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
This post contains affiliate links.
- 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
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
Wayne C says
Hey Tara,
This was one of my first times using my slow cooker and I am a very inexperienced cook. This recipe turned out great! Everyone was shocked when I showed them what I had made. Many thanks for sharing 🙂
Tara Noland says
Hi Wayne, that is awesome. I am so glad it turned out for you! Enjoy!
Linda Halleron says
Hi is tomato paste same as tomato puree Or tomato passata. Or can I use any of them. Thanks
Tara Noland says
I am not really familar with puree or passata. But from reading they are just a thinner version of tomato paste. Your sauce maybe slightly runnier and not as tomato flavored with the other two. Can you not find tomato paste?
Linda Halleron says
Hi tara I can’t get tomato paste but puree is thick so I think I’ll use that x
Tara Noland says
Okay, give it a whirl! If you happen upon an Italian or German market they usually have tomato paste in big tubes and that is how I like to get it if I can.
Sandra says
Absolutely delicious! My family loves it. Today is my daughters 13th birthday party and she requested it for dinner! Yum!
Thanks you!
Tara Noland says
Ah, Happy Birthday, so glad she loves it. It is my daughter’s favorite too! We just had it the other night and hubby picked up really good garlic naan bread to go with it!
Rachel says
This does not taste like Butter Chicken. It tastes more like Tikka Masala. It was too heavy in the tomato paste. Butter Chicken is one of my husband’s favorite dishes and he was disappointed.
Tara Noland says
Sorry Rachel, for most people it is a huge hit including my daughter who love butter chicken.
Cindi says
Wow – this thread has been going for a long time which is great. I read several but only saw one reference to a pressure cooker which I got this fall and love but only use for roasts and just tried stew so gonna give this a try. I was looking for recipes to use Garam Marsala (sp?) and found this. I may need a bit more fluid for my machine but gonna wing it and see how it goes. Will post after it’s done.
Tara Noland says
Thank you, keep me posted.
Gabrielle says
Hi Tara,
I just finished combing everything in my crockpot (using everything as it is in your recipe) and notice its pretty thick. Is that normal and it will thin out as it cooks, or should I add it to something so I will have more of a sauce to serve over rice? If so, what would you recommend adding (no dietary restrictions)?
Thank you!
Tara Noland says
Just let it cook for sometime, it will thin out but you can always add some water at the end if it is still too thick.
Pakistani Food Recipes says
One of the most delicious dishes I ever tried. I made this recipe for my friends and they all loved it. Thankyou mate
Tara Noland says
So very glad you liked it, thank you for taking the time to tell me.
Miriam says
Just tried this recipe and enjoyed it. Like others have said, I would add more of the spices next time, and perhaps sautee some onion with the garlic but that’s totally a personal preference. The combination of the tomato paste and coconut milk made a wonderfully silky sauce.
I did have to make one rather large modification, which was adding 6 ounces of water to my sauce. After preparing as written, it was so thick, almost like a paste. Once I added water, it cooked beautifully. Perhaps it was the brands I used- Trader Joe’s tomato paste and Reduced Fat Coconut milk. When it was all done cooking, it had the perfect texture and consistency.
I had to use the stovetop and the chicken was done after about an hour on a low simmer.
Thanks so much for this recipe! I can’t wait to play around with it more.
Tara Noland says
Thank you so much Miriam, yes it could have been the brands you used. Love Trader Joe’s BTW. So glad you enjoyed it. It has been a very popular recipe here!!
Cambria says
To make this gluten free, would I use cornstarch instead of flour or could I just omit the flour? I want to make this for my dad who is celiac. I’ve made it already for my husband and myself and we LOVE it! Amazing flavour.
Tara Noland says
My suggestion would be to omit the flour and then thicken with corn starch mixed with water at the end and put it on high until it thickens.
Anne says
I’m looking forward to making this tomorrow! Do you recommend cooking in a slow cooker or simmering on the stove top on low if we don’t have the multi cooker?
Tara Noland says
If you have a slow cooker I recommend that as opposed to stove top.
Anne says
Oh my gosh, this was delicious! The only change I made to the recipe was to use whole coconut milk. I used a slow cooker in high for 2 hours (because I misjudged the time to defrost chicken) and it was perfect. I can’t wait to make this again. Thank you!!
Tara Noland says
Awesome Anne, I am so glad you enjoyed it.
Anne says
Hi Tara,
Do you have other suggested recipes for the multi cooker? This recipe has become a household go to, so I’m wondering what other recipes you may have tried.
Tara Noland says
So glad you liked this one. Do you have a multi cooker? I have done yogurt in it, rice, steamed veggies, soups and lots of slow cooking. Here is my section on slow cooking for more recipes. https://noshingwiththenolands.com/topics/crockpot/ and my soup category also, https://noshingwiththenolands.com/topics/crockpot/. Here is a booklet that Kitchen Aid has put out also for more recipes, https://www.kitchenaid.com/images/global/promotions/1978300_Multi-Cooker_COMPLETE.pdf Happy Cooking!!
Mary says
What if you don’t have time for the 5-6 hours on low? Would 3-4 on high work?
Tara Noland says
Yes, that would work, just don’t overcook the chicken. I do prefer low for this recipe though.
Anisha says
If I wanted to double the amount of chicken, would I need to change the cooking time?
Tara Noland says
I think maybe by an hour to get it heated up and going first.
Tabitha says
My grocery store doesn’t carry Garam Marsala, so would using curry powder be an ok substitute do you think? I know it will be a different flavor but do you think it would still taste good?
Tara Noland says
It would be different but you might be just fine. If you have these spices you could make your own. http://allrecipes.com/recipe/142967/easy-garam-masala/
Mark45 says
Hi, do you allow guest posting on noshingwiththenolands.com ? Please let me know on my e-mail 🙂
Tara Noland says
No I am sorry, I am not looking for guest posts at this time.
Zubia khan says
Its so easy and delicious healthy-slow-cooker-butter-chicken recipe – perfect for Iftar recipes. I’ll must try this
Mandy Keane says
why is it called “butter” chicken when there is no “butter” in it? I am puzzled
Tara Noland says
This is a healthier version that does not have butter and heavy cream but tastes just as good with the coconut milk.
Pamela Mccomb says
I made this in skillet it is excellent did not change a thing in recipe, so good .
Tara Noland says
Perfection, thank you for telling me!!
Jen says
What can i use instead of coconut milk …. my son is highly allergenic to nut and nut based ingredients e.g. ground and flavorings as well as the whole nut.
Tara Noland says
You could use heavy cream but of course it wouldn’t be as healthy but just as delicious or you could try a 2% evaporated milk too.
Ravi Joshi says
Why do you call it Butter Chicken when there is no butter in your recipe??
Tara Noland says
Because it is a healthy version of the classic Butter Chicken.
Joan Buell says
Made this with only 2 Tbsp. tomato paste, and some extra turmeric to enhance the yellow color (maybe a half tsp.). I knew a tsp. of cayenne would be way too hot for us, so just used 2 dashes. It was sooo hot we could not eat it! Finally got it down with lots of yogurt stirred in. Next time, no cayenne at all! And we are not wimps when it comes to spicy food.
Tara Noland says
The recipe calls for 1/2 tsp. cayenne or to taste. Not sure where the heat would be coming from with only 2 dashes? But next time just avoid it all together.