Description
A warm and aromatic dish with rich flavors, tender chicken, and a creamy sauce that’s perfect for busy days.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or chicken breasts)
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
- 2 tablespoons garam masala
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
- 1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 1 can (14 oz) coconut milk
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons cooking oil (olive, canola, or coconut)
- Fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
- Optional: 1 cup frozen peas or spinach for added nutrition
Instructions
- Begin by prepping the chicken. If using thighs, trim any excessive fat. You can leave them whole or cut into chunks for quicker cooking.
- Heat the cooking oil in a skillet over medium heat and add the onion. Sauté until it turns translucent, about 5 minutes. Then, add garlic and ginger, cooking for an additional minute until fragrant.
- Toss in the spices—garam masala, cumin, coriander, turmeric, and cayenne. Stir them in for about 30 seconds to a minute to really awaken those flavors!
- Transfer the onions and spice mix into your slow cooker. Add the crushed tomatoes and coconut milk. Stir well to combine.
- Place the chicken on top of the sauce mixture. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste, ensuring the chicken is mostly submerged for even cooking.
- Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours. For best results, opt for the low setting, as it allows the flavors to meld beautifully.
- Once the chicken is cooked through and tender, use two forks to shred it gently in the slow cooker. If you choose to add peas or spinach, toss them in and let them warm through for about 10 minutes.
- Serve the chicken tikka masala with fluffy basmati rice, naan, or even cauliflower rice for a healthy twist. Don’t forget to garnish with fresh cilantro!
Notes
Feel free to swap out chicken for tofu for a vegetarian version, or use cauliflower florets as a low-carb alternative.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 300 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Indian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 90mg