Crock Pot Chicken Tikka Masala Meatballs

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It’s easy to rekindle our love with a lot of things this time of year: (most) Christmas music, twinkling lights, super thick sweaters, and, of course, our crock pots.  With the holiday hustle in full force, I typically have a tendency to neglect my home cooked meals and I really don’t think I’m the only one.  I mean, we’ve got enough time commitments on our plates that we can’t even fathom piling food on them too!  That is, until we remember the crock pot we have sitting in the storage closet.  It’s the time of the year for that baby to shine.
 

 
I’ve been craving Chicken Tikka Masala lately, but as anyone who has ever dabbled in Indian cuisine is well aware, it’s not very easy to whip up.  (Or maybe it’s just me?)  Tikka Masala just is one of those recipes that I’m always dying to make, but I don’t actually want to go through all of the steps to make it.  There’s the toasting of the spices, and the chopping of the veggies, and the marinating of the meat, and the cooking of the chicken, and the stirring of the sauce, aaaaand I’m boring you.  Well, you get the point.  There’s just a lot to do.

But like I said, I still have been craving Tikka Masala, and when I’m craving something, I don’t waste any time.  I decided to simplify a few of the steps and suddenly the British-Indian classic seemed somewhat easy to make from my tiny American kitchen.  Victory was on the horizon.
 

 
Because I like to live dangerously, I made meatballs instead of using the typical chicken thighs.  Chicken Tikka Masala Meatball Subs sounded like they’d be pretty much the greatest thing to ever grace my taste buds, and honestly, they were up there on my list.  I mean, say it with me– Chicken Tikka Masala Meatball Subs.  If your mouth isn’t watering yet, it might be broken.
 
And don’t worry.  You can still wrap it all up in naan if you’d like!
 
Now I’m going to be honest, when you make things in the crock pot, they never wind up as amazing as the authentic restaurant versions.  Still, I have to say, this was a surprisingly tasty alternative.  Plus, I was able to make the meatballs in the morning and throw them in the crock pot with the beginnings of the sauce, let it all simmer while I was at work, and come home to dinner waiting for me.  Oh, crock pot, how do I love thee?  Let me count the ways…
 

 
Whether you’re making this for yourself, your family, or a party, they will be a hit this season and don’t require any stress!  If you want to reduce the fat in the recipe, try using turkey for the meatballs instead and switching out coconut milk for the heavy cream.  It will affect the taste slightly (so make sure you like coconut) but no matter which way you spin it, it’s delicious!
 

Crock Pot Chicken Tikka Masala Meatballs

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• Author: Morgan
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 8 hours
• Total Time: 8 hours 20 minutes
• Yield: 8

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Description

This recipe uses gingery chicken meatballs and the slow cooker to make Chicken Tikka Masala like you’ve never had it before! Tikka Masala Sauce adapted from Table For Two

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Ingredients

For the Meatballs:

• 1 lb ground chicken thigh meat
• 1/2 cup sweet onion, finely diced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup cilantro, minced
• 3/4 cups fresh white breadcrumbs
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
• 1 teaspoon salt

For the Sauce:

• 1 large sweet onion, diced
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 1/2 tablespoons fresh ginger, minced
• 1 30 oz can tomato puree
• 1 1/2 cups greek yogurt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons garam masala
• 1 1/2 tablespoons cumin
• 1/2 tablespoon paprika
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch

To top (optional):

• Naan or rolls
• Onion, sliced
• Cilantro, chopped

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Instructions

1. In a large bowl, thoroughly combine all of the meatball ingredients. Form the mix into small meatballs. You should wind up with about 25.
2. Combine all of the sauce ingredients EXCEPT FOR the heavy cream and cornstarch in the crock pot. Mix well.
3. Add in the meatballs (no, you don’t have to brown them first, although you can if you’d like) and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4.
4. minutes before serving, whisk together the heavy cream and cornstarch and and it to the crock pot, stirring to combine. Continue to cook for 20 minutes to let the Tikka Masala thicken.
5. Serve on naan or rolls with onion and cilantro.

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