Description
Hearty slow cooker chicken delivers comforting flavors that simmer all day with minimal effort. Rich tender meat paired with aromatic herbs creates a delightful meal you can enjoy without complicated cooking techniques.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 2 pounds (907 grams) boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
Spices and Aromatics:
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon peeled and minced fresh ginger
- 2 teaspoons ground coriander
- 2 teaspoons garam masala
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
Liquids and Additional Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 (15-ounce/425 grams) can diced tomatoes, drained
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) whole-milk plain yogurt (not Greek)
- ¾ cup (180 milliliters) heavy cream or coconut milk
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
- Chopped fresh cilantro
- Cooked rice or naan for serving
Instructions
- Combine skinless chicken pieces, plain yogurt, and salt in a 4-quart (3.8 liters) or larger slow cooker, ensuring the chicken is evenly coated with the yogurt mixture.
- Heat of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add finely chopped onions and sauté for 8-10 minutes until they become translucent and soft.
- Introduce minced garlic, freshly grated ginger, ground coriander, garam masala, ground cumin, and turmeric to the onions. Stir continuously for 1 minute to release their aromatic oils and prevent burning.
- Mix in tomato paste and cook until it darkens slightly, intensifying its flavor. Pour in drained diced tomatoes and sprinkle an additional of salt, stirring to combine.
- Bring the tomato mixture to a gentle simmer, then carefully transfer the entire contents of the skillet into the slow cooker with the yogurt-coated chicken.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on HIGH setting for 4 hours or LOW setting for 8 hours, allowing the chicken to become tender and absorb the rich spices.
- Once cooking is complete, stir in heavy cream or coconut milk to create a luxurious sauce. If a thicker consistency is preferred, simmer uncovered on HIGH for an additional 30 minutes.
- Garnish with freshly chopped cilantro and serve alongside steamed basmati rice or warm naan bread.
Notes
- Yogurt acts as a tenderizing marinade, helping chicken stay incredibly moist during slow cooking.
- Aromatics like onion, garlic, and ginger create a deeply complex flavor foundation for this Indian-inspired dish.
- Toasting whole spices releases their essential oils, developing a richer, more nuanced taste profile before adding to the slow cooker.
- Low and slow cooking technique allows spices to meld together, transforming simple ingredients into a restaurant-quality meal.
- Coconut milk or cream adds luxurious richness and balances the warm, earthy spices in the final moments of cooking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 720 kcal
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 1100mg
- Fat: 50g
- Saturated Fat: 30g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 45g
- Cholesterol: 200mg