• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Hungry Healthy Happy
  • Slow Cooker
  • About
  • Recipe Index
  • FREE eBook
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Slow Cooker
  • About
  • Recipe Index
  • FREE eBook
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Let's get social!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Slow Cooker
    • About
    • Recipe Index
    • FREE eBook
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
  • Let's get social!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Curry

    EASY Slow Cooker Chicken Curry

    Published: Jul 2, 2020 · Modified: Jan 10, 2023 · Written by Dannii Martin · This post may contain affiliate links · 38 Comments

    271 shares
    • 150
    Diet: Gluten Free
    Jump to Recipe

    A super easy and healthy Slow Cooker Chicken Curry that takes less than 5 minutes to prep. Easy to adapt, lots of green vegetables and it freezes well too. A tomato based, creamy curry sauce with tender chunks of chicken and some spinach for a green boost. A family favourite with minimal effort!

    Two bowls of chicken curry next to some hessian and herbs.

    This chicken curry honestly couldn't be easier. You just put everything in the slow cooker (no pre-cooking needed), stir and let it bubble away until the chicken just falls apart and melts in your mouth.

    Easy to adapt with your favourite vegetables (or none at all), this is a family favourite and perfect for batch cooking and keeping in your freezer for easy week night meals. It also contains our "secret" ingredient to making the BEST curry.

    If you fancy trying some other curries in the slow cooker, why not try our Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala, Slow Cooker Vegetable Curry, Slow Cooker Beef Curry, Slow Cooker Butter Chicken or Slow Cooker Lamb Rogan Josh.

    Jump to:
    • Why you will love it
    • Ingredients needed
    • Step by step
    • Variations
    • What to serve this with
    • Storage
    • FAQs
    • Extra tips
    • More chicken curry recipes
    • Recipe
    • Feedback

    Why you will love it

    • Easy - There is no prep required in making this slow cooker chicken curry. You don't need to brown the meat first, you just dump everything in and let the slow cooker work its magic.
    • Adaptable - Use this as the base recipe and then adapt it with what you have/like. There are lots of different vegetables you can add and we have shared our favourite ways to adapt this below.
    • Freezes really well - This is one of our favourite batch cook meals, as it freezes and reheats really well. We always make sure we have a couple of portions of this chicken curry in the freezer for days we know we won't have time to cook something from scratch.
    • Family friendly - Whilst you might not think of a curry when it comes to family friendly meals, this one is perfect for introducing your family to curry and new herbs and spices. It's a really mild and creamy curry, which can be made spicier if you wanted.

    Ingredients needed

    All the ingredients needed for this recipe with text overlay labels.
    • Chicken - We used chicken thighs as we think there is more flavour, but chicken breast will work really well too. We used boneless and skinless chicken thighs.
    • Chopped tomatoes - Try to find good quality tomatoes, as cheaper ones can be quite water - we like Mutti tomatoes.
    • Mango chutney - This is our secret ingredient for our curries and it adds a lovely hint of sweetness. Make your own using our easy mango chutney recipe.
    • Coconut milk - This is to make the curry nice and creamy. We used light coconut milk, but you could use full fat.
    • Onion, Garlic and Ginger - The base to any good curry. You could swap the onion for shallots which would add some sweetness. To save even more time, use frozen onion, garlic and ginger.
    • Spices - We used just curry powder and cayenne pepper, but you could use Garam Masala, a combination of your favourite curry spices or even a curry paste. Using different curry pastes is a good way to make the curry a different way each time.
    • Spinach and coriander (cilantro) - For a green boost to the curry.

    A full ingredients list with measurements is in the recipe card below.

    Step by step

    One: Add the onions, chicken, garlic and ginger to the slow cooker pot.

    Chunks of chicken breast, chopped onions and minced garlic in a slow cooker pot.

    Two: Add the spice mix.

    Spices added to the slow cooker.

    Three: Add the chopped tomatoes, mango chutney and coconut milk.

    Chopped tomatoes and coconut milk added.

    Four: Stir well and cook on low for 5-6 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.

    Cooked curry in the slow cooker pot.

    Five: 15 minutes before the end, add the spinach and coriander.

    Spinach leaves added to the curry.

    Variations

    The great thing about this slow cooker chicken curry is that you can pretty much use any vegetables you want. It's a great fridge raid meal to reduce waste, as you can use vegetables that are starting to look a bit sorry for themselves.

    We like chunky veg like bell peppers, courgette (zucchini) or aubergine (eggplant). But you could also add carrot, mushrooms, broccoli or parsnip. 

    We always like to add some greens to a dish if we can, so we stirred in some spinach before the curry finished cooking. You could use kale instead though or even some peas.

    You could also use different curry pastes to change the flavours. Why not use something like a madras paste if you wanted to make it really spicy?

    Chicken curry and rice with some chopped cilantro on top.

    What to serve this with

    Curry and rice is a classic combination, but we have also have this with potato wedges too! But you could also just make a couple of our Easy Homemade Flatbreads and use them to scoop up all that delicious curry sauce. Maybe brush some garlic butter on the flatbreads too. A Peshwari Naan is always a great side to a curry too.

    If you choose to have it with rice, add a teaspoon of turmeric when boiling your rice to give it a gorgeous golden colour and also a healthy boost. We have a full recipe for Turmeric Rice, which will go really well with this curry.

    Storage

    Store: This curry will keep in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

    Freeze: This freezes really well, making it great for batch cooking, and it will keep in the freezer for 2 months. Just make sure that it has cooled completely and then portion it out in to freezable containers (with rice to make it and even easier meal) and then put it in the freezer.

    Defrost: Defrost overnight in the refrigerator.

    Reheat: To reheat leftovers of this, just add it to a pan and gently cook for 3-4 minutes until completely heated through. If frozen, make sure it is fully defrosted before reheating. Always make sure the food is piping hot and only reheat once.

    A bowl of curry and rice in front of another bowl of curry.

    FAQs

    What spices to add to slow cooker chicken curry

    The great thing about this curry (apart from the amazing taste) is how simple it is. That's why we wanted to use a ready made curry powder to keep it simple. Try to go with the best quality one that you can find, as you really can taste the difference. If you want to make it spicier (as this is a pretty mild curry), then you can add extra cayenne or even a sprinkle of red chilli flakes before serving.
    You don't have to use curry powder though. You could use a couple of heaped tablespoons of your favourite curry paste instead, and it would give the curry a more intense flavour. It's a good way to make a different flavour curry each time, by using a korma paste or even a madras.

    What chicken to use in a slow cooker chicken curry

    We have used boneless and skinless chicken thighs and this will give much juicer chicken, but not as lean. Chicken thighs tend to be better value than chicken breasts too. It really comes down to your preference.
    Chunks of chicken breast keep it nice and lean. Plus, when you cook chicken breast in the slow cooker, it just falls apart and shreds nicely.

    Is a slow cooker chicken curry healthy?

    Making your own curry at home, rather than ordering a takeaway, is always going to be a healthier option. You can control the amount of oil that goes in it, you can use less meat and you can add more vegetables. Coconut milk does make this curry fairly high in calories, but you can use reduced fat coconut milk to lower that.

    Is slow cooker chicken curry gluten free?

    Yes, this is a delicious gluten free curry. Just make sure that there is no cross contamination.

    Do I need to brown the chicken first?

    No, there is no need to brown the chicken in this recipe before it goes in to the slow cooker. That is more important when making a beef dish, as it browns the meat and locks in the flavour. We find that it doesn't make enough difference to the flavour for the extra effort it takes.

    How long do you cook a slow cooker chicken curry for?

    You can either cook this on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 5-6 hours.

    Can this be made on the stove instead?

    Yes, if you want to make a quicker version of this slow cooker chicken curry, then you can make it on the stove instead. Fry the onion, garlic and ginger, add the spices and chicken and brown for 5 minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients and simmer for 40 minutes.

    How do I thicken the sauce?

    We think this curry sauce is the perfect consistency. However, if you want to thicken it a little, then add a cornflour slurry about an hour before it has finished cooking. Using good quality tinned tomatoes will help to make sure you don't have a watery curry.

    What slow cooker should I use?

    There really is no rule here, just make sure that the beef joint you are using can fit in your slow cooker. We use a Crock Pot DuraCeramic Slow Cooker and we love it. What I love most about it is that you can put the bowl insert on the hob too. So, we thicken the gravy on the hob, in the slow cooker bowl. You can also sear the meat in it first. I also love that it has a clear lid, as I am so impatient that I want to keep looking and seeing what it is doing. If you don't have a clear lid, then lifting it to see will release lots of the heat and add to the cooking time.

    heart icon

    Extra tips

    • You can use chicken breast instead of thighs.
    • If you want this curry to be spicier, then you can add extra cayenne or even add a sprinkle of red chilli flakes before serving.
    • We have used curry powder for the spices in this to keep it a super simple curry. However, you could use your favourite curry paste instead. It's a great way to make a different curry every time. You could have a korma or madras.
    • The onions could be softened and the chicken sealed in a pan before adding it to the slow cooker, but I really don't think it is essential.
    • You can cut the chicken thighs into chunks, like we have, or leave them whole and once cooked use two forks and shred it all up and then give it a good stir.
    • If you want to cook this on the hob (stove top), then fry up the chicken, onion, garlic and ginger until the chicken is browned and then stir in the spices. Then add the tomatoes, mango chutney and coconut milk, stir and simmer for 40 minutes.
    • If your sauce ends up too thin, then you can add a cornflour (cornstarch) slurry to thicken it up.

    More chicken curry recipes

    • Chicken Rendang in a metal dish next to a boel of rice and a lime wedge
      Chicken Rendang
    • Slow Cooker Thai Chicken Curry in a white bowl, topped with a lime wedge.
      Slow Cooker Thai Chicken Curry
    • Tomato and Garlic chicken curry in a blue bowl
      Tomato and Garlic Chicken Curry recipe
    • A plate of chicken korma and rice
      Chicken Korma

    If you’ve tried this slow cooker chicken curry recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
    Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

    Recipe

    Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Curry in a bowl with some brown rice

    Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Curry

    By: Dannii Martin
    A super easy and healthy Slow Cooker Chicken Curry that takes less than 5 minutes to prep. Easy to adapt, lots of veggies and it freezes well too.
    A circular logo saying GF.
    Gluten Free
    4.75 from 75 votes
    Pin Print Save recipe Recipe saved!
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Indian
    Prep: 5 minutes mins
    Cook: 4 hours hrs
    Total: 4 hours hrs 5 minutes mins
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 269kcal
    Allergens:
    An illustration of a cow's head.
    Meat
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 300 g (10.5 oz) Chicken thighs - either cut into chunks or left whole (see notes)
    • 3 Garlic clove - crushed
    • 15 g (1 tablespoon) Fresh ginger - grated
    • 1 Onion - small; diced
    • 4 tablespoon Curry powder
    • 0.5 teaspoon Cayenne pepper - or more to taste
    • 400 g (2.5 cups) Chopped tomatoes - canned
    • 200 ml (0.75 cups) Coconut milk
    • 4 tablespoon Mango chutney
    • 60 g (2 cups) Spinach
    • 15 g (1 cups) Fresh coriander (cilantro) - chopped

    Instructions

    • Add 1 Onion, 300 g Chicken thighs, 3 Garlic clove and 15 g Fresh ginger to the slow cooker pot.
    • Add 4 tablespoon Curry powder and 0.5 teaspoon Cayenne pepper.
    • Add 400 g Chopped tomatoes, 4 tablespoon Mango chutney and 200 ml Coconut milk.
    • Stir well and cook on low for 5-6 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
    • 15 minutes before the end, add 60 g Spinach and 15 g Fresh coriander (cilantro).

    Recipe tips

    • If you want this curry to be spicier, then you can add extra cayenne or even add a sprinkle of red chilli flakes before serving.
    • We have used curry powder for the spices in this to keep it a super simple curry. However, you could use your favourite curry paste instead. It's a great way to make a different curry every time. You could have a korma or madras.
    • You can use chicken breast instead of thighs.
    • You could soften the onion and seal the chicken in a pan before adding it to the slow cooker, but I really don't think it is essential.
    • You can cut the chicken thighs into chunks, like we have, or leave them whole and once cooked use two forks and shred it all up and then give it a good stir.
    • If you want to cook this on the hob (stove top), then fry up the chicken, onion, garlic and ginger until the chicken is browned and then stir in the spices. Then add the tomatoes, mango chutney and coconut milk, stir and simmer for 40 minutes.
    • If your sauce ends up too thin, then you can add a cornflour (cornstarch) slurry to thicken it up.

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1portion | Calories: 269kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 48mg | Sodium: 262mg | Potassium: 851mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 1962IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 104mg | Iron: 5mg

    The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

    You'll love these too...

    • Prawn tikka masala in a bowl with rice and a naan bread.
      Prawn Tikka Masala
    • Slow cooker chicken tikka masala in a bowl with rice.
      Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala
    • Prawn jalfrezi and rice in a large round bowl.
      Prawn Jalfrezi
    • Slow cooker beef curry and rice in a round bowl.
      Slow Cooker Beef Curry

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jacqueline Meldrum

      July 05, 2020 at 2:15 pm

      5 stars
      I tend to forget about my slow cooker in the summer, I don't know why. I am going to follow your lead and dig it out. Thanks for the inspiration.

      Reply
    2. Biana

      July 05, 2020 at 2:09 pm

      5 stars
      This chicken curry looks so delicious! I like that you cook it in the slow cooker, makes it easier to cook.

      Reply
    3. Emmeline

      July 05, 2020 at 10:08 am

      5 stars
      What a tasty curry!! This will be perfect for the cold fall days that are gonna be here faaaar too soon...

      Reply
    4. Kushigalu

      July 05, 2020 at 8:20 am

      5 stars
      Love the flavors and how simple this curry is to prepare. Thanks for sharing. I will try this soon for dinner

      Reply
    5. Irina

      July 05, 2020 at 2:33 am

      5 stars
      Your recipe has everything I was looking for: chicken and curry as ingredients and a slow cooker option. Sounds delicious!

      Reply
    6. Priya Lakshminarayan

      July 05, 2020 at 1:44 am

      5 stars
      Love a good curry when served rice! This looks yummy!

      Reply
    7. Alexandra

      July 05, 2020 at 1:41 am

      5 stars
      So simple and full of flavour! One the whole family enjoyed, and we will be making it again. Yum!

      Reply
    8. Caroline

      July 05, 2020 at 1:05 am

      5 stars
      We love making curries, they are definitely a family favorite and this looks like it has a tasty mix of ingredients, while keeping it easy for those maybe less familiar with making them.

      Reply
    9. Cate

      July 04, 2020 at 5:51 pm

      Curry is my favorite meal and I love this slow cooker option! Definitely going to make this ASAP!

      Reply
    10. Pavani

      July 04, 2020 at 4:03 pm

      5 stars
      That is such a flavorful and delicious looking chicken curry. Cooking it in the slow cooker makes it so much more convenient.

      Reply
    11. Adrianne

      July 04, 2020 at 9:15 am

      5 stars
      I love chicken curry!! This looks so good. I wish I was having it for dinner. Love the chicken and rice combo also. Can't wait to try it, thanks Danni!

      Reply
    12. Michelle

      July 04, 2020 at 4:49 am

      5 stars
      Curry in the Crockpot?! Yes, please. Came out amazing! Excited to make again!

      Reply
    13. Anjali

      July 03, 2020 at 7:56 pm

      5 stars
      I love all of the spices in this recipe!! It makes it super rich, satisfying and flavorful!

      Reply
    14. Jenn

      July 03, 2020 at 7:49 pm

      5 stars
      I loooove curry chicken and I doubly love the idea of making it in my crock pot! Can't wait to try this recipe! Excited!!

      Reply
      • Neha

        July 03, 2020 at 9:54 pm

        Loving the color of this curry,I am sure it tastes just as good. Can't wait to try it.

        Reply
      • Priya Shiva

        July 04, 2020 at 4:30 pm

        5 stars
        This chicken curry looks so good that it makes me hungry though I just had my dinner. Got to pass on the recipe to my friends too.

        Reply
        • Mike Sharp

          July 05, 2020 at 10:08 am

          Mike Sharp
          Will definitely try this easy to do and looks delicious.

          Reply
    15. Emily Liao

      July 03, 2020 at 7:35 pm

      5 stars
      This was so easy to make in the slow cooker! And the flavors were great with the chicken. Definitely is now a family favorite!

      Reply
    16. Chef Mireille

      July 03, 2020 at 2:57 pm

      5 stars
      This is definitely an easy shmeezy curry recipe and so unique. Will have to try this method soon.

      Reply
    17. Abigail Raines

      July 03, 2020 at 2:56 pm

      5 stars
      Love that it only takes 5 minutes to prep this! How's that for ease! What a tasty looking recipe, too!

      Reply
    18. Michelle

      July 03, 2020 at 2:47 pm

      5 stars
      That sauce looks amazing! I bet this is just the best thing to come home to after a long day!

      Reply
    19. Charla

      July 03, 2020 at 12:35 pm

      5 stars
      You can't really bet a slow cooked chicken dinner, I will be trying one very soon. Thank you!

      Reply
    20. kim

      July 03, 2020 at 12:20 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe was fabulous! The taste was absolutely delicious and it was easy to make. I will definitely be making again!

      Reply
    Newer Comments »

    Made this recipe? Let me know! Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Dannii in hat and glasses stood on a beach.

    Welcome!
    My name is Dannii. Here you will find easy family recipes with a healthy twist.
    Established in 2011, Hungry Healthy Happy has become one of the UK's most popular food blogs, with two successful recipe books published.

    About HHH»

    Salad Recipes

    • A red bowl full of green bean salad.
      Green Bean Salad
    • A large bowl of aubergine salad next to a yellow towel.
      Aubergine Salad
    • A bowl of watercress salad with a wooden fork and spoon in it.
      Watercress Salad
    • Asparagus salad on a large round plate.
      Asparagus Salad
    • Halloumi salad on a round blue plate.
      Halloumi Salad
    • Rocket salad in a large serving bowl.
      Rocket Salad

    Featured in

    Collage of media outlet logos.

    Popular Recipes

    • A pile of air fryer chips.
      The Best Air Fryer Chips
    • 10 Minute Chickpea and Spinach Curry on a blue and white plate.
      10 Minute Chickpea and Spinach Curry
    • Easy tomato pasta sauce coating tagliatelle on a white plate.
      Easy Tomato Pasta Sauce
    • Slow cooker beef brisket sliced up on a serving board.
      Slow Cooker Beef Brisket

    Footer

    Help & Information

    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy
    • Advertising
    • Blog

    About us

    • About us
    • Newsletter Sign Up!
    • Press enquiries
    • Web Stories
    • FAQ

    Follow us

    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube

    ^ back to top

    Featured in

    A selection of publications that Hungry Healthy Happy has been featured in

    As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2011-2023 Hungry Healthy Happy • All Rights Reserved • Site Design by D Martin

    • 150
    271 shares