One Pan Indian Coconut Chicken Curry

This one pan indian coconut chicken curry is delicious, fast and flexible! Tender chicken and vegetables are coated in a creamy  sauce that  is slightly sweet with a hint of spice. With my tips, this foolproof chicken curry is ready in under an hour!

This one pan indian coconut chicken curry is one of my favorite comfort foods! I am a huge fan of one pan dinners like my One Pan Chicken Scarpariello  and One Pan Moroccan Lemon Olive Chicken  – and this chicken curry is  definitely on dinner rotation here at the Table.What I love about this Coconut Chicken Curry is that  it is fast and flexible! You can add other vegetables (like carrots, broccoli or zucchini), make it milder or even spicier! One pan and  dinner is on the table in under an hour. Done.

All fabulous reasons to add this Coconut Chicken Curry or this vegan Cauliflower and Chickpea Curry to your monthly dinner rotation!

So what is a curry?

Throughout India and Southeast Asia, you’ll find curries everywhere! Simply put, it’s almost any combination of vegetables, meats and or/ legumes cooked in a spiced sauce.  Vegetarian, vegan, chicken, lamb or seafood based, hot and spicy or mild and comforting, the range of curries is infinite.

How to Make Coconut Chicken Curry

Step #1: Mash up the garlic, chile and ginger – a mortar and pestle is great for this!

Step #2: Cook the onions, mashed up garlic, chile and ginger, and then add the spices! Tip:  Sauteing the spices before adding any liquid to the pan really brings out all the flavors of the spices and works for all kinds of dishes – not just curries!

Step #3: Add the tomatoes, chicken and then the cauliflower and peas…

Step #4: Add the coconut milk last.  Tip: DO NOT BOIL the curry at this point! Boiling will cause the coconut milk to separate – it will still taste good, but won’t have that creamy look 🙂!

And there you have it… a one pan creamy Indian Coconut Chicken Curry!!! If you liked this recipe, I’d love for you to rate it and leave a comment!

5 from 3 votes

Print

One Pan Coconut Chicken Curry

Prep Time

20 mins

Cook Time

35 mins

Total Time

55 mins

 

This one pan creamy coconut chicken curry is delicious, fast and flexible! Tender chicken and vegetables are coated in a luscious sauce that slightly sweet with a hint of spice. With my tips, this foolproof chicken curry is ready in under an hour!

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Indian

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 254 kcal

Author: Nancy

Ingredients

• 3 Tbsp. vegetable or coconut oil
• 3/4 lbs. skinless, boneless chicken cut into 1 inch cubes breasts or thighs
• 1 onion, thinly sliced
• 1/2 head cauliflower cut into small florets
• 1 inch piece of fresh ginger peeled and cut into thick slices
• 2 garlic cloves peeled and smashed
• 1 jalapeno seeded and chopped
• 1 roma tomato seeded and diced
• 1 tsp. ground turmeric
• 1 tsp. ground cumin
• 1/2 Tablespoon ground coriander
• 1 tsp. Garam masala
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/3 cup frozen peas
• 1 13.5 oz. can coconut milk regular or light
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro optional
• 1 red jalapeno sliced, optional

Instructions

1. Add the garlic, ginger and chopped jalapeno to a mortar and bash with the pestle until a coarse paste forms. If you don't have a mortar and pestle, chop the garlic, ginger and jalapeno together until finely chopped. 

2. In a large skillet with a lid, heat 3 Tablespoons of vegetable or coconut oil over medium high heat. 

   Add the onions and salt and saute for 3 - 5 minutes until the onions are soft and lightly browned. 

   
   

3. Add the garlic, ginger and jalapeno paste and cook for 1 - 2 minutes. 

4. Add the turmeric, cumin, coriander and garam masala. Stir, cooking for 1 minute until the spices are aromatic. 

   
   

5. Add the chicken and cook for 5 minutes until the chicken is just beginning to brown. It won't be cooked through so don't worry. Add the tomatoes and cook for another minute. 

6. Add the cauliflower and 1/4 cup water, scraping up all the spices on the bottom of the pan. Reduce the heat to medium,  and cover the pan  Cook for 20 - 25 minutes until the chicken is cooked through. 

7. Remove the lid from the pan and add the coconut milk and stir to combine. Add the peas and stir to combine. Cook for 3 - 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Do not allow the mixture to boil! 

8. Remove the pan from the heat and taste, adding salt and/or cayenne pepper as needed. 

Recipe Notes

Tips for Success:

• Remove the chicken from the refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking. 
• There is no need to rinse the chicken. Just blot it dry before cutting into 1 inch chunks. I used skinless, boneless chicken breasts but thighs would work just as well! 
• It may seem strange to add the spices before any liquid is added but this is what gives curry dishes their lovely flavor and aroma. Don't skip this step! 
• In order to achieve a thick and creamy curry sauce, do not boil after adding the coconut milk. Boiling will cause the coconut milk to separate. If this happens, don't worry - the curry will still taste delicious but the sauce will look grainy! 
• If you don't have cauliflower, feel free to substitute potatoes, carrots, zucchini - almost any vegetable will work although I think cauliflower tastes the best in this dish. 

Nutrition Facts

One Pan Coconut Chicken Curry

Amount Per Serving

Calories 254 Calories from Fat 126

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 14g 22%

Saturated Fat 9g 45%

Cholesterol 54mg 18%

Sodium 366mg 15%

Potassium 711mg 20%

Total Carbohydrates 11g 4%

Dietary Fiber 3g 12%

Sugars 4g

Protein 21g 42%

Vitamin A 8.3%

Vitamin C 68.3%

Calcium 4.7%

Iron 12.7%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.