By Becky Hardin
Published May 10, 2023
The next time you’re craving delicious Indian food that’s easy to make and full of flavor, give this Crockpot Chicken Tikka Masala a try! This curry dish is also a great recipe to prepare ahead of time and freezer-friendly for the ultimate easy meal prep!
What’s in Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala
This slow cooker version of the popular Indian curry recipe, Chicken Tikka Masala , is my favorite way to prepare this easy and delicious dish! This recipe is full of spices and flavor just like traditional Indian cuisine!
- Chicken Thighs: You can use boneless, skinless chicken breasts instead of thighs if you’d prefer.
- Ghee: You can use vegetable oil instead of ghee.
- Onion
- Serrano Chili: If you’re sensitive to spice, leave out the Serrano chili.
- Garlic: In place of fresh garlic, you can use ½ teaspoon of garlic powder.
- Ginger: In place of fresh ginger, you can use ¼ teaspoon of ground ginger.
- Garam Masala: In place of the garam masala, you can use a blend of 4 parts cumin to 1 part allspice.
- Coriander
- Cumin
- Turmeric
- Salt
- Tomato Sauce: In place of the tomato sauce, you can use 15 ounces of diced tomatoes or 3 fresh tomatoes and puree them in a blender.
- Whole Milk Yogurt: You can use sour cream or full-fat coconut milk instead of yogurt.
- Basmati Rice
- Fresh Cilantro
Need to make this dinner vegetarian-friendly? Easy! Simply swap the chicken for tofu or 2 cans of chickpeas!
What else can I add to Crockpot Chicken Tikka Masala?
With a dish this universally loved, there are SO many different ingredients you can add to the mix to better personalize it to your tastes. Want a subtle touch of sweetness? Mix in a teaspoon of brown sugar along with the spices. Want it spicier? Double up on the Serrano and/or sprinkle in enough cayenne powder to make your mouth water!
To get 3 cups of cooked rice, you will need 1 cup of dry rice. Prepare it according to the instructions on the package to serve with this delicious dish!
How to Store/Reheat Slow Cooker Tikka Masala Chicken
Store leftover Crockpot chicken tikka masala in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop over medium-low heat until warmed through.
How to Freeze Chicken Tikka Masala
Freeze Crockpot chicken tikka masala in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
What to Serve with Crockpot Indian Chicken Tikka Masala
If there’s one thing you simply must serve with chicken tikka masala, it’s naan bread ! While I think that my homemade recipe is the best, store-bought is also perfectly fine.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs cut into 1-inch pieces
- ▢ 2 tablespoons ghee
- ▢ 1 onion diced
- ▢ 1 serrano chili seeded and diced
- ▢ 4 cloves garlic minced
- ▢ 1 tablespoon minced ginger
- ▢ 1 tablespoon garam masala
- ▢ 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- ▢ 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ▢ ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
- ▢ ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ▢ 15 ounces tomato sauce (1 can)
- ▢ ⅔ cup whole milk yogurt
- ▢ 3 cups cooked basmati rice for serving
- ▢ ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro optional, for serving
Video
Instructions
- Spray your crockpot with nonstick spray. Add the chicken to the crockpot. 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- Heat the ghee in a large skillet over medium heat until melted. Add in the onion and cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes. 2 tablespoons ghee, 1 onion
- Add in the serrano, garlic, ginger, garam masala, coriander, cumin, turmeric, and salt. Cook until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes. 1 serrano chili, 4 cloves garlic, 1 tablespoon minced ginger, 1 tablespoon garam masala, 1 teaspoon ground coriander, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, ½ teaspoon ground turmeric, ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Add in ¼ cup water and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Transfer to the slow cooker.
- To the crockpot, add in the tomato sauce and stir to combine. Cover and cook on low for 3 hours. 15 ounces tomato sauce
- Stir in the yogurt and serve topped with cilantro. ⅔ cup whole milk yogurt, ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
Equipment
- Crockpot
Becky’s Tips
- You can use boneless, skinless chicken breasts instead of thighs.
- To make this vegetarian, swap the chicken for tofu or 2 cans of chickpeas!
- You can use vegetable oil instead of ghee.
- If you’re sensitive to spice, leave out the Serrano chili.
- In place of fresh garlic, you can use ½ teaspoon of garlic powder.
- In place of fresh ginger, you can use ¼ teaspoon of ground ginger.
- In place of the garam masala, you can use a blend of 4 parts cumin to 1 part allspice.
- In place of the tomato sauce, you can use 15 ounces of diced tomatoes or 3 fresh tomatoes and puree them in a blender.
- You can use sour cream or full-fat coconut milk instead of yogurt.
- Take the time to cook the onion and spices to bring out their rich flavors.
- Use fresh spices for the best flavor; old or expired spiced won’t be as potent.
- To prevent the yogurt from curdling, spoon out ¼ cup of the hot sauce, mix it with the yogurt, then pour the mixture back into the pot.
- For a smoother sauce, remove the chicken pieces and blend with an immersion blender.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Crockpot Chicken Recipes We Love
- Crockpot Chicken Alfredo
- Crockpot Whole Chicken
- Crockpot Tuscan Chicken Soup
- Crockpot Chicken and Rice
- See all of our Crockpot Recipes !
Crockpot Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe
Equipment
- Crockpot
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 tablespoons ghee
- 1 onion diced
- 1 serrano chili seeded and diced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon minced ginger
- 1 tablespoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 15 ounces tomato sauce (1 can)
- ⅔ cup whole milk yogurt
- 3 cups cooked basmati rice for serving
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro optional, for serving
Instructions
- Spray your crockpot with nonstick spray. Add the chicken to the crockpot. 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- Heat the ghee in a large skillet over medium heat until melted. Add in the onion and cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes. 2 tablespoons ghee, 1 onion
- Add in the serrano, garlic, ginger, garam masala, coriander, cumin, turmeric, and salt. Cook until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes. 1 serrano chili, 4 cloves garlic, 1 tablespoon minced ginger, 1 tablespoon garam masala, 1 teaspoon ground coriander, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, ½ teaspoon ground turmeric, ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Add in ¼ cup water and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Transfer to the slow cooker.
- To the crockpot, add in the tomato sauce and stir to combine. Cover and cook on low for 3 hours. 15 ounces tomato sauce
- Stir in the yogurt and serve topped with cilantro. ⅔ cup whole milk yogurt, ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
Video
Notes
- You can use boneless, skinless chicken breasts instead of thighs.
- To make this vegetarian, swap the chicken for tofu or 2 cans of chickpeas!
- You can use vegetable oil instead of ghee.
- If you’re sensitive to spice, leave out the Serrano chili.
- In place of fresh garlic, you can use ½ teaspoon of garlic powder.
- In place of fresh ginger, you can use ¼ teaspoon of ground ginger.
- In place of the garam masala, you can use a blend of 4 parts cumin to 1 part allspice.
- In place of the tomato sauce, you can use 15 ounces of diced tomatoes or 3 fresh tomatoes and puree them in a blender.
- You can use sour cream or full-fat coconut milk instead of yogurt.
- Take the time to cook the onion and spices to bring out their rich flavors.
- Use fresh spices for the best flavor; old or expired spiced won’t be as potent.
- To prevent the yogurt from curdling, spoon out ¼ cup of the hot sauce, mix it with the yogurt, then pour the mixture back into the pot.
- For a smoother sauce, remove the chicken pieces and blend with an immersion blender.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
