Home > Dinner > Chicken Curry Chicken Curry November 28, 2019 | 39 Comments SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Jump to Recipe This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy. You can easily make Chicken Curry in about 30 minutes– in just one pot. This recipe packs a serious flavor punch with fresh ginger, onions, garlic, red curry paste, and creamy coconut milk. To be sure this recipe can be made in 30 minutes, we’re keeping it simple without adding tons of chopped veggies. But if you like, feel free to add a veggie or two to bulk it up. Serve Chicken Curry over basmati rice with some good naan bread to make it a meal. Chicken Curry flavor Today we’re using red curry paste in this dish, alongside yellow curry powder and a good amount of coriander. This Chicken Curry is a bit sweet, but mostly savory, with hints of spice from the red curry paste. Red curry paste is made from crushed red chilies, garlic, lemongrass, shallots, ginger, and fish paste. We amp up those flavors with additional garlic, ginger, and onions. In this recipe, the flavors of the paste are balanced with some good yellow curry powder. Some curries can be quite spicy and others quite mild. For this specific recipe, I would rate this dish as mild, but it does depend on the brand of red curry or curry power you use. I’ve found Thai Kitchen® and Simple Truth® Organic Curry Powder are both quite mild (not sponsored). How to make Chicken Curry The directions below correlate with numbered images above. Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces and toss with curry powder, salt, and pepper. Char the chicken pieces, without cooking through, and then transfer them to a plate. In the same skillet, add the coconut oil and onions. Add minced garlic and ginger. Bloom the spices: curry powder, coriander, and red curry paste. Add coconut milk and chicken stock. Simmer until thickened. Return the chicken to the pan and finish cooking through. Stir in diced cilantro. Add fresh lime juice. Finished chicken Curry! Chicken Curry tips Cook the onions long and slow so they have a chance to develop a sweeter flavor. Coconut milk makes this curry sweeter and adds a deeper flavor than regular cream would. Use full-fat coconut milk for the best flavor and thickness. Lite coconut milk won’t thicken and give you the rich full flavor that regular coconut milk will. Cream of coconut is far too sweet and coconut cream tends to be too thick (and overpoweringly coconut flavored) for this curry. For a thicker curry, use only 1/2 cup chicken stock. Alternatively, remove 1 tablespoon of the coconut milk into a separate bowl and mix with 2 teaspoons cornstarch. Whisk until smooth and then stir back into the curry to thicken it further. QUICK TIP Blooming the spices? Blooming is simply heating spices in oil. This helps pull the fat-soluble compounds from spices and amps up the overall flavor. It only takes a minute and makes a real flavor difference! Variations Chicken Curry with vegetables: Increase the veggies! You can add some carrot sticks (add after adding the curry paste and seasonings) and spinach (stir in at the very end — the residual heat will cook it down). Another great addition would be frozen peas at the end (add 1-2 minutes before finishing). Chicken Curry with thigh meat: Thigh meat will work great instead of breast meat (use boneless skinless and adjust for cooking time). Add the chicken after blooming the spices and then let it simmer in the sauce until cooked through. Time-saving idea: Use pre-chopped onions from the grocery store (typically with refrigerated produce or in the frozen vegetable aisle). You can also use pre-mined garlic and ginger, but at some sacrifice to the overall flavor. Chicken Curry with coconut milk and potatoes: Try adding baby Yukon gold potatoes. To do this, I microwave full baby potatoes for 5-8 minutes or until tender; cut them into quarters and add them in after blooming in the spices. More easy dinner recipes Meatloaf Dinner mini meatloaves, potatoes, and green beans all in one pan One pan Italian Sausage and Veggies quick prep Roasted Vegetables with a delicious seasoning mix Chicken Chow Mein with an easy stir fry sauce Banh Mi Bowls with a delicious Sriracha sauce FOLLOW ALONG! Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for the latest updates, recipes and content. Chicken Curry 4.96 from 21 votes - Review this recipe Easy Chicken Curry made in about 30 minutes-- in just one pot. This dish packs a serious flavor punch with fresh ginger, onions, garlic, red curry paste, and creamy coconut milk. SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Print Recipe Chicken Curry 4.96 from 21 votes - Review this recipe SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Print Recipe Easy Chicken Curry made in about 30 minutes-- in just one pot. This dish packs a serious flavor punch with fresh ginger, onions, garlic, red curry paste, and creamy coconut milk. Course Dinner Cuisine Thai Keyword chicken curry, easy chicken curry Prep Time 15 minutes Cook Time 15 minutes Total Time 30 minutes Servings 4 servings Calories 302kcal Author Chelsea Lords Cost $7.12 Ingredients▢ 3 tablespoons coconut oil, divided (vegetable oil also works)▢ 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs (cut into 1-inch pieces)▢ 3 tablespoons yellow curry powder, divided▢ Fine sea salt and freshly cracked pepper▢ 1 cup diced yellow onion (~1 small onion)▢ 1 and 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh garlic (~3 cloves)▢ 2 tablespoons finely minced ginger (~from a 1 and 1/2 inch piece)▢ 3 tablespoons red curry paste (I use Thai Kitchen; reduce or increase as desired for spice levels)▢ 1 teaspoon ground coriander▢ 1 can (15.25 ounces) full-fat coconut milk (~1 and 1/2 cups)▢ 1 cup chicken stock▢ 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice▢ 1 tablespoon brown sugar▢ 1/4 cup cilantro, diced▢ 2 teaspoons fish sauce, optional▢ Serve over/with: cooked basmati rice and naan bread with additional fresh cilantroUS - Metric USMetric InstructionsPREP: Dice the onion, mince the garlic and ginger. You can peel the ginger with a spoon or vegetable peeler and then finely mince it. Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Toss the cubed chicken pieces in 1/2 tablespoon curry powder, salt and pepper (add to taste; I add 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper). Toss the chicken until coated.CHICKEN: Heat 1 tablespoon coconut oil in a large and deep cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Once coconut oil is melted, add in the chicken. Cook over medium-high heat until golden on the outside, but not cooked through inside, about 4-5 minutes. Remove to a plate and cover with foil. FRAGRANCE: Return the skillet to the stovetop, and add remaining 2 tablespoons coconut oil. Add the diced onion and saute for 3-5 minutes or until onions are beginning to turn golden; add the garlic and ginger. Stir to coat everything with the oil. Lower the heat and add in the curry powder, red curry paste, and coriander. Stir often for 2-3 minutes or until lightly toasted and fragrant.SAUCE: Pour in the coconut milk and chicken stock. It should sizzle as it hits the heat. Stir until smooth, lower heat to medium and cook, simmering at a rapid pace, for 8-10 minutes or until sauce reduces and thickens. After 8 minutes of simmering, add the chicken back in to finish cooking through. Stir in the brown sugar, lime juice, and cilantro. If desired, add in the fish sauce. Stir and continue to simmer until chicken is cooked through (juices run clear and it is cooked to 165 degrees F), about 2-3 minutes. Taste and adjust for any additional salt/pepper needed.SERVE: Serve over rice and/or with naan bread. Garnish individual plates with additional fresh cilantro. Recipe NotesNote 1: Sauce: If you want a thicker sauce, you can remove 1-2 tablespoons of the sauce to a small bowl and (with a fork) whisk in 2 teaspoons of cornstarch until smooth. Whisk this mixture into the curry. Nutrition information does not include the rice. Nutrition FactsServing: 4servings | Calories: 302kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 459mg | Potassium: 659mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1923IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 65mg | Iron: 2mg We do our best to provide accurate nutritional analysis for our recipes. Our nutritional data is calculated using a third-party algorithm and may vary, based on individual cooking styles, measurements, and ingredient sizes. Please use this information for comparison purposes and consult a health professional for nutrition guidance as needed. DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? I love hearing from you when you've made one of my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @ChelseasMessyApron or leave me a comment below.
I’ve always loved thai food but indian food I’m slowly coming around to – I need to try making it at home! This looks wonderful! Reply
I just made this dish and it’s delicious!!! I didn’t change anything and loved it with the cilantro, which I have never tried before. Very good and I will make this again. Thank you! Reply
PS…If I may please make a suggestion. I used the print feature on your recipe to make sure I can make this again. I noticed on the printed version there is no reference at all to your business or website. If I pass a copy to a friend it needs to have some info to help them find your site. Thanks again Reply
This recipe is fabulous and easy! We loved it. I added veggies at the end just to heat because we like them on the crunchy side but otherwise followed exactly. Thank you! Reply
Super delicious and easy curry! We both loved it. Thanks again, Jenn, for another keeper! Marjanne Reply
Super delicious and easy curry! We both loved it. Thanks again, Chelsea, for another keeper! Marjanne Reply
Since retired, I have taken on a few cooking responsibilities to help out around the home front. I think it scared the wife more than anything. I tried this recipe last night and she beamed. Gave me a ten and save that recipe. As a cooking newbie I was a bit challenged. I could not find the red curry paste in locale stores. I subbed mild Rotale tomatoes. I also subbed heavy cream for the coconut milk. I cooked it down a bit to thicken. It was out this world good. Thanks for the help. Reply
PS…If I may please make a suggestion. I used the print feature on your recipe to make sure I can make this again. I noticed on the printed version there is no reference at all to your business or website. If I pass a copy to a friend it needs to have some info to help them find your site. Thanks again. Sorry it posted under another reply. Please correct it if you can. Reply
Made this for dinner last night and it was amazing!! I’ve tried several curry recipes lately and this is my favorite! Only change I made was 1 less Tablespoon of the curry paste bc I was serving it to my kids. Both kids ate this and said it was good. That’s big!! Reply
Yay! Thrilled to hear this has become your favorite! Thanks so much for the comment and review Erin 🙂 Reply
Gosh this was a wonderful curry. Tastes like something from my favorite Thai restaurant. Will definitely make this my go to recipe from now on. Thanks so much. Reply
I really can’t wait to try it out. and will definitely share my experience here afterwards. Thanks 🙂 Reply
Is the cost per serving or for the recipe? I would love to try this, but my family and I are on a tight budget. Reply
For the entire recipe, but it takes into account using small portions of everything assuming the basics are in kitchen (so if you need to buy an entire jar or coconut oil or red curry paste, etc. it will cost more up front — of course you have those ingredients leftover to use again) Reply
Omg! This was easy and absolutely fabulous! My hubby loved it and we will definitely be having it again, Reply
This was great. I didn’t have the best curry powder which means it ended up a bit salty. I omitted the fish sauce because of that which is sad bc we love it. I would recommend going easy on the salt if you use curry containing extra salt. TY! Reply
Just curious about a few things. 1 does it stink up your home? 2. Would chick peas be a good addition? 3 what does the fish sauce do? Reply
1. Yes (we love the scent! always gone the next day) 2. Yes. 3. Good umami flavor and finishing touch! Reply
