Slow-Cooker Butter Chicken Recipe on Food52 (2024)

One-Pot Wonders

by: The Suburban Soapbox

March22,2021

4

20 Ratings

  • Prep time 20 minutes
  • Cook time 4 hours 20 minutes
  • Serves 8

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Author Notes

The warm spices combined with the fruity, sweet flavors of butternut squash and golden raisins make this classic butter chicken more modern and flavorful. As if Butter Chicken needed to be more flavorful, this recipe is my go-to when the weather gets chilly. —The Suburban Soapbox

  • Test Kitchen-Approved
  • Your Coziest Slow-Cooker Meal Contest Finalist

What You'll Need

Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoonolive oil
  • 3 poundsboneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • 1/4 cupcornstarch
  • 1/2 teaspoonkosher salt, plus more to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoonpepper
  • 1 1/2 cupschopped onion
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tablespoonsground turmeric
  • 2 tablespoonsgaram masala
  • 2 tablespoonsground cumin
  • 1/2 tablespooncayenne pepper
  • 8 ouncescanned tomato sauce
  • 3 tablespoonsfresh ginger, peeled and grated or finely minced
  • 2 cupscubed butternut squash
  • 3/4 cupgolden raisins
  • 3 serrano or jalapeño peppers, seeded and diced
  • 2 cupschicken stock
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 1/2 cupshalf and half
  • 1 1/2 cupslightly packed fresh spinach
  • Fresh chopped cilantro, for garnish
Directions
  1. In a large skillet (or your stovetop-proof slow-cooker insert), heat the oil over medium heat. Add the chicken, cornstarch, salt and pepper to a large bowl. Toss to coat the chicken completely.
  2. Cooking in batches, add the chicken to the skillet and brown on all sides. Transfer to a plate, and repeat with the remaining chicken.
  3. Drain off all but 1 tablespoon of fat, and add the onion to the pan. Cook until softened and then stir in the garlic. Cook for 1 minute longer. Transfer the chicken and onion mixture to the slow cooker.
  4. In a small bowl, whisk together the turmeric, garam masala, cumin, cayenne pepper, tomato sauce, and ginger. Pour this mixture over the chicken mixture.
  5. Add the squash, raisins, chicken stock, cinnamon stick and peppers to the slow cooker. Stir to combine. Cover and cook on Low for 6 hours or on High for 4 hours.
  6. 10 minutes prior to serving, stir in the half and half and spinach. Season to taste. Serve with rice and chopped cilantro, if desired.

Tags:

  • Stew
  • Indian
  • Chicken
  • Chicken Thigh
  • Slow Cooker
  • One-Pot Wonders
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Gluten-Free
  • Entree
Contest Entries
  • Your Coziest Slow-Cooker Meal

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Robin Duncan

  • Danuta Gajewski

  • Cynthia Walker Condrich

  • Pamela Kent

Popular on Food52

10 Reviews

brushjl January 6, 2022

Definitely not a traditional butter chicken, but delicious. This clearly is a personal taste dish. Most of the time I have to choke back butternut squash so was more than happy for them to become part of the sauce, ditto the raisins. I wouldn't change the spice proportions, I loved the spice! But that's me. Also I used heavy cream, I really wanted the Indian butter chicken taste and not coconut milk, but this dish can be adapted to anyone's taste.

Robin D. March 31, 2021

I cut the recipe in half with great results. Added the squash and raisins at the last hour of cooking. They really didn’t even need that much time. Very pleasant, flavorful dish. Husband added a bit of Chile crunch which added a bit of heat and depth to the dish. I would make this again. Also cut the spices to 1 tbsp each for the 1/2 recipe that I made.

Linda D. January 14, 2021

After reading the reviews (thanks to all!) I swapped out the half & half for a whole can of full fat coconut milk. I added the squash and raisins with just an hour to go. Next time, I will increase the squash to three cups and the raisins to one cup. Thank you for an absolutely delicious recipe!

Danuta G. November 5, 2020

Because my shopping has been severely cut down to once a week due in part to the pandemic and also my husband and I have immunocompromised systems, I don't always have all the ingredients on hand, especially if I haven't planned ahead for a particular recipe so substitutions are a must! Last night I decided, last minute, to make this recipe to use up leftover butternut squash from another recipe, and substituted tinned coconut milk instead of the half and half (not something I ever buy) and was really pleased with the result. The coconut milk really mellowed out the sauce and we both enjoyed that "hint" of coconut flavour, even though I did cut back on the quantities of spices from reading other reviews here. So glad that you allow readers' comments and reviews - it does help when chosing new recipes! Definitely a recipe I will make again!

Olivia March 12, 2020

This was almost super great, but honestly it fell a little short for me. :( The cayenne was too much, so I'd cut back on that next time. Also the squash and raisins stewed with the other spices so long that they lost all of their own flavor and ended up kind of bland and mushy, so I'd probably add those a little later next time.

lynx60489 September 4, 2020

Thanks for the great tips! I have made this twice now and it is an awesome recipe! I added the squash and raisins with two hours left on a six hour low cycle and they were still quite soft. I think you could even go to the one and a half hour mark and it would still be fine. I too majorly cut back on spice. I skipped the pepper entirely and I probably put a little bit less than a teaspoon of cayenne. It is still delicious and you can taste the cayenne without it being spicy. If you cut back on the spice a lot, I think you can also cut back on the half and half. I put the full amount, but next time I will cut it back to one cup or 3/4 cup.

Cynthia W. March 8, 2020

Any suggestions on a substitute for sweet potatoes? I love them however husband can’t stand them. Yukon? Or another veg?

acwhitney March 8, 2020

It calls for butternut squash, not sweet potatoes. Butternut squash would have been my substitute suggestion.

don February 7, 2020

I cut back on the cayenne to a scant teaspoon, and subbed some about a tablespoon of chili paste for the jalapenos, and it still had plenty of punch, although not too much. Really liked this a lot.

Pamela K. January 22, 2020

This recipe is definitely a winner! It's one of those recipes that will quickly become a family favorite!

Slow-Cooker Butter Chicken Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

Can I use water instead of broth for crockpot chicken? ›

Using a nice, long, low-and-slow cook time helps chicken breasts retain plenty of moisture - but you can certainly opt to add a splash of water or chicken stock to the crockpot if you like!

Do you have to cook chicken before crockpot? ›

Chicken breast fillets can be placed directly into the slow cooker, but to create richer, deeper flavours and better visual appeal, first sear the chicken breast in a hot pan over medium-high heat on each side for 1-2 minutes.

What makes butter chicken red? ›

The raw chicken is marinated in a mixture of yogurt and the spice tandoori masala. Cayenne pepper, red chili powder or Kashmiri red chili powder is used to give it a fiery red hue. A higher amount of turmeric produces an orange colour.

Can you use butter to cook chicken? ›

Can you cook chicken with butter instead of oil? You have to cook chicken at a lower temperature if you bake or pan-fry chicken using butter instead of oil. This is because butter has a lower scorching temperature. Your chicken will cook more slowly, but it's also likely to be juicier and full of more flavor.

Is it better to cook chicken on high or low in crockpot? ›

Always cook your boneless skinless chicken breasts on LOW for the best results. I do not recommend cooking boneless chicken breast on HIGH, as it will become very dry and tough, even if you check it early. On high, the chicken turns out drier; I consistently have the best results with low.

Should chicken be covered in liquid in slow cooker? ›

When cooking meat or poultry, the water or liquid level should cover the ingredients to ensure effective heat transfer throughout the crock. Some manufacturers of slow cookers recommend adding liquid to fill the stoneware 1/2 to 3/4 full. Follow the manufacturer's recipes and directions for best results.

Is it OK to put raw chicken in slow cooker? ›

Yes, you can put raw chicken in a slow cooker! Slow cookers and Crock-Pots are designed to cook raw meats. The direct heat from the pot, lengthy cooking time and steam created from the tightly covered container destroys bacteria, making slow cooking safe. You can put frozen chicken in a slow cooker, too!

How long to leave chicken in crockpot on low? ›

Cover your crock pot and cook chicken breasts on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Chicken is done when the internal temp reaches 165 degrees F. Use chicken in your favorite recipes. Perfect for shredding!

Can I throw raw chicken in the slow cooker? ›

"Raw meat is a slow-cooker staple, but you may need to add it to the pot before adding other ingredients like green vegetables," she shared.

What thickens butter chicken? ›

Yoghurt or heavy cream:

To achieve a creamy, tangy curry sauce, incorporate yoghurt or heavy cream. Stir them in gently, as high heat may cause curdling. These ingredients are ideal for creating a luxurious texture in dishes like butter chicken or tikka masala.

What is the sauce in butter chicken made of? ›

It's all about that sauce when it comes to authentic butter chicken. You'll be surprised to find that you only need an onion, a can of crushed tomatoes, garlic and ginger, and some added spices to continue those beautiful flavours in the sauce.

Can you overcook butter chicken? ›

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Butter Chicken Preparation

Be cautious when adding salt, as some ingredients like garam masala may already contain salt. Do not overcook the chicken, as it can become tough and dry. Be patient while simmering the sauce, as this allows the flavours to develop fully.

Why does butter chicken taste so good? ›

With its sweetly spiced tomato and cream-based gravy, butter chicken is a comforting, warming dish that feels decadent thanks to its silky-smooth richness. It's a dish that can be cooked with either breast meat or chicken thighs, with bones or without.

Why is butter chicken so tasty? ›

The reason why Butter chicken is such a delightful dish is because of, obviously, butter. The splendid blend of cream sauce, butter, spiced up tomatoes, and an array of Indian spices melts in your mouth instantly. If you're a chicken lover, this is a must-try dish for you.

Why is my butter chicken chewy? ›

You're not cooking the chicken right

Butter chicken tastes good only when the chicken is cooked right. If it's hard and rubbery, it will obviously be difficult to chew and spoil your entire experience of relishing the dish. Always cook the chicken on a low-medium flame to prevent it from becoming hard.

What happens if I use water instead of chicken broth? ›

Fortunately, we're here to let you in on a game-changing secret: Water makes a more than acceptable replacement for chicken stock in most soups, stews, sauces, and braises. And in many cases, water actually produces a better-tasting result.

What can I use instead of chicken broth in the crockpot? ›

This one is a no-brainer: Just use another kind of broth! Vegetable broth is an easy substitute for chicken broth—it has a very similar flavor and color.

Can you cook chicken in water instead of chicken broth? ›

How I Boil Chicken. My method is very simple and straightforward: Just cover the chicken with about an inch of water and bring it to a boil. Lower the heat until the water is simmering, cover the pot, and let the chicken cook. That's it!

Can you cook chicken in water instead of broth? ›

The liquid you use for poached chicken can be as simple as water, which works well if you want the other flavors in your chicken recipe to shine. Alternatively, you can use more flavorful liquids such as chicken broth, apple cider, dry white wine, or a combination to infuse your chicken with a more robust flavor.

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