Thai Chicken Coconut Curry – An EASY one-skillet curry that’s ready in 20 minutes and is layered with so many fabulous flavors!! Low-cal, low-carb, and HEALTHY but tastes like comfort food!!
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Thai Chicken Curry with Coconut Milk
This is an easy Thai chicken curry that’s made in one skillet, ready in 20 minutes, and is naturally gluten-free. According to the computer-generated nutrition stats, there’s only 141 calories and 4 carbs per serving — no rice or naan included.
With cold weather upon us, nothing is better than diving into a bowl of this hearty yet healthy comfort food that’s layered with flavors. I could just drink the coconut milk-based sauce.
The Thai red curry is savory, salty, there’s natural sweetness from the sweet Vidalia onions, carrots, and coconut milk. There’s perfect acid balance from lime juice and a very gentle heat from the Thai red curry paste.
Since sharing this recipe in 2017, I’ve received almost 600 comments and 240+ five-star reviews on it. To say it’s a reader favorite is an understatement!
Thai Chicken Coconut Curry Ingredients
To make the easy Thai red curry recipe, you’ll need:
- Coconut oil
- Sweet Vidalia onion
- Chicken breasts
- Garlic
- Ground or fresh ginger
- Ground coriander
- Canned coconut milk
- Shredded carrots
- Thai red curry paste
- Fresh spinach
- Lime juice
- Brown sugar
- Fresh cilantro
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
Using Curry Powder vs Curry Paste
Thai red curry paste adds a richer and smoother flavor profile than curry powder (Indian) does, but if all you have is curry powder, go for it knowing that the flavor of Thai versus Indian curry products is vastly different and your dish won’t taste like mine.
How to Make Thai Red Curry
This is a very easy Thai curry recipe to make! Here’s how the coconut milk curry comes together:
- Add the oil and chopped onion to a large skillet and sauté until softened.
- Add the diced chicken and cook until done, then add the garlic, ginger, and coriander.
- Coconut milk, carrots, Thai curry paste, salt, and pepper are stirred in next, and then the mixture should be left to bubble away for about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the spinach, lime juice, and optional brown sugar last.
I like to serve this coconut milk curry with a sprinkle of fresh cilantro to make the flavors pop.
Recipe Tips
Curry paste: As with all curry pastes and powders, they vary in intensity and everyone’s preferences for spice and heat vary, so adjust to taste. I used 2 rounded tablespoons and I wouldn’t call it spicy at all but very flavorful. My 10-year-old wasn’t at all phased by it but we like spicy food.
Veggies: If you have extra veggies you want to incorporate such as cauliflower, bell peppers, tomatoes, or edamame, add them when you add the coconut milk and carrots.
Meal Prep: Something I love about this Thai curry recipe is that the flavors deepen as the leftovers sit in the fridge. So feel free to make a big batch of curry before a busy work week to enjoy later on!
Storage Instructions
If stored in an airtight container in the fridge, this coconut milk curry will last up to five days.
Can You Freeze Red Curry?
Absolutely! I like to store smaller quantities in freezer bags to reheat at a moment’s notice. Frozen curry will last up to three months.
Ingredient Substitutions and Shortcuts
This is a very flexible chicken coconut curry recipe, so feel free to tweak the ingredients list as needed to use up what you have on hand.
- Coconut oil: May be substituted with olive oil.
- Chicken: Use shredded rotisserie chicken or meal prepped chicken instead to save time. Or, use a can of chickpeas to keep this dish vegetarian.
- Veggies: Mix and match the veggies to use up whatever is in your produce drawer.
- Ground coriander: Omit if you don’t have it on hand, but note that the curry won’t have quite the same depth of flavor.
What to Serve with Thai Chicken Curry
We like to serve this Thai chicken curry with naan bread, rice (brown, basmati, or white), or quinoa.
There are so many veggies in the curry itself that a vegetable side isn’t really needed, in my opinion. However, curry pairs nicely with steamed veggies or a crisp green salad.
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Thai Chicken Coconut Curry
Ingredients
- 2 to 3 tablespoons coconut oil, olive oil may be substituted
- 1 medium/large sweet Vidalia or yellow onion, diced small
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast, diced into bite-sized pieces
- 3 cloves garlic, finely minced or pressed
- 2 to 3 teaspoons ground ginger or 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, finely chopped
- 2 teaspoons ground coriander
- one 13-ounce can coconut milk, I used lite; full-fat will deliver a richer/thicker result
- 1 to 1 ½ cups shredded carrots
- 1 to 3 tablespoons Thai red curry paste, or to taste (curry powder may be substituted, to taste)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
- about 3 cups fresh spinach leaves
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 to 2 tablespoons brown sugar, optional and to taste
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped for garnishing (basil may be substituted)
- rice, quinoa, or naan, optional for serving
Instructions
- To a large skillet, add the oil, onion, and sauté over medium-high heat until the onion begins to soften about 5 minutes; stir intermittently.
- Add the chicken and cook for about 5 minutes, or until chicken is done; flip and stir often to ensure even cooking.
- Add the garlic, ginger, coriander, and cook for about 1 minute, or until fragrant; stir frequently.
- Add the coconut milk, carrots, Thai curry paste, salt, pepper, and stir to combine. Reduce the heat to medium, and allow mixture to gently boil for about 5 minutes, or until liquid volume has reduced as much as desired and thickens slightly.
- Add the spinach, lime juice, and stir to combine. Cook until spinach has wilted and is tender, about 1 to 2 minutes. Taste and optionally add brown sugar, additional curry paste, salt, pepper, etc. to taste.
- Evenly sprinkle with the cilantro and serve immediately. Curry is best warm and fresh but will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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More Easy Thai Curry Recipes:
Favorite CHICKEN RECIPES HERE, CURRY RECIPES HERE, and RECIPES USING COCONUT MILK HERE.
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I discovered this recipe a month ago and I have already made this meal three times since. It is too good! I substituted chicken for oven baked tofu! Loved the commenter who suggested red pepper flakes. It really added a nice kick! I also put mushrooms in my curry (add them in one minute before you add the coconut milk)
It is simple enough to make again and again. Thank you!
Thanks for the five star review and I’m glad you discovered it and have been making it steadily since then!
I am sure the red pepper flakes, mushrooms, and baked tofu are all great. I would love them all!
I discovered this recipe a month ago and I have already made this meal three times since. It is too good! I substituted chicken for oven baked tofu! Loved the commenter who suggested red pepper flakes. It really added a nice kick! I also put mushrooms in my curry (add them in one minute before you add the coconut milk)
It is simple enough to make again and again. Thank you!
Fantastic recipe!! So delicious. My boyfriend and myself loved it. Will definitely make it again and will share with friends :). Thank you :*
Thanks for the five star review and I’m glad you and your BF loved it and will make it again!
Fantastic recipe!! So delicious. My boyfriend and myself loved it. Will definitely make it again and will share with friends :). Thank you :*
This was a major hit. I used full fat coconut milk and subbed red peppers for carrots. My hubby and adult children thought it was great! Used 2 T red curry paste and the heat was just right for us. A keeper!
Thanks for the five star review and I’m glad this is a major hit for you and your family!
This was a major hit. I used full fat coconut milk and subbed red peppers for carrots. My hubby and adult children thought it was great! Used 2 T red curry paste and the heat was just right for us. A keeper!
Just made this…WOW! I can’t wait to wat my leftovers for lunch tomorrow. And it was quick, easy, yum.
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad that that it gets a WOW and that you’re excited about leftovers!
Just made this…WOW! I can’t wait to wat my leftovers for lunch tomorrow. And it was quick, easy, yum.
Made this and added red bell pepper and some celery and it was amazing! i think the brown sugar really does the trick. Legit tasted just like the restaurant!!!!! Im so excited!
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad it tasted just like a restaurant!
Made this and added red bell pepper and some celery and it was amazing! i think the brown sugar really does the trick. Legit tasted just like the restaurant!!!!! Im so excited!
I altered this recipe a lot based on what I did and didn’t have in the house, but it turned out quite delicious and I want to thank you for a quick easy (and very tasty) base recipe that can be easily customized! Here is what I did: I cooked some eggplant along with the onions, used chicken thighs instead of breasts (because that is what I had), skipped the carrots and included red bell peppers and green and yellow string beans and used kale instead of spinach. Sadly I didn’t have any fresh ginger or cilantro, but I did have fresh limes so all in all, it was quite delicious! And I bet it will taste even better tomorrow! Oh plus I added a wee bit of chicken broth to make it a bit soupier! Yummy! Thanks!
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad that you were able to mix and match based on what you had and didn’t have and that it turned out great and proves that you can easily customize it and use the recipe as a jumping off point for the future!
I altered this recipe a lot based on what I did and didn’t have in the house, but it turned out quite delicious and I want to thank you for a quick easy (and very tasty) base recipe that can be easily customized! Here is what I did: I cooked some eggplant along with the onions, used chicken thighs instead of breasts (because that is what I had), skipped the carrots and included red bell peppers and green and yellow string beans and used kale instead of spinach. Sadly I didn’t have any fresh ginger or cilantro, but I did have fresh limes so all in all, it was quite delicious! And I bet it will taste even better tomorrow! Oh plus I added a wee bit of chicken broth to make it a bit soupier! Yummy! Thanks!
great
great
I made this two nights ago and it was a big hit. Made a couple of small tweaks – used less chili paste (probably about 1.5 tablespoons) because I wasn’t certain how much spice we would like. We also added some half & half to thicken up the sauce although I think it would have thickened on its own as it cooled. We actually enjoyed it the second night a little bit more than the first because the flavors deepened. My kids asked if this could become a weekly meal! Will definitely be making it again (and again!). Thank you for the recipe!
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad you will definitely be making this again and again!
And yes the flavors do intensify I find with the leftovers a day or two later.
I made this two nights ago and it was a big hit. Made a couple of small tweaks – used less chili paste (probably about 1.5 tablespoons) because I wasn’t certain how much spice we would like. We also added some half & half to thicken up the sauce although I think it would have thickened on its own as it cooled. We actually enjoyed it the second night a little bit more than the first because the flavors deepened. My kids asked if this could become a weekly meal! Will definitely be making it again (and again!). Thank you for the recipe!