In this delicious Thai chicken curry, succulent chicken pieces are sautéed in coconut oil, then simmered in a creamy broth of coconut milk, peanut butter, garlic, and ginger.
This wonderfully flavorful curry is ready in about 30 minutes, and you can double the recipe if you'd like since the leftovers are excellent.

My late father-in-law introduced me to this delicious curry. He loved Asian food and always experimented with new recipes.
When he served us this Thai chicken curry, it was so tasty and velvety that I immediately requested the recipe. Sweet and generous as always, he happily gave it to me. I've been making it regularly ever since.
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Ingredients
Here's an overview of the ingredients needed to make this recipe. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below.
- Coconut oil: I use refined oil suitable for high-heat cooking. Avocado oil is another good option.
- Aromatics: Onions, garlic, and ginger. While jarred minced ginger is delicious, when it comes to garlic, it's best to mince it yourself.
- Seasonings: Kosher salt, curry powder, and cayenne pepper.
- Chicken: Just like in this chicken Stroganoff recipe, I use boneless skinless chicken breasts in this recipe. Boneless skinless chicken thighs work too, and I often use them, as shown in the photo below.
- Canned coconut milk: Please use full-fat coconut milk. Reduced-fat coconut milk isn't very good.
- Peanut butter: I typically use natural, creamy, unsweetened peanut butter. The only ingredients are peanuts and salt. But if all you have is a peanut butter spread that contains sugar, that's fine, and I sometimes use that, as shown in the photo below.
- Chopped cilantro: Used primarily for garnish, although it adds a nice layer of flavor.
Variations
- Use boneless chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts. It's just as good and, in fact, even better - thigh meat is juicier and more succulent.
- You can replace the peanut butter with almond butter. In my experience, peanut butter is tastier, but almond butter works too.
- If you're not a fan of cilantro, you can use chopped parsley instead. Basil is another excellent option.
- Heavy whipping cream is a good substitute for coconut milk.
Thai Chicken Curry Instructions
Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here's an overview of the steps for making this recipe:
- Cook the onion in coconut oil. (Photo 1).
- Add the garlic, ginger, and seasonings and briefly cook them. (Photo 2).
- Add the chicken pieces and stir-fry them for a couple of minutes. (Photo 3).
- Stir in the coconut milk and peanut butter. (Photo 4).
- Cover and simmer until the chicken is cooked through, about 5 more minutes. (Photo 5).
- Garnish with cilantro and serve. (Photo 6).
Expert Tip
It's very important to mix the coconut milk well before using it. Sometimes I find it easier to pour the milk out of the can into a mixing bowl, then use a hand whisk to mix it thoroughly.
Recipe FAQs
Curry is a dish made with sauce and spices. It can be based on meat, poultry, fish, or vegetables. Curry can be mild or spicy, but it's always heavily spiced. It typically contains a creamy ingredient such as coconut milk, heavy cream, or full-fat yogurt.
I strongly recommend using full-fat coconut milk in this recipe. It imparts so much flavor and creaminess. Reduced-fat coconut milk is not very tasty and won't work in this recipe.
You can use heavy cream instead of coconut milk. The flavor profile will be somewhat different, and the curry will not be as thick. But it will still be very good.
Serving Suggestions
It's good to serve this curry on top of something that would absorb the sauce, such as:
- Cauliflower rice
- Mashed cauliflower
- Hearts of Palm pasta
- Zucchini noodles
- Spaghetti squash noodles
- Shirataki noodles
- Sauteed spinach
- Steamed spinach
But usually, I simply serve it in soup bowls with a spoon. It's a complete and very filling meal, so you don't need to serve it with any sides, although I sometimes add a side of microwave broccoli or steamed asparagus.
Storing Leftovers
You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. Reheat them gently, covered, in the microwave at 50% power.
More Curry Recipes
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Recipe Card
Thai Chicken Curry
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil or avocado oil
- 1 medium onion chopped (6 oz)
- 1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon fresh garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger root minced
- 1 tablespoon curry powder (make sure it's fresh)
- â…› teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 ½ lb. chicken breasts boneless, skinless, cubed
- ½ cup coconut milk canned, unsweetened, full-fat (mix it well before using)
- 2 tablespoons peanut butter natural, creamy
- 2 tablespoons cilantro chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Heat the coconut oil in a large, deep saucepan over medium-high heat, for about 2 minutes.
- Add the onion and kosher salt. Stir-fry until tender, 4-5 minutes.
- Add the garlic, ginger, curry powder and cayenne. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Add the chicken pieces. Stir-fry them for 2-3 minutes, until mostly opaque and coated with the spices.
- Add the coconut milk (remember to stir it well before using it) and the peanut butter, stirring to combine.
- Cover, reduce the heat to medium, and cook until the chicken is cooked through, about 5 more minutes. Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve.
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Notes
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Nutrition per Serving
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Kacie
This was soo good and flavorful! Definitely making it again! This was the second recipe of yours I’ve made (have also made the baked chicken wings) and they’ve both been great. Thank you!
Vered DeLeeuw
You're very welcome, Kacie!