Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala
Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger
- 1 large yellow onion
- 1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes
- 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 2 teaspoons garam masala
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 cup coconut milk
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
Supplies
- slow cooker
- peeler
Directions
Cut the chicken thighs into 1-inch pieces. Place the chicken in the slow cooker.
Peel and mince the ginger and dice the onion. Drain the can of diced tomatoes. Place the ginger, onion, and tomatoes in the slow cooker.
Next add the garlic, brown sugar, kosher salt, coriander, garam masala, cinnamon, and cumin to the slow cooker. Stir until they are well combined. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours.
When cooking is complete, stir in the coconut milk and heavy cream until they are well blended. Heat the tikka masala for an additional 30 minutes on high. Serve and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Place your chicken tikka masala over a bed of rice and garnish with freshly chopped cilantro.
Slow cooker chicken tikka masala is a classic creamy curry-based Indian dish. Most traditional recipes contain chicken, onion, garlic, ginger, coconut, and cream. However, it’s okay to be creative with this dish. You can add ingredients to make it spicier, and what you serve it with can change the flavor of your meal. For anyone with dietary restrictions, it’s relatively simple to replace ingredients as needed.
Make It Hot!
You can add any of these spices to your chicken tikka masala for some extra heat:
- cayenne pepper
- Kashmiri chili powder
- red chili powder
- fresh-chopped chilis
These ingredients will also bring out the bold flavors of the spices used in the recipe. Even if you aren’t a huge fan of spicy food, try using one of these ingredients — just a little bit of heat can add a lot of character to your chicken tikka masala.
Diet-Friendly Variations
Some ingredients in this chicken tikka masala recipe are not suitable for those with dietary restrictions.
Vegan
If you are on a vegan diet, replace the heavy cream with coconut cream. Almond and soy yogurts are also suitable heavy-cream replacements. Use extra-firm tofu in place of the chicken in this recipe.
What To Serve With Chicken Tikka Masala
The smooth, creamy, earthy, and spicy flavors of chicken tikka masala open up your food pairing options quite a bit. Here are a few things you could serve alongside this dish:
- basmati rice and naan
- cucumber salad and naan
The next time you’re looking to mix up your weekly meal routine, try making this chicken tikka masala. This recipe is loaded with great flavors that will give your palate some welcome variety. Our slow cooker chicken tikka masala is so tasty that you might have a new favorite meal!
