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Easy Chicken Curry is made in just one pan on the stove top! Dinner can be ready in as little as 30 minutes with this deliciously quick and easy chicken curry recipe. Chunks of chicken are seasoned with a blend of curry spices and then simmers in a coconut milk base. Serve over rice for a family favorite meal. 

For more Thai inspired recipes with coconut milk be sure and try my Slow Cooker Coconut Curry Chicken and this amazing Thai Coconut Grilled Chicken.

Chunks of chicken with a curry sauce served over rice in a white speckled serving bowl.

Easy Chicken Curry Recipe

I love chicken curry recipes! I actually had never had this type of food until I started dating my husband in college. He spent a couple years in Cambodia so he taught me all about the delicious food. I will never get tired of the combination of curry + coconut. 

This recipe is one of my favorite ways to make chicken curry in a hurry because it’s ready in 30 minutes and it’s so simple to make. 

It probably is not the most authentic chicken curry, but it’s fast and simple, which makes it more approachable for anyone to make it. 

Wooden spoon of chicken with some curry sauce on it above a pan of it.

Ingredients Needed

Here are the easy ingredients you will need to make this one pan chicken curry recipe. I also share tips for the ingredients so you can have the same results in your kitchen at home. 

  • Oil – I use extra virgin ‘light tasting’ olive oil whenever a recipe calls for oil when cooking. For baking, I always use canola oil, so this is just for cooking on the stove top in a skillet pan. My family does not love the heavy taste of olive oil, so be sure and use extra-virgin, or at the very least, use a olive oil that is labeled as ‘light tasting’. 
  • Yellow Onion – I prefer to dice the onion really small so my kids won’t complain about it 😉
  • Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts – I have never used chicken thighs in this recipe so I can’t say for sure. I much prefer the lean white meat of a chicken breast anyways. Cut the chicken into bite-sized chunks, about 1-inch in size, to make sure they cook quickly. 
  • Curry Powder, Turmeric, Garlic Powder, Kosher Salt – These are the dried spices you will need. 
  • Chicken Broth – I use full-salt chicken broth in this recipe. If you use reduced-sodium chicken broth then you may need to add some additional salt at the end. Taste first and then add a little bit at a time. 
  • Coconut Milk – This is the canned coconut milk and not the cold coconut milk that comes in a milk carton type container. The canned coconut milk can solidify in the can, which is fine, just be sure to gently shake it up before opening the can and dumping it into the pan. 
  • Reduced-Sodium Soy Sauce – Adds lots of much needed flavor to this dish. Don’t skip it. You can feel free to add more depending on your preference. 
  • Fresh Lime Juice – Freshly squeezed lime juice is always better. You need 1 lime to get the amount needed.

Ingredients needed to make this recipe with each one labeled in black text.

How To Make Chicken Curry In One Pan

Learn how to make this easy chicken curry recipe that’s made in just one pan on the stove top. Be sure and read below to the recipe card for the full set of instructions, ingredients, and helpful tips.

Step One : Cook the diced onion in the olive oil, over medium-high heat, until the onions are translucent and softened. About 3 minutes. 

Step Two : Add the diced chicken. Cook, stirring frequently to rotate the chicken, until it is no longer pink in the middle and it is cooked to temperature (165 degrees F). Drain the excess juices from the pan. 

Step Three : Add all the dried spices over the chicken and stir to coat all the chicken in the spice mixture. Add the chicken broth, while stirring, and then add the coconut milk, soy sauce, and fresh lime juice. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium-low and let it simmer, uncovered, for at least 10 minutes. 

Step Four : Serve over cooked white rice. I love to make some jasmine rice or basmati rice when I make Indian inspired dishes like curry. 

How to make this recipe with step by step photo collage showing the steps needed.

How to make this recipe with step by step photo collage showing the steps needed.

How to make this recipe with step by step photo collage showing the steps needed.

Tips For Success

Here are a few of my helpful tips that will make this recipe a success in your own kitchen!

  • Coconut Milk : Please make sure you are using a can of coconut milk, usually found by the other Asian ingredients like soy sauce, and not the cold coconut milk that is by the other milk products. The canned coconut milk can solidify, so make sure you shake it before adding it into the pan. It’s also best to use the full-fat coconut milk and not lite coconut milk. 
  • Chicken : To ensure that the chicken will cook quickly, cut it into bite-sized chunks, about 1-inch in size. If the chicken pieces are larger or smaller, they will obviously have to cook for more time or less. The chicken should be cooked all the way through before adding the spices and coconut milk. The simmer time will not be long enough to cook the chicken. 
  • Chicken Broth : This recipe has been created and tested using regular chicken broth, and not reduced-sodium chicken broth. If you do use the lower salt chicken broth then you may need to add some additional salt at the end of the cook time. Taste first and then add a little at a time. 
  • Salt : Speaking of salt, I love using kosher salt in all my cooking recipes. It adds much better, brighter flavor. If using regular table salt, you will need slightly less because the salt grains are finer, which means more can fit inside a 1/2 teaspoon measurer for example. Kosher salt flakes are larger which means less can fit into the same size measuring spoon. Another option, is to dump the kosher salt into a food processor and blend it up into small/finer salt pieces. This is what I do as it more closely resembles the size of table salt. 

Overhead shot of chicken on top of rice garnished with cilantro leaves.

Bowl of chicken over rice, garnished wit cilantro, and some forks to the side of the dish.

Easy Chicken Curry FAQs

  • How Do I Store Leftovers?
    • Leftovers can be stored in an air-tight container, in the fridge, for up to 3-4 days. 
    • When ready to reheat, you can use the microwave, or pour it into a saucepan and heat it up over the stove. 
    • This recipe has plenty of sauce/liquid, so you should not have to add more. If wanted, you can add additional chicken broth if needed. 
    • I put some rice and then top it off with a serving of the chicken curry, inside a Tupperware container, with the leftovers. That way, you have a complete serving in one little dish. 
  • Can I Freeze Chicken Curry?
    • Yes, you can freeze chicken curry if wanted. Coconut milk is not considered dairy, so you should have no problem freezing this. 
    • I prefer to freeze food in freezer-safe Ziploc bags, that way I can lay them flat in the freezer. 
    • Let it thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating over the stove top for dinner. You may need to add some additional chicken broth when reheating. 
  • Substitution & Variation Ideas
    • There are not many substitutions for this recipe but there are couple changes you can make. 
    • Increase the spices or add something new. If you want some heat, try adding red cayenne pepper in with the other dried seasonings. You can also add some chopped jalapeños inside the curry or garnish the curry serving with them. 
    • Use more curry powder if wanted. Or more garlic powder. The seasonings are very adaptable to switch up to whatever you prefer. Cumin and coriander are other great seasonings to add to a curry dish. 
    • This dish as is, is a mild curry dish, there is no spice to it. So change it up as wanted. 
  • Serving Suggestions for Chicken Curry Recipes
    • I always serve chicken curry with Naan bread. I normally just buy it at the store (hello easy!) but you can also try making Homemade Naan Bread instead. 
    • Serve it with some egg rolls or potstickers, either frozen from the grocery store or homemade. 
    • The recipe makes plenty of that delicious curry sauce, so really all you need is some type of bread (Naan bread is preferred) to soak up that sauce with. 
    • Curry is traditionally served over white rice, like basmati rice or jasmine rice, but you can also serve it over some coconut rice, cauliflower rice, quinoa, etc. 

Curry chicken inside a skillet pan with a wooden spoon in it.

Bowl with white rice in it topped with chicken and a curry sauce.

More Easy One Pan Dinner Recipes You’ll Love

Overhead shot of chicken on top of rice garnished with cilantro leaves.
Together As Family Logo

Easy Chicken Curry


Author Jessica - Together as Family
Course Dinner
Cuisine Indian
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 6
Easy Chicken Curry is made in just one pan on the stove top! Dinner can be ready in as little as 30 minutes with this deliciously quick and easy chicken curry recipe. Chunks of chicken are seasoned with a blend of curry spices and then simmers in a coconut milk base. Serve over rice for a family favorite meal. 

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 small yellow onion finely diced
  • 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1½ pounds)
  • 1 tablespoon curry powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 1 can (14 oz) coconut milk
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice (about 1 lime)
  • 2 teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce
  • chopped cilantro or sliced green onions for garnish
  • cooked jasmine rice or basmati rice for serving

Instructions

  • Preparation : Finely chop the onion into small pieces. Cut the chicken breast into bite-sized chunks, about 1-inch in size.
  • In a skillet pan, over medium-high heat, add the olive oil and diced onion. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onion is softened. About 3 minutes.
  • Add the chopped chicken breast into the onion and cook, stirring occasionally to flip the chicken, until chicken is no longer pink in the middle and cooked to temperature (165° F).
  • Drain the excess juices from the chicken.
  • Add the curry powder, garlic powder, salt, and turmeric to the chicken. Stir until all the chicken is thoroughly coated in the spices.
  • Add the coconut milk, chicken broth, lime juice, and soy sauce. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium-low and let it simmer (uncovered) for at least 10 minutes.
  • Garnish the chicken curry with chopped cilantro or green onions (if wanted) and serve over hot cooked rice.

Notes

Nutrition Information : The information listed is for 1 serving of the chicken curry. This recipe has 6 servings, with each one being about 3/4 cup. It does not include the rice or whatever else you serve it over. 
Coconut Milk : Make sure you are using a can of coconut milk, which can be found by the other Asian ingredients like soy sauce, at the grocery store. Shake the can to mix it up, as it can solidify, before adding it into the chicken curry mix. I believe most of the canned coconut milk is unsweetened, which is what I use. 
I would recommend not using lite coconut milk in this recipe. Use the regular fat canned coconut milk instead for best flavor and texture of the sauce. 
Make It Spicy! : This is a mild curry dish. If you want some extra heat to it there are plenty of options. Add some red cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes in with the other dried seasoning. Add some chopped jalapeños either inside the curry or use it as garnish.
Chicken Broth : This recipe has been tested and made using regular, full-salt chicken broth. If you use reduced-chicken broth, you may need/want to add some additional salt at the end of the cook time. Taste first and then add salt as needed.  
Kosher Salt : Kosher salt is large flakes of salt which is why the recipe calls for 3/4 teaspoon. If using regular iodized table salt, then start at 1/2 teaspoon salt and go from there as needed. Table salt is smaller and finer in size, meaning more of it can fit in a measuring spoon, which also means you will need less to get the same amount of flavor. 

Nutrition

Calories: 250kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 37mg | Sodium: 402mg | Potassium: 413mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 29IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 3mg

Did You Make This Recipe?

I'd love to see it! You can share it with me on @togetherasfamilyblog and follow on Pinterest @together-as-family-blog-recipes or Facebook @togetherasfamilyblog for more!

Close up of chicken curry over some rice inside a white bowl.

Did you love this recipe?

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5 from 2 votes

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Recipe Rating




4 Comments

  1. Priscilla Tran says:

    5 stars
    This is so good!! Thank you for the recipe! 1st time making it. Did not change the measurements. Added carrots, red bell peppers and potatoes.

    1. Together as Family says:

      Love the additions. Thanks for commenting!

  2. 5 stars
    This was good! I added a half teaspoon of ground ginger, half teaspoon of cayenne pepper, and teaspoon of sugar.

    1. Together as Family says:

      Love the additions!