Make this Slow Cooker Butter Chicken with Jar Sauce for an easy meal with fantastic results! It's extremely simple to make and cooks all day for a perfect dinner with no stress.
Thanks to jarred sauce, there's very little prep but you still end up with a homemade version of classic Indian butter chicken. The whole family will love this delicious meal served over rice or even on its own!
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Jump to:
- 🩵 About This Recipe
- What readers are saying...
- 🧂 Gather Your Ingredients
- 🔪 Let's Make Slow Cooker Butter Chicken with Jar Sauce!
- 💡 Expert Tips and Tricks
- ❔ FAQs
- 📝 Substitutions and Variations
- 🥡 Storage and Reheating
- ⏳ Make Ahead Instructions
- 🍴 What To Serve With This Dish
- 😋 More Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes You'll Love
- 📋 Recipe Card
- 💬 Reviews and Comments
🩵 About This Recipe
This incredible Indian-inspired slow cooker dish is a favorite of mine! Thanks to a jarred sauce, this recipe only requires TWO ingredients and cooks away in the slow cooker with no stress.
Great to serve over your choice of grains or pasta, you'll love how flavorful and tender this chicken gets. Keep it simple or add a veggie side dish and your favorite garnishes - either way the whole family will love this dinner!
If you find yourself craving more takeout copycat recipes, try my Slow Cooker Beef Teriyaki or this Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef! And for another easy chicken dinner, try my One Skillet Creamy Tomato Chicken.
What readers are saying...
Absolutely amazing!!!
- Laura
🧂 Gather Your Ingredients
- chicken thighs - boneless skinless chicken thighs result in a deliciously tender and flavorful dinner.
- butter chicken sauce - using this delicious jarred sauce is a convenient shortcut that doesn't sacrifice flavor or quality!
🔪 Let's Make Slow Cooker Butter Chicken with Jar Sauce!
(Or click here to jump right to the recipe card with measurements!)
Combine and Cook
Place the chicken thighs in the slow cooker and cover with the butter sauce. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours and serve.
💡 Expert Tips and Tricks
- For faster cooking, you can set the slow cooker to high for 3 to 4 hours instead.
- Make the sauce extra creamy by stirring in about half a cup of coconut milk in the last 30 minutes of cooking.
- This rich, flavorful dish is even easier to enjoy when you've prepped your rice ahead of time -here's everything you need to know about freezing rice so you can easily make it ahead and store it properly until you're ready to use it.
❔ FAQs
Indian butter sauce, also sometimes called makhani sauce, is made from tomatoes, onions, butter, and cream and often includes additional spices for flavor.
The traditional sauce is mildly spiced. The intensity is controlled by moderating the amount of chili powder or fresh chilies added. Different brands of store-bought sauce may have different levels of heat.
Yes! As long as the chicken cooks to an internal temperature of at least 165, it's perfectly safe to slow cook raw chicken.
📝 Substitutions and Variations
- If you prefer lighter meat, you can use chicken breasts instead of chicken thighs.
- Don't like chicken? Substitute with boneless pork!
- You can also make a vegetarian version of this dish by using chickpeas or tofu.
- Add some more nutrition to this dish by adding frozen peas, bell peppers, or spinach in the last half hour.
- Give your chicken a kick with some cayenne pepper, chili powder, or red pepper flakes.
Kristin's Kitchen Tip
I love using slow cooker liners so I can just lift and dispose. Super easy slow cooker clean up!
🥡 Storage and Reheating
Allow leftovers to cool slightly and transfer to an airtight container in the fridge for about 4 days. You can also freeze leftovers for 3 months or so.
Reheat in the microwave or on the stove over medium heat. Allow frozen leftovers to thaw before reheating for best results.
⏳ Make Ahead Instructions
Prep this meal ahead of time by combining the chicken and sauce in a plastic bag and storing in the freezer. Thaw overnight and just pop it in the slow cooker the morning of!
Keep It Handy
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🍴 What To Serve With This Dish
Serve your slow cooker butter chicken with jar sauce over this Instant Pot Quinoa, your favorite pasta, or a bowl of Cilantro Lime Brown Rice with Asparagus!
😋 More Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes You'll Love
- Honey Soy Chicken - You'll love the combination of sweet and savory in this tender chicken dish!.
- Chicken Thighs in Honey Beer Sauce - Add beer to your chicken for a pop of delicious and unique flavor.
- Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice - This simple comfort food classic is a staple meal in our house.
- Buffalo Chicken Tacos - Make this mouthwatering recipe from JZ Eats and enjoy delicious tacos with super tender pulled chicken, slow cooked to perfection!
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📋 Recipe Card
Slow Cooker Butter Chicken With Jar Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 15 ounces Butter Chicken Simmer Sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Cilantro for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Place the chicken thighs in the slow cooker, then pour the simmer sauce on top.2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs, 15 ounces Butter Chicken Simmer Sauce
- Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
- Before serving, season to taste with salt and pepper and garnish with cilantro (optional).Salt and pepper to taste, Cilantro for garnish
Notes
- If desired, you can use boneless, skinless chicken breasts instead of thighs.
- Use a slow cooker liner for easy cleanup.
- To make this ahead, combine the chicken and sauce in a freezer-safe bag and freeze. Thaw overnight and dump into the slow cooker in the morning on the day you wish to serve this recipe.
- If you're short on time, cook on high for 3-4 hours instead of low for 6-8 hours.
- You can substitute boneless pork for the chicken. Use tofu or chickpeas for a vegetarian version.
- To make the sauce even creamier, stir in ½ cup heavy cream or coconut milk during the last 30 minutes.
- If you would like to add some veggies, stir in frozen peas, bell peppers, or spinach in the last 30 minutes for extra nutrients.
- Add a pinch of cayenne or red pepper flakes for heat.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- To freeze, cool completely, then freeze in an air tight container or freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
- To reheat, place on the stovetop over medium heat until hot, or microwave in 30-second intervals.
Additional Serving Suggestions:
- Serve over rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice.
- Pair with naan or roti for dipping.
- Wrap in a tortilla or pita with lettuce for an easy lunch.
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate. The nutritional values for your final dish may vary based on measuring differences and products used.
Update Notes: This post was originally published in May 2015, and was republished with tips, step by step photos, and a recipe change in February 2025.
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Happy cooking!
Karren Haller ♥ Oh My Heartsie Girl says
We love a recipe with few ingredients, it looks wonderful!
Thanks for stopping by to linkup on Friday Features Linkup this week on Oh my Heartsie Girl!! You are welcome to stop by every week Wednesday and Friday to share your posts.
I have Pinned and Tweeted!
I hope you enjoy your weekend!
Karren
Lisa Savage says
Thanks for the review and thanks for linking up to #AllAboutYou
Karly says
I'd love this for dinner! Thanks for linking up with What's Cookin' Wednesday!
Hannah @ eat, drink and save money says
Amazing! I've done this with chicken breasts, but should change to thighs to make it cheaper.
I need that cookbook since I have a newborn in the house now. Thanks for linking up with Share the Wealth Sunday!
Brandi Clevinger says
Slow cooker meals are perfect for me because I have higher energy levels with lower pain levels in the mornings. By the afternoons, I'm exhausted and achy all over. And two ingredients in the slow cooker is even better!! This would be great to pair with the slow cooker risotto that was linked just above your link at #SmallVictoriesSUndayLinkup ! Thanks for sharing your recipe with us!
Romany says
This recipe looks delicious, love easy slow cooker meals, thanks for sharing -- Romany
Carrie @Frugal Foodie Mama says
I love Indian food! And I love how simple this is to make. My kind of slow cooker meal! 🙂
Erica (@Erica's Recipes) says
Yum I love Indian butter chicken so much and never thought to do it in the slow cooker. This looks amazing!
Marion@LifeTastesGood says
Sarah's book is amazing! She has so many recipes like this with so few ingredients that are super quick to just toss in the slow cooker and walk away! Perfect for those busy nights. Thanks for the review of the recipe, Kristin. I'll have to try this one for sure 🙂
Rachael says
I've never heard of this recipe until now. It looks delicious! I love slow cooker meals! they are the best, for chilly days especially!