Slow Cooker Curried Chicken Breasts and a GIVEAWAY

Slow Cooker Curried Chicken-1Slow Cooker recipes have such a brilliant and alluring concept. I mean, who doesn’t want to dump some ingredients into a magical machine and come back hours later to a decadent home cooked meal without any hard work on their part? Families with children, people with busy schedules, or those of us who work long hours could all benefit from such a wonderful helper in the kitchen. It’s almost like having a live-in cook, like the rich and famous. Unfortunately, slow cooker recipes also have a tendency for bland, watery results with all the texture lost somewhere under the steamed up lid. 

I’ve been keeping my eyes peeled for great slow cooker recipes, and I know a lot of you have too. America’s Test Kitchen came out with a tested and tried cookbook, Slow Cooker Revolution with exactly that – recipes that are made in the slow cooker, and also result in excellent flavor, texture and of course, simplicity in putting it all together.

For me, America’s Test Kitchen is a trusted source. I’ve been using their recipes for years and haven’t come across even one recipe that hasn’t impressed me with the results. They are GOOD. I bought myself their cookbook as soon as it came out last year and I’ve loved the recipes. Here’s what they said about creating this book:

After nearly a year of testing, 1,500 recipes, and $20,000 spent on groceries, we learned a thing or two about using a slow cooker…

They certainly did and just recently came out with a new Slow Cooker recipe book, Slow Cooker Revolution, Volume 2: The Easy Prep Edition. I haven’t bought that one yet, but I most certainly will. I actually gave both of these cookbooks to my Mom on her birthday last month.

Today, I’m sharing one of the recipes from that cookbook that I have with you, the Curried Chicken Breasts, as well as hosting a Giveaway of this awesome cookbook. This is not a sponsored giveaway; I’m simply sharing a book that I thoroughly enjoy and own myself and know that it could benefit many of you as well. Follow the instructions at the bottom of the post to enter the giveaway.

Ingredients:

1 Tablespoon oil

2 onions, minced

6 garlic cloves, minced

2 Tablespoons fresh ginger, minced or finely grated

4 teaspoons curry powder

1 Tablespoon tomato paste

1 cup chicken broth

3 Tablespoons Minute Tapioca

6 bone-in split chicken breasts, skin removed

1/2 cup raisins

1/2 cup whole milk yogurt

1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted

1-2 Tablespoons fresh parsley or cilantro, minced

salt, pepper

Instructions: Since there are only two adults in my household, you will see half of the ingredients in the pictures below. 

Slow Cooker Curried Chicken-1

Heat a skillet to medium high heat, add the oil, onions, garlic, ginger, curry powder and tomato paste for about 5 minutes, until the onions are softened. (You can also combine all these ingredients in a bowl and cook them in the microwave for 5 minutes, but I prefer to use the stovetop.)

Slow Cooker Curried Chicken-1-2

Transfer to your slow cooker. Pour in the chicken broth and mix in the Tapioca.

Tapioca is a thickening agent and it will thicken the liquid that the chicken will be cooking in.

Slow Cooker Curried Chicken-1-3

Slow Cooker Curried Chicken-1-4Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper and nestle them in to the liquid.  You can use either boneless or bone-in chicken breasts for this recipe.Slow Cooker Curried Chicken-1-5

Slow Cooker Curried Chicken-1-6Cover and cook on low for 3 1/2-6 hours, depending on your slow cooker and the size of your chicken breasts. Start checking the temperature of the chicken after 2 and a half hours. The chicken should not be more than 165 degrees Fahrenheit in the center when you check it with an instant read thermometer.

If you’re using boneless chicken breasts, they will cook MUCH faster, so take that into account.

Stir in the raisins and let them cook for about 10 minutes, just until the raisins are soft. Slow Cooker Curried Chicken-1-7

Take out the chicken and skim off the fat from the top and discard it. In a small bowl, combine the yogurt with about 1/4 cup of the warm sauce that the chicken was cooking in. Slow Cooker Curried Chicken-1-8Add it to the rest of the sauce. Serve the chicken with the sauce and garnish with the toasted almonds and the parsley or cilantro.Slow Cooker Curried Chicken-1

Curried Chicken Breasts in the Slow Cooker and a GIVEAWAY
 
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Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Author:
Recipe type: Entree
Serves: 6
Ingredients
  • 1 Tablespoon oil
  • 2 onions, minced
  • 6 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 Tablespoons fresh ginger, minced or finely grated
  • 4 teaspoons curry powder
  • 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 3 Tablespoons Minute Tapioca
  • 6 bone-in split chicken breasts, skin removed (you can also use boneless)
  • ½ cup raisins
  • ½ cup whole milk yogurt
  • ½ cup sliced almonds, toasted
  • 1-2 Tablespoons fresh parsley or cilantro, minced
  • salt, pepper
Instructions
  1. Heat a skillet to medium high heat, add the oil, onions, garlic, ginger, curry powder and tomato paste for about 5 minutes, until the onions are softened. (You can also combine all these ingredients in a bowl and cook them in the microwave for 5 minutes, but I prefer to use the stovetop.)
  2. Transfer to your slow cooker. Pour in the chicken broth and mix in the Tapioca.
  3. Tapioca is a thickening agent and it will thicken the liquid that the chicken will be cooking in.
  4. Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper and nestle them in to the liquid. You can use either bone in or boneless chicken breasts for this recipe.
  5. Cover and cook on low for 3½-6 hours, depending on your slow cooker and the size of your chicken breasts. Start checking the temperature of the chicken after 2 and a half hours. The chicken should not be more than 165 degrees Fahrenheit in the center. If you're using boneless chicken breasts, they will cook MUCH faster, so take that into account.
  6. Stir in the raisins and let them cook for about 10 minutes, just until the raisins are soft.
  7. Take out the chicken and skim off the fat from the top and discard it. In a small bowl, combine the yogurt with about ¼ cup of the warm sauce that the chicken was cooking in. Add it to the rest of the sauce.
  8. Serve the chicken with the sauce and garnish with the toasted almonds and the parsley or cilantro.

This Giveaway is CLOSED.

Congratulations to Mila and Anastasia who won:). Thanks to all who participated. 

Here is the amazing cookbook that I was talking about earlier and which two of you will win.

Slow Cooker Cookbook Giveaway-1

Slow Cooker Cookbook Giveaway-1-2

Slow Cooker Cookbook Giveaway-1-3

Slow Cooker Cookbook Giveaway-1-4Giveaway Rules:

To enter, follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter below.  The Giveaway will be open from today until 03/10/14 at midnight. There are many different options for entering this giveaway, and only one that’s mandatory to enter. The rest are optional, but will increase your chances of winning.

Answer this question in the comment section below: What do you like to cook in the slow cooker? If you aren’t using a slow cooker much, what kind of recipes would you like to learn to make? 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sometimes Rafflecopter experiences technical difficulties.  If you can’t enter for some reason, try again later and it will probably work.

Terms and Conditions: There will be TWO winner selected at random via Rafflecopter. The winners has 48 hours to reply to me with their full name & mailing addresses or I will pick someone else. The giveaway is open in the US and internationally. All entrants under the age of 18 must have parental permission in order to participate.

I’ll announce the  winners on THIS blog post and contact them directly through email, as always.

*This is not a sponsored giveaway. All products were purchased by me and all opinions are genuinely my own.

119 Comments

  • katy b

    i would love to cook more chicken recipes in my slowcooker, I am always afraid of having dry meat or adding too much fat into the dish to make it more juicy.

  • Gina

    One of my favorite things to cook in the slow cooker is pulled pork or pulled chicken. One of the best/most surprisingly good recipes I have tried in the slow cooker is chicken wings. I was pleasantly surprised, the meat was fall off the bone tender and very juicy.

  • Ange

    Hi, Olga! I usually cook pork for BBQ pulled sandwiches (lots of onions and bbq sauce, yummy), as well as chicken wings (terriyaki), or split pea soup; these are few of my favorites!

  • Alla

    I would love to really just expand my slow cooker recipe varieties, The recipes I use are really good but I only hVE few trusted ones that I love, all other ones I can’t say I have been pleased with, My most favorite is slow cooker beef stroganoff.

    • Alla

      I ordered the book today, very excited! Also made this recipe and it’s a great recipe. Took about 4 hours,perfect amount of time for putting it in the crockpot before church to be ready for lunch. Hope the rest of my family enjoys the curry 🙂 oThank you

  • Rachel Anna

    I like to cook whole chickens in the slow cooker. Later, I use the bones and other ingredients to make stock in the slow cooker. It couldn’t be easier!

  • Luba

    I just use my slow cooker as afood warmer (mashed potatoes, meatballs,etc). I’d love to make some easy recipes that are similar in taste and texture with food prepared on the range or oven.

  • Vitaliya

    I received a slow cooker for my bridal shower and was actually wondering a few times where I can find a recipe book that I can trust with my slow cooker. Thank you SOOO much Olga for posting these slow cooker recipes! Can’t wait to start using all these recipes. It looks absolutely delicious! I’m so excited about the giveaway!!!!

  • Vitaliya

    I haven’t used a slow cooker but definitely looking for good and simple recipes for the future use of my machine :))

  • Roxanne

    My top favorite is BBQ pulled pork! It’s my go to recipe, I’ve even done it with chicken too! Amazing every time 🙂

  • Tanya

    Hi Olga, I love using my slow cooker! it saves me so much time and it makes delicious food. I really like to cook roast beef in my slow cooker. I have 2 little ones and my hands are FULL. i save so so much time using the slow cooker,

  • Luba

    I have a slow cooker but I don’t use it much so I would like to use it more if I have some good recipes. Also, I always wanted to make beef bonless ribs in a slow cooker but never came across a good recipe..

  • renata

    My sweet parents got me slow cooker and I used to warm mash potatoes but my Favorite thing to cook in it would be our juicy golyptsi.

  • Liana

    I absolutely love my slow cooker! I have experimented with a lot of different things. My favorite one is dill potatoes. I would love to cook more chicken as my family loves chicken…if I cook something other than chicken – pork for example, I have to tell my 7 year old that it’s chickenpork, so he’ll eat it!

  • Di

    Hi olga! I love my slow cooker ) I usually make honey barbecue chicken and other types of meat, plov, rice with steamed veggies, and mashed potatoes 🙂

  • Julia

    I love to make chili, chicken with salsa, and oatmeal. Would love a recipe for other soups, and one pot meals 🙂

  • Svetlana

    Such a nice book I would be glad to have! I got slow cooker not log time ago, on my birthday from one of my friends 🙂 I am so happy to have it.. I did a one recipe there Dump & Run Chicken. It tested good!
    the recipe is: 2 Lb boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into large chunks.
    2 cans cream of chicken soup, undiluted
    1 can can cheddar cheese soup, undiluted
    1 Tbs. dried tarragon
    1 tsp. garlic powder
    1/2 tsp. pepper
    Place chicken breasts in slow cooker. Mix soups and spices, pour over chicken. Cover and cook on low 4-5 hours. Serve over rice or noodles. As I am a fan of mushrooms I also added mushrooms there.

  • Anna-Maria

    I would love a cookbook filled with Slow Cooker recipes! I have been so busy with school lately and family life that I don’t have as much time or energy for “playing” in the kitchen like I used to. I could really use some fresh ideas to use in my crock pot 🙂

  • Oksana

    Always on a look out for new slow cooker recipes. I already use for mashed potatoes (life saver on Sundays after church when everyone is hungry), golobsti(cabbage rolls), tushena kapusta, borshch, chicken and wild rice soup, etc. I am a busy mom who also homeschools, so yes, slow cooker is my way to go.

  • Jasmin Schewa

    Havent used a slow cooker at all yet but for sure looking forward on getting one in the next little while:) would love to try out alot of new recipes;)

  • Irina

    One thing that I like to cook in the slow cooker is a pizza casserole. It is pretty good. Mom likes to do toplenoe moloko. It is super delicious.

  • Natasha

    Hi Olga, what a nice giveaway!!!
    Usually in my slow cooker I cook pulled pork, I even tried to make beefstroganov, and the most often I use it for cooking aspic (kholodets), we love it so much!!!! If I would have such a book I would try to cook more in slow cooker!!!!
    Thank you for all your great recipes!!!

  • Irina S

    My favorite thing to make is pulled pork! However I tried making a chocolate mud pie in the slow cooker and it turned out great!!

  • Anna

    I love making pot roast in a slow cooker. I’ve also made apple butter in it, its super delicious and the aromas are amazing!

  • Anastasia

    I have a slow cooker but I barely use it (due to the lack of recipes). And as I nurse, a wife, and a having a baby I could sure benefit from it 🙂 I’ve been looking for a good slow cooker recipe book for a while, and if you say this is a good one I would love to win one! Thank you for all your recipes! God Bless your family!

  • Oksana

    I really like my slow cooker, when I actually pull it out and use it. I really like to do pulled pork and I’ve done chili before. It is a time saver, and I would like to use it more.

  • Galina

    I would love to cook more chicken recipes in the slow cooker. My fav one so far is Sour Cream and Bacon chicken in slow cooker.

  • Anastassiya

    Hi Olga! We recently bought a slow cooker and I don’t use it much as I would like to.
    I have already tried to cook split pea soup and it turned out well, also I cooked beef with mushrooms. I want to try new recipes.

  • Alla

    First of I want to say thank you for this wonderful recipe I will definatly be making this soon.
    I’ve made roast beef before but honestly not too impressed like you said things tend to get a little bland so I don’t really use my slow cooker. But I’m excited to learn some new techniques.

  • Tanya

    Thank you Olga for giving us an opportunity like this. I am a single mom, going to school, doing clinicals full time, and raising my little daughter. Because of not having enough time in the day to also cook, I would love to have a book that can help me learn how to make meals that are not only taste delicious but are actually good for you. Thank you again for such an awesome opportunity.
    -Tanya

  • elena

    I like to make lasagna in the slow cooker and also chicken. I would LOVE to win this recipe book and be able to make more yummy recipes. Thanks for the giveaway 🙂

  • Nina

    I love to cook chicken and pork ribs in the slow cooker. Want to have more recipes which are not too complicated and cost-effective.

  • Doug Hitchcock

    Being a single male, I’m pretty limited to Chili and beef stew. Could really use a new recipe! Oh! And ham and beans! 😀

  • Nataliya

    I like to make ribs in slow cooker and prepare beens for different dishes, but would love to learn more. All recipes that i tried came out with weird taste, so i can’t wait for new ideas from you Olga!!!!

  • Natasha

    Hello Olga, thank you for the giveaway:) my fave food to cook in the slow cooker are MEAT!! I love making beef or chicken.. Currently only have a couple recipes so would love to try new ones:)

  • Ilona

    I just recently started using my slow cooker and loooove it!! I made bbq ribs, pulled pork, potatoes with meat, and even soups. I would love to learn more and easy recipes.

  • Annaliese

    I use my slow cooker to make bone broth from the scraps from roasted chicken. The broth beats bouillon cubes a thousand times over!

  • Olga

    I like to use slow cookers for pulled pork. One of my favorites. The cookbook would be wonderful to have for ideas on what to cook. 🙂

  • Inna S.

    I don’t have a slowcooker and have not used one. I have heard so much about it, and to get the recipe book to go along with my NEW slowcooker would be amazing!

  • Tatyana v

    Thanks Olga! I love to use slow cooker and most I make chilli, potatoes and lazy or regular golupczi in it. Thanks again!

  • Jan Murry

    I like making stews and soups in my slow cooker. Thanks for the opportunity to win this cookbook – always looking for new ideas!

  • Alena H

    I usually make pulled pork in the slow cooker and have tried making tushenaya kartoshka. I would like to find more practical recipes for the slow cooker.

  • Nadia

    I’ve recently had success with cooking a leg of lamb in the slowcooker and I found that braised potatoes turn out well too! I’m a mom of two kids under three, so I am always seeking an excuse to use my slowcooker.

  • Linda

    I love my slow cooker! Lately our favorites have been turkey brest, chicken n dumplings, and everyone’s favorite pulled pork. I love using America’s Test Kitchen recipes they always turn out awesome. Thanks for the opportunity to win this cookbook!

  • katie

    Hi Olga, I just happened upon your blog yesterday. I’ve been so touched by all you guys have gone through and your firm trust in the Lord. Thank you for sharing. I have this cookbook and love it too. Pork shoulder is divine in the slow cooker!

  • Valentina Crosby

    I am just learning and experimenting with slow cooker recipes. I already have had my share of dry roasts and sticky sauces. I would love to learn more about cooking meat in the slow cooker and not have it too greasy or dry. I am planning on implementing slow cooker recipes in my menus. Thanks, Olga, awesome job, as always. God bless.

  • Katrine Kulinin

    Hello. I do not use my slow cooker much. I usually just cook off of pans or pots, but I would love to start using my slow cooker. However, I have a BIG family and lots of brothers who are always looking for something delicious to eat. That means that I have to find a good recipe that will satisfy their cravings. Sometimes that is hard. This is why I feel that the book “Slow Cooker Revolution” will help me out a lot. I would enjoy trying out new recipes.

  • Lana

    I make homemade tomato sauce, slow-cooking over many hours – turns out just sublime. 🙂 I would like to expend the use of slow cooker. Thanks.

  • Jessen

    I don’t own a slow cooker, unfortunately, but two of my families favorite meals is a slow cooked (in the oven) beef stew, or foil packed slow cooked bone in BBQ spiced Chicken Thighs.

  • Lena

    I have only tried soup in the slow cooker. Haven’t found any tempting recipes yet since I only got my slow cooker recently. I think it would really be a time saver if I had more recipes to go with. I really enjoy your site. Thanks for the hard work you put into it. 🙂

  • Kristen

    I love to make soups in my crock in the winter! Chili, chicken wild rice soup, and chicken tortilla soup are among my favorites. I would love to learn more casserole recipes in the crockpot.

  • Tyler

    My wife is usually the one who does most of the cooking in the crockpot, I usually do the clean up duty instead! I love her recipe that she uses to makes a great spicy chicken soup. I would like to find some recipes that I can make and treat my wife with.

  • SvetKa

    Grassfed Kosher Beef! It’s the only way to really bring out the flavor, but once you start with that amazing ingredient and throw it in the slow cooker, there really is no way to go wrong.
    … too bad we’re running out…

  • Mila

    I don’t use slow cooker to frequently because I have not found the recipes that are simple. I prefer to use simple ingredients and make things from scratch as possible. I’m a nurse, and work nights. Some of the dishes that I did cook in the slow cooker is тушана potatoes and plow. That is about it. It would be nice to stumble on good recipes that I can put together before going to sleep after work and when I wake up feed our family of four.

  • Margot C

    I used to just use it to make chili, but now I make lots of stuff. I make a curry (very different from yours – though yours looks pretty great!) very often.

    • Margot C

      **not an entry, a message!** Hi Olga, I posted your tweet, but the text is wrong (it says KitchenAid Giveaway though the link is for this giveaway). I don’t like posting tweets that are wrong but I wasn’t sure what to do. (tweeting as @AnnaZed)

  • Alissa

    My favorite *super* easy thing to make in the crockpot–a whole chicken! So simple, so delicious, so many opportunities to use the leftover chicken!

  • ligia c

    i love making slow cooked barbecue pork. but sadly that’s the only recipe i tried with the slow cooker. I wish i could learn more flavorful recipes.

  • Ilona

    I don’t have a slow cooker so I don’t have any favorite recipes for it. But, I’d love to get one. The only reason I don’t have it because I don’t really know what to cook in it. This cook book may be life changing. I’d love to learn to make simple dinners in slow cooker. Ones that contain meat and starch all in one.

  • Janna

    I would like to learn a couple more vegetable recipes… Beef Stroganoff is an all-time fav in our house!!!

  • Oksana

    I love slow cooking and usually use a slow cooker at least once a week. I would love to explore new recipes!

  • sveta

    Would love to receive this cookbook. Always looking for good slow cooker recipes. I usually make sausage with sauerkraut in slow cooker, would live to learn more recipes with chicken

  • Yana D

    Hi Olga, I don’t use a lot slow cooker because I don’t know good recipes. I just cook tushenyu kartoshku s cream cheese

  • Tatyana

    One of my favorite recipes is Italian Beef:

    (1) Cube or slice lean beef roast (2 lbs), then brown in a skillet to add extra flavor; you can either spray the skillet with non-stick spray or use a little of olive oil.
    (2) Add beef and the envelope of dry Italian Seasoning.
    (3) Add 1/2 cup of water (or more if you are planning to make some gravy later).

    Cook on Low for 8-10 hours. Serve as is over mashed potatoes, pasta, veggies, etc. Or make some gravy to go with meat.

    Or even shred the meat while still warm — keep the juices! Makes awesome tacos or pita pockets filling.

    Freezes well, too. I usually make extra when beef is on sale and then freeze in small containers or bags. You can quickly defrost a bag for a quick meal.

    Makes great braised potatoes, too. Preheat the oven to 400. Saute some onions/garlic/carrots (or any other veggies; also, you can add a spoonful of flour for thicker gravy), defrost a bag of Italian Beef, and peel/cube some potatoes. Mix everything together, add some water, bring to boil on stove top, and then slide into your oven for 30 mins-1 hour — depends on the amount, type of potatoes, etc. May need to reduce the heat to prevent burning.

  • Mary Anne Hillis

    Love to make pulled pork in the slow cooker, but would like to have more kid friendly recipes for my grandkids.

  • Mary Anne Hillis

    My favorite recipe for my slow cooker is bbq pulled pork. I would like to have some kid friendly slow cooker recipes to feed my grandchildren. I do love my slow cooker.

  • Natalia

    When I moved to America, my big family and I were introduced to pulled-pork sandwiches and since learning the recipe, we have make it several times over the years. I love the juicy tenderness of the meat and my family does as well! I also like the easy version of plov, which I make in a slow cooker.

  • Tanya K

    I will definitely have to say that chili is our favorite to make in the slow cooker. Your baked potato soup in slow cooker is another one of our favorites.

  • Vicky u

    I haven’t made many dishes with slow cook, but I would love to see some Italian recipes. My husband and I love Italian and working 8-10 hr shifts it would be amazing coming home to cooked dinner lol

  • Zach P

    Hi Olga!

    My two favorite things to make in my slow cooker are

    1. Sausage Coddle ( http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/2008/03/dublin-coddle-with-vegan-irish-sausages.html)
    — I’ve made it both vegan and with real sausage

    2. Figgy Brisket (I have this typed out at home, I can email you the recipe later if you’re interested!)
    — This is a brisket that is browned on the stove, and then put in the crockpot with dried figs, apricots, and prunes. It’s
    a big hit at christmas parties!

    Love reading your blog!

  • Jessica

    I love love love my slow cooker! I love to make any type of beef stew, chicken, bbq ribs. it saves so much time! Your blog is awesome! keep it up!

  • vera

    Thats an amazing giveaway!! I don’t have a slow cooker because I don’t know what and how to cook with it and I don’t have any recipes…but being a busy mother of 5 small children and reading that it’s awesome for persons like me..I better should get one:)
    To answer your question…I would really like to try all these dishes with meat..I once tried Gyros at a friend’s place and it was awesome!!

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