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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

More Slow Cooker Meals

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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. Mary Avatar
    Mary

    I’m really looking forward to trying this recipe but a quick question, when you say tomato sauce do you mean pasta sauce or like canned tomatoes? Thanks for the clarification!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      canned tomatoes!! Enjoy!

  2. Lisa Avatar
    Lisa

    There’s nothing better than coming home from a hard day of work to a house filled with the yummy smell of curry. This recipe is easy to make and follow and the tastes blow you away. Both my teens absolutely loved it and had seconds. I doubled the recipe and it turned out perfect. Thank you so so very much this will be a staple in our recipe collection. Cheers from Canada

  3. Erin Avatar
    Erin

    Yummmmm! This was my first ever slow cooker attempt and it turned out so well! I used chicken tenders instead of chicken breasts and it was done in about 3 hours on high. Served over brown rice. Delicious! :)

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      I’m so glad you liked it!

  4. Tina Avatar
    Tina

    This may be a silly question but I’m new to the whole slow cooker scene.. how does your chicken come out so conveniently shredded and awesome looking, if you threw in a whole chicken breast?

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      I shred it with two forks before serving :)

      1. Tina Avatar
        Tina

        Aha! ;) Thanks!

  5. Farzana Avatar
    Farzana

    This was amazing! Made it for the first time for guests. I added some garlic powder, chili powder, paprika and less tomato sauce. Guests loved it and so did we. :)

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      I’m so glad you liked it!!!

  6. Maria Avatar
    Maria

    Made this today and it came out great! The chicken is a bit dry, but I think that’s because I cooked it for 4 hours on high – my slow cooker tends to do that so I prefer doing it on low but didn’t have time today. Serving it with a big dollop of plain yogurt took it to the next level!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it!! Perhaps reduce to 3 hours next time.

  7. Mary Avatar
    Mary

    Forgot to get a lemon but I have limes, would that work?

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Yes it should!!

  8. Adrian Quinn Avatar
    Adrian Quinn

    Made this. Followed the recipe exactly. It looks nothing like the picture.

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Hmmmm… I made it literally two days ago and make it about twice a month. Did you make any substitutions?

      1. Lucy Avatar
        Lucy

        Can this be frozen? Just made it and it’s gorgeous but I’ve made far too much and can’t bear to throw it!

        1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
          Liz DellaCroce

          Absolutely! I freeze it all the time!

      2. Craig Avatar
        Craig

        I’m making it now and I have to agree with the other person it doesn’t look anywhere near the picture. Mine doesn’t look as creamy and the coconut milk has gone all lumpy.
        any reason why
        Craig

        1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
          Liz DellaCroce

          Hi Craig – I make this recipe at least twice a month and it always turns out the same but let’s see if we can figure out why it’s not looking the same for you. For starters, did you make any ingredient substitutions? Are you using a traditional slow cooker? Did you use canned Thai coconut milk? Let me know!

          1. Kemper Johnson Avatar
            Kemper Johnson

            Ooops I used to much chicken stock and it is very thin ,not creamy any suggestions I am serving it in 2 hours! lol

          2. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
            Liz DellaCroce

            I would just use a slotted spoon when serving so some of the liquid goes away. :)

      3. Jennifer Katz Avatar
        Jennifer Katz

        Do I need to modify if I have a 8qt slow cooker? Thanks!

        1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
          Liz DellaCroce

          No you dont!

  9. Eloise Avatar
    Eloise

    Hi! Looks great. Just want to check something regarding the can of tomato sauce though…. I live in South Africa, and we don’t have canned tomato sauce. Is this the equivalent of tomato paste, bottled Ketchup (our “tomato sauce”), or canned and crushed tomatoes?

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Use crushed tomatoes instead!! Will work fine! OR you can use tomato paste + water :)

  10. Cariboo Avatar
    Cariboo

    Hi! I plan on making this curry with your ryita recipe and Naan tomorrow. Was wondering if I could sub the tomato sauce for a can of diced tomatoes (liquid included)?

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Yes absolutely! Enjoy!!