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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. Sarah S Avatar
    Sarah S

    I just made this recipe tonight and all I can say is AMAZING!! I don’t understand any of the comments about being bland since it was anything but that. I left out the cayenne since one person couldn’t eat spicy. I used whole cup of coconut milk and 3 tablespoons of curry powder. Wow!! Everyone loved and will definitely will make this recipe again. Easy and didn’t take much prep time and of course I love a slow cooker recipe. My only comment is the serving since seems pretty big for 2 1/2 cups. We each had 1 1/2 cups which was more than filling. So this recipe really could serve more. Can’t wait to try out more recipes from this site. Thank you Liz! And P.S. I live in Grand Rapids, Michigan!!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      I’m so glad you enjoyed this dish so much Sarah!!! It is definitely a big serving but I typically don’t eat it with rice or anything else but yea it’s a generous portion for sure. :) Thanks for your sweet comment! Love that you’re here in Grand Rapids too!! Let me know what other recipes of mine you make!

  2. Claudia Avatar
    Claudia

    Just made this recipe with chicken in cubes (3hrs on high), it was delicous! Definitely our top curry recipe, thank you!!!

  3. Judit Avatar
    Judit

    I’m eating this as we speak. Excellent recipe! Substituted one of the sweet potatoes for a courgette and half of the curry powder for curry paste. Also put a bunch of cilantro stalks in the cooker. It came out great, can’t wait to see how the flavours will blend even more by tomorrow. Thank you!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      So happy you made it your own!!

  4. Melanie Avatar
    Melanie

    After reading some of the comments I was a bit hesitant to make this with it being my first time making curry, but IT WAS AMAZING!!!!! I am not sure what those people are talking about!!!

    I cubed the chicken instead of shredding it and did not put peas in and I am about to go make another plate (maybe 2 ). I served it with white basmati rice and naan <3 absolutely delicious and this is definitely going to be a new staple in our house. Thank you!!!!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      I make this all the time! I’m so glad you tried it Melanie!! It’s one of my all time favorites!

  5. Laura Avatar
    Laura

    I followed this recipe exactly, and I have to say that I was sadly disappointed. It is . . . fine. Edible. It just doesn’t have much flavor. I was dubious when the recipe only called for one spice (which, of course, is actually a combo of spices), but I doubled the recipe so that we could have leftovers, and I am now not looking forward to them. I am living overseas, and chicken is quite expensive here, so I regret that I didn’t use it in something tastier. If someone has a suggestion for upping the flavor in the remains of my big batch of curry, I’d love to hear it!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Hi Laura, I’d love to help figure out where this recipe went wrong for you as it’s the #1 most popular recipe of all time on my website. Additionally, my family has been making it and eating it for years. Did you make any changes at all to the recipe? Did you add enough salt for the amount of chicken and vegetables you used? I’d love to help you make this a success!

      1. Laura Avatar
        Laura

        Thank you, Liz! I did add the right amount of salt, and the only sub I made was veggie broth for chicken broth since it’s what I had on hand, and I didn’t think it would make a difference since it’s only 1/2 cup, but perhaps that influenced the taste. I think I just like something with more flavor and kick. No worries, though! I’m glad it’s been a hit with others! :)

  6. Elizabeth Avatar
    Elizabeth

    Could I substitute curry paste? I made this once with powder and we liked it but prefer the taste of yellow Thai curry paste, especially with coconut milk. If so, do you know the ratio of powder to paste? (It has salt, so I’ll omit that.)

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      I’ve never made it with curry paste but I bet that would work! I would probably double the amount of paste to powder.

      1. Michelle Robbings Avatar
        Michelle Robbings

        Hi,

        I put this all together this morning before i left for work and it is currently cooking away on the low setting. All looked very nice, however the liquid did not cover the food! I would say that it only covered two thirds of it – is this correct/ok? I’m assuming it will still cook okay through the steam that is produced and does not escape due to the fitted lid?

        1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
          Liz DellaCroce

          Yes it’s not a soup really it’s a curry – no need to cover. Additionally, slow cookers don’t allow water to evaporate over time so you often end up with a more liquid mixture over time. How did it turn out?

  7. Peg alderman Avatar
    Peg alderman

    This recipe looks delicious…..I’m trying not to use canned beans anymore though…..would I add the chickpeas directly after soaking overnight, or pre cook them a little

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      You’d need to pre-cook the chickpeas. Something I do is cook a huge batch then keep them (and any bean really) in the freezer, fully cooked, for last minute ideas!

      1. Jennifer McWilliams Avatar
        Jennifer McWilliams

        It is a very tasty dish! I followed the recipe and the spices are a little too spicy for my pallet. What can I add to tone down the spice?

        1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
          Liz DellaCroce

          I would add in more chicken stock or coconut milk!!

  8. Mia Avatar
    Mia

    Tried this today and not to impressed I’m sorry to say :(. It’s very bland. I tried to save it my saute some garlic and curry powder and added to the pot…it didn’t make too much of a difference:(. Not trying this one again

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Hi Mia – I’m so sorry to hear this didn’t turn out for you. I make this all the time and it’s actually the most popular recipe out of my 1,000 total recipes on The Lemon Bowl so I’d love to see if we could brainstorm together ways in which something may have gone wrong? Did you make any substitutions to my recipe at all? Did you leave anything out? Let me know – I would love to make this work for you like the millions of others who have made it already and love it.

  9. Mia Avatar
    Mia

    Hi,.. I m going to make this very soon and was wondering how many cups of 15 oz tomatoe sauce is

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      About 1 3/4 cup!

      1. Mia Avatar
        Mia

        Hi,.I, that seems like a lot of sauce,,, would it work with just 1 cup ??

        1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
          Liz DellaCroce

          Yes it would.

    2. Mia Avatar
      Mia

      oh gosh that sounds like a lot of tomatoe sauce .. can i use just 1 cup ?

      1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
        Liz DellaCroce

        Yes you can.

  10. Lilly Avatar
    Lilly

    Thank you for saving my day! I am having company and I know I shouldn’t use my guests as guine-pigs, but reviews are wonderful and I ha all the incredients. However, I only eat chick pea in salads; can I use northern or red beans instead? Would that be weird? Thank you so much for taking the time to reply all the comments.

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      I would do northern beans!! Totally works. I’m so glad I could help you with your party! Have fun!