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Slow Cooker Chicken Bhuna

A richly spiced, hands-off curry that's perfect for busy weeknights, featuring tender chicken in a thick, flavorful masala.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Indian
Calories: 400
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken and Marinade
  • 2 lbs chicken, cut into pieces (bone-in thighs or mixed pieces recommended)
Vegetables and Aromatics
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (or another neutral oil)
  • 2 medium onions, finely chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 inch ginger, grated
  • 2 medium green chilies, chopped (adjust to taste)
  • 2 medium tomatoes, chopped (or 1 cup canned tomatoes)
Spices
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • to taste salt
Garnish
  • to taste fresh cilantro, for garnish

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Heat the oil in a heavy skillet over medium heat.
  2. Add the chopped onions and sauté, stirring frequently, until they turn a deep golden brown, about 10-12 minutes.
  3. Add minced garlic, grated ginger, and chopped green chilies. Cook for 1-2 minutes until they smell aromatic and glossy.
  4. Stir in chopped tomatoes, ground cumin, ground coriander, turmeric, garam masala, and salt. Cook the mixture for 5-8 minutes until the tomatoes soften and the spices bloom. If the pan looks too dry, splash in 1-2 tablespoons of water.
Cooking
  1. Transfer the spiced tomato-onion mix into the slow cooker.
  2. Add the chicken pieces and toss them to coat thoroughly with the masala.
  3. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for 3-4 hours, until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
  4. Just before serving, sprinkle with chopped fresh cilantro and give the curry a gentle stir.

Notes

Use boneless chicken for quicker cooking, but reduce low setting time by about 1–2 hours. For richer depth, add 1 tablespoon tomato paste when cooking tomatoes. For milder food, remove the seeds from green chilies or omit them.