This Slow Cooker Vegetable Curry is chock full of veggies and red lentils and stewed in a flavorful tomato base. It’s finished with coconut milk, just in time to put a pot of rice on to cook. It’s simple to pull together and full of curry flavors we love! Serve slow cooker veg curry with a side of Naan and dinner is done. This recipe is vegetarian, vegan, and easily gluten-free.

Slow Cooker Veggie Curry in a bowl with a side of naan.

Simple and Comforting Slow Cooker Vegetable Curry

A simple and comforting meal, this slow cooker veg curry is full of flavor, and SO satisfying. It ranks right up there on my comfort-food-O-meter and best of all, it’s made ahead so later when you’re hangry, it’s ready!

This Curry Recipe Is

hearty and rich
versatile: cook on low or high
make it spicy or mildish

About the Key Ingredients

Fresh Garlic and Ginger – you’ll grate these on a microplane. There’s no need to peel the ginger. Garlic and ginger are essential ingredients in this dish. They build the base for flavor in the curry sauce.
Garam Masala – a warm and fragrant Indian spice blend, with cardamom, cinnamon, and clove. Look for Garam Masala in the bulk spice section so you can buy exactly what you need (and for best value).
Chili Powder – a robust spice blend with chili peppers, cumin, garlic, and oregano. This spice can vary widely. I use Frontier Co-op brand.
Ground Cumin – an aromatic spice that pairs perfectly with and balances the spicy notes of this vegetable curry recipe.

Red Lentils – adds bulk and texture. They cook down to a tender, almost creamy texture. Look for red lentils in the bulk bins for best value.
Cauliflower – adds texture, and bulk. It’s mild in flavor. In the crock pot, cauliflower becomes tender and soaks up the flavor of the curry sauce.
Red Potatoes – add texture, bulk, and heartiness to this satisfying curry. As they cook, they’ll become soft and creamy.
Coconut Milk – use full fat for richness and flavor. It lends a mildly sweet flavor to the curry and ties all the ingredients together.

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How to Make Slow Cooker Vegetable Curry
step by step

Four images showing onions being sauteed and ground spices being bloomed. — Saute the onions, then add ginger, garlic and spices. Add a bit of water to the pan to deglaze.

Good To Know

Saute First

You can, but sautéing the onions, garlic, and ginger and blooming the spices before adding them to the slow cooker unlocks their best potential for flavor, allowing the richness of their flavor to shine. Cooking these ingredients also reduces the potential for bitter flavors.

Potatoes Substitute

You can substitute sweet potatoes for the red potatoes in this veg curry. Cook them until just fork tender.

Four images showing ingredients in a slow cooker for Slow Cooker Vegetable Curry. — In the slow cooker, layer the ingredients: tomatoes, lentils, potatoes, cauliflower, onion/seasoning mixture. Stir.

Three images showing Slow Cooker Vegetable Curry after it's cooked, with coconut milk being poured in and a ladle scooping up the curry. — Cook the curry on low, then add the coconut milk. Stir and cook a little longer. The veggie curry is now ready to serve.

What to Serve with Slow Cooker Curry

Add Some Crunch: This slow cooker curry is next level with a crunchy sprinkling of chopped cashews. They’re optional but highly recommended!

Must-Have Rice: Traditionally, Indian cuisine is shared with Basmati rice, however, this recipe is just as lovely with fragrant Jasmine rice (pictured with brown Jasmine rice). For easy cooking try my Fluffy Stovetop Brown Rice recipe.

Bread: Naan is a traditional Indian bread, but this recipe is also delicious with regular or Sourdough Pita Bread for scooping and dipping to your heart’s desire!

Two hands holding a bowl with rice and slow cooker vegetable curry.

Traci’s Tips

More Spice? There’s a 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes in this recipe which adds a hint of spice. But feel free to increase it by another 1/4 teaspoon. Fair warning – it’s spicy!
Mind the Time: Since slow cookers vary in their temperature settings, use cook times as a guide.
Soak it Up! This slow cooker curry tends to be a little looser than traditional curries, so it’s best shared with something to soak it up like rice and/or Naan.

11 comments

5 from 3 votes

Slow Cooker Vegetable Curry