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    Home » Entree

    Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala {Dairy Free!}

    June 2, 2016 by Chrissy Carroll 8 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    We never tasted many different ethnic cuisines growing up.  My mom was a great cook, but we were a typical meat & potatoes or Italian dinner kinda family.  The first time I actually had Indian food was when I worked as a banquet waitress at a Holiday Inn hotel.  The hotel used to host lots of weddings, and when there was an Indian wedding they typically used their own caterer rather than the hotel catering.  If there were leftovers, a lot of times the caterers would let us waitresses have some of the food for dinner.

    I remember just how much I loved chicken tikka masala (along with naan, of course) the first time I had it.  When I got to college and went out to eat a bit more, it was my default choice when we would go to an Indian restaurant.

    Now, of course, we don’t eat out super often (both for health and budget reasons) – so I wanted to come up with a way to create this delicious dish at home.  I’ll by no means claim that this is 100% authentic because I am obviously not super well versed in Indian cooking.  And this is a slow cooker chicken tikka masala dish, which isn’t the traditional way of preparing the meal.

    But – I do think the flavors are pretty darn representative of chicken tikka masala.  And I love that this is made in the slow cooker and can be left to cook all day while you’re at work. 

    And of course, it is delicious.  The sauce is rich and full of flavor from the yogurt and spices.  The chicken is moist thanks to using chicken thighs and letting those cook all day in that sauce.  And paired with some rice or naan?  Oh my goodness, it’s like heaven in my belly.

    Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala

    When I first started cooking this, we hadn’t reintroduced any dairy back into my son’s diet yet (he was born with some food intolerences) so I made this dairy free version.  This is a great option for anyone with dairy allergies that still wants a tasty slow cooker chicken tikka masala.  No need to give up amazing food just because you’ve got an allergy!

    So grab the ingredients, pop it in the slow cooker, and let me know what ya think. 🙂

    This slow cooker chicken tikka masala has a rich sauce full of flavor from the yogurt and spices. The chicken is tender thanks to using chicken thighs and letting those cook all day in crock pot. And it’s dairy & soy free for anyone with allergies!

    Slow cooker chicken tikka masala

    Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala {Dairy Free!}

    Snacking in Sneakers
    Slow cooker tikka masala is easy when it's made in the crockpot - then just serve with rice or naan for a delicious meal.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 8 hours hrs
    Total Time 8 hours hrs 15 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Indian
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 354 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    For tikka masala:

    • 1 yellow onion, sliced
    • 6 bone-in chicken thighs
    • 3 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1 tbsp fresh ginger, minced
    • 29 oz can tomato puree
    • 1 cup coconut milk yogurt (if you’re not dairy free, you could try regular plain greek yogurt)
    • 2 tbsp garam masala
    • 1 tsp cumin
    • 1 tsp paprika
    • ½ tsp salt
    • ½ tsp pepper
    • 0 to ½ tsp cayenne (according to spice preferences)
    • 1 cup coconut milk

    Optional for topping:

    • ¼ cup chopped cilantro

    For serving:

    • Rice or Naan (note – naan is generally not dairy free)

    Instructions
     

    • Add all ingredients to crockpot except coconut milk and optional cilantro. {When it comes to the cayenne, add based on your preferences – I like the ½ teaspoon when I’m making it for just me and my husband, but when I know my son will be eating it too, I leave it out.}
    • Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Stir in coconut milk and let cook for another 15-30 minutes.
    • Remove from crockpot and serve with either naan or rice (and a side of veggies of course!). If desired, top with some chopped cilantro.

    Notes

    Tips:
    • If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can bring the sauce to a simmer in a pot to reduce a bit before serving.
    • You can remove skin from chicken to reduce calories and saturated fat.
     
    Nutrition analysis (approximate per serving; includes skin on chicken; does not include rice or naan):  354 calories, 24 g fat (12 g sat fat), 342 mg sodium, 18 g carbohydrate, 5 g fiber, 8 g sugar, 20 g protein, Vitamin A: 20%, Vitamin C: 32%, Calcium: 12%, Iron: 28%

    Nutrition

    Calories: 354kcal
    Keyword dairy free chicken tikka masala, slow cooker chicken tikka masala
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Share with me:  Do you love Indian food as much as I do?  Did you eat a lot of different cuisines growing up, or did you start experimenting with them a little later in life?  

    • Author
    • Recent Posts
    Chrissy Carroll
    Chrissy Carroll
    Chrissy Carroll is a Registered Dietitian and USAT Level I Triathlon Coach. She specializes in sharing nutrition and fitness tips, as well as recipes, for runners, triathletes, and active women.Chrissy holds a Bachelor's Degree in Nutrition, a Masters Degree in Public Health, and is also an ACSM Certified Personal Trainer.
    Chrissy Carroll
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    Comments

    1. Rachel @ RachelMcMichael.com

      June 8, 2016 at 2:59 pm

      Yum!! I am definitely adding this to my list of recipes to try. Thanks for sharing!!

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        June 11, 2016 at 12:39 pm

        Thanks Rachel! I hope you enjoy it. You know how much I love my slow cooker!

        Reply
    2. Coco

      January 21, 2019 at 7:13 pm

      Made this tonight — your resharing on Facebook paid off! — and it was a big hit. I made a few changes to meet my husband’s (picky) tastes (using boneless, skinless chicken thighs and shredding the chicken before adding the coconut milk) and used Chobani coconut yogurt since that’s what we had, and added a can of chickpeas because I love them — so you might want to try that sometime. It was so delicious I will be making it again!

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        January 30, 2019 at 7:55 pm

        Haha, yayyyy! So glad you enjoyed it. Regular yogurt is a great option for this; I know when I originally created the recipe I had to be dairy-free for nursing so the coconut milk yogurt was a go to for me. LOVE the idea of adding chickpeas to it too!!

        Reply

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    Welcome to Snacking in Sneakers! That's me, Chrissy, and I'm here to share all my favorite fitness, food, & wellness stories & tips. I'm a dietitian, personal trainer, runner, triathlon coach, foodie, not-so-extreme couponer, and all around fun lovin' gal.

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