A rich, creamy, and aromatic slow-cooked Indian butter chicken made with tender chicken simmered in a buttery tomato-spice sauce. It’s a cozy, set-it-and-forget-it meal that’s perfect served over fluffy rice or warm naan.
Ingredients
2 lb (about 900 g) boneless, skinless chicken (breasts or thighs)
1 large onion, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
2 tablespoons butter
1 can (about 400 ml) tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes
1 small can (6 oz) of tomato paste
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 cup heavy cream (or full-fat coconut milk for dairy‑free)
Spices:
2 Tbsp garam masala
1 Tbsp curry powder or powder of choice
1 tsp ground turmeric
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp chili powder (or cayenne, to taste)
Salt and pepper, to taste
¼ cup plain yogurt (or non-dairy yogurt)
Fresh cilantro (coriander), chopped, for garnish (optional)
Cooked basmati rice or naan, for serving
Instructions:
Prep the chicken and aromatics
Cut the chicken into bite‑sized pieces (about 1-inch cubes).
In your slow cooker, place the chopped onion, garlic, and grated ginger.
Add the raw chicken on top of the aromatics so that it sits evenly.
Add butter
Scatter the butter pieces around and on top of the chicken. This will melt as the dish cooks and give richness.
Prepare the sauce
In a bowl, whisk together the tomato sauce (or crushed tomatoes), tomato paste, lemon juice, and the spice mix (garam masala, curry powder, turmeric, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper) until smooth.
Pour this sauce mixture over the chicken in the slow cooker, making sure it’s well coated.
Slow cook
Cover the slow cooker with its lid.
Cook on low for about 4–6 hours, or on high for around 2–3 hours, until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.
Finish the sauce
About 15–30 minutes before serving, stir in the heavy cream (or coconut milk) and the yogurt to the slow cooker.
Replace the lid and let it continue cooking so the cream‑yogurt mixture warms through.
Taste and adjust
Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning if necessary (salt, spices).
If you like, garnish with chopped fresh cilantro right before serving.
Serve
Serve the butter chicken over cooked basmati rice or with naan bread.