Slow Cooker Easy Tomato Chicken Curry

Jump to Recipe

Enjoy the comforting flavours of this Easy Slow Cooker Tomato Chicken Curry. Tender chicken thighs cooked slowly in a lush tomato creamy sauce, spiced with the perfect mix of garlic, ginger, chilli and curry powder.

This image features slow cooker tomato chicken curry in a slow cooker pot

Just prep, switch on, and let the slow cooker create a delicious, hassle-free meal for you. Ideal for busy days when you need dinner ready without the fuss.

Jump to:

Calories in Easy Tomato Chicken Curry
Ingredients Needed
Choosing the Best Slow Cooker
Converting to Oven Cooking
Sides for Slow Cooker Easy Tomato Chicken Curry
More Slow Cooker Recipes
FAQ for Slow Cooker Easy Tomato Chicken Curry
Recipe Card

Calories in Easy Tomato Chicken Curry

This Slow Cooker Curry serves 4 and and is 314 calories per serving

If you're looking for more recipes within the same calorie range, you'll find an abundance of options in my dedicated collection of 300+ calorie recipes.

If you're following a calorie-controlled diet or a healthy eating plan, it's important to calculate your daily calorie intake using a reliable calorie calculator. Please note that the calorie counts provided are estimates and can vary based on specific ingredients and serving sizes. Personalizing your calculations is essential to meet your individual needs. By using a calorie calculator, you can make informed choices and stay on track with your dietary goals.

See the recipe card for full nutritional estimation.

slow cooker tomato chicken curry in a ceramic dish with spoon, wooden bowl of rice and coriander above.

Ingredients Needed

To make this Slow Cooker Easy Tomato Chicken Curry you will need the following ingredients:

Boneless skinless chicken thighs: these are the star of this dish, providing a richer flavour and tender texture compared to chicken breasts. Chicken thighs are best in recipes like this as it ensures the meat stays juicy and succulent throughout the slow cooking process.
Onion: adds a natural sweetness and depth of flavour to the curry. As they cook down, they melt into the sauce, contributing to its rich, smooth texture.
Passata: gives the curry a velvety, tomato-rich base. It's smoother than chopped tomatoes, providing a perfect consistency for the sauce.
Light Cream: A splash of light half and half cream or light cream alternative at the end adds a touch of creaminess, balancing the spices and giving the curry a luxurious finish without being too heavy. For a dairy free alternative light coconut milk should be okay as a substitute.
Chicken Stock: Using chicken stock enhances the overall flavour of the curry, adding a savoury depth that complements the spices and tomatoes perfectly. It's essential to use the correct ratio of stock cubes to water, as not all stock cubes are identical. Using too few can lead to a bland, watery broth, while too many may create a stock that's overly salty.
Homemade Curry Paste: This homemade curry paste is a blend of ginger, garlic, tomato paste, curry powder, chilli powder, garam masala, water, salt, and honey. It brings together a harmonious mix of warmth, sweetness, and spice that infuses the chicken and sauce with incredible flavour. Ginger and garlic provide a deep, fragrant base. Tomato paste adds concentrated tomato flavour, helping thicken the sauce and enrich its taste. Curry powder delivers the classic curry flavour, while chilli powder adds a gentle heat. Garam masala offers a warming spice mix that adds complexity and depth. Water helps blend the spices into a smooth paste. Salt enhances all the flavours, and honey adds a hint of sweetness to balance the spices and acidity of the tomatoes.

Once you've gathered all the ingredients and prepared them accordingly, you're all set to create this easy and delightful recipe.

See the recipe card for specific quantities and instructions.

Choosing the Best Slow Cooker

Choosing the best slow cooker can significantly enhance your kitchen experience. Look for one with both low and high temperature settings to adapt cooking times to your schedule. A sear and sauté function is beneficial for browning ingredients directly in the cooker, although it's not necessary for this Easy Slow Cooker Tomato Chicken Curry—simply combine everything, set it, and let it cook to perfection.

Also Consider a slow cooker with a keep-warm function to maintain your meal at the ideal serving temperature until you're ready to eat. Removable, dishwasher-safe inserts make cleanup easy. Choose a slow cooker that fits your needs and lifestyle to make your cooking effortless and enjoyable.

I use the Ninja Foodi Possible Cooker which is an 8in1 slow cooker with removable non stick pot and love it for cooking my slow cooker recipes.

close up of slow cooker tomato chicken curry in a ceramic dish with spoon

Converting to Oven Cooking

If you don't have a slow cooker but still want to enjoy this delicious Easy Tomato Chicken Curry, you can easily adapt the recipe for oven cooking. Follow these steps to convert the recipe:

Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 160°C (320°F) for a fan-assisted oven, 180°C (350°F) for a conventional oven, or Gas Mark 4.
Prepare Ingredients: Prepare the ingredients as instructed in the original recipe.
Layer Ingredients: Layer the ingredients in a Dutch oven or lidded oven-proof pot, ensuring they are evenly distributed.
Cover and Cook: Cover the pot tightly with its lid or with aluminium foil to seal in moisture. Place it in the preheated oven.
Cooking Time: Cook the stew in the oven for approximately 1 hour. Check the dish periodically to ensure it's cooking evenly and add a little water or stock if needed to prevent it from drying out.
Check for Doneness: After 1 hour, check the doneness of the chicken and vegetables to ensure they're cooked through and tender. If needed, continue cooking for an additional 30 minutes+, depending on your oven's performance and the size of your ingredients.
Serve: Once cooked to perfection, serve the Easy Tomato Chicken Curry with your favourite sides and enjoy the delicious flavours!

By following these steps and using a Dutch oven or lidded oven-proof pot, you can successfully convert the slow cooker recipe to oven cooking.

Sides for Slow Cooker Easy Tomato Chicken Curry

Elevate your serving of curry with a variety of delicious sides, such as:

Basmati Rice or Flavoured Pilau Rice: A classic accompaniment, perfect for soaking up the rich curry sauce. Check out this Sweetcorn Pilau Rice or Zucchini Pilau Rice
Naan Bread: Try making your own with this Greek Yoghurt Garlic Naan recipe on our website. Soft, pillowy naan is perfect for scooping up every bit of curry.
Poppadums: Cook them in the microwave with a little spray oil for a quick, crispy treat.
Vegetables: Cauliflower, aloo gobi or bombay butternut squash make wonderful, hearty sides that complement the curry's flavours.
Sweet Potato Onion Bhaji: These bhaji are a perfect side to any curry
Roasted Cauliflower Rice: a perfect low carb side for any curry.
Raw Red Onion and Coriander: Fresh red onion slices and a sprinkle of coriander brighten up the dish and add a refreshing crunch.

My favourites to serve with this is basmati rice, raw red onion and coriander and a poppadum.

Note: Feel free to get creative and tailor the meal to your personal preferences!

Two white bowls with servings of slow cooker tomato chicken curry, accompanied by rice, red onion, chopped coriander, and a broken poppadum to the left.

More Slow Cooker Recipes

Looking for some more slow cooker recipes? Check out the following:

See more Slow Cooker Recipes →

or if you would like more recipe ideas - head on over to the FULL RECIPE INDEX where you will find over 900 delicious recipes with calories and you can search by meal type, ingredients, course, diet and more.

All recipes on Slimming Eats have estimated nutritional information for your convenience.

FAQ for Slow Cooker Easy Tomato Chicken Curry

Can I use Chicken Breast?

Chicken thighs are preferred for their juiciness and ability to withstand longer cooking times without drying out. Additionally, chicken breasts may release water as they cook, potentially diluting the flavours of the sauce. Therefore, using chicken thighs ensures a more flavourful result for this recipe.

Can I freeze leftovers?

Yes, you can freeze leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.

close up of a serving of slow cooker tomato chicken curry, accompanied by rice, red onion, chopped coriander, and a broken poppadum to the left.Fork placed on side in bowl.

LET'S CONNECT!!

Come and follow me on:

You can also Subscribe to Slimming Eats so that you never miss any new updates.

Need some support on your weight loss journey? Maybe you need advice or tips on a recipe, or just general meal ideas.

Come join the friendly and supportive Slimming Eats Community on Facebook.

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, Rate It and Tag us in your Photos @SLIMMINGEATS on INSTAGRAM

Recipe Card

Slow Cooker Easy Tomato Chicken Curry

Yield: SERVES 4

Ingredients

For the curry paste:

1 tablespoon of chopped garlic
2 tablespoons of tomato paste (purée)
1 thumb piece of fresh ginger, grated
3 tablespoons of mild curry powder,
1 teaspoon of chilli powder
1 teaspoon garam masala
2 tablespoons of water
1 tablespoon of honey
½ teaspoon of salt

For the curry:

8 boneless skinless chicken thighs
1 onion, finely chopped
1 cup (240g) of Passata
½ cup (120ml) of reduced fat single cream or half and half
½ cup (120ml) of chicken stock

Instructions

Add the curry paste ingredients to a mini food processor or blender and pulse until a thick paste forms. If needed, add a little water at a time until you reach the desired consistency.
Place the chicken and onion in the slow cooker, top with the paste, and mix to combine.
Add the passata and stock, and mix again to combine everything well.
Cook on low for 5 hours or on high for 3 hours.
Add the reduced fat single cream, stir to combine, and cook for an additional 30 minutes on high.
Serve with your choice of sides and enjoy!

Notes

Please see below for full nutritional info and additional details about recipe:

Calories - scroll down to nutritional info box
WW Points and other Slimming or Weight Loss programs - due to plans regularly changing and updating, we recommend calculating with the official tools you get as a member to those plans to ensure accuracy of values.
Dairy Free Friendly - swap the cream for reduced fat coconut milk
Gluten Free Friendly - ensure stock is free of gluten
Freezer Friendly ❄️
Whole30/Paleo Friendly - use coconut milk instead of the cream

Please do not copy or paste full recipes or post screenshots of any content from Slimming Eats to any social media or website, as it is strictly prohibited.

All images and content on Slimming Eats are copyright protected.

If you wish to share this recipe, then please do so by using the share buttons provided at top of this post.

Nutritional information etc are an estimate and are to be used for informational purposes only. Ingredients can vary in values from brand to brand and therefore it would be impossible to give accurate information. It is always advised that you calculate values yourself by the ingredients you use and the tools provided to you as a member of the programme you are following.

It is the responsibility of the Reader to assure the products or ingredients they use in any recipes from Slimming Eats are allergen-free (gluten-free, egg-free, soy-free and/or dairy-free, for example). Slimming Eats assumes no liability for inaccuracies or misstatement about products, opinions or comments on this site.