Paleo Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe - My Natural Family (2024)

Rebecca Baron 26 Comments

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This Paleo slow cooker chicken tikka masala recipe is so easy with only a few ingredients and it tastes like I was cooking in the kitchen for half the day. This recipe is a simplified version of traditional Indian cuisine.

I'm not going to lie and say it's exactly the same as you would get in India. However, it's easy, simple and very healthy. Thisrecipe uses coconut milk as the main ingredient.

Paleo Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe - My Natural Family (1)

Browning the chicken in a pan first, along with the onion and spices develops a deeper flavor and richer sauce. The Garam Masala can be found in any Indian grocery store, but I was even able to find it in my small town grocery store, so maybe it is becoming a more prominent spice.

As pictured, this recipe is not Paleo or Whole30 (because of the naan bread) but it's easy to eat it like soup out of the bowl or put over cauliflower rice or cauliflower mash. I've even seen Paleo naan bread recipes on Pinterest if you would like to try that.

To make it Clean Eating, serve it over brown rice or quinoa *. Traditionally this would be served over basmati rice, but all my family prefers jasmine rice. We like it because it has the most substance and is a little sticky and chewy. I never liked white rice until I tried jasmine and now I love jasmine rice.

My children all love this Paleo chicken tikka masalarecipe. We all love to go to the Indian restaurant near our house and the only thing my children want is tikka masala. I love eating there because my children actually eat real food instead of an expensive, tasteless, unhealthy kid's meal.

Getting a couple of dishes to share usually ends up costing as much as that. I like it because I get to try a wide variety of foods. I think MY favorite Indian food is either Indian saag recipe or Indian chicken korma coconut milk recipe, depending on the restaurant. Click the links above to get my recipes for both of those.

The chicken masala we get from our favorite Indian restaurant uses chicken breast, but I don't like chicken breasts in the slow cooker because it's very easy to get dried out and tough. However, chicken thighs get soft, tender and juicy in the slow cooker. I think the tomato-based sauce actually helps tenderize the chicken thighs. If you don't want to use coconut milk, you can use another milk alternative, such as almond milk - or cream is good too.

Have you tried tikka masala before? Share in the comments below, we would love to hear from you! Share with all your friends you think might like this recipe!

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Recipe

Paleo Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe - My Natural Family (2)

Paleo slow cooker chicken tikka masala Recipe

★★★★★5 from 3 reviews

  • Author: Rebecca Baron
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 240 minutes
  • Total Time: 255 minutes
  • Yield: 6 1x
  • Category: Main Course
  • Cuisine: Indian
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Description

Browning the chicken in a pan first, along with the onion and spices develops a deeper flavor and richer sauce. The Garam Masala can be found in any Indian grocery store, but I was even able to find it in my small town grocery store, so maybe it is becoming a more prominent spice.

Ingredients

Scale

  • 2 Tbl Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 6 Chicken Thighs (boneless, skinless) (cut into 1"pieces)
  • 1 Yellow Onion (diced)
  • 2 tsp Garlic (minced)
  • 2 tsp Coarse Real Salt * (Kosher)
  • 1 ½ Tbl Garam Marsala
  • ½ tsp Paprika
  • 3 Tbl Tomato Paste
  • 1 28 oz can Diced Tomatoes
  • 1 15 oz can Coconut Milk *
  • Fresh Cilantro (to garnish)

Instructions

  1. Heat the oil in a saute pan. Add the chicken and cook until it is golden brown on all sides. Add the chicken to the slow cooker and put the pan back on the heat.
  2. Add the onion to the pan and saute for 2-3 minutes. Add the garlic, salt, Garam Masala, and paprika and saute for another minute. Stir the tomato paste in and cook for another minute. Add the tomatoes to the pan and bring to a simmer.
  3. Pour the diced tomatoes over the chicken in the slow cooker along with the can of coconut milk. Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6-8 hours. Remove the lid of the slow cooker for the last 30 minutes of cooking to allow the sauce to thicken slightly.
  4. Serve over brown rice and garnish with chopped cilantro.

Keywords: Slow Cooked, Spicy

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    • Rebecca Baron

      I haven't tried it myself but it should work fine. Please come back and comment if you try so others will know if it works.

      Reply

  1. Virginia

    Wonderful ! I added a head of cauliflower at the beginning so it would take on the flavor and omitted any cauliflower rice (I’m on a Ketogenic lifestyle). It makes almost like a stew. Will make great leftovers for lunch at work this week.

    Reply

    • Rebecca

      Such a good idea! We're in love with cauliflower at our house and it would be so good in this recipe since it absorbs flavors so well.

      Reply

  2. Cassandra @ Uncommonly Well

    I loved this so much! The flavor is amazing and it's SO easy. To make it even faster I threw the chicken thighs in whole and shredded them at the end. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

    • Rebecca

      Great idea! I'm glad you like the recipe. Thanks for commenting.

      Reply

  3. Julie Dragoo

    I’m making this for the second time today! My family LOVES it and it’s so easy!! I do put the tomatoes and onions and spices as well as the coconut milk in the blender somthere are no chunks and then just pour over the chicken....the crock pot does the rest! Thank you so much!!

    Reply

    • Rebecca

      What a great idea! Thanks for the comment.

      Reply

  4. Jalene

    Thanks for posting! Found this recipe on Pinterest. I'm excited to try it. On step 3 it says tomato sauce but the recipe calls for diced tomatoes. Is that what you meant? Also, do I drain the diced tomatoes or leave the liquid? Thanks for your help!

    Reply

    • Rebecca

      Good catch! Sometimes I change the recipes around so much I miss things. I don't drain the diced tomatoes, but what do sometimes is blend the diced tomatoes, so it's more like a tomato sauce and there aren't chunks. My children don't like the chunks as much and it's more like spaghetti sauce when you blend it, so they like it better.

      Reply

  5. Laura

    I am currently doing Whole30 and just made this recipe last night. Served with cauliflower rice and it was FANTASTIC! Best compliant meal I've made so far -- bonus is that it made lots of leftovers too!

    Reply

    • Rebecca

      So good to hear. I'm glad it worked out for you!

      Reply

  6. Kathy

    How many chicken thighs should I use? The recipe shows " ? 6 "

    Reply

    • Rebecca

      Hum. It's not showing that now. Maybe I already found and fixed it . . . but it should be six.

      Reply

  7. Amy S Kamm

    OMG. Late to the party on this one, but just discovered this recipe and made it tonight. Holy smokes, is it GOOD!!!!!! Thank you for posting! No more trips to substandard Indian takeout restaurants for me!

    Reply

  8. Sabra

    Can I double this recipe?

    Reply

    • Rebecca

      Yes you can but I would be careful cause I am not sure it would fit in one crock pot. Use your best judgment.

      Reply

  9. Anne

    How do you convert the recipes for your pressure cooker?

    Reply

    • Rebecca

      For most crock pot recipes instead of cooking it on low for 6-8 hours, you just put it in the pressure cooker and push the button for what it is you're cooking, like there's a meat button. You push that and it cooks the meat for however long it thinks it takes. Meat is usually around 15 minutes after it gets up to pressure, so like 25 minutes or so. But I often put frozen meat in so that's why it takes a little longer. Rice takes 12 minutes and it's chewy and sticky. I love it.

      Reply

  10. Rebecca | LettersFromSunnybrook.com

    Oh yumm! Garam Masala is a staple in my pantry already. I look forward to trying this version of Tikka Masala. One of our local grocery departments has bulk sales on different chicken chicken cuts each week. Next time they have thighs on sale, I'm stocking up! Naan bread is simple to make too, for on the side.

    Reply

  11. Theresa @DearCreatives

    Thanks for sharing your crock pot recipe.

    Reply

  12. Sarah R.

    YUM! Love me a good slow cooker recipe.

    Reply

  13. gina Caracciolo

    Chicken Tikka Masala is one of my FAVORITE meals!!! Can't wait to try this!!

    Reply

    • Rebecca

      Please let me know what you think of it if you try it.

      Reply

  14. Karly

    This looks incredibly delicious!

    Reply

  15. Amy@europe's Calling

    I love slow cooker meals. This would be a good one to try!

    Reply

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Paleo Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe - My Natural Family (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between chicken tikka and chicken tikka masala? ›

"Tikka" typically refers to small pieces of meat, such as chicken or lamb, that have been marinated in a spiced yogurt mixture and then grilled or roasted. "Tikka Masala," on the other hand, is a dish that is made by cooking chunks of tikka (the marinated meat) in a spicy, tomato-based sauce.

Is chicken tikka masala healthy or unhealthy? ›

It's one of the most-ordered entrees at Indian joints. But like many Indian dishes that were originally low fat, the modern recipe for chicken tikka masala is anything but. An average portion has whopping 1,249 calories and 90.8 grams of fat. A lot of that comes from the ghee and heavy cream.

Which is healthier butter chicken or tikka masala? ›

Regarding nutrition, Butter Chicken and Tikka Masala are high in calories, fat, and sodium. Butter Chicken has more fat and calories than Tikka Masala due to the use of cream and butter in the sauce. However, Tikka Masala has more sodium than Butter Chicken due to the use of canned tomato puree.

Is chicken tikka masala gluten free? ›

When you're craving some authentic Indian cuisine, the Chicken Tikka Masala is probably the first thing you think of. Well, we have good news, because the gluten-free nature of this ensures that everyone can enjoy it.

Which is healthier, chicken tikka or tandoori chicken? ›

Nutritional Value

The high fiber, protein, fat, and carbohydrate content in chicken tikka kebabs makes them incredibly healthy. It contains 4.2g of protein, 0.7g of fiber, and 5g of net carbohydrates. The delicious appetizer, however, has fewer nutritional value and health advantages than chicken tandoori.

What curry is similar to tikka masala? ›

Butter Chicken

Originating from North India, it's very similar to a chicken tikka masala except the gravy uses fewer spices. Initially, this curry was made by chance, by mixing in leftover tandoori chicken with a tomato sauce, rich in butter, during the 50s.

What is the healthiest Indian food to order? ›

Vegetarian options are often lower in calories and saturated fats while providing ample protein and fiber. Consider trying dishes like Palak Paneer (spinach and cottage cheese), Baingan Bharta (roasted eggplant), or Daal (lentil curry) for a satisfying and healthful dining experience.

Is tikka masala good for the gut? ›

The spices used in Chicken Tikka Masala can help with gut health, skin conditions, irritable bowel syndrome, and oral health, making it a pretty healthy dish!

Can I eat chicken tikka for weight loss? ›

Is Chicken Tikka good for weight loss? Chicken Tikka's main ingredients are lean meat, spices, and yogurt, making it ideal for consumption even if you're on a weight-loss diet plan. To make it healthier with low-carb content, do away with extra oil and salt, and exclude heavy cream.

Is Chicken Tikka Masala Indian or British? ›

Chicken tikka masala is now a true British national dish, not only because it is the most popular, but because it is a perfect illustration of the way Britain absorbs and adapts external influences. Chicken tikka is an Indian dish.

Is tikka masala bad for cholesterol? ›

High Fat and Cholesterol Content

Saturated fat can increase your risk for heart disease and raise your cholesterol levels, and each serving of chicken tikka masala contains 28 grams of saturated fat, or 138 percent of the daily value.

What's the difference between korma and tikka masala? ›

In short, both Chicken Shahi Korma and Chicken Tikka Masala are creamy and tasty. However, the chicken korma dish has fewer species and a creamier flavor, while chicken tikka is more flavorful due to the use of hot spices and varies in different tastes and flavors.

What Indian dishes are naturally gluten-free? ›

  • Indian Dining: Gluten-Free. ...
  • Vegetable Pakoras: Deep fried fritters made of stir-fried vegetables, onions, and seasonings, ...
  • Chicken/Tofu/Shrimp Tikka or Tandoori: Marinated (spices and yogurt) chicken/tofu/shrimp. ...
  • Palaak Paneer: Diced homemade cheese cooked with spinach, butter, cream, and spices.

Is coconut milk gluten-free? ›

Yes, coconut milk is gluten-free. It is also dairy-free, because it's not true milk but rather the creamy white liquid from the pulp of a coconut. Coconut milk is high in oil and saturated fat and is commonly used in curries and desserts, especially in South Asia.

Why are chicken wings not gluten-free? ›

A raw chicken wing is definitely gluten-free, it just depends on how it is prepared. Are the chicken wings breaded? If so (and assuming the breading contains flour) then it is definitely NOT gluten-free.

What does tikka masala taste like? ›

Tikka Masala is a mildly spicy, earthy, curry dish with a creamy tomato sauce. Traditionally, it contains Kashmiri chili, which is a type of chili pepper grown in the Kashmir region of India.

Does tikka masala taste like tomato? ›

Tikka Masala Sauce is basically a tangy spicy onion tomato sauce that has a dash of sweetness. It is frequently served with other dishes like paneer, chicken, chickpeas, and multiple vegetables in restaurants like Tikka's N's Curry's.

Why is chicken tikka masala red? ›

That bright red sadly comes from Food Dyes like Red 40. Growing up, I never even realized this, but in recent years when I picked up a jar of pre-mixed Tandoori spice blend and read the ingredients – there it was – Red 40 right in the ingredient listing.

What is chicken tikka made of? ›

It is traditionally small pieces of boneless chicken baked using skewers on a brazier called angeethi or over charcoal after marinating in Indian spices and dahi (yogurt)—essentially a boneless version of tandoori chicken.

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