This slow cooker chicken spinach curry is an easy, delicious meal that is perfect for busy days. Tender chicken cooks away in a rich tomato curry sauce, with spinach stirred through at the end for a tasty family-friendly dish that is full of flavour.
It's the kind of recipe that lets the slow cooker do most of the work, leaving you with a warm and satisfying dinner ready to serve. Pair with rice, naan or your favourite sides for a simple curry that is sure to become one you make again and again.
Calorie in Slow Cooker Easy Chicken Spinach Curry
This recipe serves 4 and is 256 calories per serving.
If you're looking for more recipes by calories, you'll find plenty of options grouped by calorie range here: Slimming Eats Low Calorie Recipes
If you're following a calorie-controlled diet or a healthy eating plan, it's important to calculate your daily calorie needs using a reliable calorie calculator. The calorie counts provided are estimates and can vary depending on the exact ingredients and portion sizes you use. Using your own calculations helps ensure you're meeting your individual needs. A calorie calculator can help you make informed choices and stay on track with your goals.
See the recipe card for full nutritional estimation.
Ingredients Notes
To make this recipe you will need the following ingredients:
- Boneless skinless chicken breast: Lean and tender, this works really well in the slow cooker and soaks up all the flavour from the sauce and spices.
- Canned chopped tomatoes: Forms the base of the curry sauce. A good quality brand makes a big difference here, as it gives a richer tomato flavour and better overall depth. Mutti is a great choice if you can get it.
- Onion: Adds sweetness and flavour to the curry as it cooks down into the sauce.
- Garlic cloves: Brings that essential savoury flavour that works so well in a curry.
- Ginger root: Adds warmth and freshness and gives the sauce a lovely aromatic flavour.
- Mild curry powder: The main spice blend for the curry, adding plenty of flavour without too much heat.
- Garam masala: Adds extra warmth and depth, with that classic aromatic curry flavour.
- Salt: Enhances all the flavours in the curry and helps balance the tomatoes and spices.
- Hot chilli powder: Adds a little heat. You can adjust this to suit your own spice preference.
- Butter - Adds richness to the sauce and helps give the curry a smoother, more rounded flavour.
- Sugar - Just a small amount helps balance the acidity of the tomatoes and brings the flavours together nicely.
- Fresh spinach - Stirred in at the end, this adds colour, freshness and extra goodness to the curry, while wilting down perfectly into the rich sauce.
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.
Variations and Substitutes
You can easily adapt this slow cooker chicken spinach curry to suit what you have on hand. Chicken thighs work well instead of chicken breast and stay lovely and tender in the slow cooker. For a vegetarian version, swap the chicken for chickpeas, lentils or beans.
If you prefer a smoother sauce, use passata instead of chopped tomatoes. For a creamier curry, stir in reduced fat crème fraiche or coconut milk, or for a lighter calorie options some plain yoghurt (avoid fat free as it tends to split when added to hot sauces).
Spinach can be swapped for any vegetables you like such as bell peppers, peas or mushrooms, sweet potato, butternut squash etc. You can also adjust the heat to suit your taste by increasing, reducing or omitting the chilli powder.
Tips for Slow Cooker Easy Chicken Spinach Curry
A few simple tips will help you get the best flavour and texture from this slow cooker chicken spinach curry.
- Dice the onion finely: This helps it soften down nicely into the sauce as it cooks and gives the curry a better texture.
- Grate or finely chop the garlic and ginger :This helps them blend into the sauce better and gives a more even flavour throughout.
- Use a good quality brand of tomatoes: As the tomatoes are the base of the sauce, a good quality brand will give the curry a much richer flavour. Mutti is a great option if you can get it.
- Do not add extra liquid: The tomatoes and juices released from the chicken will create enough sauce as the curry cooks, so there is no need to add stock or water.
- Do not lift the lid unnecessarily: Every time the lid is removed, heat escapes and can slow down the cooking time, so it is best to leave the slow cooker covered as much as possible.
- Stir the spinach in at the end: This keeps it fresh and vibrant and stops it from overcooking in the sauce.
- Taste and adjust before serving: Once cooked, taste the sauce and add a little extra salt, sugar or chilli if needed to get the flavour just how you like it.
Side Suggestions
This curry is delicious served with rice for an easy and filling meal. Basmati rice is always a great choice or try this Zucchini Pilau Rice or Sweet Corn Pilau Rice, but you can use whatever rice you prefer.
It's also really nice with my garlic naan on the side for scooping up all of that rich tomato curry sauce. If you want to add a few extras, poppadoms, a spoonful of mango chutney or some yoghurt all work really well too.
For vegetables, you could serve this with some steamed green beans, broccoli or peas for an easy side that keeps the meal nice and balanced.
Storing, Freezing and Reheating
Storing: Once cooled, store the curry in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. It's great for leftovers and the flavours are even better the next day.
Freezing: This curry freezes well, but I recommend freezing it before adding the spinach if possible for the best texture. Allow to cool fully, then freeze in portions for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Reheating: Reheat in the microwave or in a saucepan over a medium-low heat until piping hot throughout. If the sauce has thickened too much, just add a splash of water to loosen it. If freezing without the spinach, stir in fresh spinach as it reheats until wilted.
More Curry Recipes
Love a delicious curry recipe? Check out these:
See more Curry 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.
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 Chicken Spinach Curry
This slow cooker chicken spinach curry is a simple, flavour-packed meal with tender chicken in a rich tomato sauce and spinach stirred through at the end.
Ingredients
- 600g (21oz) of boneless skinless chicken breast, diced
- 1 tablespoon of butter
- 2 tablespoons of mild curry powder
- 2 teaspoons of garam masala
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 1 teaspoon of hot chilli powder
- 2 teaspoons of sugar
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves of garlic, crushed
- 1 tablespoon of fresh ginger root, grated
- 400g (14oz) can of chopped tomatoes in rich tomato sauce (use a good brand)
- 200g (7oz) of fresh baby spinach
Instructions
- Add the chicken to the slow cooker with the butter and seasonings and sugar and mix until all coated
- Add in the onion, garlic, ginger and can of tomatoes
- Cook on low for 4 hours
- Add in the spinach and stir to combine, then leave to cook for a few more minutes until the spinach wilts down.
- Taste and seasoned as needed with salt and black pepper
- Serve 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.
- Gluten Free Friendly
- Dairy Free Friendly - use oil of choice instead of butter
- ❄️ Freezer Friendly - see freezing and reheating section.
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.
Check Legal section, for Full Disclaimer, Disclosure and Privacy Policy.
Nutrition Information
Yield
4Serving Size
1 SERVINGAmount Per Serving Calories 256Total Fat 13gSaturated Fat 4gUnsaturated Fat 7gCholesterol 137mgSodium 966mgCarbohydrates 16gFiber 4gSugar 7gProtein 38g
Nutritional information and values etc are an estimate and is to be used for informational purposes only. Ingredients can vary greatly from brand to brand and therefore it would be impossible to give accurate information. It is always advised that you calculate by the ingredients you use.
Leave a Reply