This healthy Slow Cooker Chicken Curry is SO incredibly easy. No browning, no preparation. Just leave it to bubble away and come home to the most delicious, creamy but light, coconut milk curry.
I’ve wanted to try making a curry recipe using this slow cooker method for SO long. I love easy, slow cooked curries, but who has time for browning meat at 7am before work?!
So, I thought I’d test out, NOT browning the meat and just kind of, flinging it all in to the slow cooker (or crock pot if you’re in the USA). Friends, THIS is the total gem of a result.
Let’s be honest, an authentic Indian curry, Madras curry or Thai curry, this is not. BUT it’s a super shortcut to a delicious, easy dinner. Just what we like!
Why you should make this recipe:
✅ It’s so easy. No prep, no stirring, combine everything and come home to a delicious Chicken Curry.
✅ The recipe uses Coconut Milk and no cream for a yummy flavour and a lighter, healthier curry.
✅ Perfect for families, kids, or spicy phobic people, as you can really simply adjust the level spice.
✅ Oh and I did I mentioned – it tastes SO GOOD.
How to make a Slow Cooker Chicken Curry:
Pop all of your ingredients, (apart from your Garam Masala) into the slow cooker and cook until soft and tender. Gently break up the meat and mix in with the sauce, plus the Garam Masala.
Serve and get ready to fall in sweet curry love.
Garlic, Ginger & Onion – I use all of these from the freezer, pre prepared. (Always after a shortcut) You can obviously prepare fresh if you’d prefer.
Medium Curry Powder – Replace with mild, or extra hot depending on your spicy taste. This is just right for us.
Chilli Flakes – This just gives a little extra flicker of heat. Feel free to leave out if you prefer.
Salt – I use good quality flakes like Maldon Sea Salt. It really adds to the flavour.
Mango Chutney – This added a sweet, ’rounded’ taste. Use whichever brand is your favourite – with more to serve of course!
Reduced Fat Coconut Milk – You can use full fat if you prefer, this is just what I usually have in the cupboard. Give the can a shake before you add it. Coconut Milk curry is so creamy without the heavy feeling of a curry like Chicken Tikka Masala or Chicken Korma made with double cream.
Chicken Thighs – These should be boneless and skinless. You could use chicken breast in this recipe, but it won’t be as tender or shred when cooked in the same way.
Garam Masala – We add this after cooking as it can become a little bitter if cooked, it is (I believe) usually used as an uncooked seasoning in Indian food recipes.
When the recipe has cooked for 4 hours on HIGH or 6 hours on LOW, take off the lid, give everything a good stir. You’ll notice the chicken breaking up.
Top tip! I like to gently shred the chicken with forks when the curry is cooked, whilst still in the slow cooker (crock pot) and stir it into the sauce. It kind of soaks into the sauce and thickens the sauce.
Stir in the Garam Masala and some extra mango chutney if you think it needs a little more sweetness. Garnish with mint or coriander if you fancy.
What to serve with the Slow Cooker Chicken Curry?
- Boiled Basmati rice (or from a microwave pouch if you’re saving time!)
- Raita salad (yoghurt mixed with mint and cucumber and a little lemon juice)
- My easy Flatbreads
- Naan breads
- Roasted cauliflower (I coat in oil and some curry powder and roast – it’s SO GOOD!)
- Poppadoms (or GIANT crisps as George and Harriet call them)
Should you brown chicken before cooking in the slow cooker?
If you want to get scientific, the reason we brown meat before slow cooking, is because it causes a Maillard reaction. The process of frying, heating it very hot until it browns, changes the flavour compounds in the meat, basically adding a depth of flavour.
Does it add something to most slow cooked dishes? Yes. Is it vital in this dish, which is packed with other flavour? No.
My opinion is that it’s much more important in red meat dishes and even then, sometimes speed and ease are more important.
Variations on the Slow Cooker Chicken Curry recipe:
- Butter Chicken Slow Cooker Curry – Add the juice of half a lemon, and 50g of butter before serving, stir well into the sauce.
- Slow Cooker Chicken Korma – Use Korma curry powder, and add 3 tbsp of ground almonds before serving.
- Madras Chicken Curry – Use Madras curry powder.
- Slimming World Slow Cooker Chicken Curry – Count the Syns for the mango chutney and coconut milk.
I’m not promising any of these are mega authentic, but we all need a shortcut sometimes, right?!
Can you freeze this recipe?
Yes! I LOVE making a big batch of this and freezing it for another day. When it’s cold, I portion it up into takeaway containers (in the photo below).
I buy them in bulk from Amazon, about £8 for 50. (I wash and reuse them but they are much cheaper than buying hundreds of thick Tupperware containers.) I then defrost and warm through when needed.
Fancy some more slow cooked dinner recipes?
Hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. I’d love to know how you got on and what you thought of it if you make this Slow Cooker Chicken Curry recipe. Please rate the recipe and leave me a comment below if you do.
Also, if you fancy showing me a photo by tagging me on Instagram (@tamingtwins) I LOVE to see your creations.
Slow Cooker Chicken Curry - easiest EVER recipe
This healthy Slow Cooker Chicken Curry is SO incredibly easy. No browning, no preparation. Just leave it to bubble away and come home to the most delicious, creamy but light, coconut milk curry.
Ingredients
- 4 Cloves Garlic Peeled and chopped, or frozen, ready prepared
- 2 tsp Fresh ginger Peeled and grated, or use a ready prepared paste
- 3 tbsp Medium curry powder
- 1/2 tsp Chilli flakes
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 100 g Mango chutney
- 400 ml Reduced fat Coconut Milk
- 1 Large Onion Peeled and very finely chopped, I use frozen ready prepared
- 1 kg Boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1 tsp Garam Masala
Instructions
-
Put everything APART FROM the Garam Masala into the slow cooker (crock pot). Give it a good stir.
-
Put the lid on and cook on HIGH for 4 hour or LOW for at least 6 hours.
-
When the chicken is tender and falling apart, gently shred it with two forks and stir in the Garam Masala. Mix well until everything is coated and softened in the sauce.
Recipe Notes
Thick/thin sauce?
This recipe makes quite a thin sauce, which I like as the shredded chicken kind of 'soaks' it up. If you're anxious to have a thick sauce, you have a couple of options:
- Use 300ml of Coconut milk instead of the full can.
- Or when cooked, if you feel that the sauce is too thin, pop 1 tbsp of cornflour into a mug or small bowl, take a ladle of sauce from the curry and mix until smooth with the cornflour. Pour BACK into the curry and stir through and heat through. It will thicken the sauce slightly. (Do NOT just put the cornflour straight in, it will go lumpy!)
If you're planning on reheating the curry, or freezing, definitely use the full amount and don't thicken as it will get thicker when you reheat it.
To finish:
- When you taste the curry at the end, you can add another tablespoon or two of Mango Chutney if you think it needs more sweetness.
- Garnish with mint or coriander if you fancy.
This is so yummy, and easy to make.
Ahh thanks so much for your comment Janice, so pleased you liked it x
Tried this today and husband was very impressed think this could easily become a firm favourite thank you for the recipe 😀
I made this last night and it was gorgeous! Completely forgot to add the Garam Masala at the end but it was still delish!
My husband and children loved this meal! So easy to make!! I can’t wait to do another of your recipes!
So pleased they liked it Claire!
So pleased to find this recipe. One of the best homemade curry recipes I have found. And by far the easiest. Minimum effort, maximum gain
Yay!! So pleased you liked it Natalie, thanks for taking the time to comment and rate the recipe, I really appreciate it 🙂
Great recipe – very easy and full of flavour. Will definitely cook it again.
So pleased you liked it Jo. Thanks for leaving the comment and rating. 🙂
This is soo good! Really tasty curry and even my husband who doesn’t like spicy food enjoyed it. Love the fact you can dump it all in the slow cooker and walk away! It’s the first recipe I’ve tried from you but it won’t be the last for sure.
That’s fab news Kirsty, thanks for taking the time to comment and rate the recipe, I really appreciate it 🙂
This was so easy and so tasty thank you
Can’t wait to try this especially since it is dairy-free (my son has a milk allergy) – always on the look out for recipes he can enjoy. Coconut milk is a saviour!
I’ve tried a few recipes for chicken curry done in the slow cooker this is by far the best, thank you for sharing.
Not tried hit yet but just put it in my slow cooker and it looks and smells amazing already it reminds me of curry sauce you get from the chip shop the look of it I can’t wait to try it tonight thanks!
Would this work without the mango chutney?
It would be okay, but not as amazing as it should be! I’d really recommend using the chutney.
Great recipe, very tasty love it thank you
Ridiculously easy and so tasty, thanks so much! Trying to increase our household vegetable intake at the moment ; can you recommend any accompanying veggies for this dish? Thanks!
I sometimes add spinach to the curry just before serving, or some roasted cauliflower with a little curry powder is yum! Plus a cucumber salad, mixed with yoghurt. 3 a day right there! So pleased you like the recipe 🙂
Love this recipe!! So simple and easy. I leave out the chilli flakes as can be too spicy for my 2 year old, but he absolutely loves without.
Sounds delish, I really want to try it but don’t have a slow cooker. I could put in the oven really low but for how long?
I made this for dinner the other night, wow the best curry we have ever had. Thank you for sharing
Went and bought a slow cooker as I keep seing all your beautiful dishes.
Tried this one first… Now I’m not normally an eater of chicken on the bone (self confessed fussy bugger) but thought it looked yummy. It did not disappoint, super tasty easy to make, whole house loved. Thank you Sarah
Ahh so happy to hear it’s been worth it Hayley! (PS. I always use boneless chicken for this!)
Amazing! Finally put a slow cooker on my Christmas wish list and got one!! This curry was my chosen first dish to try in it! Wow! Easy, smelt divine while cooking, tasted fantastic, meat melted in the mouth! The whole family gave a huge thumbs up! This may well become a favourite in the slow cooker!! Thank you!!
Made this last week definitely the easiest and most delicious slow cooker recipe I’ve ever tried thank you
Going to do this for tonight having guests & im no great cook 👩🍳 but you have laid out the steps so clearly.
Made this last week and I love it. It literally took 5 mins to put it all together before leaving for work. It’s one of the nicest curries we’ve had and my hubby said he’d be happy if he’d been served this in a restaurant.
This is the first time I’ve left a comment on a recipe before. It was really that good!!!! I used organic chicken legs on the bone (skin off).
I’m just trying this now, I’ve added pea’s!!
Can’t wait to try it. 😋
Second time I’ve made this. So easy and delicious! Thanks Sarah
Made this today ready for lockdown and had to try some before freezing. It is delicious and so easy. Thank you for sharing. This will be a firm family favourite that’s for sure x
Really easy recipe and so tasty! This is definitely now a regular in my house!
Not a natural cook, so surprised myself how good it was. Very easy to make and very tasty as well.
Really enjoyed this, I added a little paprika
Picked it up without thinking and realised it wasn’t chilli flakes too late!
Will definitely be doing again perhaps with roasted cauliflower as an extra
Absolutely gorgeous thank you so much for this recipe. The whole family loved it x
My family and I love this recipe. Its been a lock down favourite. Rarely do I find a dish the whole family love but this is definitely a winner all round. Thank you for a simple, tasty dish x
This is completely delicious and super easy!!
Firm favourite in my house and I’ve shared it with everyone I know 🙂
Super quick to prepare and most ingredients you have in the cupboard. Great for preparing in the morning before work so it’s ready when you get home
The whole family loves this recipe
Love this!! So easy to do and the kids love it too!!
So easy to make and absolutely delicious!
Love this recipe! Fridays nights are our curry night, I first did this recipe about 5 weeks ago, and I haven’t gone back to our old curry recipe, it’s so good!
Love this, another quick to prep and delicious recipe, also freezes well. I had no chilli, still good 😃
Ahh so pleased you liked it Laura, thanks for the comment and stars! x
So tasty and incredibly easy!
Quick, easy, tasty for all the family, a staple now
Fantastic recipe that I have recommended to so many people! A favourite in our house.
Can’t believe how good this is! So tasty and easy. Thanks 😊
Excellent recipe. Works every time
I made this curry in my pessure king pro,this morning before going to work. I was so impressed with how quick & easy it was, it only took 15 mins. I used thigh fillets & omitted the mango chutney (I eat a low carb diet) & on returning home, the smell was awesome. I will definitely be making this again,. Thank u for sharing such a fab recipe.
Really tasty. The addition of mango chutney is great. All four of us (two adults and two young children) enjoyed it.
I’m trying this tomorrow, could anybody got firm if I put the chicken in raw?
Thank you
Yep in raw!
Is it possible to use chicken stock instead of coconut milk?
I haven’t tried it, but you could also try tomato passata which would be richer. Enjoy!
Very easy. I’ve added butternut squash and dried mango. But great as is too
Made this a few times, it’s a hit with husband and 10 year old son, froze some and this week my 3 year old are some so it’s a hit thank you Sarah! I’m slowly working through as many recipes as I can! (Especially slow cooker ones!)
Love this dish. First cooked at the start of lockdown when I needed something easy to pop in the slow cooker. Delish. Demolished by our family of 5 and that is rare in this house!! Thank you for a great recipe ☺️
Can you substitute the coconut milk?
You could try passata tomatoes.
Delicious and so easy to make. I recommend adding potatoes to it. They soak up some of the sauce and add a bit of extra texture to the curry.
Great idea, thanks Rebecca x
Wow! I chuck this in before work and everyone comes home to a fabulous healthy meal! This website has revolutionised our family meals. I’m becoming the favourite cook!
Can I double this recipe for 2kg of chicken to make twice as much?
Yep, just double all of the ingredients.
Hi,
I’d love to try this recipe. Am I able to replace the curry powder with curry paste?
Thank you x
Yep that’s fine Caroline!
Made this a few times and it’s always gone down a treat, have it on now for tonight’s dinner and smell is delish. Very easy & very tasty – thanks 😊
My kids loved this!! Quite an achievement, thank you x
Made this tonight for the family- 3 kids- 8,6 and 3yrs- it was a massive hit!!!!! I couldn’t believe it when they 3 year old who is usually fussy polished off 3 bowls! It was so easy to make. Thank you- this recipe is a keeper!!!!!! X
I am confused, you don’t add any water? I feel like the one can of coconut milk is not enough for all that chicken?
Nope, it’s more than enough. Some people even reduce the amount a little if they want it thicker.
What weight would you say a typical ‘serving’ is?
Made this twice now and it is amazing!!
Hi Sarah, it will just be the total recipe divided by the number or servings mentioned. So pleased you like it!
Delicious and a firm family favourite now. Thank you
This is such a lovely recipe, was absolutely yummy and so easy to do. Can’t recommend enough!! Thanks Sarah, love following you on Instagram too. Xx
Oh my goodness! This is the best curry I have had in a very long time. Super easy & quick to prepare. I made the flatbreads to go with it and they were easy & perfect for soaking up the sauce. Thank you. Another brilliant recipe!
My first try at a home made curry.
It was so easy and it all came out of the spice rack (even the ginger).wife loved it browny points for me 😀
Loved this recipe!! Thank you!
Absolutely delicious! Myself, my partner and 3 year old love this! minimal effort, dinner is all cooked when returning from work and it’s delicious, win win!!
Can I add green peppers or other veg? Would spinach added at the end of cooking be ok?
FABULous and easy. Will definitely be in my regular repertoire from now on
Loved it! Added a little cornflour slurry at the end just to thicken it up and had clean plates all round!
Cooked this today!
I had 4 ‘Arnie’ sized chicken breasts, & after 8hrs slow cooking, they fell apart beautifully, while remaining tender.
Bit to hot, so next time, only using Garam Masala & leave out the curry & chilli flakes/powder.
I also ended up adding the remaining chutney.
Aromas enveloped the whole house, which can only be a good thing!
Overall a very enjoyable dish….YuMmY 🙂
I made this a couple of weeks ago it went down so well. By request….. I’m making it again today. So I’m up early preparing it so I can get out to do jobs in my garden 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Very easy to make and super tasty. Can I ask how you reheat it after its been frozen and defrosted?
We cook this a lot! Soooo easy for the whole family, mum, dad, 14/3/1 year old! Smells amazing too….
Love peas in mine and extra chutney 🙂
Oh no … I posted comment without rating just second ago :0
Love love love this. Perfect for a quick & easy meal. Super easy and super tasty.
Lovely and very easy to make, found this recipe while looking for what to do with chicken in the slow cooker. Thank you for sharing. 😋
My new favourite slow cooker recipe. No prep and really tasty. Making again today as everyone loved it!
This delicious curry has become one of our go to midweek meals, when everyone’s rushing around. So easy to prepare and tastes like a lot more effort was put into making it 😃