Slow Cooker Coconut Curry Chicken - Slender Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

How long does thin chicken take in crockpot? ›

I find about 3 hours on low is just right, with one single layer, for the meat to fully cook through to 165F. This time may vary slightly with different brands of slow cookers, or with smaller versus larger breast pieces. Always check doneness with a meat thermometer.

Creamy ingredients (whether they're dairy or non-dairy) can split in a slow cooker. Avoid adding milk, cream, yoghurt, coconut cream or coconut milk at the beginning of cooking as it can end up curdled and grainy. For the best results, stir through at the end of the cooking time and warm through gently without boiling.

Use less liquid

Slow cookers are designed to trap steam and moisture, which is great for keeping your food moist and tender. However, it can also lead to a thinner consistency in your curry. To counter this, try using less liquid in your recipe than you normally would if cooking on the stovetop.

I am often asked if you can put coconut milk in a crockpot—the answer is yes, but not until the end of the recipe. I repeat, do not add coconut milk to a slow cooker right at the beginning; it will curdle as the recipe cooks.

Always cook your boneless skinless chicken breasts on LOW for the best results. I do not recommend cooking boneless chicken breast on HIGH, as it will become very dry and tough, even if you check it early. On high, the chicken turns out drier; I consistently have the best results with low.

How do you slow cook chicken breast? Chicken breasts are a lean cut and the key to slow cooking them without drying them out involves the right amount of moisture. Add just enough liquid to come 1cm up the side of the bowl. Cover and cook on High for 2 ½-4 hours or on Low for 4-6 hours.

For a rich and creamy curry, coconut milk or cream can be a fantastic thickening agent. They not only add creaminess but also a delightful tropical flavour. Simply pour in some coconut milk or cream and let it simmer until your sauce reaches the desired consistency.

Add a teaspoon of cornstarch to a dish to prevent curdling of coconut milk. Adding cornstarch will also thicken the sauce, so don't use it if you're making a dish that requires a thin sauce.

The chances are you can rescue your bitter curry by: Add equal parts sugar and salt, a teaspoon at a time, mixing well between each pair of additions and tasting until the curry is no longer bitter. Sugar and salt help to reduce bitterness. You can use any sweetener or salt you like.

How to make curry more thick? ›

There are several ways to thicken curry sauces and avoid making them too runny or watery. One option is to add dairy such as Greek yogurt, heavy cream, or coconut cream . Another option is to add ground nuts like cashews or almonds to the sauce . A roux made with flour and butter is also an effective thickener.

Cornstarch, potato starch, and chickpea flour are a couple of pantry-friendly ways to thicken soups, stews, and sauces in the slow cooker. Just a tablespoon or two of any — added towards the end of cooking — will thicken sauces especially well.

I have often found that it splits, even if the cooking temperature is low. The result still tastes lovely, but it doesn't look very appealing. The key is the use of chemical emulsifiers and stabilisers in the brand of coconut milk you buy such as guar gum; emulsifiers bind and stabilise so splitting does not occur.

Once the spices and veg have cooked, add in the coconut milk and a couple cups of chicken stock. Turn the heat up so it comes to a boil and then lower to about medium heat and cook for 10-15 minutes. Just until it starts to thicken! I normally do 10 minutes, but if you like a really thick sauce, take it longer.

Slow cookers are specially designed to cook food for long periods of time, but yes, you can still overcook in a slow cooker if something is left on the wrong setting for longer than it's supposed to be.

Cooking chicken breasts can be super time consuming and tricky to make sure they're cooked completely through. Thin sliced chicken is great because it cooks way faster than a full chicken breast.

You're going to compromise the texture of chicken a bit when you cook it for 8 hours in the slowcooker. It's going to be super tender, but not “sliceable”, so use this to your advantage and shred the meat using two forks and toss it with the cooking liquid.

Research conducted by USDA FSIS indicates it's safe to cook large cuts of meat and poultry in a slow cooker. Follow the manufacturer's recipes and safety guidelines.