Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala - The Girl on Bloor (2024)

This Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala is SO flavourful and cozy! It’s a great hands-off dinner idea that cooks all day in the crockpot.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This is one of my favourite recipes to make in the winter. Just imagine yourself curled up in a blanket on the couch diving into a piping hot bowl of this tikka masala over rice!

• Easy dump dinner: Just dump all the ingredients in the crockpot and let it slow cook all day for a hands-off meal.
• Indian takeout made easy: You don't need any special spices, you should already have what you need at home!

Ingredients and substitutions

• Butter – margarine or olive oil would be good too.
• Yellow onion – white onion or shallots would also work.
• Chicken – use chicken thighs, tofu, chickpeas, lentils or stewing beef.
• Garlic – freshly minced garlic is best but jarred minced garlic will work in a pinch.
• Gingerroot – use 1 tsp. ground ginger powder instead.
• Brown sugar – use white sugar or honey instead.
• Garam masala – make your own using 1 tbsp cumin, 1.5 tsp coriander, 1.5 tsp cardamom, 1.5 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp cloves and 1/2 tsp nutmeg.
• Turmeric – use saffron or leave it out altogether.
• Cumin – add in some extra garam masala, curry powder or even chili powder.
• Chili powder – mix together paprika, cumin and cayenne in a pinch.
• Crushed tomatoes – diced tomatoes can be used instead.
• Sour cream – use canned coconut milk or 1/3 cup heavy cream. Plain Greek yogurt will work but tastes different.
• Cilantro – leave this off if you’re not a fan of cilantro.
• Naan – serve with pita or leave it out to cut down on calories.

How to make tikka masala

Step 1: Add everything to the slow cooker.

Add everything but the sour cream to the slow cooker.

Step 2: Slow cook.

Cook on high for 3 hours or low for 6 hours.

Step 3: Make the rice.

Make the rice in a rice cooker or on the stovetop.

Step 4: Stir in the sour cream and serve.

Serve over rice and garnish with cilantro.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you make this recipe dairy free?

If you want to make dairy-free tikka masala, substitute the butter for your favourite dairy-free substitute like margarine. You can leave the sour cream out entirely or substitute it for a can of full-fat coconut milk, although the flavors will be slightly different.

Is it spicy?

This slow cooker chicken tikka masala recipe has a bit of spice to it, but it's not overly spicy. To reduce the spice, use less chili powder. If you want to give it even more heat, add in some red chili flakes or cayenne pepper.

Can you make it in the Instant Pot instead?

This recipe is designed for the slow cooker, but if you're looking for a faster option, you can try my Instant Pot chicken tikka masala recipe.

How to store & freeze chicken tikka masala

This recipe is great for meal prep! Here's how you can store and freeze it:

• Meal prep: Store any leftovers in the fridge for 5 days. Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 mins then dig in.
• To freeze: Once it's cooled, freeze for up to 3 months in airtight containers or Ziploc bags.
• To reheat from frozen: Let it defrost in the fridge then reheat as normal. To reheat right from frozen, microwave for 6-7 mins, stirring halfway through.

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Meal prep tools

• Order some garam masala if you can't find it at your local grocery store.
• Glass meal prep bowls are so great for microwaving and reheating your food safely.
• Arice cookerwill automatically cook the side dish of rice for you.
• Restock your freezer with free-range poultry from Butcher Box.
• These bento box containers are perfect for packing the rice and curry separately in the same container.