• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Free Ebook!Subscribe to updates & get a recipe book!

Subscribe & Receive My Free Recipe Ebook!

The Chunky Chef

Comforting Family Recipes

  • All Recipes
  • Learn to Cook
  • Shop
    • My eBooks
    • Favorite Products
  • About
  • Contact
  • Trending:

    Slow Cooker

    Easy Dinners

    Desserts

    My Saved Recipe Box
  • Browse By:
  • Course
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Main Dishes
    • Sides
    • Drinks
    • Desserts
    • Salads
    • Soups
    • Sandwiches
    • Healthy-ish
  • Ingredient
    • Chicken
    • Beef
    • Pork
    • Turkey
    • Seafood
    • Meatless
    • Pasta
  • Cuisine
    • Asian
    • Italian
    • Mexican
    • Hawaiian
    • Middle Eastern
    • Comfort Food
  • Method
    • One Pot
    • Crockpot
    • Instant Pot
    • Oven
    • Fried
    • Grilling/BBQ
  • Trending:

    Slow Cooker

    Easy Dinners

    Desserts

Home / Slow Cooker

Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala

4.96
/5
3 hours 10 minutes
47 Comments
Jump to Recipe Print Pin
By: The Chunky Chefpublished: 10/02/2019

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

This Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala is the easy homemade version of your Indian food-loving dreams!  Bold and flavorful, yet with a fraction of the work! #chickentikka #tikkamasala #curry #indianfood #slowcooker #crockpot #easyrecipe

This slow cooker chicken tikka masala is the homemade version you’ve been dreaming of… bold and richly flavored, yet SO easy to make!  Imagine coming home to the mouthwatering smell of this classic curry simmering away, ready to electrify your tastebuds!

Looking for other recipes made simpler by the slow cooker?  Be sure to check out my Crockpot Meatloaf, Crockpot Mashed Potatoes, Slow Cooker Apple Butter, and Crockpot Spaghetti Casserole!

Holding a bowl of slow cooker chicken tikka masala

CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA

There’s nothing better than knowing that dinner is taken care of.  You don’t have to stand over a hot stove for 30 minutes or more, and you still get to eat a home-cooked meal!

Slow cookers are truly one of my favorite things… walking in the house and having the smell of this delicious curry hit you; it’s an amazing feeling.

Serve this chicken tikka masala with some basmati rice and naan bread for a perfect Indian meal at home!

How to make chicken tikka masala

HOW TO MAKE SLOW COOKER CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA

In an effort to make this slow cooker version taste the most like the real deal, I added 2 extra steps to add seared flavor.  But don’t worry, it’s still incredibly simple!

  • Sear chicken in skillet, remove and dice.
  • Cook onion, peppers, spices, garlic and ginger.
  • Transfer mixture to the slow cooker and stir in tomato sauce.
  • Cook.
  • Mix sauce with yogurt, then add yogurt to the slow cooker.
  • Stir in cilantro and eat!

COOKING TIPS FOR CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA

  • Take the time to sear – I know it’s a pain, and it’s an extra step or two, but searing both the chicken and the onion/pepper mixture adds SO much flavor!
  • Use fresh spices – some of these spices may have been ones you’ve kept in the cabinet for a loooonnnggg time, but spices becomes less potent and flavorful over time, so use fresh spices for this recipe if possible.
  • Temper the yogurt – if you add the yogurt to the hot sauce in the slow cooker, it may curdle, so it’s best to temper the yogurt by whisking some of the sauce into the yogurt, then mixing the yogurt into the slow cooker.

Chicken tikka masala in bowl with rice

VARIATIONS OF TIKKA MASALA

  • The No-Sear Method – if you’d rather not take the time to sear the chicken before adding it to the slow cooker, you can dice up the thighs ahead of time, season them with salt and pepper and add them to the slow cooker raw.  I do highly recommend cooking the onion and pepper with the spices though… it adds SO much flavor.
  • Other Proteins – tikka masala can be made with other proteins besides chicken if you’d like.  Turkey, pork, shrimp, or even tofu would work well.
  • Yogurt substitutes – if you’re completely against yogurt, you can use heavy cream or full-fat coconut milk.
  • Longer cooking time – if you need or want this recipe to cook longer, don’t dice the chicken thighs, cook them whole, and they’ll cook for 6-7 hours.  This will result in a shredded chicken tikka masala.

MAKING CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA AHEAD OF TIME

Most curries, in addition to this one, taste almost even better the next day!  The flavors really have time to meld and intensify.

So feel free to make this dish ahead of time, then reheat the chicken in the sauce in a saucepan and enjoy!

STORING CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA

Leftovers, if you have any, should last 3-4 days if kept covered and refrigerated.

Scooping chicken tikka masala with naan bread

WHAT TO SERVE WITH CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA

My favorite way of serving this dish is alongside a big bowl of basmati rice, and with plenty of naan bread (preferably garlic naan!).

SPECIAL EQUIPMENT USED IN THIS RECIPE

  • Slow Cooker – I prefer using a smaller slow cooker for this recipe, as I think it cooks the chicken more evenly, and this is the model I have and love.  The exact slow cooker used in the photos is this one, but it’s pretty pricey!

BE SURE TO SCROLL DOWN TO CHECK OUT OTHER READERS’ COMMENTS!

AND DON’T FORGET, IF YOU’VE MADE THIS RECIPE, LEAVE A COMMENT AND PLEASE GIVE IT A STAR RATING!

This Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala is the easy homemade version of your Indian food-loving dreams!  Bold and flavorful, yet with a fraction of the work! #chickentikka #tikkamasala #curry #indianfood #slowcooker #crockpot #easyrecipe

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @the_chunky_chef on Facebook and Instagram!

This Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala is the easy homemade version of your Indian food-loving dreams!  Bold and flavorful, yet with a fraction of the work! #chickentikka #tikkamasala #curry #indianfood #slowcooker #crockpot #easyrecipe

Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala

4.96 from 21 votes
Author: The Chunky Chef
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
Calories: 454
Servings: 4 servings
(hover over # to adjust)
Print Rate Pin
This Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala is the easy homemade version of your Indian food-loving dreams! 

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 3 Tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion minced
  • 1 serrano pepper seeded and minced
  • 2 Tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 Tbsp garam masala
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp ground tumeric
  • 1/4 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 - 2 tsp granulated sugar
  • 1 Tbsp fresh ginger grated
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 15 oz can tomato sauce
  • 3/4 cup whole-fat plain yogurt (not greek)
  • 2 Tbsp fresh cilantro minced

Instructions

  • Heat oil in a large skillet over MED HIGH heat. Season chicken thighs with salt and pepper, then add to the skillet once hot. Sear chicken 2-3 minutes per side, until very browned. Remove to a cutting board and slice into 1 inch pieces.
  • Add onion, serrano, tomato paste, garam masala, tumeric, smoked paprika, cumin and sugar to same skillet over MED HIGH heat. Cook 3-4 minutes, until onion is soft and slightly browned at the edges.
  • Stir in garlic and ginger and cook another 30 seconds or so. Add 1/4 cup of water or chicken broth to scrape up any browned bits in the skillet.
  • Transfer skillet contents to bottom of slow cooker. Top with diced chicken and tomato sauce, stirring well to combine.
  • Cover and cook on LOW 3 hours.
  • After 3 hours, remove 1/2 cup of sauce from the slow cooker and slowly pour it into the yogurt, while whisking quickly. This tempers the yogurt so it doesn't curdle.
  • Stir all yogurt into the slow cooker and let sit, covered, for 5 minutes. Stir in cilantro and serve.

Want to save this recipe for later? Click the heart in the bottom right corner to save to your own recipe box!

Chef Tips

Recipe loosely adapted from America's Test Kitchen's The Complete Slow Cooker Cookbook

INSTANT POT VERSION

All ingredients are the same, but add 1/2 cup chicken broth
  1. Season chicken thighs with salt and pepper. Add vegetable oil to Instant Pot and select "Saute". When hot, add chicken and cook for a 2-3 minutes per side each side, until well browned. You don't want to overcrowd the pot, so you may need to do this in batches.
  2. Remove chicken to cutting board and cut into bite-sized pieces.
  3. Add onion, serrano, tomato paste, garam masala, tumeric, smoked paprika, cumin and sugar to Instant Pot. Cook 3-4 minutes, until onion is soft and slightly browned at the edges.
  4. Stir in garlic and ginger and cook another 30 seconds or so. Add chicken broth to scrape up any browned bits at the bottom of the pot. Browned bits on the bottom can result in a BURN notice from the Instant Pot.
  5. Return chicken pieces to the pot, along with tomato sauce.  Stir slightly.
  6. Close lid securely and make sure the valve is set to "sealing". Select "Manual" or "Pressure Cook" and adjust the +/- button until it reads 8 minutes.
  7. When finished cooking, carefully turn the valve to "venting" for a quick pressure release. When the steam has all escaped, and the pin has dropped, remove the lid.
  8. Use a slotted spoon to remove chicken to a plate and cover to keep warm. Select "Saute".
  9. Add yogurt to a small mixing bowl. Ladle about 1/2 cup of the sauce from the Instant Pot and slowly pour it to the yogurt, while whisking quickly. This tempers the yogurt so it doesn't curdle.
  10. Stir the yogurt mixture into the Instant Pot and let simmer for several minutes, until thickened to your liking.
  11. Return chicken to the pot, along with minced cilantro. Stir and serve hot.

FOR A SMOOTHER SAUCE

  • Scoop chicken pieces out of slow cooker or instant pot and set aside in a bowl (I like to use a slotted spoon for this).
  • Use an immersion blender to blend the sauce right in the slow cooker, or transfer the sauce to a standard blender and blend until smooth.  Be careful, as the sauce is very hot!
  • Add chicken back to pureed sauce and proceed with step 6

Video

Nutrition Disclaimer

The Chunky Chef is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

Did You Make This?Tag @the_chunky_chef on Instagram and hashtag it #thechunkychef so I can see what you made!
Tag on Insta! Leave a Rating Save for Later Saved!

 

This Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala is the easy homemade version of your Indian food-loving dreams!  Bold and flavorful, yet with a fraction of the work! #chickentikka #tikkamasala #curry #indianfood #slowcooker #crockpot #easyrecipe

You May Also Like...

  • This slow cooker Harissa chicken is absolutely brimming with bold, spicy flavors!  Chicken thighs, potatoes, carrots, and onion are slathered in a rich spice mix and then made easily in the crockpot! | #slowcooker #crockpot #chickenrecipes #harissa #weeknightmeal
    Slow Cooker Harissa Chicken
  • Making this homemade "rotisserie" chicken is as easy as 5 minutes of prep and a handful of spices.  Then sit back and let your slow cooker do all the work!  | #chicken #rotisseriechicken #slowcookerrecipe #crockpot #easyrecipe
    Easy Slow Cooker Rotisserie Chicken
  • Slow Cooker Cheesy Ham Chowder | Creamy, cheesy and hearty, this slow cooker ham chowder is the perfect way to use up any leftover ham!  Perfect for a busy weeknight meal! | https://www.thechunkychef.com | #chowder #soup #ham #leftover #slowcooker #crockpot
    Slow Cooker Cheesy Ham Chowder
  • This slow cooker Harissa chicken is absolutely brimming with bold, spicy flavors!  Chicken thighs, potatoes, carrots, and onion are slathered in a rich spice mix and then made easily in the crockpot! | #slowcooker #crockpot #chickenrecipes #harissa #weeknightmeal
    Slow Cooker Harissa Chicken
Previous Post
Next Post

Meet The Chunky Chef

Hey there! I'm Amanda. Wife, mother, photography nerd, and bacon lover! I believe that delicious meals should be easy to make. Now that you’re here, stay a bit, browse a few recipes, and let’s get cookin’!

Learn More

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Have a question? Submit your question, comment, or review below.

Recipe Rating




  1. Marie says

    Posted on 9/6 at 12:31 am

    This is a very delicious recipe. Made it tonight for dinner and I will definitely be making it again and again. Yummy! My husband loved it.

    Reply
  2. Kelli says

    Posted on 7/26 at 7:28 pm

    Love this recipe, and so does my husband! I added potatoes and carrots and slow-cooked it for an extra hour (on high). The last time I made this, I used only chicken, but we definitely preferred it with some veggies! Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
  3. Monika Fogarty says

    Posted on 7/5 at 7:13 pm

    Delicious! I substituted the yogurt with 1 cup of coconut milk. Great recipe!

    Reply
  4. Michelle says

    Posted on 2/20 at 2:46 pm

    New family favorite!

    Reply
  5. Vicki says

    Posted on 2/18 at 8:29 pm

    I wouldn’t exactly call this tikka masala, but it was a very good Indian style dish. I didn’t have much chicken so I added cauliflower and potatos. Family of 5 all approved!

    Reply
  6. Jessica says

    Posted on 2/16 at 11:21 pm

    I LOVE this recipe! I’ve adjusted a couple of things and make it for myself all the time. Thank you!

    Reply
  7. Toria says

    Posted on 2/16 at 6:27 pm

    This recipe was so good! I didn’t make it in the slow cooker as originally planned, but it tastes just as great on the stove top! Only adjustments I made were heavy cream instead of yogurt, more sugar for sweetness and cayenne for more heat since the cream made it less spicy. The family loved it!

    Reply
  8. Kayla says

    Posted on 1/21 at 8:25 pm

    Such a great and easy recipe! Thank you so much! Do you have any recommendations on making the sauce a bit sweeter?

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 1/21 at 9:25 pm

      So glad you enjoyed it! I’ve not tested this, but I would add a bit of light brown sugar 🙂

      Reply
  9. Kristin says

    Posted on 1/5 at 11:59 am

    Love love love this recipe! I am going to use chicken breasts next time just to see how it turns out. Also, would prefer chicken to be shredded as opposed to diced… do you think I could put the chicken breasts into the slow cooker whole and shred them as they become cooked?

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 1/5 at 9:01 pm

      So glad you enjoy the recipe! Yes that will definitely work, I mention it in the body of the post 🙂 You’ll want to cook this about 6-7 hours.

      Reply
  10. Gail says

    Posted on 10/27 at 1:35 pm

    Can I use boneless chicken breast in this slow cooker Tika Masala ?

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 10/27 at 9:38 pm

      Sure can!

      Reply
    • Mandy says

      Posted on 1/23 at 7:50 pm

      This looked so good I decided to try it, but ended up winging it. I couldnt find garam masala, so I used curry powder with a shake of allspice. I also added in a bit of canned diced tomatoes that were drained well. Ate it with some cilantro lime rice….it was amazing!!

      Reply
  11. Brae says

    Posted on 7/18 at 1:47 pm

    One of my favorite dinners. I replace the serrano with diced green chiles and add a ton of cayenne powder because that’s what I typically have on hand. At various points I’ve also used greek yogurt in place of regular, added a generous amount of cream to the sauce before serving, etc. and it’s all been equally tasty.

    Reply
  12. Rachel W. says

    Posted on 5/18 at 9:01 am

    I made this for dinner last night, and it is now one of my husband’s favorite meals! I served it with basmati rice and garlic naan, and… wow. Thanks for the great recipe!

    Reply
  13. Katie Foster says

    Posted on 5/14 at 11:04 am

    I have made this recipe so many times, and I love it! We always serve it with garlic naan and jasmine rice. Can it be made ahead and frozen?

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 5/15 at 9:38 am

      So happy you love the recipe! I’ve never tried freezing it, but I think it would work well 🙂

      Reply
  14. Genae Gilbertson says

    Posted on 2/24 at 12:19 pm

    Can you make this in the Instant Pot? I LOVE Tikka Masala and I LOVE your recipes, so this is a no-brainer 🙂 Just want to try in the instant pot but I’m not very familiar with how crockpot instructions differ from the instant pot. Absolutely want to try this tonight!

    Reply
  15. Melanie says

    Posted on 10/6 at 11:09 pm

    This is my husband’s favorite Indian recipe – can’t wait to try this!

    Reply
  16. Sara Welch says

    Posted on 10/4 at 5:45 pm

    This is everything a gourmet meal should be, and then some! Looks amazing; excited to make this for dinner tonight!

    Reply
  17. Cathy says

    Posted on 10/4 at 5:43 pm

    Absolute perfection! Definitely making this in place of takeout!

    Reply
  18. Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says

    Posted on 10/4 at 7:45 am

    I know for sure this slow cooker chicken tikka masala would be a huge hit in my house!

    Reply
  19. Chrissie Baker says

    Posted on 10/4 at 7:08 am

    Delicious! I’m not one to often use a slow cooker, but this might change that.

    Reply
  20. annie says

    Posted on 10/3 at 8:46 pm

    I’ve always been intimidated by curry, but this looks so easy!

    Reply
Newer Comments

Primary Sidebar

welcome!

Hey there! I'm Amanda. Wife, mother, photography nerd, and bacon lover! I believe that delicious meals should be easy to make. Now that you’re here, stay a bit, browse a few recipes, and let’s get cookin’!

New! Save Recipes To Your Own Account!

Free eBook!

Subscribe & receive my most popular recipes compiled into an easy ebook format!

download now!

Subscribe & Receive My Free Recipe Ebook!

Game Day Recipes!

These crowd-pleasing tender meatballs are smothered in a super flavorful honey garlic bbq sauce.  Perfect for parties, this crockpot meatball recipe couldn't be more simple to make! #meatballs #crockpot #slowcooker #honeygarlic #bbq #appetizer #party #honey #garlic #easyrecipe

Honey Garlic Crockpot Meatballs

2 hours 5 minutes

Smooth and silky queso dip, made using NO velveeta!  Packed with flavor, yet so easy to make, and party ready in just 20 minutes! #queso #dip #cheese #mexican #appetizer #party #cincodemayo #easyrecipe

Queso Dip Recipe

20 minutes

Creamy, cheesy, and oh so addicting, this bacon cheeseburger dip is just like your favorite gooey cheeseburger... but in a party-ready dip form! #bacon #gameday #cheesy #cheeseburger #party #appetizer #dip #easyrecipe

Creamy Bacon Cheeseburger Dip

32 minutes

Insanely tasty chicken wing recipe, dry rubbed, then hickory smoked to perfection.  And don't forget the homemade bourbon bbq sauce! #chickenwings #wingrecipe #smoked #smoker #smokedchickenwings #bourbon #bbq #crispy

Bourbon BBQ Smoked Chicken Wings

3 hours

This easy game day appetizer combines classic buffalo wing flavors with cool creaminess in an easy dip made in the crockpot. Perfect for any party, serve it up with chips or celery sticks and watch everyone go back for seconds!

Buffalo Chicken Dip (Crockpot Recipe)

2 hours 10 minutes

Chicken Taco Mexican Pinwheels | These pinwheels are filled with a creamy chicken taco filling, which is easily customizable, and rolled up to make a perfect appetizer or party food! | http://thechunkychef.com

Chicken Taco Mexican Pinwheels

15 minutes

More Holiday Recipes >

Who doesn’t love free stuff?

Who doesn't love free stuff? Get an ad-free ebook of my most popular recipes, plus be the FIRST to know about new things coming to the site!

Looking for something?

As Seen On…

Stay Connected

subscribe to get new posts via email:

Quick & Easy

Dinner Favorites

Hearty and positively soul-warming, this beef barley soup simmers all day in the slow cooker, which makes for an incredibly rich soup recipe! #beefbarley #soup #slowcooker #crockpot #comfortfood #barley #beefsoup #easyrecipe #dinner
M

Crockpot Beef Barley Soup

white bowl of chicken and dumplings
T

Instant Pot Chicken & Dumplings

HONEY GARLIC SALMON - Succulent and tender salmon filets cooked in a mouthwatering simple honey garlic sauce, then broiled until sticky and caramelized.  Made with simple ingredients, in one pan, and in just 20 minutes! #salmon #honeygarlic #onepan #easyrecipe #dinner #seafood #fish
W

Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon

Light and filling, this Italian Wedding Soup is perfectly delicious comfort food, all year round.  Made in one pan, and ready in 30 minutes, this recipe is great for a weeknight meal! #soup #souprecipe #Italianweddingsoup #onepot #30minutemeal #weeknight #dinner #easyrecipe #homemaderecipe
R

Italian Wedding Soup

This Honey Garlic Chicken is one incredible weeknight dinner idea. Juicy chicken coated and cooked with a glorious sauce made with soy, hoisin, garlic, honey and more! Toss it all in the slow cooker and let it do the work for you! #dinner #chicken #asian #honey #garlic #honeygarlic #easyrecipe #weeknight #slowcooker #crockpot
F

Honey Garlic Chicken

S

Swedish Meatballs

Opens in a new window Opens an external site Opens an external site in a new window
free e-book!

Download MY Free Recipe eBook!

Subscribe & receive my most popular recipes compiled into an easy ebook format!

get my copy!

Subscribe & Receive My Free Recipe Ebook!

As Featured On:

Back to Top

Recipes

Dinners

Appetizers

Desserts

Slow Cooker

Learn to Cook

Start Here

Tips & Tricks

e-Cookbook

Easy Recipes

  • About
  • Work With Me
  • Privacy
  • Contact
© 2023 The Chunky Chef
Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled
Back to Top