If you’re craving a comforting and tasty curry that’s easy to prepare with minimal ingredients, this slow cooker chicken tikka masala is perfect!
With tender chicken cooked in a rich, spiced tomato sauce, it’s an ideal make-ahead meal for busy days. Just throw everything in your slow cooker, and let it work its magic while you get on with your day.

What You Need
For more concise intructions, or to print this recipe out, head to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

- 1 kg boneless chicken thighs – I used 1 kg because I wanted enough for leftovers, but you can adjust the quantity depending on how many people you’re serving. Chicken thighs are great for a richer flavor, but you can use chicken breasts if you prefer leaner meat.
- 1 onion – Finely chopped to blend well into the sauce.
- 4 cloves garlic – Freshly minced, or use frozen chopped garlic to save time.
- 1 tbsp grated ginger – Fresh ginger works best, but frozen ginger is a convenient alternative.
- 4 tbsp chicken tikka curry paste – This adds a perfect balance of spices, so there’s no need for extra seasoning.
- 400 g passata or chopped tomatoes – Passata gives a smooth, rich sauce, while chopped tomatoes add more texture.
- 150 ml single or double cream – You can use single cream for a lighter sauce or double cream for a richer, creamier finish. Alternatively, crème fraîche works well.
Side Note: With any leftover curry paste you can make my soup maker chicken tikka soup 🙂
Making It
Grab the chicken, onion, garlic, ginger, curry paste, and passata, and pop them all into the slow cooker. Give it a good stir so the chicken gets nicely coated.
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Put the lid on and cook it on low for 5 to 7 hours if you’ve got the time, or if you’re in more of a rush, go for high for 4 to 5 hours. Either way, you’ll end up with tender, juicy chicken that’s packed with flavour.
When the cooking time is up, stir in the cream or crème fraîche to make the sauce beautifully rich and creamy. This step really takes it to the next level.

Optionally add some fresh coriander for a garnish.
Serve the chicken tikka masala over some fluffy rice or grab a warm naan to mop up all that sauce. It’s comfort food at its best!
I hope you enjoy this chicken tikka masala recipe for the slow cooker. You might also like my slow cooker Thai green curry, slow cooker beef keema, slow cooker beef curry, slow cooker sweet potato and lentil curry or slow cooker lamb curry.

Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 kg boneless chicken thighs see note 1
- 1 onion
- 4 cloves garlic see note 2
- 1 tbsp grated ginger see note 2
- 4 tbsp chicken tikka curry paste
- 400 g passata or chopped tomatoes
- 150 ml single or double cream see note 3
Instructions
- Add everything to the slow cooker apart from the cream and stir together.
- Put the lid on and set the slow cooker off on low for 5 to 7 hours or high for 4 to 5 hours.
- At the end of the slow cooking time remove the lid and gently stir in the cream.
Derrick Plant
Saturday 25th of January 2025
Hi I made this chicken curry and thought it was almost tasteless very bland and i followed the recipe to the latter.What are the best spices could i add to liven it up.Derrick plant