• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Pretty Providence

  • Home
    • Newest Blog Posts
  • About
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Breakfast
    • Dessert
      • Cookies
    • Dinner
    • Salads
    • Side Dishes
  • DIY & Crafts
    • Cricut
    • T-Shirts
    • Crafts
    • Decor
    • DIY Projects
  • Holidays
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
    • New Years Eve
    • Valentine’s Day
    • St. Patrick’s Day
    • Easter
    • Mother’s Day
    • Father’s Day
    • 4th of July
  • TIPS
    • Tips
    • Organization
    • Family Life
      • Baby
      • Fun
      • Family
    • Travel
  • OCCASIONS
    • Gifts
    • Parties
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala

Home » Recipes » Dinner » Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala

Published August 10, 2020 Last Updated August 20, 2020 / By Sarah 9 Comments

Share this!

370 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Reddit
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
two images of tikka masala combined and optimized for pinterest

This creamy slow cooker Chicken Tikka Masala recipe is my new favorite dinner. It’s easy, delicious, and even my picky eaters love it! 

chicken tikka masala in a white bowl garnished with fresh greens and a white napkinDo you like Indian food? I LOVE IT and crave it often. A few years ago I found out that my favorite dish, Chicken Tikka Masala could easily be made at home in the slow cooker. That blew my mind because I guess I assumed that something so rich and tasty would not be simple.

Amazingly it actually is VERY easy. Once you get all of the spices and chicken into the slow cooker (there are many spices that go into it) you pretty much just let it simmer in there all day!

If you are into easy crock-pot dinners check out some of our favorites like our Healthy Buffalo Chicken Bowls, our Crockpot Chicken Tacos our Healthy Greek Chicken Bowls or browse all of our chicken recipes HERE!

rice and tikka masala in a bowl on a cement counter

Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala

I’ve tried a lot of recipes for making Chicken Tikka Masala in a crockpot and I have to say that while they have all been good, many of them aren’t creamy enough, and are too tomato-y. This recipe has a taste and texture just like what they serve at my favorite Indian restaurant, and I declare it a winner of a recipe.

Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe

You ready for the beyond easy step by steps?!

step by step collage of how to make slow cooker chicken tikka masala

Top Left – Add onion, garlic, tomato puree, yogurt, olive oil, tikka paste, cumin, paprika, salt, cinnamon, pepper and cayenne to slow cooker and mix well. 

Top Right – Add chicken thighs and toss to coat.

Bottom Left – Add bay leaves. Cover and cook for 6 hours on low or 3 hours on high. 

Bottom Right – During the last 20 minutes, stir in half and half. Cover and finish cooking. 

tikka masala in a white bowl next to a white tea towel

How to Make Chicken Tikka Masala

I like to serve Chicken Tikka Masala with basmati rice if I have it, but sometimes I use regular white rice – whatever is on hand. I also buy Naan at the grocery store rather than make it. However you serve this, it will be one of your go-to Indian chicken recipes after you try it. It’s SO good.

Real quick before we get to the recipe let’s answer a few frequently asked questions. 

*This post contains affiliate links. 

Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala

Does this recipe work in the instant pot?! Yes! It totally does. All you do is add everything besides half and half and cook on manual/meat for 20 minutes. Allow pressure to release, open, add half and half and shred chicken. Serve over rice. 

Here is our favorite instant pot! 

What if I can’t find Tikka Paste?

If you don’t have tikka paste, you can substitute 2 Tbsp Garam Masala for 2 Tbsp Tikka paste. I’ve tried it both ways and both give off delicious flavor!

How spicy is this recipe? 

Not very spicy. However, if you have picky eaters or like less spice or more mild flavors generally, reduce Tikka Paste to one tablespoon and then add more as desired. 

What do I serve with Tikka Masala? 

We typically serve our Tikka Masala with rice, naan bread, and edamame! 

tikka masala in a white bowl with naan bread in the top right corner and rice in the bottom

If you make this recipe and love it we’d love for you to leave a positive comment and review, they mean so much to us. 

chicken tikka masala in a white bowl garnished with fresh greens and a white napkin

Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala

This creamy slow cooker Chicken Tikka Masala recipe is my new favorite dinner. It's easy, delicious, and even my picky eaters love it! 
5 from 6 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Time in Slow Cooker: 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 10
Calories: 368kcal
Author: Pretty Providence

Ingredients

  • 3 lbs boneless chicken thighs
  • 1 small onion finely chopped
  • 4 cloves minced garlic
  • 1 can tomato puree 29 oz
  • 1 cup plain greek yogurt
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 2 Tbsp tikka paste
  • 1 Tbsp cumin
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 3/4 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp cayenne pepper give or take some depending on how spicy you like your food!
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 cup half and half

Serve With

  • basmati rice
  • cilantro for garnish

Instructions

  • Add onion, garlic, tomato puree, yogurt, olive oil, tikka paste, cumin, paprika, salt, cinnamon, pepper and cayenne to slow cooker and mix well. 
  • Add chicken thighs and toss to coat.
  • Add bay leaves.
  • Cover and cook for 6 hours on low or 3 hours on high. 
  • During the last 20 minutes, stir in half and half. Cover and finish cooking. 
  • Serve over cooked basmati rice, or white rice, and garnish with cilantro! 

Notes

  • If you love slow cooker meals but hate cleaning up try using a slow cooker liner! 
  • If you don't have tikka paste, you can substitute 2 Tbsp Garam Masala for 2 Tbsp Tikka paste. I've tried it both ways and both give off delicious flavor!

Nutrition

Calories: 368kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 143mg | Sodium: 593mg | Potassium: 443mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 360IU | Vitamin C: 3.1mg | Calcium: 73mg | Iron: 1.6mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @prettyprovidenceblog or tag #prettyprovidence!

Doesn’t get easier than that! 

a bowl of half rice and half tikka masala with naan on a plate next to it

I hope you love it as much as we do! 

sarah-signature-1

This post was originally published July 18th, 2018 and has been updated with new photos and more detailed information. 

Share this!

370 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Reddit

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert

    October 02, 2018 at 8:38 pm

    5 stars
    I need to try this immediately, it looks so good!

    Reply
  2. Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert

    September 29, 2018 at 8:25 pm

    5 stars
    YUM!!! I love this delicious version!!!

    Reply
  3. Pam

    September 29, 2018 at 12:43 pm

    5 stars
    THIS RECIPE WAS REALLY SO GOOD! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT! THANKS!

    Reply
    • Jessica

      September 29, 2018 at 12:48 pm

      Yay! You are so welcome!

      Reply
  4. Connie | URBAN BAKES

    September 29, 2018 at 12:41 pm

    5 stars
    i love chicken tikki masala and the fact you slow cooked it just made me love this even more!

    Reply
  5. Julie

    September 29, 2018 at 10:42 am

    5 stars
    Who knew yiu could make thid in a slow cooker – dinner just got easier!

    Reply
    • Jessica

      September 29, 2018 at 10:50 am

      Right?! Best thing ever!

      Reply
  6. Jamielyn

    September 29, 2018 at 10:36 am

    5 stars
    perfect weeknight dinner! YUM!

    Reply
    • Jessica

      September 29, 2018 at 10:50 am

      Totally!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

about-pretty-providence  

Hey! We're Sarah and Jessica. We're BFF's and have known each other since we were 5 years old. This blog is our place to share all of our best recipes, tips, crafts and DIY projects.

You can read more about us on our about page and find us on instagram! We love making new friends.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Most Popular

Breakfast casserole with sausage, eggs, cheese and bell peppers on a white plate

World’s Best Breakfast Casserole

DIY desk made from two storage cube bookshelves and IKEA desk top with marble look

DIY IKEA Desk Hack

Iron-on t-shirt with Cricut collage of supplies needed, iron-on cut and weeded, and then the final shirt that says "#tired" in gold iron-on letters

How to Make a Shirt with Cricut

The Office birthday party table with decorations, food, balloons and "it is your birthday" sign

The Office Birthday Party

Teepee style blanket fort made with bedsheets and clothesline hung from a light fixture.

How To Build The Best Blanket Fort

German Pancakes just out of the oven, dusted with powdered sugar in a glass baking dish.

German Pancakes

CRICUT

Breakfast charcuterie board with crepe toppings, fruit, spreads, bacon and powdered sugar

Crepe Toppings Breakfast Charcuterie Board

white painted herb markers on concrete with herb leaves around them

DIY Plant Markers

art supplies organized and labeled on a white IKEA kallax shelf

School and Art Supply Organization

a canvas bag that says emergency kit on it with items surrounding it

Car Emergency Kit DIY

Vertical herb garden on plant shelf in white pots

Vertical Herb Garden

a small group of pint sized mason jars with diy labels

Hot Pepper Jelly Jar Labels

Footer

Copyright © 2012-2019 Pretty Providence | Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Disclosures

370 shares