Slow Cooker Creamy Italian Sausage Curry for Easy Dinners

This slow cooker creamy Italian sausage tikka curry turns savory sausage into a deeply comforting curry without hours of hands-on effort. Warm spices, crushed tomatoes, and silky cream simmer together in your crockpot, creating a lush sauce that pairs wonderfully with warm naan or fluffy rice on busy autumn evenings.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lb bulk Italian sausage (or link sausage, casings removed)
• 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
• 1.5 tbsp tikka masala spice blend
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
• 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 can (13.5 oz) full-fat coconut milk
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 3 cups fresh baby spinach
• 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped for garnish

Instructions

1. Heat a skillet over medium heat and brown the Italian sausage, breaking it into small crumbles, for 5 to 7 minutes until lightly browned. Drain any excess fat.
2. Transfer the browned sausage to a 6-quart slow cooker.
3. Add the diced yellow onion, minced garlic, grated ginger, tikka masala spice, cumin, turmeric, salt, crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, and coconut milk to the slow cooker. Stir well to combine all ingredients.
4. Cover and cook on LOW for 4 hours (or HIGH for 2 hours) until the curry is hot, bubbling, and the sausage reaches an internal temperature of at least 165 F.
5. During the last 20 minutes of cooking, stir in the heavy cream and fresh baby spinach. Cover and let sit until the spinach is fully wilted and the sauce is rich and smooth.
6. Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro and serve warm over steamed basmati rice or with warm naan bread.

Tips

• For extra heat, swap sweet Italian sausage for hot Italian sausage or add a pinch of red pepper flakes.
• Serve alongside steamed basmati rice or toasted garlic naan to soak up the creamy curry sauce.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop over low heat.