Simple shouldn’t mean bland – and this Chicken Curry recipe knocks it out of the park! A mild, creamy coconut curry sauce made with just 5 ingredients (from scratch!), it tastes so good for something so quick, you will be amazed.
If you want to go all out, serve this with Soft No-Yeast Flatbreads to slop up the sauce (it’s basically naan, but much easier to make!)
Chicken Curry
Curries are notorious for lengthy ingredient lists to achieve the richly spiced sauces and punchy flavours. And while we’d all love to be able to whip up a from-scratch Tikka Masala and Butter Chicken whenever the craving hits us, it’s simply not viable.
So today, I’m sharing the best SIMPLE chicken curry that I know. This recipe is a Western style curry – it’s not a traditional Indian curry, Thai curry, nor any other cuisine. And here’s why you’re going to love it as much as I do:
(Very) short list of ingredients
Curry powder is the only spice you need
Creamy curry sauce with mild coconut flavour
30 minute recipe – from scratch!
This chicken curry is the perfect way to get your curry fix without being in the kitchen all day!
What you need for Everyday Chicken Curry
Here’s what goes in this Everyday Chicken Curry.
Curry powder – the only spice you need! Any brand is fine here.
Garlic, ginger and onion – fresh aromatics add a flavour boost that makes all the difference with quick curries! It’s the same when making quick Thai Green Curry or Red Curry using store bought paste.
Chicken broth/stock AND coconut milk – for creaminess and flavour. We’re just using 1 cup of coconut milk here – this isn’t intended to be an overly rich, heavy coconut sauce.
Chicken – thighs are best because this curry needs to be simmered for 12 minutes for the flavours to develop. But yes, it can be made with breast – but the steps need tweaking otherwise you’ll complain that the chicken is dry!!
Peas – optional! Try other diced veg!
Coriander/cilantro – lovely freshness and flavour boost. Coriander haters – use chives or green onions instead.
Don’t let the short list of ingredients fool you. The curry sauce tastes SO GOOD!
Curry Powders
These are the curry powders I currently have in my pantry – but I’ve used plenty of other brands in the past. Curry powder is used in all sorts of recipes, not just Indian curries, including:
Satay Chicken Curry – basically it’s chicken satay skewers in curry form, with loads of peanut sauce!
Chickpea Potato Curry – very popular with readers!
How to make it
There’s nothing groundbreaking about how this chicken curry is made. The one key step is to fry off the curry powder. This brightens up the flavour of the spices + creates more golden bits on the base of the pan, and both of these things add more flavour into the curry sauce!
So don’t skip this step. 🙂
Make it your own!
This recipe is all about the curry sauce, so it’s really versatile in terms of what you can put in it, as well as extra add ins. Here are some options:
Other proteins or vegetarian – make this with beef, lamb, pork, turkey, shrimp/prawns, fish or vegetarian. See directions in the recipe notes;
Make it SPICY! This is not a spicy curry. So to add heat, either use HOT curry powder, or add cayenne pepper or ground chilli powder;
Make it richer – use coconut cream instead of milk. Or use more coconut milk and simmer to reduce for longer; and
Add tomato paste to thicken the sauce a touch and make the sauce a darker colour. Use about 1.5 tbsp.
Try this curry with a side of Green Bean Salad, my friend JP’s famous Iceberg Lettuce salad, or this no-mayo Cabbage Salad.
Serve it over rice, or even mashed potato or noodles. Basically anything that can be doused with that coconut curry sauce! ~ Nagi x
More cosy Chicken recipes
Slow Cooked Chicken Stew and a faster Chicken Stew (Casserole) – on the table in under an hour!
The Curry collection
Thai Red Curry or Green Curry – quick 30 minutes, or from scratch
Massaman Curry and Beef Rendang – two of the most iconic curries in the world
Biryani – the BEST chicken and rice in the world
Dal – Indian lentil curry
Goan Fish Curry – an authentic, spicy fish curry with coconut from the south of India
Indian Coconut Curry sauce – A stronger, more heavily spiced coconut curry sauce than this recipe
View all Curry recipes
Watch how to make it
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Easy Chicken Curry
Ingredients
- 1.5 tbsp oil (vegetable, canola)
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 2 tsp ginger , grated
- 1/2 onion , finely chopped
- 500g / 1lb chicken thighs, sliced (Note 1)
- 2.5 tbsp curry powder (Note 2)
- 270 ml / 1.25 cups coconut milk , full fat (9 oz) (Note 3)
- 1.5 cups (375 ml) chicken stock low sodium
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup frozen peas
- 1/4 cup coriander / cilantro leaves , chopped
Instructions
- Heat oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Cook garlic, ginger and onion for 3 minutes until onion is translucent.
- Add chicken and cook until it it changes from pink to white.
- Add curry powder and cook for 2 minutes.
- Add coconut milk and chicken stock. Stir, lower heat to medium and cook, simmering rapidly, for 10 minutes until sauce reduces and thickens.
- Add peas and salt. Cook for a further 2 minutes, then taste to see if it needs more salt. Garnish with coriander.
- Serve over rice, noodles or mashed potato!
Recipe Notes:
- Chicken breast – sprinkle with 2 tsp extra curry powder plus pinch of salt and pepper. Sear first in a bit of oil then remove (no need to cook through). Follow recipe – fry off curry with just the onion. Add breast back in towards end of sauce simmering, just to finish cooking.
- Shrimp/prawns or fish pieces – as above with breast.
- Other proteins (beef, turkey, lamb, pork) – use a quick cooking cut that’s tender and juicy, slice or dice. Follow chicken breast steps.
- Vegetables – add into sauce based on cooking time.
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
I forgot to share this when I published Gozleme! (Turkish stuffed flatbreads) I took them down to Jeff, a local who lives down at the dog park and he gave them a big thumbs up.
And there’s Dozer. Being shameless!!!
This was wonderful Magi. Thanks! I added peas, apples, raisins red peppers, celery, carrots and 1/2 tsp cayenne to mine. I also used the whole fat coconut milk. Delicious. Love your site!
This is very high in saturated fat, which I need to watch my intake of, is this because of the coconut? What’s an alternative
Hi Andrea, you can reduce this by using chicken breast and low fat coconut milk. N x
Been wanting to make this for a long time now and i stuffed it up! I accidentally put in a can of coconut milk so I lessened the stock but it was still super runny. They still licked their plates clean but I will know for next time and try for creamy. Love your recipes nagi! Lasagna tonight ❤️
Wow
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I’m working my way through your website since I found you at the start of the pandemic. You’ve literally turned me into a kitchen goddess…. thank you! This is a lovely simple tasty dish. I added baby spinach & roasted pumpkin at the end and served on half cauliflower half rice. It was delicious! Now off to see what I’ll make tomorrow 😆
Hi Nagi, great recipe for Chicken Curry. Can I substitute heavy cream for the coconut milk? Thanks for your input!
Hi Maria, yes you can – the flavour will be slightly different 🙂 N x
Hi, thank you for this family favourite with the additional potatoe and peas. I tried the complicated Keens receipe but your curry tops anything I have tried before. It is quick, tasty, moorish and tasty. Served with either roti, naan, pappadum ,it’s a winner. If you are creating a new receipe book, than you must include this one. Thank you Nagi
YUM! So glad you enjoyed it Angela! N x
Wow! I usually have to really change up a recipe to make it great. This was fantastic. I wanted to lick the bowl. I’m going to serve this for an upcoming dinner with family.
I did add a bit of turmeric to add a bit of extra depth. I also added cauliflower and zucchini. Served it with a coconut rice.
This is definitely going on our dinner rotation.
Sounds perfect Jenn, I’m so happy you love it! N x
When we feel like curry in a hurry this is my go to. My family loves to eat it and I love to cook it because it is quick, easy and packed with flavour.
That’s great to hear Gillian!! N x
Hi Everyone
Made this one for my fam (which including Max our Golden Retriever) and they loved it. My son is just learning to cook so will add this to his folder.
Thanks for the inspiration and the list of easy ingredients that make something delicious. Bex – The learner 🙂
Keep safe xoxoxo
Thanks – very helpful.
I love this recipe so much! Very simple and so delicious. I added Batata, zucchini and carrots instead of peas, it turned out amazing. My family loves it and will be adding it to our dinner rotation! Thank you
YUM! Sounds delicious Ai! N x
Thank you, great recipe, easy to do. I am using chicken wings and will garnish with spring onion and red chilli finely sliced, to be served on a bed of rice, with pappadams and yoghurt (for heat control!) Richard
YUM!!!! N x
Hi Nagi – love your recipes. Could you please tell me what sought/brand of skillet you use in this recipe.
Regards
Jen
Hi Jennifer – this is a cast iron skillet here 🙂 N x
Love this recipe, and love Indian food, but when I see coconut milk or cream in a recipe, I usually don’t make it. I am fully confused with the coconut milk options. What is coconut milk and what is coconut cream? Do I use the whole can for coconut milk and the fat that sits on top when refrigerated for coconut cream?
Thank you! I love your recipes and made a lot of them.
Hi Carmela, cream has a higher fat content (just like regular cream and milk) two different cans – they will be labelled as such. When using either they tend to separate if sitting around. Shake the can/container and add the whole contents. N x
Thank you! I did not know about the different fat content.
Another winner Nagi!! I think your site is my most visited website 🙊 Had a leftover potato so added this at the same time as the chicken. So easy and delish. Thanks!!
I LOVE hearing this Sasha, thanks so much!! N x
I make this a lot and it’s a firm family favourite! Can’t fault it!
Great to hear Nicola!! N x
Sorry Nagi, My partner made this tonight and it didnt tick any boxes for me. Found it bland. He also doubled the recipe. Just not the curries we make and love I guess.
Hi Miri, sorry you found it bland, I stand by my recipes having bold flavours – was the recipe followed exactly? N x