Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala

low Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala is incredibly easy to make at home, by adding all the ingredients to your slow cooker and let it cook to perfection.

Crockpot chicken tikka masala recipe

Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala is such a flavorful and easy dish to make in your crockpot. This Indian-inspired dish is among our favorite of all time. It is rich, flavorful, and creamy.

Thanks to all the spices, this is such a flavorful and aromatic dish. Incredibly easy to make in your slow cooker, this restaurant-style meal can now be enjoyed on busy weeknights.

Chicken Tikka Masala has been on a rotation menu here. The tangy tomato sauce, the sweet cream, the soft and tender meat, work together to create a luxurious and amazing meal! You can serve it over rice with some buttery garlic naan on the side.

What spices do you need to make tikka masala sauce?

• Cumin and Ground Turmeric
• Coriander and Garam Masala
• Curry Powder and Ginger
• Garlic Powder and Onion Powder
• Tomato Sauce and Tomato Paste

What is the difference between butter chicken and chicken tikka masala?

Both dishes are very similar, the only main difference lies in the way they are cooked and in the ingredients used. Butter Chicken uses a lot of butter,  whereas Tikka Masala uses more masala, or spices.

How to make slow cooker chicken tikka masala?

For exact ingredients and steps, see the recipe card below. But the general steps are as follows:

1. Combine the spices together: In a bowl, whisk to combine the species together.
2. Season the poultry: Then, add the cubed chicken to the spice mix and coat it.
3. Add the ingredients to the slow cooker: Add the season chicken pieces to the slow cooker together with chopped onion, fresh ginger, diced tomato, tomato paste, and tomato sauce. Then, stir well.
4. Cook: Cover the crockpot and cook for 4 hours on HIGH or 8 hours on LOW.
5. Add the cream: At the end, add the heavy cream and stir gently.
6. Serve: Garnish with some parsley or cilantro, and serve over some white rice.

How to make chicken tikka masala in the pressure cooker?

This delicious, Indian-inspired dish, can be also easily made in the Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker. Check my recipe for Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala.

Can you freeze chicken tikka masala?

Absolutely! To do so, you will have to let the chicken mixture and rice cool to room temperature, then seal in separate large zip-top plastic freezer bags. Label with the date, and freeze for up to 3-4 months, or longer if you use a deep freezer.

How do you thaw chicken tikka masala?

• First, transfer the frozen dish to your refrigerator the night before you wish to use it to allow it to thaw. Then. add the sauce to a saucepan and reheat it to at least 165 F before you consume it.
• Microwave the chicken or heat it up in the saucepan, you can also put it in a hot oven until it warms up.

Recipe tips:

• This recipe uses quite a few spices which is why it is so delicious and flavorful. You can also use more spice mix for a more complex flavor. Also, to make it extra smoky, add some smoked paprika.
• We love to use chicken breasts when making this recipe. However, feel free to substitute the breasts with thighs. They are also flavorful and are perfect to cook in the Slow Cooker. 
• This dish is best served over basmati rice.
• If you have leftovers, simply store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.