Slow Cooker Butter Chicken
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Published Jan 25, 2022, Updated Dec 26, 2022
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This slow cooker dairy-free butter chicken is a lightened-up take on a classic Indian dish. Chicken breasts are cooked to juicy perfection in a creamy coconut milk and tomato sauce that’s packed with flavor.
In case you haven’t noticed, we LOVE Indian food over here! I basically add curry to everything. Prime example = my curried shakshuka. One of Isaac’s favorite Indian dishes is butter chicken so I took a stab at an EBF version and it’s so delicious! This is now on regular rotation in our house.
What is Butter Chicken?
Butter chicken is a traditional Indian dish made with chicken in a spiced tomato, butter and cream sauce. The butter and cream cut a lot of the spice so it’s a wonderfully balanced dish! I decided it would be fun to create an untraditional, lightened up version so my recipe doesn’t include butter or cream.
In traditional butter chicken recipes, the chicken is marinated in a yogurt mixture. I wanted this recipe to be 100% dairy-free so we’re using the coconut milk and skipping the marinating process altogether. Don’t worry, slow cooking ensures the meat has plenty of time to soak up lots of flavor from the spiced tomato sauce!
Side note: we have an awesome Indian restaurant in Richmond called Lehja that makes really delicious Indian cuisine. They’ll even make things dairy-free if you request it.
Ingredients Needed
- coconut oil – in place of the butter, we’re using coconut oil and it works like a charm! It provides the same robust richness as butter and works perfectly for sautéing.
- yellow onion, garlic and fresh ginger – create a wonderful savory base for the recipe. You’ll start by sautéing the onion, garlic and ginger in the coconut oil before adding to the slow cooker!
- spices – turmeric, garam masala, cumin, chili powder, cayenne, cinnamon, sea salt and pepper. Even though there are a ton of spices in this dish, it isn’t necessarily spicy. If you don’t want it to be spicy at all, simply omit the cayenne powder.
- chicken breasts – boneless, skinless, chopped into chunks.
- full fat coconut milk – instead of using heavy cream we’re using coconut milk in the sauce. I recommend using canned, full fat coconut milk as opposed to coconut milk you find in a carton. Full fat canned coconut milk is thick and creamy and perfect for the base of this recipe.
- tomato sauce – canned tomato sauce is the other main liquid base of this recipe. It’ll transform with all of the spices you add to the dish.
- lemon juice – this might sound like a funny addition but lemon juice cuts through the rich flavors and brightens the dish.
- green beans – not in traditional butter chicken and completely optional but I love the added veggies! I used frozen green beans and thawed them before adding to the dish. They add another texture and volume to the final product but you also get a pop of color and additional nutrients!
- cilantro – I love serving this dish with fresh cilantro. Fresh herbs pack so much flavor!
How to Make Slow Cooker Butter Chicken
Before adding everything to the slow cooker, you’ll sauté a few ingredients! Add oil to a large skillet and cook the onion and garlic until soft and fragrant. Add the fresh ginger, turmeric, garam masala, cumin, chili powder, salt, pepper, cinnamon and cayenne and toss to combine. Cook for another 1-2 minutes. This roasts the spices a little bit and builds a deep, rich flavor which is perfect for the base of this recipe!
Transfer the onion mixture into your slow cooker and add the chicken, coconut milk, tomato sauce, lemon juice and cinnamon stick. Cover and cook on high for 3 hours or low for 6 hours. Add the thawed green beans when there’s about 1 hour left in the cooking process. Serve butter chicken over cauliflower rice (or regular rice) with fresh cilantro and a wedge of lemon for squeezing.
pro tip! If you prefer a thicker sauce, whisk together 1 Tablespoon of cornstarch or arrowroot power with 2 Tablespoons water and add it to the slow cooker right before adding the green beans.
How to Serve Butter Chicken
I recommend serving this butter chicken over cauliflower rice with a heavy sprinkle of chopped cilantro, but it would be delicious with more traditional sides like basmati rice and naan. Here’s a homemade naan bread recipe if you’re looking for one. If you skip the green beans and are looking for a vegetable side dish to serve, this roasted broccoli or spinach salad would be delicious additions.
How to Store Leftovers
Want to know the best thing about this recipe? It gets better with time. We enjoyed this dish for dinner three nights in a row and each night was better than the previous. It stores so well! Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. If you’re looking for longer storage, let the chicken cool completely and store in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. To defrost, take the chicken out of the freezer and place it in the fridge to thaw the night before you’re wanting to eat it.
More Indian-Inspired Recipes You Might Enjoy
- Tempeh Tikka Masala
- Mattar Tofu
- Curried Tempeh Salad
- Coconut Curried Eggplant
- Easy Channa Masala
- Mango Curry Trail Mix
- Chicken Curry With Vegetables
More Slow Cooker Recipes to Try
- Chicken Wild Rice Soup
- Chicken Fajita Soup
- Minestrone Soup
- Teriyaki Chicken
- Cheesy Mexican Quinoa Casserole
- Vegan Sweet and Sour Tempeh
Slow Cooker Butter Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons coconut oil
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 inch knob of fresh ginger, chopped
- 2 teaspoons ground turmeric
- 1 Tablespoon garam masala
- 1 Tablespoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
- ½ teaspoon cayenne, optional
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast, chopped into chunks
- 1 15 oz can full fat coconut milk
- 1 15 oz can tomato sauce
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 cups thawed frozen or fresh green beans, optional
- ¼ cup chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Add oil to a large skillet or saucepan and cook onion and garlic until soft and fragrant, about 5 minutes.
- Add fresh ginger, turmeric, garam masala, cumin, chili powder, salt, pepper, cinnamon and cayenne and toss to combine. Cook for another 1-2 minutes. This step can be done in the base of your slow cooker if it allows.
- Transfer onion and garlic mixture into your slow cooker. Add chicken, coconut milk, tomato sauce, lemon juice and cinnamon stick to the slow cooker as well.
- Cover and cook on high for 3 hours or low for 6 hours. Add green beans when there's about 1 hour left in the cooking process.
- Serve butter chicken over cauliflower rice (or regular rice) with fresh cilantro and a wedge of lemon for squeezing.
Notes
- Thicker sauce: If you prefer your sauce thicker, whisk together 1 Tablespoon cornstarch or arrowroot powder with 2 Tablespoons water and add it to the slow cooker right before adding the green beans.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This looks great. I will try it this weekend, thanks!
This looks delicious!! Can’t wait to try it!
This looks delicious!! Can’t wait to try it!
Looks delicious! Has anyone tried making this with tofu instead of chicken?
Not yet, but I think it would work out great with firm or extra firm tofu. I also have this amazing mattar tofu if you’re looking for an Indian dish with tofu.
Wow, looks sooo good!
This recipe is fantastic! I followed it as written but also added a head of chopped kale along with the green beans. My batch did not need 6 hours on low–more like 4.5 to 5–I believe because the chicken was cut up into pieces and with the ease of using frozen green beans. Along with the cauliflower rice, it is satisfying but light. Will definitely make it again.
Hi Angela! I’m so glad that you enjoyed this recipe and I so appreciate you taking the time to come back and leave this comment as well. I love your addition of chopped kale. I’m all about adding extra leafy greens to everything!
Hi, I’m thinking of buying a slow cocker and wanted to ask you for some advice before getting one.
Best,
Ylva
Hi Ylva! I have a programmable slow cooker from Hamilton Beach that I love. It awesome because you can set the cook time and then have it automatically switch to the “keep warm” setting. You can also sear/sauté in the removable base of the pot, which is so convenient for soups. Here’s the one I have: http://bit.ly/2dWfmqd
I have a pressure cooker, not a slow cooker, any idea how long to cook?
I’m thinking you’d probably just use the meat setting on your pressure cooker, which is likely about 15-20 minutes. I have a pressure cooker too so I should try the recipe in it!
Please let us know when you get a chance to try it in an instapot or other pressure cooker, as I am during to try this!
Looks super yummy! I have some light coconut milk on hand, do you think that could work in this recipe?
Just curious what a can of tomato sauce is ? Just like a can of crushed tomatoes or something thicker like paste ?
Hi! Good question. It’s in between crushed tomatoes and tomato paste. Most tomato sauces are puree tomatoes slow cooked with salt and seasonings. Here’s the one I used: https://thrivemarket.com/muir-glen-organic-tomato-sauce
We love Lehja….we usually eat there 2-3 time a month. I would love to figure out how to make their Crab-Scallop “MelJol”. We also love their House Kabab Medley.
Uh, is there an error in the ingredient list? 15 cans each of tomato sauce and coconut milk?
Never mind. Haha. I missed the “oz” part.
This was simply delicious and had the whole family wanting more! My toddler can’t do dairy, nut or gluten therefore this dish was perfect for him. My 8 year old had seconds and thirds, we’ll my husband and I did too 🙂 Instead of adding green beans into the butter chicken, I sauteed them with olive oil, garlic and salt & pepper and served it as a side dish. Thank you for this recipe! Can’t wait to have people over, to make this intoxicating dish again and again.
Thanks for the recipe. My daughter has a dairy allergy so this is wonderful. It’s always nice when she can try different ethnic foods.
Hi, this looks great! Can i use fresh tomatoes instead?
This was phenomenal!!! Literally tasted exactly like the real thing if not better and so much healthier. Can’t wait for your E-Book!
Can I prepare this the nite before and cook the following day?
Could this be adapted for shrimp?
I made this in the instant pot and thought I’d share my adaptation-
Step one- I did everything the same except I sauteed in the instant pot on high
Step 2- I added the tomato sauce and let that reduce/thicken for about 5-7 minutes, then stirred in the coconut milk and added the chicken
– I then put the lid on the pot and set to high pressure for 10 minutes
– When the timer went off I manually released the pressure
– I then finished the dish with the lemon juice
I forgot the cinnamon stick, but it was still delicious! Thanks for the recipe!
Hi, This looks delicious. However, I cannot use coconut milk. It makes me nauseous. I drink Cashew milk and use that in recipes. Would that work in this? I love Butter Chicken but almost every recipe calls for coconut milk (I guess because it is an Indian dish). Any suggestions?
Made this today for a comforting Sunday dinner. Turned out incredible!! Thank you so much for this recipe. Tweaked the recipe ever so slightly. I added cayenne powder and about a tsp. of ground cardamom. I also added a decent size handful of fresh cilantro with everything in the crockpot, not at the end. Delicious!!
Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe! I made it in the slow cooker for 3.5 hours on high, and substituted the chicken breasts with chicken thighs.
I made this over the weekend and it was delicious! I didn’t do it in the slow cooker as was short on time so I’m sure it could have been even nicer!
This recipe is amazing! I was lazy and used garlic, onion and ginger powder instead of the real thing. Just threw everything in the slowcooker and done! So yum.
How much of this should you eat to keep with the diet? Like one cup of it or a different measurement? I don’t want to eat too much
I’d go with 1 cup to 1 1/2 cups for a serving.
Hello,
I can’t get hold of a tomato sauce like that one here. Would it be possible to substitute for tomato paste? and if so, should i use less seeing as its more concentrated? thank you!
Truly wonderful!
My kids even love it and they do not know it’s dairy free compared to how are used to make it .
The coconut oil gives it a little bit of a tie flare in taste. I use avocado oil to sauté everything in the beginning, just for a different plant based fat ( Plus it tastes more neutral than the coconut ).
THANK YOU!
I’m so glad you and your kids enjoyed this recipe, Jennifer! And thank you for coming back to leave a comment and star rating. The ratings are super helpful to other readers, so I appreciate it. <3
Brittany,
This was absolutely delicious! The only thing i can say is that i am making it again tbis week but I’m quadrupling it. I served it over Basami Rice. This recipe results in a very small amount. Truly not enough for sharing! LOL!
❤❤❤
Haha quadrupling it is a good idea!! I’m so glad you love this recipe, Lisa. Thank you for coming back to leave a comment and star rating. The ratings are super helpful to other readers, so I appreciate it. <3
Hi! 🙂
I was wondering if you have ever tried marinating the chicken and using coconut yogurt?
Ohhh, I haven’t! But I’m sure that would be delicious. Definitely let me know how it turns out if you try it. 🙂
This was truly amazing! Just enough kick.
Yay!! I’m so glad you tried and enjoyed this recipe, Emily! Thanks for coming back to leave a comment and star rating, I so appreciate it. <3
Delicious and flavorful! I followed Mandy’s instant pot directions and it turned out perfectly! Added the green beans at the end and put on sauté for a few minutes.
Yay!! That makes me so happy to hear. Thanks for coming back to leave a comment and star rating. It means the world to me. <3
Really good – easy as described and just yummy. Thank you!
Yay!! So glad you loved this recipe, Judy. Thanks for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. The reviews are super helpful to other readers. 🙂
Good recipe! I followed everything, omitted the cayenne as I don’t like spicy dishes. It was still great! I would make this again 🙂
Yay!! So glad you enjoyed this recipe, Tina! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment + star rating. It means the world to me. 🙂
This is by far my favorite slow cooker recipe! It’s so easy and so much flavor! My boyfriend wants it for dinner once a week!
Thanks so much for this amazing recipe!
Yay!! That makes me so happy to hear, Brennan. 🙂 Thanks for coming back to leave a comment and star rating, it means the world to me!
I may be missing something but does the chicken go in raw, or cooked? It doesn’t seem to say.
Good question! The chicken goes in raw. Can’t wait to hear what you think of this recipe.
So I finally made this yesterday and just WOW!! It was amazing, no hyperbole. I have to avoid dairy because my kid is allergic to dairy (and eggs and nuts) but I love Indian cuisine and she likes the little she’s tried (Trader Joe’s Chicken Tikka Masala which she tried and tolerated but hasn’t tried since due to it containing some nut ingredient) so I have constantly been searching for and trying different recipes.
This recipe is not only very easy to make but turned out terrific even the first time. It has that butter chicken flavor that I’ve gotten accustomed to from my favorite Indian restaurants and actually it is quite similar in taste to Trader Joe’s Butter Chicken (frozen dinner), which I like. I skipped the Cayenne and the flavor and heat was perfect for the family. Kids liked it and adults loved it.
Not a hint of coconut odor/taste like a Thai curry, which was my greatest worry about it. I did double the recipe after reading some comments but the recipe as written is probably enough for family of four meal, but I like my 5L slow cooker to have enough volume inside and now I have leftovers for another meal.
Anyway, THANK YOU so much for making and sharing your awesome recipe, IT ROCKS!! Hopefully someday you can try developing a dairy-free chicken tikka masala recipe too, or dairy-free anything actually! 🙂
Ahh this makes me so happy to read, Phil!! 🙂 I’m so glad you found my recipe and that it was a hit. And I actually do have this vegan tikka masala recipe on the blog. You can totally sub in chicken for the tempeh if you want. I hope you enjoy that recipe as well! Thanks for coming back to leave a comment and star rating. The comments are super helpful to other EBF readers, so I appreciate it.
Thanks for the suggestion! I did try your Tikka Masala recipe (subbing in chicken for tempeh as suggested) and hate to admit that we didn’t love it quite as much as the butter chicken (which is now a staple in our dinner rotation!).
I think the spices were too mild? I noticed how much less spices are used (1/4 tsp tumeric, tsp of chili powder, tsp of garam masala versus tbsp of garam masala, tbsp of cumin, 2 tsp tumeric, etc.) compared to the butter chicken recipe) which is possibly why? It was good too though but hoping you’ll update the recipe someday as we would love the 1-2 punch of tikka masala and butter chicken!
Regardless, we are grateful for your recipes and website and please know what a difference your recipes and efforts have made in the lives of people who want to follow a more plant-based diet for health or medical reasons (like my kid with numerous food allergies), we appreciate you!!
Thanks for sharing – I might have to test a dairy-free chicken tikka masala then!! 🙂 It probably needs some more spice added. I’m so glad you and your family are loving the recipes, that makes me so happy to hear!
Love, love, love this. My first curry from scratch ever and it is amazing! Thank you! 👏
Ahh that makes me so happy to hear, Claire!! I’m so glad you tried my recipe and enjoyed it. Thanks for coming back to leave a comment and star rating. I really appreciate it. <3
My Lovie LOVES butter chicken. I loved the simplicity of this recipe. It freed me up to make some homemade hummus and naan (for the first time). Blew him away! Thanks!!
this looks so delicious I’m going to cook it tonight. Thankyou.
Let me know what you think of it, Jan!! 🙂
This was really yummy however didn’t taste like tradition butter chicken to me as it wasn’t sweet enough.i only had coconut cream so added a bit of water to the cream to make up the milk. It also wasn’t as vibrant in colour as your pictures more brown not sure if it was because of the garam masala I used.
Could I make this in the oven as well? What temp is the slow cooker on?
I think it would work better on the stove top than the oven. The slow cooker should be set to high for 3 hours or low for 6 hours.
I made this tonight and it turned out so good! Everything melts in your mouth and tastes like heaven.
I was missing a few items, so I made a couple substitutions, but it still turned out fantastic! I subbed the coconut oil with vegan margarine, the ground cinnamon with ground nutmeg, and the coconut milk with coconut cream (liquid in can included). I can’t eat tomatoes so I subbed the tomato sauce with a can of carrots, blended in a food processor, a pinch of oregano, a pinch of basil, and a pinch of salt. I also left out the cayenne pepper.
I can’t wait to make this again! It tasted so dang good.
So glad you enjoyed this recipe, Leah! Thanks so much for sharing the subs you made. It’s super helpful for other readers, so I appreciate it. 🙂
My wife made this meal for dinner tonight as she is going dairy free, it was delicious and you would not know that it had no butter or cream in it, we are going to be looking for more of your dairy free recipes. Thank You Brittany.
Yay! So glad this recipe was a hit, Lawrie. Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it. 🙂
Hello! Can this be made ahead for freezer meals? If so, would you omit anything before you freeze?
Hey Kate – I actually haven’t tried freezing this recipe, but it should freeze just fine if stored in an airtight bag or container. You shouldn’t have to remove anything from the recipe to freeze it. 🙂
So I finally made this today and it was amazing and so delicious. Wow!! As per recipe made it with no butter or crème, I bet no one would even know (unless I informed). I skipped the Cayenne and the flavor was on point. My son is not able to tolerate dairy and so this recipe was perfect. He absolutely loved the dish and flavor. Will definitely make again and pass on recipe. Thanks!!
Ahh that makes me so happy to hear, Stefanie. I’m so glad this recipe was a hit with your family. Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. The reviews are super helpful for other readers, so I appreciate it. <3
Thanks for this recipe. I am newly dairy free and I needed a new recipe without yogurt. I have a hard time eating garlic so I used some garlic infused oilive oil to the coconut oil and it worked. Due to kids who don’t like things spicy, I reduced the chili to a half tsp and left out cayenne. This was just right for us. My only complaint was it was quite liquidy. Any suggestions to thicken it? Thanks!
I’m glad this recipe was a hit with your family, Judy! You could try adding some arrowroot powder or cornstarch to the liquid to thicken it up a bit if you’d didn’t like how liquidy it was. 🙂
Love, love, love this recipe. So simple and delicious, the whole family loved it. I made it quite some time ago now, and I no-longer have a slow cooker. Has anyone tried this on a stove top at all? I’m not sure how to go about it.
After my son started his dairy-free diet I discovered this recipe but was wary as I hate the taste of coconut. I was pleasantly surprised that after cooking there is no coconut tadte at all. The whole family loves it and requests it regularly and we have also passed this recipe on to both dairy-free and non-dairy restricted friends who all love it too.
We don’t have anything called tinned tomato sauce so I just use passata, not sure if that is the same or not but it works. I change it slightly in the fact that I only ever use chicken thigh because it stays so juicy and reheats without drying out and we teied it without the cayenne and only half of the chilli and it was still way too hot for the kuds so now I only add the tiniest pinch of chilli powder and no cayenne.
We usually do it in the slowcooker but have done it on the cooktop too with no issue, that took me 20-30 minutes to cook.
I prefer my curry sauces a bit thicker than this one turns out so I just put the slow cooker on high without the lid for the last 30-50 minutes if I’m home to evaporate the excess water and thicken the gravy or if I’m coming home without that luxury of time before dinner I have used some arrowroot powder made into a slurry with a dash of water then stirred through to thicken the sauce up fast.
Thankyou for such a great, fuss free and delicious recipe with an authentic taste.
Yay!! I’m so glad this recipe has been such a success with your family, Lyn! Thanks so much for trying it and coming back to leave a review. I really appreciate it!
Where do I even begin with how offensive this recipe is? Speaking as an Indian – this is beyond unacceptable. Not the fact that the substitutions are vegan, but that you’ve labeled Indian food as “heavy” and “not clean” because it uses some butter and yogurt. Please update your description, it’s outdated, offensive, and a classic example of how a Caucasian person brands ethnic cuisines as unhealthy and subsequently ~makes it better~. Very much reminds me of Lucky Lee’s in NYC and the controversy behind that.
Hi SG. Thank you for your feedback. I really appreciate it. I am in no way trying to be offensive with this recipe, so I am truly sorry if it offended you. I did remove the mention of Indian food being heavy from this post, but I never said that Indian food wasn’t clean. This recipe was inspired by my love for Indian food and trying to create a version that is accessible to people with dietary restrictions or who cannot have dairy. I always do search engine research and base the descriptions on SEO terms and specific keywords so my recipe can easily be found when people are searching on Google. I hope that helps explain a bit more into why I’m calling it a lightened up version.
Thanks for your comment, SG. As a white person, I suspected this probably wouldn’t be as good as any authentic recipes, but I was searching the comments to find feedback from actual Indian people. This tells me I won’t waste my time on this recipe!
So delicious!
I’m going to have to try this, it looks so delicious.
What does “really clean Indian cuisine.” mean?
I have a little one that has a ton of food allergies, so I originally made it so she could eat the same as the rest of the family. And it has become a regular in our menu rotation. My oldest actually exclaimed, “finally you are making this again!” Thanks so much for an easy dairy free recipie loved by my entire family!
Ahh yay, that makes me so happy to hear! I’m so glad this recipe was a hit! Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a review. I so appreciate it!
This recipe is absolutely wonderful. It is so simple and makes my kitchen smell heavenly. I’ve made it twice now and find it satisfies my craving for authentic butter chicken. I love Indian food so much, but I just cannot tolerate the dairy anymore. Will definitely be looking into some of your other recipes.
Ahh yay!! So glad this recipe was a hit. Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a review. I so appreciate it. 🙂
So good and really easy to make! It makes a solid amount and the flavor gets even better on day 2 and 3.
So glad you enjoyed this recipe, Jen! Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a review. I so appreciate it!
We make this recipe ALL the time for lunch meal prep so this review has been long overdue for us. This recipe is so easy. VERY tasty. We make a bulk batch of the spices to have on hand that way it’s super duper easy to throw together whenever the time is right to make it up for lunches again. I personally always pair it with a side of brown rice, broccoli, and a lemon wedge to squeeze over the broccoli and rice – freshens it right up so even on day 5 of lunches it’s still great. 10/10!
Ahh yay, that makes me so happy to hear!! I’m glad this recipe has been a hit. Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a review, Katie. I so appreciate it. 🙂
It’s me again with the same question….any idea what the serving size is beyond 1/8 of the recipe? I have this in my slow cooker now and it smells amazing!
This was delicious and easy to make! It will definitely become part of the dinner rotation!!
Woo!! So glad you loved this recipe, Jennifer. Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a review. I so appreciate it!
Seriously delicious! I can’t have dairy anymore and this is so creamy. It’s the perfect comfort food and it’s super yummy with paratha!!!!
Woo!! So glad this recipe was a hit. Thanks for the review, Kate. I so appreciate it!
This recipe is amazing. I’ve made it many times and we all loved the taste and the convenience of making it in a slow cooker. I’m wondering if it would work well with chicken tighs instead of breasts? Thanks!
I’m sure it would! You’ll have to let me know if you try it. 🙂
Hello! Looking to try this recipe tonight.
Silly question, but Just wondering exactly what a can of “tomato sauce” means in this recipe.
Passata? Chopped/blended tomatoes? Obviously not “ketchup”…
Halp!
Hey Michela – Just straight up tomato sauce in a can. Not diced or chopped. It should be in the aisle with the other canned tomatoes.
Tastes nothing like traditional butter chicken. Very disappointing.
Sorry to hear you didn’t like this recipe, Rachel. Did you change anything about the recipe? What would you say was off about it?
As someone who is lactose intolerant, thank you so much for the dairy-free recipe! I only had tomato puree on hand so I used that instead of tomato sauce. It was absolutely delicious! Definitely a go-to from now on
You’re so welcome, Emily! So pumped you loved this recipe! Thanks for the review. I so appreciate it!
Is this Gluten Free?
Yes!
Great recipe that is in our regular dinner rotation. I make it in the instant pot on slow cooker mode, so I’m able to sauté directly in the same pot. Super quick and easy. Always appreciate the leftovers!
Woo! So glad you’ve been enjoying this recipe. Thanks for the review, Alex!
As someone who is Celiac and lactose-intolerant, I was thankful to find this recipe. I liked that it used the slow cooker, and the recipe was simple.
The flavours are great, although I prefer the sauce a bit thicker. So, I’ll add a little cornstarch next time.
Thankfully Something Indian Recipe “Butter Chicken “, one of my favorite recipe and will surely gonna try this one .
Recipe is a bit runny. Should I have used both liquid and solid of coconut cream or just the solid? I will thicken with cornstarch.
thanks for sharing this Slow Cooker Dairy-Free Butter Chicken recipe, I actually searching some unique kind of recipe, will definitely gonna try this one this weekend.
At least now one Indian recipe Slow Cooker Dairy-Free Butter Chicken, I Love Butter Chicken . Thanks for sharing this recipe with us, will definitely gonna try this one .
Let me know how it turns out, Alishka!
Hi, how would you make this toddler friendly? 😃
Hello, I just made this toddler friendly yesterday. Omitted the chillies and cayenne pepper. Made it with petits pois instead of green beans. Used less salt and put more on my dish at the table. Cut the chicken chunks smaller for her. My daughter is 21 months, can feed herself with a spoon (although the food ends up all around her too 😅). It is yummy, would definitely recommend to try. Enjoy!
So glad you loved this recipe, Ellie! Thanks for the review and for letting me know what changes you made, glad it was a hit with your little!
It was a cold rainy day, perfect for this slow cooker recipe. The flavors were amazing. Very easy to put together. Next time (because there will be a next time) I will add a gold potato and some carrots. Thanks for another great recipe.
Yay! So happy to hear you enjoyed this recipe, Steve. Love the idea of adding potato and carrots. Thanks for the review!
This is a wonderful dish! So delicious!! I will be making this again and again!
Yay! I’m so happy to hear that, Lynda! Thank you for coming back to leave a review and star rating, I really appreciate it!
Made this just as outlined except for green beans as didn’t have them. It is very good. Will make again for sure.
Woo! So happy to hear that, Karen! Thanks for leaving a review, it means the world to me!
Absolutely amazing! I served to my family (hubby, kids ages 9,12,14) and everyone devoured it! I followed the recipe except skipped cayenne pepper. Served with instapot long brown rice, warmed naan bread, and steamed green beans. Will be a regular for us! Flavorful but not too spicy and perfect for my son who cannot have dairy.
Woo! I’m so glad to hear this recipe was a hit with your family, Ali! Thanks for making it and coming back to leave a review.
I loves this and thought the flavor was delicious. But, I couldn’t get it to thicken, even with extra arrowroot—any suggestions?
Hi, Jenny. The sauce isn’t supposed to get super thick for our version of this recipe. Though, I think traditionally it is thicker.
This is amazing! I recently found out I had allergies to a bunch of stuff and I have been struggling to find things that I can eat, that also taste good. This is a winner. I’ve been making it once a week and the kids and hubby love it as much as I do. Thank you!!
Woo! I’m thrilled to hear this recipe is a hit for you, Amber! I appreciate you coming back to leave a review, it means the world to me.
This was absolutely delicious. It was super easy.I use broccoli instead of green beans because it was what I had. I also used jasmine rice. It was so good, but everything I have ever had from this site has been incredible and repeated several times.
Yay! I’m so happy to hear that, Katianne, and I appreciate you sharing your swaps, it helps to inspire other readers. Thank you for coming back to leave a review and star rating, I really appreciate it!
Cooked this yesterday and it was delicious. I was worried about the consistency when it was in the slow cooker, but once it cooled down a bit, the sauce thickened and there was no need to add cornstarch.
Woo! So glad to hear that, Joanne. Glad this recipe was a hit. Thank you for sharing your review.
Very easy to throw together and super delicious!!
Yay! Glad to hear this was a success Heather! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I have been looking for a dairy-free curry recipe and stumbled on this one today. This may be the best curry I have ever had and by far, the best I have ever made. I substituted peas for the green beans and was not disappointed. Thank you so much.
Wow! Thank you for your comment and review, Julie! So glad you like this recipe.
I made this dish two nights days ago. I followed everything except I accidentally grabbed Lite coconut milk instead of full fat I was nervous it would make it more thinner, since some other commenters were saying the sauce was thin, I didn’t have much of an issue. I did not add the cinnamon stick since it already calls for ground cinnamon and my sticks expired in 2019. Oof. It tasted great. I also wanted to share, I saw from another recipe somewhere, for thickening, if you take some of the actual sauce you’re using from the crockpot and mix it with like a tablespoon and a teaspoon of cornstarch (or whatever) in place of water and then pour it back in, that works great too. That’s what I did and do for soups and stuff. Also, a lot of people are worried about spice, I thought it was ideal. I have a 16, 14 yo twins and a 12 year old I used the cayenne (barely any anyway) and the chili powder (its not Cajun, not spicy) and it was just fine. Something else has a bite I don’t know if its the tumeric or garum but whatever, its super good. I did the green beans in it and the white jasmine on the side. Along with warmed Naan. Husband, everyone loved it. Way better than Patak’s jar stuff.
My cinnamon stick was out-of-date, so omitted and stuck with the ground. Accidentally used lite coconut milk, not too juicy as others said, but still thickened by using 1 1/2 tbsp cornstarch with some of the broth itself, not water. Super good.
I’m glad you enjoyed this recipe, Stephanie! Thanks for sharing your notes and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it!
This was my first time making “butter” chicken, and I could not be happier with the result. Didn’t have turmeric or garam masala, but subbed basic curry powder and it worked great. I also added my rice directly into the crockpot near the end just to make it easy. Definitely will make again!
I am so happy that you enjoyed this recipe, Alicen. Thank you for your review + star rating, I really appreciate it!
We tried this for the 1st time this week for dinner and can I just say…AMAZING!! We couldn’t believe how simple this recipe was. The flavors hit a home run with our family!! ❤️❤️
YESS! I am so happy to hear that this recipe is a hit, Suzy! Thank you for coming back and leaving your review & star rating, I so appreciate it!
I love this recipe! It is super easy and great for a dinner with multiple people or leftovers for the week! I recently moved and no longer have access to a slow cooker. Is there a way to make this on the stove?
Yay! So glad you loved this recipe, Linda. I haven’t made this on the stove top, but what I would do is after sautéing the onions and spices instead of transferring them to your slow cooker just add all the liquid ingredients and chicken, bring the mixture to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer and cover. Simmer for about 20 minutes or until chicken is fully cooked. Then remove the chicken and set aside. Add your green beans and simmer for 5-10 minutes until they reach your desired texture. Then cut your chicken and add it back into the pot and serve. Let me know how it turns out if you try it!
Super excited to try this Slow Cooker Butter Chicken, seems amazing and unique . Thanks for sharing
Let me know if you try it and what you think!
Just put in the crockpot for tonight!! Looks so good and was so easy. I’m excited!
Oh YAY! I can’t wait to hear how it turns out for you, Mary. Enjoy!
How would this recipe work to freeze and cook? Currently meal prepping before baby comes! Thanks 🙂
Hi Monica – I actually haven’t tried freezing this recipe, but it should freeze just fine if stored in an airtight bag or container. You shouldn’t have to remove anything from the recipe to freeze it. 🙂 Enjoy!
If you had a big enough crock pot, could you double this and if so, would you need to adjust the cooking time?
Sure! I haven’t tested doubling this recipe so I am unsure of how you would adjust the cooking time. Let me know how it turns out. Hope you enjoy this recipe!
Hi, just wondering what size slow cooker is required for this recipe?
Hi Monique – A 7-8 quart should work for this recipe. Enjoy!
I am OBSESSED with this recipe!! My first experience with butter chicken and no intentions of making it with actual butter! I always skip the cinnamon because I don’t want the extra sweetness and it’s perfect!
WOO! I am SO glad you gave this recipe a try and are loving it, Lindsay! Thank you for sharing your review & star rating, I truly appreciate it!
Do you think there is a way I could just make the sauce and not have chicken? so I could use it as a topping on whatever meat or veggies I want? I’m thinking if I had leftover rotisserie chicken to top with this or a vegetarian dish.
Hi Grace – I haven’t tried it, but I bet you could make it on the stovetop without the chicken and just simmer for 20-30 minutes. Let me know how it turns out for you, enjoy!
My slow cooker is on the fritz! But we’re all craving this (it’s one of our favorites!) Can I just make on stovetop? How would I adjust the cooking times? Thanks!
My family devoured this! Super simple to make and really flavorful. My kids enjoyed it over rice noodles (because everything tastes delicious to kids with noodles!) and my husband and I did basmati rice. Thank you! Will be making this often.
YUM! I am so glad you and the family loved this recipe and it turned out great for you, Kristen. Thank you so much for sharing your review + star rating, I really appreciate it!
I followed this recipe exactly and it was perfect! It tastes very similar to butter chicken, and the coconut milk and cauliflower rice substitutes prevent the dish from feeling heavy; no bloating feeling here! The creator of this recipe is a genius! Sorry, my computer glitched! That was meant to be a 5 star!!