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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. Carol Avatar
    Carol

    I love how many nutrients are packed into this meal. I feel so good when I make this for my family. I recently went to a popular Indian restaurant in Coconut Grove, FL. I had the Chicken Tikka Masala… it tasted just like this dish. I was so excited to know how to make a healthier version(your version) of it for my family at home.

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      I’m so thrilled you like it Carol!

  2. Joann Woolley Avatar
    Joann Woolley

    This looks so good! I am making this for a family of 5, wondering where this lies on the spicy barometer?

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      It’s not spicy at all! Our littlest can’t handle spicy too well :)

  3. Christa P. Avatar
    Christa P.

    I made this tonight, followed the recipe exactly on low for 8 hours. It turned out perfectly! I didn’t think it had a strong tomato sauce flavor, i thought it was just right, and the chicken was moist. It was a big hit even with my four year old and 10 month old. Thanks for the recipe!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      I’m so thrilled you loved it!! And even more thrilled your kids loved it!!! :)

  4. Kati Avatar
    Kati

    Made this for the first time yesterday. I doubled the recipe, but other than that followed it to a T.

    There’s a little too much tomato sauce for our tastes. The tomato drowns out most of the other flavor, and it ends up tasting more like a red sauce than a curry to me. If I do make this again I will significantly cut down on the tomato, and maybe then it will taste more like curry.

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Oh interesting – well that’s good to know and I certainly appreciate you getting creative and making it your own!

  5. Andria Avatar
    Andria

    Just made this for an easy weeknight meal. I didn’t have any sweet potatoes on hand but went for it anyway! It was delicious! Plus, so easy that I had time to hit the gym after work! Will definitely make again, thanks!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Oh I’m so glad you liked it Andria!!

  6. Lauren Avatar
    Lauren

    Fantastic! FH and I doubled this recipe. We generally make a big pot of something in the slow cooker overnight, throw it over rice in the morning, and have it for lunches at work all week. We were looking for a change of pace from black beans and salsa chicken and this worked out perfectly! We used white sweet potatoes, which aren’t quite as sweet and have a texture similar to regular potatoes, and used a whole bag of frozen peas instead of just a cup. Overall, 5 stars. Great little kick at the end, and I love the sweetness that the coconut milk gives it! Thanks!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Oh I’m so glad you enjoyed it Lauren!!! Yay!

  7. Bre & Ree Avatar
    Bre & Ree

    I made this tonight, perfect for a Sunday, and it was fantastic! I added the chickpeas late because I didn’t have any on hand, so had to run to the store. Came out perfectly! I served it with cauliflower rice and loved it. Will definitely make again. Thanks for sharing!
    ~Bre

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Oh I’m so thrilled! Love the idea of having it with cauliflower rice!

  8. Brian Avatar
    Brian

    This sounds great. Instead of cayenne I toasted 5-6 thai chiles in olive oil w/ a crushed clove of garlic – food processed it – then dumped that into the base mixture. Also with a teaspoon of some New Mexican red chile powder, because we put that in everything here and then added a little turmeric and ground ginger powder.
    Guess I’ll see how it turns out in 4 hours.
    Thanks!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      How was it Brian??

  9. Claire Avatar
    Claire

    I made this today! I accidentally used a whole can of full fat coconut milk and it was AWESOME. I used Yukon golds instead of sweet pots and threw in a few carrots. This is definitely going into regular rotation!

    1. Laura Avatar
      Laura

      Can’t see how to add a comment, so I’m piggybacking someone else’s….

      I love the idea and great reviews! Want to make and give to my sister that is expecting her first baby. But I didn’t see anyone comment on the freezer friendliness of this recipe.

      Have you or anyone tried doubling and freezing for later cooking? How did it turnout?

      Thanks!!

      1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
        Liz DellaCroce

        Yes it freezes perfectly! Enjoy, Laura!

  10. Ashleigh Avatar
    Ashleigh

    Hi I’m just wondering when it says 150z can tomato sauce, do you mean tomato sauce or tomato paste?? I haven’t seen a curry recipe with tomato sauce before that’s all

    PS im australian maybe that’s why lol

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      15 ounce can tomato sauce – do you have that? If not, crushed tomatoes would be fine!