Whip up a the BEST Chicken Curry in just 30 minutes with one pot! This dish is a flavor explosion of ginger, onions, garlic, and a kick from red curry paste, all mellowed by creamy coconut milk!
For a 30-minute prep, this recipe is kept simple without many added veggies. Add some if you like! Serve this Chicken Curry with basmati rice and naan.
What Is Curry Made Of?
We’re using red curry paste, yellow curry powder, and coriander in this Chicken Curry. It’s mainly savory with a touch of sweetness and spice.
Red curry paste contains red chilies, garlic, lemongrass, and more, which we enhance with added garlic and onions.
Quick Tip
Chicken curries can vary in heat, from very spicy to quite mild. For this particular recipe, I’d classify this dish as mild. However, the spiciness can vary based on the brand of red curry or curry powder you select. Thai Kitchen® curry paste and Simple Truth® curry powder are typically milder options.
Featured Comment
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.
– Sharron
Ingredients In Chicken Curry
Combined, these ingredients create the most exquisite chicken curry we’ve ever tasted!
- Coconut oil: Used to sauté and brown the chicken and to cook the aromatic base of onions, garlic, and ginger. It adds richness to the dish and ensures even cooking.
- Boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs: The primary protein of the dish, providing substance and texture.
- Seasonings (yellow curry powder, red curry paste, ground coriander, salt, pepper): These infuse the dish with depth of flavor. The curry powders bring warmth and aromatic taste, red curry paste offers spiciness, coriander delivers a nutty note, and salt and pepper enhance the overall flavor profile.
- Onions, garlic, and ginger: These ingredients form the flavor foundation of the curry, adding sweetness, spiciness, and depth.
- Coconut milk: It adds a creamy texture to the curry, balancing out the spices.
- Chicken stock: This creates the sauce base, adding volume and a savory flavor.
- Lime juice: Introduces a zesty freshness, balancing and brightening the curry’s flavors.
- Brown sugar: Provides a hint of sweetness to counterbalance the dish’s spicy and tangy flavors.
- Cilantro: Adds a fresh, herby element, complementing the spicy and rich tastes.
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!
How To Make Curry Chicken
The steps below correspond to the numbered images above:
- Slice the chicken into bite-sized pieces and season with curry powder, salt, and pepper.
- Sear the chicken pieces until browned but not fully cooked, then set them aside on a plate.
- In the same skillet, melt the coconut oil and sauté the onions.
- Add the minced garlic and ginger.
- Toast the spices: curry powder, coriander, and red curry paste.
- Pour in the coconut milk and chicken stock, then simmer until the sauce thickens.
- Add the chicken pieces back into the pan and continue cooking until they’re done.
- Mix in the chopped cilantro.
- Squeeze in fresh lime juice.
- Your Chicken Curry is ready to serve!
More Easy Curry Dishes:
Chicken Curry
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons coconut oil or vegetable oil, divided
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 3 tablespoons yellow curry powder divided
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup diced yellow onion
- 1-1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons finely minced ginger
- 3 tablespoons red curry paste
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 (15.25-ounce) can coconut milk full-fat
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1 lime
- 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup cilantro diced
- 2 teaspoons fish sauce optional
- Serving suggestions see note 1
Instructions
- Juice the lime using a citrus juicer to get 1 tablespoon lime juice. Set aside. Dice the onion and mince the garlic. Peel the ginger with a spoon or vegetable peeler and finely mince it. Cut the chicken into bite-size pieces. Toss the cubed chicken pieces in 1/2 tablespoon yellow curry powder, salt, and pepper until coated.
- Heat 1 tablespoon coconut oil in a large, deep cast-iron pan 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.
- Return the pan to the stovetop and add remaining 2 tablespoons coconut oil. Add the diced onion and sauté 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 remaining yellow curry powder, red curry paste, and coriander. Stir often for 2–3 minutes or until lightly toasted and fragrant.
- 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 (see note 2). 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 fish sauce. Stir and continue to simmer until chicken is cooked through, the juices run clear, and the internal temperature reaches 160–165°F, about 2–3 minutes. Taste and adjust for any additional salt or pepper needed.
- Serve with rice and naan. Garnish individual plates with additional fresh cilantro.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Honestly, one of the best recipes in general I have tried in a long time! My kids had not tried curry in a long time and I was not sure if they would enjoy it. They ended up devouring it!! Cut back on the curry, and the red curry paste a bit to reduce the spiciness. Did not add the fish sauce. If you love a lot of flavor this definitely has it! Thank you!
Yay! I am so thrilled to hear this! Thank you so much Charles!
Loved this recipe, will definitely make this again. I like that its dairy free. This was my first try at any curry and like the ease of this recipe. I did run out of curry powder, so I added in close to a tablespoon of tandoori masala spice that I had.
I am so thrilled to hear this! Thanks Aimee!
I’ve made this recipe several times and we love it! I would like to know if it can be doubled without any adjustments. I wanted to make a larger batch to share with my mother-in-law who lives next door. Thank you! Love your recipes!
I haven’t personally done that, but I don’t see why not! 🙂 Thanks so much Melissa!
Thank you for replying!
I did double the recipe and it turned out great! I doubled all of the
ingredients and made just one
addition. I added an extra can of
coconut milk, mostly for our
personal preference. My husband
says it adds a little more sweetness
and creaminess. My Mother-in-law
loved it too!
I am SO thrilled to hear this, I really appreciate you sharing your results! Thanks so much Melissa!