This 30-minute Yellow Chicken Curry will be the best you have ever tried. Once you try the juicy pieces of chicken simmering in a robust and flavorful sauce made with coconut milk, yellow curry powder, and other aromatics, you’ll see why!
We love any curry around here, whether it’s lentil curry, shrimp curry, or Thai chicken curry.
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In my world, everyone can and should make chicken curry at home because it’s too easy not to and so darn delicious. A dish that can feel so exotic to some is simple everyday comfort food to others, and this healthy recipe will convince you that ordering chicken curry takeout is no longer necessary!
This recipe comes together in 30 minutes with a few pantry staples and is loaded with flavor and rich spices. My family inhales this creamy coconut chicken curry and when served with brown rice, it’s one of my healthy dinner ideas that has very little leftovers!
Why Make Healthy Yellow Curry Chicken Recipe?
- Restaurant quality (but better): Home cooking will always win out especially when the authentic flavors of a traditional Indian dish are even better than anything you’d get at a restaurant.
- Healthy comfort food: This dish is loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, good fats and is gluten free and refined-sugar free too!
- So much flavor: Curry powder itself is incredibly aromatic, but so is turmeric, fresh ginger, onion, and garlic.
- Can be served in different ways: On its own, with rice, naan bread, roti, or even on a bed of leafy greens for a healthy salad recipe.
Ingredients for Yellow Chicken Curry
- Chicken: Boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-size pieces are the best. The breast is drier but the rich sauce helps with that. Dark meat is fattier and in itself more flavourful. You can’t go wrong either way.
- Coconut milk: Use coconut milk from a can and not a carton. I used full-fat coconut milk but low fat is fine too. Cream accumulation on top during colder months is normal. My favorite brand is Thai Kitchen because it is not gritty, non-GMO and I believe BPA free.
Coconut milk vs. coconut cream. They’re both similar because they are both derived from the same part of the coconut which is the flesh. Coconut milk is made from coconut flesh and water but when it’s chilled there is a creamy element that settles at the top. This cream contains more fat and less water.
- Onion, garlic, and ginger: Onions make curry sweet and flavourful, and the fresh garlic and ginger give it a punch. If you don’t have fresh ginger, use 1 tsp dried ginger instead.
- Yellow curry powder and turmeric: Fresh and quality yellow curry powder is the key. You can use any other colour powder and add more if you like things spicy because yellow is the mildest! It is such a personal preference and an easy fix. Turmeric adds colour and flavor (and it is so good for you) but you can skip it if don’t have any.
FYI: Curry stains! Not so much the powder on its own (although be careful with that too) but once you’ve made this curry dish, you might not want to wear your best and brightest whites 😉
- Maple syrup: A little bit of sweetness to mellow out the spices. It’s not so much the heat, but more the intensity of it. It’s also a great way to round out the flavours. You can use honey or your choice of sweetener (brown sugar, agave, sugar free) instead of maple syrup if preferred.
- Salt & pepper: Just to taste!
- Cornstarch & water: Needed to make a cornstarch slurry if you want to thicken your chicken curry sauce.
How to Make Healthy Chicken Curry
I make yellow curry chicken recipe in a 12 inch ceramic non-stick skillet in 30 minutes while the brown rice cooks in the Instant Pot. A healthy weeknight dinner just couldn’t be easier!
- Saute onion, garlic and ginger in a generous amount of oil for about 5 minutes or until veggies are translucent and fragrant. Then, add curry powder and turmeric and cook for 30 seconds. Mixture will appear dry and you want to stir constantly, but this step will enhance curry flavor drastically.
- Add coconut milk and maple syrup, stir and bring to a boil. Watch the coconut cream melt making it so rich and creamy while the syrup or sweetener of choice makes the sauce sweeter.
- Cook chicken for 15 minutes by adding it raw to a boiling curry sauce. Distribute evenly and make sure it is submerged in the sauce. Boneless chicken releases juices, so no broth is necessary. Keep the skillet uncovered.
- Thicken the sauce (optional) by adding a slurry of cold water and cornstarch, then let it boil until thickened in a few minutes.
Optional Add-In’s and Variations
- Thicker sauce: Traditional chicken curry sauce isn’t as thick as we see in restaurants. If you prefer yours that way, you can use the cornstarch slurry method as mentioned above, but if not, leave it out and enjoy it as is.
- Other protein: This delicious curry sauce recipe works for other kinds of protein as well. Curried goat, lamb, shrimp, and beef are all delicious meats that pair well with a curry sauce.
- Vegan yellow curry: Use tofu for a meatless option. My preference is to add chickpeas or cauliflower instead of chicken. Cauliflower will release water, so you might want to consider thickening up the sauce. Totally up to you!
- Added veggies: Toss in some diced potatoes, red bell peppers, peas, or carrots for added vegetables in yellow curry chicken recipe. Use one or a combination of all. The tenderness of the veggies that absorb the flavors of the sauce is just ridiculous.
Tips for Best Results
- Use fresh good quality yellow curry powder: It is key to achieving the most robust flavours. If you’re going to make a dish as delicious as curry, you’re going to want to use the best ingredients. A way to tell is by smelling the package as you open it up. If its aroma is so mouthwatering that it makes you want to jump into the spice, it’s probably good!
- It’s good practice to go through your spice rack on occasion: Spices tend to have a long shelf life, but if you go long enough without using them, they may lose their freshness.
- Coconut milk (not cream): Although we talk about coconut milk and coconut cream being similar, for this recipe be sure to use the milk even if it has cream accumulated on top. You can buy cream on its own, but don’t do that.
FAQs
You can! Follow the directions as listed up until you add the chicken. Transfer the sauce mixture you’ve prepared on the stovetop into the slow cooker, add the chicken, then set it to cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6-8 hours.
It’s the turmeric that makes the curry powder yellow. This recipe calls for added turmeric because we want a bit more for added flavor, however, it is optional. Technically you’ll still have partial turmeric flavor within the curry.
Not yellow curry, no. Most curries aren’t as they’re made up of a combination of warm earthy spices. Depending on who is making it, where the dish comes from, what spices are added, and the ratio of certain spices, then you can go from mild to spicy curry.
No, I don’t recommend that for Indian curry dishes. Curry paste is a stronger, more concentrated curry. It’s used a lot in East Asian and Thai cuisine, which is a different (albeit also delicious) take on curry dishes. If you were interested in a Thai yellow chicken curry dish, then by all means use the paste, but you’ll need to adjust some of the other ingredients as well.
What to Serve with Yellow Curry?
- Serve chicken curry over quinoa or white rice if that’s your jam. Jasmine or basmati rice are popular types of rice that pair well with curry chicken.
- With brown rice: I won’t stop praising Instant Pot cause it’s simply the best – It’s one of my favourite ways to cook brown rice, which is how we eat curry.
- You could also enjoy it with (or on top of) a salad, or with some naan bread. If you have roti shells, some people enjoy ripping off pieces of roti and scooping up the chicken curry with it. Having a plate to share with your family and eating it by hand just makes it taste even better 🙂
Cauliflower rice! This works as a side dish for sure, but you could also add some cauliflower rice or cauliflower florets into the chicken curry itself. Add it in towards the end of the simmer and you’ve got additional low-carb veggies in there!
How to Store Coconut Milk Curry Recipe?
Refrigerate leftovers for up to 5 days in a glass container with a lid.
Freeze: In an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Reheat chicken curry by simmering on low in a skillet and stirring occasionally. So easy!!!
More Healthy Dinner Recipes
I hope you enjoy this chicken curry recipe and be healthy. You may also enjoy these 65 healthy chicken recipes!
Yellow Chicken Curry
Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless & skinless chicken breast or thighs cut into 1.5″ cubes
- 2 large onions chopped
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 1 inch fresh ginger peeled and minced
- 2 tbsp oil
- 2 tbsp yellow curry powder
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 14 oz can coconut milk full fat
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 3/4 tsp salt
- Ground black pepper to taste
- 4 tbsp cold water
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
Instructions
- Cook brown rice or quinoa as per package instructions.
- Preheat large skillet on medium heat and swirl oil to coat. Add onion, garlic and ginger and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add yellow curry powder and turmeric; saute for 30 seconds, stirring often.
- Add coconut milk, maple syrup, salt and stir until incorporated and bring to boil.
- Add chicken, stir, reduce heat to low and cook uncovered for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- In a small bowl, whisk cold water with cornstarch and pour over sauce. Stir and cook for a few minutes until sauce has thickened.
- Season with pepper to taste and serve over brown rice or quinoa. So good!
Video
Notes
- Store: Refrigerate in an airtight container for 5 days. Reheat by simmering chicken curry on low in a skillet stirring occasionally.
- Freeze: In an airtight container up to 3 months.
- If you would like to add veggies: Sometimes I add 1 lb of finely chopped cauliflower or a bag of cauliflower rice towards the end and simmer for a few more minutes.
- Chicken: Boneless and skinless chicken breasts or thighs are the best.
- Other protein: Goat, lamb, shrimp, and beef are all delicious meats that pair well with a curry sauce.
- Coconut milk: Use coconut milk from a can and not carton.
- Onion, garlic and ginger: A lot of onion makes curry sweet and flavorful along with fresh garlic and ginger. You could use 1 tsp dried ginger instead.
- Yellow curry powder and turmeric: Fresh and quality yellow curry powder is key! Turmeric adds colour and flavor but you can skip if don’t have any.
Great recipe! I added a 3rd tablespoon of yellow curry and another teaspoon of turmeric plus a teaspoon of cumin and 2 tablespoons of Dijon. I know. But yrybot you’ll be surprised!
Will take your word on the Dijon! 🙂 Thanks for the rating and review!
Recipe was delicious but needed more seasoning.
Glad you enjoyed it and of course feel free to adjust spices to preference!
I made this delicious recipe of chicken curry, with curry rice a couple of months ago, and it was awesome and I am making it again today for dinner. The spices are amazing, and it isn’t to spicy, just right.
Thank you for sharing your 👍 recipe of chicken curry, and Curry rice.
You are so very welcome, Paula! Glad you love my yellow chicken curry I learnt from grandma as much as I do.
Amazing and simple recipe, VERY flavourful, I added a little bit more curry than it called for, and a bit more salt. My mom is a better cook than me, and she LOVED it. Thank you!!!
I am so happy to hear this, Carly!
Have no idea where I went wrong. It was spicy enough but not flavorful