Slow Cooker Chicken Curry

4.63 from 32 votes

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Slow Cooker Chicken Curry – super easy, packed with flavor and mild enough for the whole family to enjoy. A truly no-fuss recipe that requires minimal prep and no browning. I guarantee that this delicious chicken curry in a rich creamy sauce will become a your favorite fakeaway!

A blue bowl filled with rice, creamy easy curry recipe, sautéed spinach, and naan bread, with a fork on the side. Another bowl, naan pieces, and a small bowl of spinach are nearby on a gray background.

I seem to have reawakened my love affair with my slow cooker. It was feeling a little neglected of late, what with that interloper the Instant Pot taking top spot in my affections.

And how can you help but LOVE your slow cooker when it can produce such a delicious chicken curry with almost ZERO effort? It is so convenient and energy efficient too.

A close-up of a ladle scooping thick, orange-brown Slow Cooker Chicken Curry with chunks of chicken from a slow cooker—an easy curry recipe perfect for cozy nights.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

  • It is the EASIEST chicken curry you will ever make
  • No oil or butter – healthier and suitable for Slimming World and Weight Watchers
  • Gluten free and dairy free (depending on cream added)
  • Mild and creamy – perfect for kids and curry-phobes, but you can make it spicier if you like it hot!
  • Prep ahead – this recipe is suitable as freezer ‘dump bag’ slow cooker meal
A blue bowl filled with white rice, creamy orange Slow Cooker Chicken Curry, sautéed greens, and cilantro garnish. A fork rests along the bowl’s edge; another bowl and glass are blurred in the background.

Here’s What You Will Need

I wanted to create a chicken curry recipe that requires very little work without sacrificing the flavor and I think I have hit the jackpot with this crock pot one! Here’s what you will need:

  • A mini chopper to blend the curry paste (this is one of the most used kitchen gadgets I own) and a 6.5L slow cooker
  • For the homemade curry paste: 2 red onions, 5-6 garlic cloves, Tomato purée (paste), Garam Masala, ground cumin, turmeric, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, brown sugar and chicken broth
  • Skinless chicken thighs. You can also use skinless chicken breasts if you like but thighs are more tender
  • Double cream or coconut cream for an indulgent version or a lighter plant-based alternative for a slimming-friendly option
  • Cilantro (coriander) to garnish
Top-down view of Slow Cooker Chicken Curry ingredients: raw diced chicken, broth, cream, spices, tomato paste, ginger, garlic cloves, and whole red onions—everything you need for an easy curry recipe all laid out on a white surface.

How to Make Crockpot Chicken Curry

Make the curry paste

  1. Put the fresh ginger, onions, garlic, spices, salt, sugar or sweetener,  tomato paste and chicken stock in a mini food chopper and process until you have a smooth paste. If you don’t have a food processor you can finely dice the onions, mince the garlic and use a ginger paste. Alternatively use a store-bought curry paste.
Split image: Left side shows raw ingredients—onion, garlic, tomato paste, and spices—being added to a food processor for an easy curry recipe. Right side shows the blended reddish-brown paste, perfect for Slow Cooker Chicken Curry.

Slow Cooker Instructions

  1. Dump the diced chicken into your slow cooker, add the paste and mix well. Easy peasy!
  2. Cook on the HIGH setting for 3 hours or LOW for 5 hours. Stir in the cream (or soy cream / coconut cream) and heat through. 
Raw, diced chicken pieces and a thick, brownish-orange sauce sit side by side in a black slow cooker, ready to become a flavorful Slow Cooker Chicken Curry—an easy curry recipe perfect for busy days.
A hand with red nail polish pours cream into a slow cooker filled with a rich brown curry containing potatoes and mushrooms—an easy curry recipe perfect for making Slow Cooker Chicken Curry at home.

Stovetop Cooking Instructions

  1. Heat a little oil or ghee in a pan and briefly brown the chicken over high heat. Add the curry paste and stir until fragrant.
  2. Stir in one cup (250ml) chicken stock and bring to a rolling boil then reduce heat to a gentle simmer. Cook for 30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the sauce is reduced. If the pan looks a bit dry, stir in some hot water.

Serving suggestions

Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve over pilau rice with my easy two ingredient flatbreads to complete your meal. Add side dishes like Dal Makhani for an Indian-style feast!

Pair with a glass of ice-cold beer is probably the best pairing with this curry though I prefer a glass of Sauvignon Blanc myself.

A blue bowl filled with creamy orange Slow Cooker Chicken Curry, garnished with black sesame seeds and herbs, with a silver spoon resting inside—a perfect easy curry recipe for any occasion.

Recipe Tips

  • HOW TO THICKEN THE CURRY It is true that some slow cooker recipes are a bit watery and bland. This one is not because I have added very little liquid to it to begin with. If you need to thicken your curry further, the easiest way is to stir in some cornstarch slurry and allow the sauce to bubble for a few minutes until it thickens.
  • SHOULD I BROWN THE CHICKEN? I usually advise you to sear or brown meat before making curries or stews. In this recipe there’s no need to do that – the curry paste will infuse the chicken with lots of flavor and the slow cooking will keep it tender and succulent.
  • STORING AND FREEZING: Leftovers will keep in the fridge for up to three days. If you wish to freeze then portion into suitable containers, label and transfer to the freezer as soon as the curry has cooled down. Use within three months.
A person with red nail polish and a small wrist tattoo stirs a thick, brown Slow Cooker Chicken Curry with chunks of meat and herbs in a black slow cooker against a white background, showcasing an easy curry recipe.

Prepping Ahead

Make the curry paste and marinate the chicken overnight (in the fridge) then start the curry recipe the following day. 

You can also make a “dump bag” for the freezer. Mix the chicken with the paste and transfer to a sturdy ziplog bag, expelling all air before sealing.

Label the bag with the date and any instructions such as cooking time etc. Defrost overnight in the fridge before cooking in the crock pot. Use all the dump bags within 3 months.

A hand holds a blue bowl of creamy paneer curry with a spoon, garnished with cilantro. Perfect as an easy curry recipe, it’s served alongside white rice, sautéed greens, and naan on a gray textured surface.

Chicken Curry Variations

  • If you prefer a spicier curry then blend one or two jalapeño peppers and their seeds in your curry paste. Alternatively up the cayenne pepper or swap for hot madras curry powder. Garnish with dried chilli flakes when serving.
  • SLIMMING WORLD CHICKEN CURRY: Replace the cream with natural fat-free yogurt. One portion is approximately 330 calories (if you are making the lighter version) without any sides.
A blue bowl with white rice, creamy orange slow cooker chicken curry, sautéed greens, and naan bread, garnished with herbs; a fork rests on top. Nearby, extra naan and greens complete this inviting and easy curry recipe on a rustic wooden board.

Fuss-free Crockpot Recipes

Craving more cozy slow cooker dinners like this one? There’s loads of easy family-friendly recipes for your crockpot in the archives, here’s a small selection below to get you started:


HAVE YOU MADE MY SLOW COOKER CHICKEN CURRY RECIPE? Be sure to rate the recipe and leave a comment – I LOVE hearing how it turns out in your kitchen. Don’t forget to tag me @supergolden88 on Instagram or @supergoldenbakes on TikTok so I can see your delicious creations!

📌 Save this recipe on Pinterest for later, and follow me for more comforting dinners that practically cook themselves. Your next family favorite is just a slow cook away!

4.63 from 32 votes

Slow Cooker Chicken Curry

This Slow Cooker Chicken Curry is super easy, packed with flavor and slimming friendly too. A truly no-fuss crockpot recipe that requires minimal prep and no browning – happy days!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 4
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Video

Ingredients

  • 2 red onions roughly chopped
  • 5 cloves garlic
  • 1 thump-sized piece fresh ginger
  • 2 tbsp tomato purée (paste)
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar or Sukrin Gold sweetener
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp garam masala
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • ½ tsp cayenne pepper
  • 60 ml (¼ cup) chicken stock
  • 2 lbs (900g) chicken thighs skinless & boneless, fat removed
  • 5 tbsp heavy cream or fat free natural yoghurt

To serve

  • Salt and pepper to season
  • cilantro (coriander) to garnish
  • red pepper flakes or onion seeds
  • naan bread
  • steamed rice or pilau

Instructions 

  • Make the curry paste. Put the onions, garlic, ginger, tomato paste, spices, seasoning and chicken stock in a mini food chopper and process until you have a smooth paste.
    2 red onions, 5 cloves garlic , 1 thump-sized piece fresh ginger, 2 tbsp tomato purée (paste), 1 tbsp brown sugar , 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp garam masala, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp turmeric, 1 tsp paprika, ½ tsp cayenne pepper, 60 ml (¼ cup) chicken stock
  • Add the chicken and curry paste into the slow cooker and mix well.
    2 lbs (900g) chicken thighs
  • Cook on HIGH for 3 hours or low for 5 without opening the lid. The chicken should be very tender at this point.
  • Stir in the cream or yogurt and heat through.
    5 tbsp heavy cream
  • Check the seasoning and garnish with fresh cilantro and onion seeds. Serve over steamed rice or pilau rice with naan bread.
    cilantro (coriander), Salt and pepper to season, red pepper flakes , naan bread, steamed rice or pilau

Notes

To cook on the stove top
Heat a little oil or ghee in a pan and briefly brown the chicken over high heat. Add the curry paste and stir until fragrant. Stir in one cup (250ml) chicken stock and bring to a rolling boil then reduce heat to a gentle simmer. Cook for 30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the sauce is reduced.

Nutrition

Calories: 331kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 47g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 216mg | Sodium: 888mg | Potassium: 835mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 539IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 93mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional information is always approximate, and will depend on quality of ingredients and serving sizes.

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4.63 from 32 votes (27 ratings without comment)

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16 Comments

  1. Stephanie says:

    5 stars
    looking forward to cooking this recipe later on today.Do you have a recipe book to buy

    1. Lucy Parissi says:

      Hi Stephanie – I do have a cookbook that’s all about Air Fryer Baking. What type of cookbook are you after? I am considering publishing digital products.

  2. Shannon says:

    5 stars
    sorry forgot to rate…

  3. Shannon says:

    This curry is super delicious! Even my fussy 6 year old who claims to hate curry finished his portion and asked for more!
    I’d like to double the amount of chicken so we can have leftovers, do I need to double all of the other ingredients too?

    1. Lucy Parissi says:

      Hi Shannon, yes I would say double the ingredients xx

  4. Melanie Smith says:

    Every recipe I do of yours always turns out perfectly. But, I have this in the slow cooker now and it seems really dry? I added some water because the paste was drying out. I know you need less liquid in a slow cooker, but it’s hardly anything. Have I done something wrong? x

    1. Lucy Parissi says:

      Hi Melanie, If it is really dry check the lid is on securely. You can add some water or broth if needed.

  5. Ryan milligan says:

    I know this is a slow cooker recipe but is there any other ways to cook it eg convection oven that whorls be quicker

    1. Lucy Parissi says:

      Hi Ryan – I will take a look at the recipe and try to add instructions for you

  6. Roy boon says:

    Sounds like a nice curry, will try

  7. Diana says:

    Hi!

    I feel stupid to ask. Double cream? You mean heavy cream or???

    Thanks!
    D.S.

    1. Lucy Parissi says:

      Yes double cream = heavy cream

  8. Alison Wilson says:

    5 stars
    So Easy and wonderfully tasty. We love it

  9. Anna says:

    5 stars
    We had it for dinner tonight, we all loved it even my fussy 5 years old .

  10. Richard says:

    5 stars
    Very easy and great results. Six clear plates at the end says it all. I cooked using chicken thighs with bone in and removed them at the end. Then fat free yoghurt to finish.

    1. Lucy Parissi says:

      Thanks for the lovely comment Richard it makes me so happy!