Easy Creamy Crock-Pot Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani)

September 4, 2015

Easy Creamy Crock-Pot Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani)
I’m not sure if you do this as well, but I tend to go in and out food crazes — currently, the only thing I want to eat after running is garlic butter zoodles, which doesn’t sound so bad until you consider that I run every day.
I’ve gone through similar phases with scrambled eggs with avocado and feta, dinners of teriyaki glazed chicken and creamy mashed cauliflower, pan-fried dumplings with chinese eggplant, and for three tormented weeks Xi’an Famous Foods’ Hand-Ripped Noodles (so not paleo, so guilty delicious!)

Spices




But my love affair with Indian cooking is different. It’s not a craze, it’s not a kick; it's been going on forever and it's going to go on forever.
I crave Indian food for a million different reasons.
Nothing is soul-satisfying comforting to me as a bowl of Chicken Tikka Masala and rice, or gets me in a good mood as Aloo Masala.
Easy Creamy Crock-Pot Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani)
Even on days like we’ve had this week; when the air is oppressively stagnant, damp, and thick — and common sense demands fresh fruit, raw vegetables, and smoothies — I dream of thick, spicy curries that make me sweat in the best way possible.

Easy Creamy Crock-Pot Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani)




Butter Chicken (aka Murgh Makhani) needs no introduction. Together with Chicken Tandoori, it’s most probably the best known of all Indian dishes.
It’s sort of the ultimate Indian comfort food. Rich, buttery, creamy, not-too-spicy chicken that everyone loves.
As brilliantly pointed out by Sam SiftonButter chicken is the General Tso’s of Indian food, a great, ever-evolving, cross-continental dish found in Delhi, London, New York, Perth and most points in between [...]

Easy Creamy Crock-Pot Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani)




Making this Easy Creamy Crock-Pot Butter Chicken takes a little prep time, but once the prep is done, you let the Crock-Pot do its magic.
So simple you will probably be making this dish over and over again.
Serve it with basmati rice, quinoa, or Creamy Coconut Cauliflower Rice.
You won’t be disappointed.

Easy Creamy Crock-Pot Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani)


I won’t try to convince you with words. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Easy Creamy Crock-Pot Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani)

Easy Creamy Crock-Pot Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani)                            Print this recipe!
Adapted just a little from HalfBakedHarvest

Ingredients
Serves 6

1 ½ lbs / 680 gr skinless chicken breast, cut into bite size pieces
1 small onion, very finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
2 teaspoons curry powder
2 tablespoons garam masala
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
¼ teaspoon cumin
¼ teaspoon fine grain sea salt
1 (6 oz / 170 gr) can tomato paste
1 (14 oz / 400 gr) can full fat coconut milk (I used BPA-free Natural Value)
½ cup Greek yogurt
4 tablespoons heavy cream
2 tablespoons butter

Directions

In a large bowl combine coconut milk, Greek yogurt, and heavy cream. Stir in tomato paste, garlic, ginger, and all the spices.
Grease the inside of the Crock-Pot with olive oil.
Add chopped onion at the bottom, then chicken pieces, and then pour coconut milk mixture over it. Add butter in dollops, cover with a lid, and cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 6 hours.
When ready, give a good stir, adjust seasoning and serve!

Nutrition facts

One serving yields 354 calories, 22 grams of fat, 14 grams of carbs, and 26 grams of protein.

40 comments:

  1. This is making me want to buy a crock pot. This looks amazing!!

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    1. A Crock-Pot is a necessity Cath, you must get one asap!

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  2. I see crockpot & I'm ON IT. Seriously crockpot food can sometimes look like mush. This is way too beautiful to be crockpot! Pinned and making ASAP!

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  3. I am the same way- delicious, flavorful Indian food is always a win and a craving for me!

    With my long work schedule recently, this crock pot recipe is a perfect one and I can't wait to try it soon and come home to dinner ready to eat :)

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  4. Yummy! I love butter chicken its my favourite, Thanks for sharing the great recipe

    http://xoxobella.com

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  5. It looks delicious, I love Indian food. I would only have problems to share this with other 5 people... :)

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  6. I adore Indian food, anytime. That will be one of the first things I do when we get back home is go to my fav Indian restaurant........or I can make my own, looks amazing!

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  7. Laura has gotten me into more curries lately, Mike...I love this presentation! This looks like the perfect comfort food meal. If only it made me want to go running every day like you. Haha! #WolfpackLaborsDaily

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  8. Well Mike, you have done it again! I thought if this recipe would turn out even half as good as your Tikka Masala recipe, I will be in curry heaven. I have to say this was Da Bomb! I had relatives visiting from India who ate this and wanted this recipe. Keep in mind I am no slouch when it comes to cooking. But I was on the verge of throwing out my slow cooker. Well now the slow cooker stays and we all thank you for the most amazing, delicious and easy to cook recipe!!

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    1. OMG Vanita, your comment brightened my day. I can't tell how happy to know that not only you enjoyed my recipe but also your Indian relatives, It's such a validation!

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  9. I love all your recipes but this one is my favorite. I just made it and it's so delicious that I could eat it for days! Even my husband who doesn't like much, loved it!

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    1. That's fantastic Ana, I'm so glad you enjoyed it this much!

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  10. XIANS!!! Mate, best discovery in Flushings, only to find it in Manhattan too!

    I would take up running to faceplant this- I've been working on a butter chicken recipe but I just can't make it work. Lucky I have this to drown my sorrows in :D

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    1. Xians is da bomb. Hands down one of the best food ever!

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  11. This looks delicious. I love butter chicken. I usually make it from a mix, but I'd love to make it from scratch, so thanks for the recipe. A friend of mine clued me into the idea of using a roasted acron squash as if it were a bowl, and serving butter chicken in it. It's fantastic!

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    1. That's actually a great idea man, I'm definitely trying it soon!

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  12. The pictures indeed did the talking, wow! I am a HUGE Indian food fan and this one looks killer. I’m headed over there for 3 weeks in April, can’t wait.
    Digging the slow cooker method here too, thanks! #WolfPackGoesIndian

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  13. I just got my crockpot back out and I've been making Indian food every week lately. I love the way the house smells with rich spices when you're making Indian food, so I think I'll try this on a weekend where I can smell it all day long!

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  14. It looks amazing! I use my crockpot a lot too, but have never prepared a curry in it. I'm always a bit hesitant when it comes to coconut milk. Do enlighten me? :). I make curries all the time (I'm Indian), and for a bit of the creaminess I add some coconut powder milk at the end or some yogurt. Tempted to try yours. Great job!

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  15. Is there anyway to substitute the greek yogurt and heavy cream? I'm lactose intolerant, but this recipe sounds delicious!

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  16. Is there anyway to substitute to Greek Yogurt and heavy cream? I'm lactose intolerant, but this looks delicious!

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  17. I'm allergic to coconut is there a alternative that works well.

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  18. Do you cook the chicken before you put it into the slow cooker?

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  19. What size crock pot did you use? I have a 7 quart.

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  20. This is amazing!! Made it twice already. First time I used Yamato paste in the can and the second time I used tomato paste out it the tube. The tube of tomato paste made the sauce thicker and I thought more delicous! Thanks so much for the recipe, no more takeout for me!

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  21. Can't wait to try this out! I've been looking around the internet for a decent crock pot butter chicken recipe that actually has all the correct spices that butter chicken needs. Thank you for being authentic to the flavor profile. So excited to try this!

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  22. I've been trying for years to find a recipe that really captures that restaurant taste I love. This one is the closest I've yet come across. It's absolutely delicious. My only complaints are that 6 servings from it is absolutely tiny proportions. I divided it up into 5th's (one for each day of the week) and even that, with a 1/3 cup uncooked basmati rice wasn't close to filling. And once the rice is added, it's not entirely calorie friendly. Using cauliflower rice (as suggested) helps immensely on that front, and given the sauce really takes control of the flavors, it doesn't suffer much in terms of taste to do so!

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    1. If I'm not mistaken, a serving size is about 3/4 cup, which is plenty when paired with a cup of brown rice or basmati rice.

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  23. can i make in dutch oven instead? What temp? for how long?

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  24. can i make this in m dutch oven? What temp? how long?

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  25. Holy Cow! I just made this recipe and it is absolutely incredible and not nearly as many calories as I thought it would be. Thank you for posting! This is definitely going in my favorites.

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