Slow Cooker Chicken Pumpkin Curry

Chicken Pumpkin Curry is an easy to make comfort food that you’ll crave all Fall long! Chicken, carrots, and sweet potatoes are slowly cooked to tender perfection in the most mouthwatering pumpkin curry with complex and bold flavor.

Chicken pumpkin curry is a delicious and aromatic dish that combines tender chicken pieces with creamy pumpkin and coconut, along with a variety of root vegetables together with a flavorful blend of spices in a rich, comforting curry. Slow cooked all day long, your house will smell incredible and your mouth will be watering. The real challenge is waiting until dinnertime!

The coconut milk used in this curry doesn’t lend any tropical flavor. Rather, it creates the best silky consistency for this curry and remains just neutral enough for the pumpkin to really shine! The other key curry ingredients at play include curry powder, garam masala, and of course turmeric powder. This easy recipe is protein-packed from the chicken and offers nutrients from the pumpkin puree, sweet potatoes, and carrots. When plated with rice, this slowly cooked dish becomes deliciously filling and comforting while still being freshly flavored. Comforting AND fresh – it’s the best of both worlds!

Why You’ll Love It

• Bold and unique flavors. This curry dish offers a unique flavor profile that blends the savory taste of chicken with the natural sweetness and earthiness of pumpkin along with the creaminess of the coconut milk. The spices used in the curry, such as curry powder, garam masala, turmeric, ginger, and garlic, add depth and complexity to the dish. The combination of these flavors creates a satisfying and aromatic curry that is both comforting and exotic.
• Set and forget. Slow cooker meals are the best because once you add everything into the insert of the slow cooker, you can set it and forget it — until, that is, you start smelling it!
• Nutritious and customizable. Pumpkin is a highly nutritious ingredient that is rich in vitamins A, C, and E, as well as fiber. It is also high in antioxidants so by incorporating pumpkin into the curry, you can enhance the nutritional value of the dish. Additionally, chicken provides lean protein, making this curry a well-rounded and wholesome meal option. Further, this curry is customizable to suit your flavor profile. Check out the section “recipe tips, substitutions, and variations” below for ideas!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Lots of hearty vegetables and flavorful spices in this chicken pumpkin curry! Be sure to get the exact measurements in the recipe card below.

• Coconut Milk – It should be unsweetened and full fat.
• Pumpkin Puree – Do NOT use pie filling!
• Chicken Stock – Low sodium is preferred.
• Seasonings – A medley of curry powder, turmeric, garam masala, kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper creates the best flavor.
• Onion – You can use yellow or white.
• Garlic and ginger – Freshly minced garlic and ginger is best for flavor and aroma.
• Carrots – Try to make sure the pieces are about the same size.
• Sweet Potatoes – These should also be cut into similarly sized pieces.
• Chicken – Breasts or thighs work in this.
• Lime Juice – Only use the real deal, not the bottled stuff!

How to Make Chicken Pumpkin Curry in the Slow Cooker

Grab your slow cooker and get ready to make the most delicious chicken pumpkin curry! Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions.

Make the sauce. Stir together the coconut milk, pumpkin puree, chicken stock, curry powder, turmeric, garam masala, salt, and pepper in the slow cooker.

Add the key ingredients. Add the onion, garlic, carrots, sweet potatoes, lime juice, and chicken to the mixture. Stir to coat.

Cook and serve. Cook on low for 6 hours, then serve with rice and enjoy!

Recipe Tips, Substitutions, and Variations

• Make sure you are using pumpkin puree. One of the most common errors that people make when making pumpkin dishes is grabbing pumpkin pie filling instead of pumpkin puree. Pumpkin pie filling is exactly what it is – filling for a pumpkin pie so it’s already sweetened and seasoned with spices. Pumpkin puree is simply just pumpkin in its raw and untouched form.
• Adjust the seasonings to your taste. If you find that you are craving more flavor, feel free to adjust the seasonings to what suit you. Whether that be more curry powder, more garam masala, something with a little bit of spice; this curry is extremely easy to manipulate.
• Use boneless skinless chicken. I’ve made this both with boneless skinless chicken breasts and chicken thighs. It all depends on what you’re looking for. They both yield an incredibly delicious curry, but I will say chicken thighs tend to stay a bit more tender than chicken breasts.
• Speeding up cooking time. Everything can be made in 4 hours instead of 6 if you cook on high instead of low.

Storage and Reheating Instructions

In an airtight container in the fridge, any leftovers you have will stay fresh for about 3-4 days. To reheat, use a microwave or stovetop.

This freezes well too! I add mine to the 1 or 2 cup Souper Cube trays * and freeze. When I am ready to eat them, I pop a cube out and heat it on the stovetop. Usually I have to add a little more liquid (chicken broth) to it so it doesn’t burn and so it thins out a bit.

If you love curries, you’ll love these dishes:

• Katsu Chicken Curry
• Japanese curry
• Madras Curry
• Coconut Curry Ramen
• Curry Meatballs and Kale Stew
• Curry Lemongrass Chicken Noodle Bowl