 min. Stir in coconut milk, tomato paste, flour, garam masala, cayenne, coriander, paprika, turmeric, cumin, salt, and pepper.
- Stir and cook for about 2 min. until thoroughly mixed. Add in chicken, stir well. Cover and cook for 5-6 hours on low. Serve over rice and with naan bread if desired.
Comments & Reviews
Ebony says
A good alternative to a classic Butter Chicken. We’ve nicknamed it Butterless Chicken in my house.
The sauce didnt thicken for me. Im not sure if its meant to?
Tara Noland says
It should thicken did you add the 2 Tbsp. of flour and all the 6 oz. of tomato paste?
Debb says
I am going to make this for part of Sunday dinner. What brand of naan bread do you recommend ? This butter chicken looks amazing !! Ty for sharing this recipe.
Tara Noland says
Hi Debb, we make our own naan bread, https://noshingwiththenolands.com/garlic-naan-recipe/ or I order it from my local Indian restaurant, those are the two best options I have.
Stacey says
I have made your recipe so many times and it’s always delicious! A family favorite for sure! We serve it with basmati rice and naan. Thanks for sharing!
Tara Noland says
So glad you love it! Thanks for taking the time to tell us.
Mary K says
I made this a few weeks ago and hubs loved it. I did not change a thing.
Tara Noland says
It is a popular recipe and one of our favorites too. So glad you enjoy it.
Kim K. says
Um, there’s no butter in this recipe…?
Tara Noland says
Yes, that is the point that it is a healthy version. You will not miss it. I just did a butter chicken cook-off with my version and everyone loved it as much as the original with lots of butter and cream.
Kim says
Im a working mom, would it be ok to pre-mix everything cold and store in fridge and start crockpot the next day?
Tara Noland says
I think you could do that, just don’t add the chicken but prep it. Also don’t cook it for too long as chicken then will fall apart, so much better if still in cubes.
Marci says
Any ideas about how long for pressure and natural release for instant pot? We love this recipe so much and are wanting to try it that way.
Tara Noland says
Hi Marci, we have not made this in an instant pot but we are testing a tikka masala which of course is similar to a butter chicken in an IP. After you have done all the prep and initial cooking, lock the lid put the IP on the poultry setting for 5 minutes. Then let it natural release, which should be about 10 minutes. As I said we are just testing this and I have not done it on the Butter Chicken recipe but I hope this helps.
Chris says
Best recipe ever… and easy to make as well. I also make a double recipe in a slow cooker on low for 4 hours max. My family begs me to make it. Would love a flavourful rice recipe to go with it.
Tara Noland says
So glad you enjoy it!! Thank you for taking the time to tell me. We just usually have naan bread and plain rice with it. Would have to do some thinking of what would go with it that wouldn’t fight for flavors. Maybe garlic rice or a garlic naan would go though.
Lia a says
We’ve been making this recipe regularly for about two years and it’s one of our favorites! We make it in a slow cooker and double the recipe. We also skip the searing and just throw all the ingredients in the slow cooker. Cooked on low for 4 hours, it turns out incredible every time. When I cook it for five it’s a little stringy and dry. We don’t find it to be too “tomato-y” at all and follow the recipe exactly (minus the searing).
Tara Noland says
I am so glad you like it, this recipe is on our regular rotation too just had it again. We all love it. I agree that don’t cook it for too long, the chicken is nice when it is whole and not overcooked.
WoChaye says
Delicious! But I’m pretty sure this is Tikka Masala not butter chicken (butter chicken calls for butter in the ingredients usually). Still a great recipe tho!
Tara Noland says
In this recipe, the butter is replaced with coconut milk to make a healthier version. It is still mild and sweet like a butter chicken is, Tikka Masala is more complex and spicier.
PGR says
I am sorry to say I do not know what butter chicken is supposed to taste like. That said great recipe. I used a slow cooker and turkey breast to make it. I would never have thought of combining tomato puree with coconut milk. Whatever chemical reaction happens, great creamy silky sauce. I could not stop eating it. I have leftover lamb today and this was the first recipe to come to mind because the sauce was so good. Great job on the recipe!
Tara Noland says
I am so glad you enjoyed it. Butter chicken is very much like this sauce but much higher in calories than when you use the coconut milk. Never tried it with lamb or turkey but I know they would be good.
Maggie says
Great recipe, only change I did was in slow cooker longer due to time at work, so maybe nearer 8 hours. But delicious.
Desi Food Recipes says
My most loved one is the chicken with seeds out of the jack natural product in (yummy) The more seasoned age like curries produced using dried fish which is very solid and rancid, and individuals appear to like acrid and unpleasant tastes instead of sweet stuff.
Kitchen Diva says
The recipe looks absolutely delicious. My problem with it is that you gave lots of raves about your machine, but I cannot find any nutrition information. I’d love to make it, but am borderline diabetic and have to watch my carbs. 🙁
Tara Noland says
Hi Kitchen Diva, I am not a nutrionist so I don’t supply nutrition information. There are sites though that you can plunk ingredients into to get information like this and are free. I just googled and found this one, https://www.verywellfit.com/recipe-nutrition-analyzer-4157076 Hope that helps.