Paneer tikka masala in a bowl shot from above

Hello slow cooker! I thought it was time to bring my old friend out of retirement again to make this slow cooker paneer tikka masala. I only use my slow cooker every now and then, but it’s such a handy way to make a hearty dinner with very little effort. There’s no pre-cooking needed with this vegetarian curry recipe – just throw some raw veggies and some chunks of paneer into the slow cooker, and leave it to cook. Easy peasy.

Paneer tikka masala in a slow cooker with a spoon and fresh coriander

If you’ve never had paneer before, it’s an Indian cheese that’s often used in vegetarian curries. But don’t go imagining big chunks of cheddar or anything – paneer is much milder and creamier, so it doesn’t feel overly heavy (I’m an enormous cheddar fan, but even I wouldn’t stick a whole block in a curry). Its mild flavour means it takes on whatever flavours you cook it in, so it’s really versatile – any kind of sauce will work really well with it.

Paneer tikka masala in a bowl on a striped linen

My tikka masala sauce is really tasty, without being super spicy. The main base is tomatoes, with garlic, ginger, cumin, paprika, coriander, turmeric… heaps of flavour with very little effort. It sounds like a lot of different spices, but these are the same basic ingredients I use in pretty much all of my curry recipes – I’ve never claimed I make authentic Indian curries, but I do make tasty and straightforward vegetarian food! I reckon you could stock your spice cupboard with less than 10 jars, and you’d have pretty much everything you need. I have a ton of random stuff in my spice cupboard, but I still find myself using the same things over and over again.

Since my paneer tikka masala is made in a slow cooker, it does end up a bit soupier than a standard curry. If you’d prefer a thicker sauce, you could always make this on the stove-top instead – but personally, I thought the thinner sauce was a good excuse to use a big chunk of naan bread to mop up the bowl (not that you need an excuse!).

Close-up shot of paneer tikka masala in a bowl shot from above

When your slow cooker paneer tikka masala is cooked, finish it off with a good glug of cream and a sprinkling of fresh coriander (cilantro) – and don’t forget the rice and naan bread! Oh, and a few onion bhajis. And maybe a samosa or two. Ooh, and poppadoms! Okay, I’ll stop. Just make the curry.

Paneer tikka masala in a bowl with naan bread and fresh coriander

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5 from 5 votes

Slow cooker paneer tikka masala

A really easy vegetarian curry that's full of flavour - just throw all the ingredients for this paneer tikka masala in the slow cooker, and leave it to do its thing!
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 5 hrs
Total Time: 5 hrs 15 mins
Servings: 4 people

Ingredients

  • 450 g paneer cheese, cut into chunky dice (~ 3 1/3 cups when diced)
  • 1 onion, sliced or diced
  • 2 bell peppers, cut into chunks (I used orange and yellow)
  • 6 medium mushrooms, quartered
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 tsp minced ginger or ginger puree
  • 2 x 400g tins chopped tomatoes (~ 2 2/3 cups in total)
  • 2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp ground turmeric
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • Salt
  • Black pepper
  • 4 tbsp double / heavy cream
  • Fresh coriander (cilantro), chopped, to serve

Instructions

  • Add the first 11 ingredients (paneer through ground coriander) to the slow cooker, and add a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Mix well, and cook on high for 4.5 - 5 hours, until the vegetables are all soft.
  • Add the cream, and mix well. Serve topped with another drizzle of cream if desired, and some fresh coriander (cilantro)
Course: Main meal
Cuisine: Indian
Author: Becca Heyes

 

Note: Nutritional information is approximate, and will depend on exactly what ingredients you choose. Information above is for 1/4 of the recipe.

Bit more pressed for time? My easy creamy chickpea curry can be whipped up in just 15 minutes!