Coconut Curry Chicken Recipe: Quick Indian-Style Dinner 2026

This coconut curry chicken is one of those back-of-the-pantry recipes that comes together fast and tastes far richer than its short ingredient list suggests. With just onion, chicken breast, curry powder and coconut milk, you get a saucy, fragrant main dish that is ready in about 40 minutes.

It is a quick weeknight meal that also works beautifully when you want something comforting and full of flavor. The chicken stays tender as it simmers in the coconut curry sauce, and a spoonful of fresh cilantro at the end brightens everything up.

Serve it with basmati rice for a complete plate, or enjoy it on its own with a little chopped cilantro scattered on top. If you like to experiment, this is an easy base to adapt with ginger, garlic, red pepper or spinach.

Ingredients for Coconut Curry Chicken

This recipe makes 2 servings and calls for 8 simple ingredients.

• 100 g onion
• 2 chicken breasts
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon curry powder
• 200 ml coconut milk
• Salt
• Ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon cilantro leaves (optional)

How to Make Coconut Curry Chicken Step by Step

1. Chop the onion and chicken

Peel and cut 100 g of onion into small pieces. Cut 2 chicken breasts into bite-sized chunks so they cook evenly in the sauce.

2. Sauté the onion

Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet and sauté the onion for 5 minutes over low heat, until it turns translucent.

3. Stir in the curry powder

Add 1 tablespoon of curry powder and stir so it is well mixed with the onion and oil. Let it toast briefly to release its aroma.

4. Add the chicken and cook

Add the chopped chicken to the skillet and cook for 6 minutes, stirring, until the chicken is done. Season with salt and ground black pepper to taste.

5. Pour in the coconut milk and finish

Pour in 200 ml of coconut milk and cook the whole thing for 5 more minutes. Once that time is up, your coconut curry chicken is ready to serve as is with a little chopped cilantro, or alongside basmati rice.

Tips for the Best Coconut Curry Chicken

Respect the cooking times

For the richest result, respect the cooking times so the chicken stays very tender and absorbs all the flavor of the curry sauce. Rushing the simmer can leave the chicken tough or the sauce thin.

Serve it with basmati rice

We recommend serving this coconut curry chicken with basmati rice for a quick and complete meal. The rice soaks up the creamy curry sauce beautifully.

Customize or freeze it

If you like to try or personalize recipes, you can add grated fresh ginger, chopped garlic, red pepper strips, spinach or cashews to the recipe below. You can also double the recipe and freeze it in portions so this delicious coconut curry chicken is ready for other occasions.

30 Favorite Recipes I Keep Coming Back To at Home

Maybe you're wired the same way I am: your kitchen rotation is a blend of cozy standbys, well-loved dishes from around the globe, and sweets that make a crowd happy.

Some nights I want something luxurious, and that's when I reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a deeply rich Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And on days when only fruit-forward comfort will do, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is my reliable pick.

For quick morning meals and lighter plates, I regularly whip up these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And whenever my pantry needs a gluten-free basic, this no-fuss Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe does the trick.

On evenings built around tapas and Mediterranean tastes, I cycle through this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, golden Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, silky Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This elegant Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe also comes out whenever the occasion calls for a little extra polish.

For stick-to-your-ribs midday meals and comforting suppers, my go-tos are this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, time-honored Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, deeply savory Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and velvety Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. When I'm after something even more substantial, I turn to this oven-baked Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the supremely cozy French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Anytime street food or party fare is on my mind, I'll throw together this succulent Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crunchy Salchipapas recipe, punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crisp Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These effortless Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe are another favorite of mine for a light starter or snack.

And when I'm hosting and mixing drinks to go with a full spread, dinner often gets paired with this cool Original Cuban Mojito recipe, a strong Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this sweet Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To bring it all together, I like setting out this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe alongside, or capping the meal with this dramatic Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes the Whole Family Will Enjoy

After countless rounds of testing and tweaking in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the finest dishes are built on straightforward steps, dependable methods, and serious flavor.

The recipes gathered here are the ones I genuinely cook on repeat—whether it's a fast solo meal or something festive for the people I love.

On the sweet side, the lush, velvety Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is my pick when I want a dessert that feels fancy yet comes together without fuss. Another treat I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the celebrated Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture helps a lot, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

When light and easy is what I'm after, I lean on the timeless Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly done Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For more filling comfort fare, I frequently suggest the crowd-pleasing Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the luscious Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the speedy weeknight go-to One Pot Pasta Recipe.

Sharing dishes from across the globe is another joy of mine, among them the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crispy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the traditional Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is yet another category I turn to often, since it delivers speed without sacrificing texture. The ones I make most include Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be indulgent, cheesy, and deeply comforting without any gluten.

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American Gluten Free Cookies Recipe 🍜 Gluten Free King Cake Recipe 🍲 Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Recipe 🍛 Extremadura Style Chard Recipe 🍣 Keto Sliced Sandwich Bread Recipe 🍱 Gluten Free Waffles Recipe 🍤 Low Carb Keto Pizza Recipe 🍗 Gluten Free Bread Rolls Recipe 🍖 Flourless Gluten Free Bread Buns Recipe 🥓 Protein Ice Cream Recipe 🥞 Chia Pudding Dessert with Seeds Recipe

Fluffy Cloud Bread Pan Nube Recipe 🧇 Quinoa Bread Recipe 🍞 Schiacciata Tuscan Focaccia Flat Bread Recipe 🥐 Shokupan Japanese Milk Bread Recipe 🥨 Potato Sandwich Bread Recipe 🧀 Homemade Breadsticks Recipe 🍳 Stollen German Dried Fruits Cake Recipe 🥚 French Gingerbread Spiced Cake Recipe 🍰 Gluten Free Pancakes Recipe

🥔 Potato-omelet-in-Thermomix 🍓 Smores-Sandwich-Dessert 🍰 Womens-Day-Mimosa-cake ☕ Coffee-Sorbet 🍆 Eggplant-pizza 🍋 Ciambella-Italian-Lemon-Cake 🥖 Zapiekanka-Polish-Snack 🌰 Dukkah-Egyptian-Nuts-Mix 🧆 Best-Hummus 🥑 Best-Avocado