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Curry Chicken with Onion

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Learn how to make Curry Chicken with Onion as a great takeout replacement. Prepare a chicken curry recipe with homemade spices and coconut milk for an absolutely delicious, tender chicken meal. 

Chicken Curry served inside a gold dish.
Curry Chicken

Seasoned with homemade Indian spices and great with our side, cauliflower coconut rice or baked riced cauliflower.

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Clean Eating Chicken Recipes

I have realized my love of chicken recipes is clearly visible. All I do is chicken. I have to alternate that. But till then, enjoy our chicken casserole, enchiladas, or healthy chicken stir fry version.

Let me not forget some snacks such as chicken chips jerky or making a great seasoning from it.

Whichever you pick, I am sure you will add it to your list of regular dishes.

Best Curry Powder – Homemade

To get the most out of this recipe, I have prepared the whole article about Indian spices used for the best and freshest blend. It is worth having a look at, as I have explained a bit about every herb which goes in and the best proportions to get the most out of this homemade curry seasoning.

What is The Difference Between Indian Curries, Japanese Curry, and Chinese Chicken Curry?

Curry is a dish with many variations across the continents and one of the most popular dishes across Asia. Chinese, Indian and Japanese curries are all different in their ways.

Indian

Indian curries are typically spicier than the other two varieties and use many spices such as cumin, coriander, cardamom, turmeric, ginger and garlic. They can also contain curry sauce, ginger garlic paste, garam masala, or curry paste for added richness. Just for your info, curry paste is the mixture of spices I made for you with some vegetable oil.

Chinese

Chinese curry is usually less spicy, like a stew or sauce made with vegetables and meat.

Japanese

Japanese curry is sweeter than other types of curry and contains various ingredients, including onions, carrots, potatoes, celery, and apples.

Because of using our homemade Indian curry spice blend, today’s recipe has got that beautiful Indian flavors all over.

Chicken curry recipe coconut milk.
Chicken Coconut Curry

What is The Best Part of Chicken to Use?

To prepare our dish, I suggest using boneless chicken breasts as they are leaner, have less fat, and have more moisture than other parts.

Drumsticks are also great, but I suggest doubling the recipe and letting the curry cook a bit longer.

What Onions Do You Use for Curry?

What types of onions you will use in your dishes depends on your preference and what you would like onions to achieve in the curry.

Here are the differences and the effects onions have on the dish:

  • Yellow Onions are the most common type of onion used for the yellow curry. With a strong flavor, those onions hold up flawlessly against the other ingredients used in a curry dish.
  • Red onions – are great for their sweetness, which offsets the spicy taste of some curries.
  • White onions – can be used, but probably with a bit more volume because of their light flavor, which might not provide enough taste to stand out.
  • Shallots are also great to use but are, in general, much more expensive and have less flavor than red or yellow onions.

Apart from those options, you can also enhance the flavor even more, by adding your own onion flakes to the dish.

Chicken Curry served with lime.
Curry Chicken

How To Make Chicken Curry with Onions

Let us dive into the whole recipe with complete step-by-step instructions to make it as easy as possible for you. I will also include a video with visual instructions if you prefer that part.

I have divided the whole recipe into four portions, of which one portion is about 1 cup of curry.

Kitchen Gadgets:

  • Cooking pot
  • Spatula

Ingredients:

*Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.

FULL INSTRUCTIONS WITH STEPS FOR TAKEOUT CHICKEN CURRY RECIPE ALTERNATIVE

First Step: Prepare Ingredients

First comes the mixture of spices. As you see, I have used my homemade spice blend, which I am also sharing with you. In case you have your own or have a store-bought version you trust, you can use that.

With regards to the liquids, I have decided to go with a mixture of coconut milk together with coconut cream to give you a perfectly thick consistency without needing to use additional cornstarch.

Chicken should be cut into smaller pieces, and you do not have to marinate the chicken beforehand. Chop your onion and crush garlic cloves.

Coconut curry chicken recipe ingredients needed.
Coconut Chicken

Second Step: Roast your Spices

Heat your pan and add a tablespoon of oil. Add the onion as well as garlic and caramelize slightly.

Add 2 tablespoons of Indian spice mix and simmer the spices on medium heat for about a minute. This will help the spices release their flavor, and your overall dish will have a stronger flair.

Coconut Curry cooking on a stove.
Curry Chicken Recipe

Third Step: Add Chicken

Add the chicken pieces, combine the chicken with spices and cook on high heat until your pieces change color.

Chicken Coconut Curry roasting.
Coconut curry chicken recipe

Fourth Step: Coconut flare

Once the cooked chicken is ready, add your milk and cream and mix it all. Let it cook for another 10 to 15 minutes for the chicken to soak up the flavors and the sauce to thicken.

Serve with lemon or lime wedges and chopped cilantro.

Coconut Chicken pouring sauce in.
Coconut Curry

Tips For Making Curry

  • Thickening – because I have used coconut cream in addition to milk, there is no need to add any other thickening agent to the dish. If you prefer a thicker curry, add a pinch of xanthan gum. If you, on the other side, feel that it needs more liquid, you can add more milk or a bit of chicken broth or chicken stock.
  • Extra spicy – add red chili powder, tabasco, dehydrated garlic or cayenne pepper.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What To Serve With Chicken Curry?

Usually, you can serve naan alongside curry. But for a healthier option, you can choose Instant Pot saffron rice or, even better, riced cauliflower ala coco cauliflower rice, rutabaga fries or oven-baked cauli. Sprinkle with freshly grown broccoli sprouts for that extra greenery or dehydrated tomatoes for extra color.

On the side, lentil salad would be a great idea to make this a real flavorful feast.

How To Make it Chinese Curry Chicken?

To make this dish more like an easy Chinese takeout, I suggest first adding only 1 tablespoon of curry powder. Add more vegetables like sliced bell peppers, broccoli, and young green peas. To finish it up, a dash of soya sauce or a few teaspoons of rice wine will help greatly.

Curry Chicken with cauli rice.
Chicken curry recipe coconut milk

Can I Use Chicken Thighs for Chicken Curry Stew?

Yes, you can use chicken thighs for this recipe, and it would be more like a stew. Chicken thighs are a great source of protein and provide more flavor than chicken breast when used in a curry. The dark meat found in chicken thighs also has a higher fat content that helps to add richness and depth of flavor to the curry.

When cooking with chicken thighs, you may need to adjust the cooking time since those pieces of chicken are bigger and take longer to cook than chicken breasts.

How To Store Chicken Curry Stew?

To keep the best flavor and texture, it is vital to store the curry correctly. The first step is ensuring you have enough room in your refrigerator to store the curry properly. Once the curry is cooked, spoon it into an air-tight container and refrigerate.

You can also place a tablespoon of butter or ghee on top of the chicken curry before storing it to help preserve its freshness. You should store chicken curry for up to four days in the refrigerator.

Can You Freeze Curry Style Chicken?

To extend its shelf life, you can freeze your chicken curry for up to three months.
Once ready to enjoy, take it out of the freezer the night before and let it thaw naturally.

Other Asian Inspired Recipes

Once you try them all, look at this chicken chop suey, which is a great Chinese American version.

To stay with Indian flair, my next attempt is to make family dinner making air fryer chicken leg quarters.

Pin For Later

Curry Chicken Recipe with lime and spoon.
Chicken Curry

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Chicken Curry served inside a gold dish.

Curry Chicken with Onion

Zuzana Paar
4.99 from 63 votes
Learn how to make Curry Chicken with Onion as a great takeout replacement. Prepare a chicken curry recipe with homemade spices and coconut milk for an absolutely delicious, tender chicken meal. 
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Main Dishes
Cuisine Indian
Servings 4
Calories 364 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
 
 

Instructions
 

  • First comes the mixture of spices. As you see, I have used my homemade spice blend, which I am also sharing with you. Chicken should be cut into smaller pieces, and you do not have to marinate the chicken beforehand. Chop your onion and crush garlic cloves.
  • Heat your pan and add a tablespoon of oil. Add the onion as well as garlic and caramelize slightly. Add 2 tablespoons of Indian spice mix and simmer the spices on medium heat for about a minute.
  • Add the chicken pieces, combine the chicken with spices and cook on high heat until your pieces change color.
  • Once the cooked chicken is ready, add your milk and cream and mix it all. Let it cook for another 10 to 15 minutes for the chicken to soak up the flavors and the sauce to thicken.

Video

Notes

  • Thickening – because I have used coconut cream in addition to milk, there is no need to add any other thickening agent to the dish. If you prefer a thicker curry, add a pinch of xanthan gum. If you, on the other side, feel that it needs more liquid, you can add more milk or a bit of chicken broth or chicken stock.
  • Extra spicy – add red chili powder, tabasco, or cayenne pepper.

Nutrition

Serving: 1CupCalories: 364kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 31gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 106mgSodium: 2140mgPotassium: 955mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 49IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 56mgIron: 3mg

Disclaimer

Please note that nutrient values are estimates only. Variations can occur due to product availability and manner of food preparation. Nutrition may vary based on methods of origin, preparation, freshness of ingredients, and other factors.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

More Chicken Recipes

Check out our collection of clean eating chicken recipes. Whether you like them grilled or baked in the oven, these easy recipes help you enjoy healthy chicken meals without any fuss. Find the fun in clean eating with these tasty and easy-to-make chicken dishes.

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By Zuzana Paar on February 10th, 2023
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About Zuzana Paar

Zuzana is the creative force and mastermind behind this scrumptious clean eating heaven. She will guide you on this delicious journey as a content creator, recipe developer, food writer, movie maker, blogger, and photographer. With her diverse skills she is dedicated to sharing delicious, healthy recipes and helpful tips with readers.

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13 Comments on “Curry Chicken with Onion”

  1. I will try this curry chicken with onion disk but first I am a little confused by the description of and recipe for it.
    The recipe says to add 2 tablespoons of Indian spice mix. Earlier in the description, you write that you are using a homemade spice blend, “which I am also sharing with you.”
    However, I have not been able to locate the recipe for the homemade spice blend. It sounds like an important ingredient but without knowing how to make it, how can I add it?
    I may need to look somewhere else for it, perhaps?
    Thank you.

    Reply
  2. Kids are out of the house and the hubby is going to start trying new foods! 😂 I am happy to announce he liked it!! Seriously a delicious recipe and we will be making it again for sure.

    Reply
  3. This is a great midweek meal recipe. It’s so simple, but absolutely delicous. I think the addition of coconut cream is a brilliant idea that makes this curry extra creamy and luxurious. Yum!

    Reply
  4. I tried the recipe step by step. Kind of similar to my recipe but this one has the lemon, lime and cilantro. It did really enhance the flavor of the dish. Sooo good! I also like using Indian curry which I have a lot from my trip to Dubai.

    Reply
  5. 5 stars
    Made this recipe for dinner tonight and it was a hit with the whole family! We loved the depth of flavor from the homemade curry powder. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

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