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Slow Cooker Chicken Curry

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LIZ DELLA CROCE

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Warm curry flavors and coconut milk add flavor and moisture to lean chicken breasts to make this Slow Cooker Chicken Curry recipe a delicious one-pot dish.

Slow cooker chicken curry.

When it comes to preparing moist and delicious dishes using lean chicken breasts, I’ve learned that the slow cooker is your friend! By locking in the moisture and cooking the meat slowly, you always end up with tender and juicy chicken without relying on fat, oil, or extra calories from the skin. My Slow Cooker Chicken Curry is a family favorite, as it’s mild enough for anyone to enjoy! It’s also extremely versatile, so you can change it up to be whatever you like!

Ingredients

  • Chicken breasts: While I prefer lean chicken breasts you can use Chicken thighs or any type of dark meat. The darker meats will boost the flavor!
  • Onion: White onion will add great, strong flavor without adding more sweetness.
  • Sweet potatoes: Mild and sweet, they make the curry filling and hearty.
  • Chickpeas: A great source of protein, and makes the curry more hearty and filling.
  • Coconut milk: A staple in many curries, it adds sweetness to balance out the savory and sometimes spicy flavor.
  • Chicken stock: While you can also use veggie stock, I think chicken stock adds the best flavor to curry.
  • Tomato sauce: Slightly sweet and slightly acidic, you could also use crushed or diced tomatoes if you want your curry more chunky.
  • Curry powder: Different brands have different blends, but it usually consists of cumin, turmeric, ginger, and pepper, but they all add a delicious warmth.
  • Green peas: Added towards the end of cooking, they don’t soften too much to add a great pop as well as fiber and antioxidants.
  • Lemon juice: Bright, acidic flavor that adds freshness to the curry.

How to Make Slow Cooker Chicken Curry

Start your Slow Cooker Chicken Curry by peeling and chopping up your sweet potatoes, and dicing your onion.

Then add the sweet potato to the bowl of your slow cooker.

Followed by the diced onion.

Then drain and rinse your chickpeas, and add them to the pot.

Next pour in the full-fat coconut milk.

And your chicken or veggie stock.

And the tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes.

Next add the curry powder and cayenne.

Then place your raw chicken breasts and season with some salt and pepper.

Using a large spoon or tongs, gently stir until mixed and chicken is coated. Then cover and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8.

During the last couple minutes, add the frozen peas until warmed through and the lemon juice. Then serve over rice, garnish with fresh scallions or cilantro, and enjoy your Slow Cooker Chicken Curry!

Easy substitutions

  • Swap the potatoes: If you aren’t a fan of sweet potatoes, use regular or try something new like Brussels sprouts.
  • Make it vegetarian: Swap the chicken out for extra veggies, or follow the recipe for my vegetarian curry.

Frequently asked questions:

Can you put raw chicken in a slow cooker?

Yes you can! And you can even start with frozen breasts, not needing to thaw them ahead of time.

Will coconut milk curdle in slow cooker?

As long as you use a good quality brand, you shouldn’t have to worry about curdling.

Can I make this curry in a instant pot?

Yes you can! Follow the first 2 steps the same, then seal and cook on high pressure for 25 minutes. Stir in the peas and lemon juice, until heated through. Then serve!
Slow Cooker Chicken Curry

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Liz eating slow cooker chicken curry.

With so many ways to play with curry, let me know how you decide to serve yours in a commet below!

Your fork is waiting.

Slow Cooker Chicken Curry

4.37 stars average
Warm curry flavors and coconut milk add flavor and moisture to lean chicken breasts to make this recipe a delicious one-pot dish.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 10 minutes
CourseMain Dish
Serves4

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 medium onion sliced or diced
  • 15 ounces can chickpeas drained and rinsed
  • 2 medium sweet potatoes peeled and diced
  • ½ cup full-fat coconut milk light
  • ½ cup chicken stock low sodium
  • 15 ounces can tomato sauce
  • 2 tablespoons curry powder salt-free
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne powder optional
  • 1 cup green peas frozen
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • cilantro optional garnish

Instructions
 

  1. In the bottom of the slow cooker, whisk together coconut milk, chicken stock, tomato sauce, curry powder, salt and cayenne.
    1/2 cup full-fat coconut milk, 1/2 cup chicken stock, 15 ounces can tomato sauce, 2 tablespoons curry powder, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne powder
  2. Add chicken breasts, onion, chickpeas and sweet potatoes. Using tongs, gently toss ingredients together to ensure evenly coated.
    1 pound boneless, 1 medium onion, 15 ounces can chickpeas, 2 medium sweet potatoes
  3. Cook on Low for 8 hours or High for 4 hours. Shred the chicken.
  4. Stir in peas and lemon juice 5 minutes before serving.
    1 cup green peas, 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  5. Serve over rice and with plenty of fresh cilantro.
    cilantro

Nutrition

Serving: 2.5cupsCalories: 302kcalCarbohydrates: 43.1gProtein: 24.4gFat: 4.7gSaturated Fat: 1.9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2.8gCholesterol: 60mgSodium: 1232mgFiber: 8.6gSugar: 12.2g

Video

Liz’s Notes

Serving Size: 2 1/2 cups
 

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Let us know how it was!

4.37 from 631 votes (523 ratings without comment)

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459 responses to “Slow Cooker Chicken Curry”

  1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
    Liz DellaCroce

    I’m a sucker for a good shortcut in the kitchen. :)

    1. Danielle J. Long (@elevatevlog) Avatar
      Danielle J. Long (@elevatevlog)

      Hi! Did you place the whole breasts in the crock and shred/chop the chicken afterwards?

      1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
        Liz DellaCroce

        I’ve done cubes and whole breasts and both ways work. When I place whole breasts I just shred them before serving!

  2. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
    Liz DellaCroce

    Oh I hope you try it Tieghan!! So easy and good!

  3. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
    Liz DellaCroce

    My thoughts exactly. :)

  4. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
    Liz DellaCroce

    Oh good!!! Let me know what they think!!!

  5. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
    Liz DellaCroce

    Why are men so obsessed with temperature control?? I swear an alarm goes off when I try to touch it!

  6. Mr. & Mrs. P Avatar
    Mr. & Mrs. P

    Need to try this on a weeknight!!! Love that you used the slow cooker!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      There is really nothing better than dinner being ready when you are!

  7. Meagan @ A Zesty Bite Avatar
    Meagan @ A Zesty Bite

    I’ve never tried curry and I keep saying that I really want to try it out. I think it’s time I finally made some.

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      This is the perfect first-time curry dish. It’s super easy and versatile!

  8. tanya Avatar
    tanya

    I love a good chicken curry! I’ve never made a slow cooker version, I’m so excited to try this!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      The slow cooker really makes it so easy!

      1. Celia Soudry Avatar
        Celia Soudry

        Liz, do you shred the chicken before or after it cooks. I am assuming you put the cutlets in whole then when it’s cooked you kind of mash it all together??

        1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
          Liz DellaCroce

          Hi Celia – The chicken shreds naturally once it cooks! Just add the whole chicken breasts raw and let it go! :)

          1. Celia Soudry Avatar
            Celia Soudry

            Guess I messed up! I cut them into cubes and put it all in. Hope it still ends up tasting good. And, I’m cooking it on low for 9 hours cause I’ll be at work till then. Ahhh, fingers crossed.

          2. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
            Liz DellaCroce

            You didn’t mess up at all!! You just didn’t need to bother. :) It will turn out fine – promise! Enjoy and let me know!

  9. Carrian Avatar
    Carrian

    Good heavens, that looks so good and it’s slow cooker which is awesome!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      I’m seriously slow cooker obsessed!! I get so tired later in the day – haha.

      1. Olivia Avatar
        Olivia

        This recipe is amazing! I called my mom to tell her how good it was because I was in shock with the consistency and flavor.. so wonderful. I put it over cauliflower rice :)

        1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
          Liz DellaCroce

          I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed it!

  10. Laurie {Simply Scratch} Avatar
    Laurie {Simply Scratch}

    Confession: I’ve never had curry-anything before :/ I’m not quite sure why either. This looks so good… I’ll have to change that!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      What the wa!?! You must try this!! It’s so not overly curry heavy which usually prevents me from ordering in restaurants. It’s just super flavorful and comforting. :)