Crock Pot Chicken Tikka Masala
User Reviews
4.7
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Prep Time
15 mins
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Cook Time
4 hrs
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Total Time
4 hrs 15 mins
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Servings
3 to 4 Servings
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Calories
370 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
Indian
Crock Pot Chicken Tikka Masala
Description
This recipe starts by marinating chicken in a mix of yogurt, garlic, ginger, garam masala, Kashmiri red chili powder, and salt, which tenderizes the meat and imparts initial flavor. Meanwhile, a separate sauce is made by sautéing onions with garlic, ginger, and a blend of spices including garam masala, curry powder, paprika, and chili powder. Tomato sauce and heavy cream are added to form a rich base. Combining the marinated chicken with the sauce in a crock pot allows slow cooking to blend the flavors and yield tender chicken pieces immersed in a creamy, well-spiced sauce.
The dish is served warm, commonly paired with steamed rice or flatbreads, accommodating a variety of meals from casual family dinners to larger gatherings. Spice levels can be moderated by adjusting the chili powder amounts or substituting ingredients.
Variations include substituting coconut milk for cream to make the dish dairy-free and tweaking spices for personal taste. Leftovers store well in the refrigerator and often develop deeper flavor after resting overnight.
Ingredients
For the Chicken Marinade:
- 1.5 to 2 lbs chicken breast chopped into bite sizes, or boneless chicken thighs
- 1 cup yogurt plain, Greek
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tsp ginger peeled and grated, fresh
- 1 ½ tsp garam masala
- 1 tsp Kashmiri red chili powder
- 1 tsp salt sea salt
For the Tikka Masala Sauce:
- 1 Tbsp avocado oil or olive oil
- 1 Tbsp butter
- 1 yellow onion finely chopped, small
- 4 garlic minced, large cloves
- 1 Tbsp ginger peeled and grated, fresh
- 2 tsp garam masala
- 1 Tbsp curry powder
- 2 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp Kashmiri red chili powder
- 1 tomato sauce 15-oz can
- 1 ¼ cups heavy whipping cream
- 1 tsp salt to taste, sea salt
Instructions
Marinate the Chicken:
- Mix the ingredients for the marinade together in a container with a lid and add in the chopped chicken. Stir until the chicken is well coated in marinade.
- Seal the container and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes (ideally 1 to 24 hours).
- While the chicken is marinating, you can prepare the chicken tikka masala sauce.
Make the Tikka Masala Sauce:
- Heat oil and butter together in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté, stirring occasionally, until it begins to soften, about 5 minutes.
- Add in the minced garlic, grated ginger, garam masala, curry powder, paprika, kashmiri red chili powder and sea salt. Stir until everything is combined and continue cooking for 3 to 5 minutes to allow the spices to open up.
- Pour the tomato sauce and heavy cream into the skillet and stir everything together until well-combined.
- Remove the sauce from the heat. There is no need to heat the sauce for longer, as it will be cooking in the crock pot for many hours.
- Pour the tikka masala sauce into the bottom of the crock pot. Add the marinated chicken and stir until everything is well-combined.
- Secure the lid on the crock pot and cook on Low Heat for 6 to 8 hours or High heat for 4 hours.
- Once the chicken tikka masala has finished cooking, taste it for flavor and add more salt to taste. You can also stir in ¼ cup of fresh cilantro if you’d like.
- Serve Chicken Tikka Masala with steamed white rice (I do jasmine rice) and enjoy! You can also serve it with my Ginger Turmeric Aromatic Rice for a real wild ride. Chicken tikka masala is also traditionally served with naan bread.
Notes
- Kashmiri chili powder can be replaced with milder red chili powder or omitted for less heat.
- Use ground cumin, coriander, and turmeric instead of curry powder if preferred.
- Heavy cream may be substituted with full-fat canned coconut milk for a dairy-free option.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container refrigerated up to 1 week; flavors improve after resting overnight.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 3to 4 Servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 370 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1of 6 | |
| Calories | 370kcal | 19% |
| Carbohydrates | 7g | 2% |
| Protein | 42g | 84% |
| Fat | 18g | 28% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 4g | 8% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.7
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