This post was created in partnership with siggi’s.
What is Butter Chicken?
Indian Butter Chicken, also known as murgh makhani, is a traditional comfort food dish from India that’s made from chicken and a mildly spiced curry sauce. The signature thick, rich, and creamy sauce in Butter Chicken typically includes cream, yogurt, tomato paste, and fragrant spices. Butter Chicken, as its name implies, also contains butter to add some nice richness to the sauce. In this recipe, you dot cold butter pieces over the ingredients in the slow cooker so it melts into the sauce as it cooks … and a little goes a long way! Our version of this flavorful Indian dish is loaded up with veggies and made right in the slow cooker for ultimate preparation ease.
Ingredients for Crockpot Butter Chicken Recipe
Here’s what you need to make this creamy Indian Butter Chicken Recipe right away:
Yellow onions – we’ve loaded up the onions in this recipe, which get caramelized at the bottom of the slow cookerBoneless skinless chicken breast – can use boneless skinless chicken thigh meat, too Red bell pepperCarrotsTomato sauceTomato pasteLemonGarlic cloves – can sub 1 teaspoon garlic powderMinced fresh ginger – fresh ginger is recommended, but you can use 1 teaspoon of dried ginger insteadIndian spices – use curry powder and garam masala for that warm, fragrant flavor Indian Butter Chicken recipe are known forSaltSalted butter – you just need 1 tablespoon of butter to create the delicious rich and creamy sauce Siggi’s plain skyr – we recommend siggi’s plain skyr (which is a thick, strained yogurt). We like siggi’s because it’s made from only a few ingredients and not a lot of sugar. You can use either 0% or 4% plain siggi’s skyr with great results Half-and-half – most Indian Butter Chicken recipes call for heavy cream, but we’ve found that the combo of yogurt and half-and-half is perfect for creating that thick and creamy texture
Find the ingredients list with exact measurements in the recipe card below.
How to make Butter Chicken
Since you can make this Crockpot Butter Chicken recipe right in the crockpot, it comes together with ease. Here are the quick steps to get it cooking:
Layer the onions in the slow cooker: In the crock of a 6-quart or 8-quart slow cooker, place the sliced onions. Combine remaining ingredients and add to the slow cooker: In a large bowl, combine the chicken, bell pepper, carrots, tomato sauce, tomato paste, lemon juice, garlic, ginger, curry powder, garam masala, and salt; toss until well combined. Add the saucy chicken mixture to the slow cooker over top of the sliced onions. Add the butter: Dot the pieces of butter over top of the mixture. Slow cook on the low or high setting: Place the lid on the slow cooker. Cook on high for 4 ½ hours or on low for 6 ½ hours. Add the yogurt and half-and-half: After the cooking time is up, remove the lid. Stir all ingredients until well combined, and turn off the slow cooker. When the liquid stops simmering and steaming (after 5-10 minutes), stir in the yogurt and the half-and-half. (NOTE: If you stir in the yogurt and half-and-half before letting the mixture cool down a little, it could curdle.) Garnish and serve: Serve over hot cooked rice or cauliflower rice, and/or with naan bread. Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro, toasted sesame seeds, and a squeeze of lime.
How to make Butter Chicken Recipe Video
For the complete directions and ingredient amounts, scroll down to the recipe card below. All of our recipes include the nutrition analysis, listing calories, protein, carbohydrates, fiber, sugar, sodium, and more per serving.
How to Serve This Crockpot Butter Chicken Recipe
This Indian Butter Chicken recipe, like so many creamy and delicious Indian-inspired recipes, tastes great when serve over a grain, such as rice, and with some key garnishes.
after the cooking time is done, turn off the slow cooker remove the lid and allow the mixture to stop steaming and simmering (wait about 10 minutes) gently stir in the yogurt and the half-and-half
Cooked rice or quinoa (see our method here for cooking perfect jasmine rice in the Instant Pot)Naan flatbreadFor a grain-free dish, serve this butter chicken over cauliflower ricePerfect garnishes: We like to add fresh cilantro, a squeeze of lime juice, and toasted sesame seeds.
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Photo Credit: The photos in this blog post were taken by Rachel of Half Acre House
Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on high for 4 ½ hours or on low for 6 ½ hours. After the time is up, remove the lid, stir all ingredients until well combined, and turn off the slow cooker. When the liquid stops simmering and steaming (after 5-10 minutes), stir in the yogurt and the half-and-half. (NOTE: If you stir in the yogurt and half-and-half before letting the mixture cool down a little, it could curdle.) Serve over hot cooked rice or cauliflower rice, and/or with naan bread, and garnish with chopped fresh cilantro and toasted sesame seeds.
This post was made possible by siggi’s. Although we received compensation for this post, the opinions expressed here are – as always – 100% our own. Thank you for supporting the great companies we work with thereby allowing us to continue creating great recipes and content for you. For ultimate success, we highly recommend reading the tips in the full blog post above. All photos and content are copyright protected. Please do not use our photos without prior written permission. If you wish to republish a recipe, please rewrite the recipe in your own unique words. Link back to the source recipe here on The Real Food Dietitians. Thank you!
