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You guys are going to LOVE this Crockpot Butter Chicken!
This easy healthier Crockpot Butter Chicken is so delicious! It’s so easy to make, it’s kind of embarrassing. And on top of being easy, it’s also healthier than the traditional Butter Chicken. YES!
You see, there was a reason for that Naan yesterday.
Butter Chicken.
Butter Chicken and Naan just need each other. Especially when both are homemade and both are incredibly awesome.
And oh my gosh… So easy!
When I set out to make the Butter Chicken I wanted it to be crazy easy.
My cousin Maggie graduated from college with a teaching degree in May, and in August she started teaching full-time. Yeah, only three months later she landed her first teaching job and it’s full-time, with her very own kindergarten classroom! I know, right? The girl is pretty awesome and one of the hardest workers I know.
She’s also very busy, but really who the heck isn’t these days?
Maggie has been asking for easy crockpot recipes. You know, the ones that you can just throw everything in the bowl, turn it on and go!
So I adapted the classic Butter Chicken recipe, made a few changes to make it healthier, threw everything in the crockpot and prayed. Prayed that this (way too easy, most likely would never work) meal actually tasted somewhat edible.
Sometimes when I experiment things can turn out just plain bad. Like all the recipes I made this past weekend. Ugh…so disappointing. Let’s just not go there. But sometimes…
Yeah, sometimes I get lucky. I knew three hours in that the recipe was gonna be good.
The house smelled amazing. Almost fall like. It was awesome and so cozy.
Gotta love cozy comfort food that is not really comfort food.
I mean it’s comfort food, just a little lighter.
It’s seriously so cozy and perfect for quick weeknight meals.
Like I said, just throw it all in and go!
I have to say that normally I like browning my meat before I put it in the crockpot, but for this I did not miss it at all. There is so much flavor in the creamy sauce that you don’t need to brown the chicken first.
Which is just kind of awesome. I mean who wants to clean another pan? Not me, I’m already up to my eyeballs in dishes.
Oh, and seriously, the Naan is a must.
Easy Healthier Crockpot Butter Chicken
Servings: 6 servings
Calories Per Serving: 456 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast cut into bite size chunks
- 1/2 onion finely minced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 cloves garlic minced or grated
- 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
- 2 teaspoons curry powder
- 1-2 teaspoons Thai red curry paste
- 2 tablespoons garam masala
- 1/2-1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, use less if you are not a spicy person
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
- 1 (14 ounce) can coconut milk
- 1/2 cup greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup half and half or heavy cream
- cooked white rice for serving
- Fresh homemade naan for scooping (a must!)
Instructions
- In a large glass measuring cup or bowl mix together the coconut milk, greek yogurt and cream. Stir in the tomato paste, garlic, ginger and all the spices. Mix well.
- Spray the inside of your crockpot bowl with cooking spray or grease with olive oil. To the bowl sprinkle the onion over the bottom. Add the chicken and then pour the coconut milk mixture over the chicken so the chicken is completely covered. Add the butter and place the lid on the crockpot. Cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 6 to 8 hours. I like to stir mine once or twice during cooking, but it is not necessary. When ready to serve taste and season with salt and pepper if desired. Serve over rice with a big piece of fresh [Naan | https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/homemade-naan-step-step-photos/]
Obviously.
when do i add the red curry paste? that is not clear in the directions.
Hi Kaitlyn,
Sorry for any confusion, you can add that in step 1. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
Can you make this with cauliflower?
I have done this with tofu and it’s fantastic!
Hi! I tried this recipe cause I love butter chicken! It didn’t taste like butter chicken, still delicious though. I think there might be some confusion on recipe names cause I checked your Instagram and post and this recipe and it says Creamy Coconut Chicken Tikka Masala on Instagram. Did recipe names get mixed up? The ingredients and recipe are the exact same. Thanks!
Hey Jacqueline! Here is a similar recipe I’ve made that uses cauliflower! xT
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/indian-coconut-butter-cauliflower/
Love this dish!! So easy and so yummy! The sauce does tend to be a bit thin for my preference so I tend to add cornstarch slurry at the end (1Tbsp cornstarch mixed with 1Tbsp cold water) and that adds just a little thickened without compromising the flavor much! Super easy and delicious. Thanks Tieghan!
So glad you enjoyed this recipe! Have an amazing day! xT
This was a really great crockpot recipe using pantry staples I had on hand…. I omitted the ginger as I didn’t have any, and also replaced the Garam masala with a cinnamon stick stuffed with cloves during the last hour of cooking because I did not have that either. It was quite wet so I took the lid off the last hour of cooking and that really thickened it up, and I added a good amount of honey to give it a bit of sweetness the last hour as well, my family really enjoyed this dish…. This is my new go to butter chicken recipe for sure! Thank you!!! Another hit!
Sounds like you nailed this recipe! Thanks for trying it out! xT
This was my first time trying one of your recipes and I am a little disappointed. I followed the recipe to a T and the sauce came out really watery and not rich a creamy like I’m used to. The taste was also a little bland too. Is there any way I can salvage this dish?
Hi Erica,
Thanks for trying this recipe and sharing your feedback, sorry to hear it was not enjoyed! I would try popping it on the stove top to see if that helps to thicken the sauce and develop the flavors! xx
Made this twice and both times I didn’t love it. It was just kinda flat and bitter. I added some sugar to offset the bitterness but it was just kinda meh. Maybe it’s me.
Hi Rebs,
Thanks for giving this recipe a try and sharing your feedback, sorry to hear it was not enjoyed. Is there anything you are adjusting or anything that I can help with? Let me know! xx
Can this be made in an instant pot?
Hi Melanie,
You bet, just cook on high pressure for 8 minutes:) I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xx
It’s been raining for two days so decided to make this dish. The smell from the crockpot filled the house. This was not as rich as traditional butter chicken which I really enjoyed and the flavours from the spices took it over the top. Pure comfort food. Another knockout recipe from Tieghan.
Hey Natalie,
Happy Monday!! 🍋🫐 I truly appreciate you making this recipe and your comment, love to hear that it was a hit! xT
What greens did you too with?
Hi Anneli,
I just served this with some chopped cilantro:) Please let me know if you have any other questions! xx
I made this tonight and flavors were good but I’m wondering what went wrong. It wasn’t as thick and rich as butter chicken I’ve had in the past (maybe due to it being a healthier version). I used low fat coconut milk so maybe I need the full fat one. I’d try it again but would love to know where I went wrong. Thanks!
Hey Angie,
Happy Friday!!🍀 I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your comment, so glad to hear it was delish! I would try full fat coconut milk. The crockpot could also have caused a thinner sauce, you could try this version next time:
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/butter-chicken/
I hope this helps! xT
Just made this for the first time and I’m in love. Also love that it’s slightly healthier than normal so I don’t feel bad about using this as meal prep for a couple of nights!
Hey Fatima,
Amazing!! So glad to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks so much for making it! xT