Slow Cooker Indian Beef Curry (Printable)

Rich, aromatic beef slow-cooked with yogurt marinade and aromatic spices for tender, deeply flavorful results.

# What You Need:

→ Beef

01 - 2 lbs beef chuck, cut into 1.5-inch cubes

→ Marinade

02 - 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
03 - 2 tbsp lemon juice
04 - 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
05 - 1 tsp salt
06 - 1 tsp ground turmeric
07 - 1 tsp ground coriander
08 - 1 tsp chili powder

→ Vegetables

09 - 2 large onions, finely sliced
10 - 2 medium tomatoes, chopped
11 - 2 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
12 - 2 green chilies, slit

→ Spices

13 - 2 tbsp curry powder or garam masala
14 - 1 tsp ground cumin
15 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
16 - 2 bay leaves
17 - 1 cinnamon stick
18 - 4 whole cloves
19 - 4 green cardamom pods

→ Liquids

20 - 1 cup beef broth
21 - 1 cup coconut milk

→ Finishing

22 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
23 - Salt and pepper, to taste

# How To Make It:

01 - Combine beef cubes with yogurt, lemon juice, ginger-garlic paste, salt, turmeric, coriander, and chili powder in a large bowl. Toss thoroughly to coat all pieces. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or overnight for optimal flavor development.
02 - Layer the sliced onions, chopped tomatoes, cubed potatoes, and green chilies at the bottom of the slow cooker insert, creating an even vegetable bed.
03 - Arrange the marinated beef evenly over the vegetable layer, scraping any remaining marinade from the bowl onto the meat.
04 - Sprinkle curry powder, cumin, smoked paprika, bay leaves, cinnamon stick, whole cloves, and cardamom pods over the beef and vegetables.
05 - Pour beef broth and coconut milk into the slow cooker. Gently stir to distribute the spices without disturbing the layered arrangement.
06 - Cover and cook on LOW setting for 8 hours or HIGH for 4 hours until beef is fork-tender and sauce has thickened to desired consistency.
07 - Before serving, carefully remove and discard bay leaves, cinnamon stick, cloves, and cardamom pods from the curry.
08 - Taste the curry and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed. Garnish generously with chopped fresh cilantro and serve hot alongside steamed basmati rice or warm naan bread.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The yogurt marinade trick changes everything about beef curry texture
  • Your entire house smells like an Indian restaurant by hour 6
  • Mostly hands off cooking with restaurant quality results
02 -
  • The longer marinating time creates noticeably more tender and flavorful beef
  • Whole spices need to be removed before serving since biting into a clove ruins the experience
  • The sauce will thicken considerably as it cools so do not worry if it seems thin at first
03 -
  • Brown the beef in a hot pan before marinating if you want deeper caramelized flavor
  • Use full fat yogurt for the most tender results since low fat versions can separate during long cooking

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