Thai Red Curry Chicken
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Craving Thai food? This red chicken curry is a one-pan wonder with tender chicken in a rich coconut curry sauce that’s ready in just 30 minutes—no fuss, just deliciousness!
I love cooking Thai-style food at home because you can make so many flavorful dishes with just a few staples from the Asian aisle at the grocery store. This red curry chicken is a perfect example: a one-pan dinner of tender chicken simmered in a rich, curry-infused coconut milk sauce. Like most Thai curries, it’s cozy, quick to make, and so satisfying—you won’t even think about take-out.
In developing the recipe, the biggest challenge was determining the best way to cook the chicken. Most recipes call for sautéing the chicken first and then warming it in the finished sauce. But the problem with that method, if you’re using white meat, is that the chicken tends to dry out quickly. I found that gently poaching the chicken in the coconut sauce is not only easier but also foolproof. You’ll be so pleased with how tender the chicken turns out when cooked this way!
“Fantastic! My whole family loves it – even my picky five-year-old. We usually add veggies like mushrooms and snow peas, but it’s also wonderful as is.”
What You’ll Need To Make Thai Red Chicken Curry
- Oil, Scallions, garlic & jalapeño: Sautéed together at the start to build a savory, slightly spicy base. The scallions add a mellow onion flavor, garlic gives depth, and jalapeño brings just a hint of heat. (For more spice, leave in the seeds of the pepper or add a pinch of red pepper flakes later.)
- Thai red curry paste: This is where all the flavor happens. Made with red chiles, lemongrass, galangal, and spices, it gives the dish its signature warmth and color. Thai Kitchen brand is easy to find and on the mild side—great for families. Want more kick? Add Sriracha, jalapeño seeds, or crushed red pepper.
- Coconut milk: Adds creaminess and a touch of sweetness; use full-fat for the best texture—light versions can be watery.
- Fish sauce & dark brown sugar: A classic Thai combo—the fish sauce adds salty umami, while the brown sugar balances the spice.
- Chicken tenderloins (or breasts): Tender and quick-cooking; just cut into bite-size pieces so they cook evenly and stay juicy.
- Fresh lime juice & cilantro: Lime brightens the dish and balances the richness; cilantro adds color and freshness (totally optional if you’re not a fan).
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Sauté the aromatics. Heat the oil in a large nonstick pan over medium-low heat. Add the light scallion parts, garlic, and jalapeño. Cook, stirring often, for 3 to 4 minutes until softened—don’t let them brown. Keeping the heat moderate allows the aromatics to gently soften and release their flavor without browning (which can make the curry taste bitter).
Step 2: Add the curry sauce ingredients. Stir in the coconut milk, red curry paste, fish sauce, and brown sugar. Bring to a gentle boil, then lower the heat and simmer for a few minutes to thicken slightly.
Step 3: Cook the chicken. Add the chicken pieces and simmer, stirring now and then, for 5 to 6 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.
Step 4: Finish and serve. Stir in the lime juice, dark scallion greens, and cilantro. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Serve with jasmine rice and enjoy!
More Asian Dishes You may Like
Thai Red Curry Chicken
This Thai curry chicken is rich, cozy, and full of bold flavor—perfect over jasmine rice for an easy weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 small bunch scallions, thinly sliced, light and dark green parts divided
- 3 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and diced (see note)
- 1 (14-oz) can coconut milk (unsweetened)
- 2 tablespoons Thai red curry paste
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 2½ tablespoons packed dark brown sugar
- 1½ pounds chicken tenderloins, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 tablespoon lime juice, from 1 lime
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Heat the oil over medium-low heat in a large nonstick pan. Add the light scallions, garlic, and jalapeño and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Do not brown.
- Add the coconut milk, red curry paste, fish sauce, and brown sugar and whisk together. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and simmer until thickened, a few minutes. Add the chicken and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally to promote even cooking, until the chicken is cooked through, 5 to 6 minutes. (Do not let the sauce boil; the idea is to cook the chicken gently so that it's tender.) Stir in the lime juice, dark scallion greens, and cilantro. Taste and adjust seasoning with more lime, if necessary. Serve with jasmine rice.
- Note: As always, take care when working with jalapeño peppers. If you touch the seeds or ribs, be sure to wash your hands well and avoid touching your eyes.
- Note: It's important to wait until you're ready to eat to cook the chicken. If you want to get a head start, prepare the sauce up until the point when the chicken is added. Take it off the heat and then poach the chicken right before serving. If the chicken sits in the hot curry sauce for too long before serving, it will overcook.
Pair with
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (4 servings)
- Calories: 649
- Fat: 51 g
- Saturated fat: 26 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Sugar: 10 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Sodium: 886 mg
- Cholesterol: 128 mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Gluten-Free Adaptable Note
To the best of my knowledge, all of the ingredients used in this recipe are gluten-free or widely available in gluten-free versions. There is hidden gluten in many foods; if you're following a gluten-free diet or cooking for someone with gluten allergies, always read the labels of your ingredients to verify that they are gluten-free.
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OMG! This was so easy, delicious and definitely a keeper. Only change for us was on he heat. I used half of the pepper, everything else the same. I now keep coconut milk in my pantry. Thanks Jen for another winner.
This is one of my favorite recipes! You can make this so quickly and it tastes like restaurant quality! Don’t be afraid to make something a little off the beaten path!
To be honest, I’ve become a bit obsessed with Jenn’s recipes. One of my passions is cooking and discovering new recipes and flavors. Since I found Jenn’s blog, I feel bad for all the other great cooks out there with their own blogs, because unless Jenn doesn’t have a particular recipe on her blog or in her cookbook, I don’t even give them a second glance. I haven’t left reviews on the many recipes I’ve tried and loved, but thought it was time I corrected that. Thai food in general is my favorite type of food to eat. This particular Red Curry Thai Chicken is amazing. The chicken comes out very tender every time and the flavors are outstanding. The first time I made it my husband commented it needed to go on our regular rotation…and it has! Thanks Jenn!
I agree Nicole. I too find Jenn’s Recipes are my “go to” ones. I can’t count how many times I’ve talked to friends about her recipes and don’t bother with any others unless it’s absolutely necessary. I can count on Jenn’s to be good
🙂
I agree! I don’t think I’ve found another site that has as many great recipes! I also really like that many of Jenn’s recipes are 4 servings. I live alone and 4 servings are just about right for dinner and leftovers.
Just made this for dinner. My husband said it’s the best curry I’ve ever made! Thank you!!
So good
So good and so easy! Made exactly as written:)
Easy and quick recipe, perfect for weeknight cooking. Delicious and flavourful!
Incredibly good! Better than Thai takeout, that’s for sure 🙂 Thanks for another winning dinner. The whole family ate this and quickly!!
This is an absolutely delicious dish that I’ve made several times and it always tastes magnificent. Gently poaching ensures the most tender chicken imaginable. The only change I’ve recently made is leaving the jalapeño out. The red curry still gives you enough heat but either way you can’t go wrong. Enjoy!
Fabulous easy recipe and the sauce is delicious!! Used shrimp instead of chicken and added tofu and some steamed green beans. A keeper!!
This recipe was amazing! I added red pepper and zucchini raw after I cooked the chicken for a couple minutes and that didn’t seem to have any negative effects. I also used a different brand of red curry paste, mae anong, and found it a lot more flavorful than the thai kitchen. Overall, great, easy recipe.
Hi Jen,
What veggies would you use to make it a vegetarian plate? Broccoli, carrots, red pepper, zucchini, etc…? They should all work right?
Hi Janelle, Yes, I think all those veggies should work (and if you like mushrooms, they would be a good addition too). I’d love to hear how it turns out! 🙂
Second time I have made this. The sauce (even without jalapeños and fish sauce to make it kid friendly) is delicious. The chicken itself is pretty bland. Any suggestion for how to marinade for more flavor?
Hi JoAnn, while the sauce has plenty of salty flavor due to the fish sauce, you could amp up the flavor of the chicken by sprinkling it with some salt and freshly ground pepper before adding it to the pan to cook. 🙂