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Coconut Curry Chicken Recipe

4 from 26 reviews

This Coconut Curry Chicken is a flavorful and comforting dish featuring tender chicken breasts simmered in a rich coconut milk-based curry sauce with vibrant yellow curry powder and red curry paste. Combined with hearty carrots and russet potatoes, this one-pan meal is perfect served over rice and garnished with fresh cilantro for a delicious taste of Southeast Asian-inspired cuisine.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • ½ yellow onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 pound chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 3 carrots, cut into ¼-inch slices
  • 2 russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 3 tablespoons yellow curry powder
  • 1½ tablespoons red curry paste
  • 1 (14-ounce) can full-fat coconut milk
  • 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar or coconut sugar
  • 1 teaspoon fish sauce
  • Cilantro, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the base: Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the diced yellow onion and sauté for 2 minutes until it softens. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds to release its aroma.
  2. Brown the chicken and vegetables: Add the cubed chicken breasts to the skillet and brown them, cooking about 3 minutes on each side until nicely seared. Then incorporate the sliced carrots and cubed potatoes, cooking them until they are lightly browned as well.
  3. Add spices: Stir in 3 tablespoons of yellow curry powder and 1½ tablespoons of red curry paste. Cook the mixture for 1 minute, stirring frequently, until the spices become fragrant and well combined.
  4. Simmer the curry: Pour in the 14-ounce can of full-fat coconut milk, 3 cups of low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon of fish sauce. Stir everything together, then gently simmer the curry, either covered or uncovered, for about 20 minutes until the potatoes and carrots are tender and cooked through.
  5. Finish and serve: Remove the skillet from heat. Serve the coconut curry chicken hot over rice and garnish with fresh cilantro if desired for an extra burst of flavor and color.

Notes

  • You can substitute chicken thighs for chicken breasts for a juicier result.
  • Adjust the level of curry paste to your taste preference for spiciness.
  • For a vegetarian version, replace chicken with tofu and use vegetable broth.
  • Serve with steamed jasmine or basmati rice for an authentic experience.
  • Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and also freeze nicely.

Keywords: coconut curry chicken, chicken curry, coconut milk curry, yellow curry, red curry paste, easy chicken curry recipe, one-pan curry