Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala is a flavorful and convenient dish that brings the vibrant tastes of Indian cuisine to the comfort of your home, offering a tantalizing blend of tender chicken, aromatic spices, and a rich tomato-based sauce that will delight your taste buds.
Add the diced onion, minced garlic, and grated ginger to the bowl of your slow cooker. Add ¼ cup of water. Stir to combine.
Add the tomato sauce, and stir again to combine.
In a small bowl, combine the garam masala, cumin, turmeric, smoked paprika, salt, cayenne, and pepper. Sprinkle the spice mix over both sides of the chicken thighs, coating them liberally.
Place the seasoned chicken on top of the tomato mixture.
Place the lid on the slow cooker, and turn the slow cooker on. Cook on high for 3 hours or low for 6 hours.
After the cook time is finished, the chicken should be fall-apart tender. Use a fork to break up any large pieces.
Turn the slow cooker off, then add the heavy cream. Stir gently to combine the cream with the tomato sauce.
Taste the sauce and add salt if needed. I also like to adjust the garam masala to taste after the cooking time. (I generally add an additional 1 to 2 teaspoons after the chicken has cooked, before serving.)
To serve, spoon the chicken and tomato sauce over cooked rice and top with fresh cilantro.
Notes
The flavor of this dish depends greatly on the quality and freshness of your garam masala. If using a lower quality or older spice blend, you may want to add more spice to achieve the bold flavors.
Feel free to serve this over sauteed zucchini if rice isn’t your thing. You can replace the cream with canned full-fat coconut milk.
I love that this has a high and low cooking time. Throw it in at lunch or after naps; you have lots of options. Let it cook while you are at the pool or weeding the garden!
SERVING SUGGESTIONS: This is great with warm naan bread on the side. Serve this with simple green veggies. I like this with frozen stir-fry veggies warmed up in a skillet or with steamed broccoli and cauliflower. It’s also great with a summer-friendly seasonal mix like stir-fried bell peppers, onions, and zucchini, all cooked together in one pan. Look for what’s on sale, what’s growing in your garden, or what’s fresh at the farmer’s market to brighten this dish.
MEAL PREP: Mix the spices and coat the chicken. Place the chicken in a zipper-topped plastic bag or a container with a tight-fitting lid and refrigerate. You can also chop the onion and place it in a container with a lid with the garlic and prepared ginger.