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Home » Main Dishes » Easy Dairy Free Chicken Coconut Curry.

Easy Dairy Free Chicken Coconut Curry.

Jun 16, 2023 by Kelly Roenicke · 13 Comments

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An easy, comforting, delicious recipe for dairy free chicken coconut curry. The perfect wintertime dinner!

If you’re looking for a dairy free dinner that’s warm and comforting, you have to try this chicken coconut curry. Tender pieces of chicken simmer in a rich and flavorful sauce, making a super satisfying meal. Serve this curry over fluffy Jasmine rice for a tasty weeknight dinner.

easy dairy free chicken curry

I love a good bowl of curry. Whether it’s chicken based or veggie based, a bowl of curry over light and fluffy rice is one of my favorite dinners. I even made a chicken broccoli curry casserole that is the perfect dish to bring to a potluck.

We have always been big fans of Indian food, but once my son was diagnosed with a tree nut allergy, we had to stop visiting our favorite Indian restaurant. But since I was not at all ready to give up a bowl of chicken curry with rich, flavorful sauce, I had to figure out a way to make it at home.

Through a lot of trial and error, I have come up with a recipe that’s very close to what we were ordering from our local restaurant. It’s really simple, but the secret to the depth of flavor here is to take your time. There’s no rush! The longer the sauce simmers, the more flavorful this dish will be.

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  • Ingredient Notes
  • Step by Step Instructions
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Storage
  • More Main Dish Recipes
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easy chicken curry without dairy in a bowl over rice

Ingredient Notes

  • Coconut Milk – You will need a can of full fat coconut milk to make this sauce silky and rich. If you have a coconut allergy, I would recommend trying a different non-dairy milk and using more cornstarch to thicken it. The flavor and texture will be different if you use this substitution.
  • Chicken Thighs – Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are a great choice for this dish because they cook quickly and have a lot of flavor.
  • Spices – The key to a nicely spiced curry is to use a variety of spices like cumin, curry powder, ground ginger, and Garam Masala. If you can’t find Garam Masala, you can leave it out and just add a bit of cumin, coriander, and cinnamon. McCormick Spices does make Garam Masala, if that’s a brand that’s safe for your dietary needs.

Step by Step Instructions

  1. Cook the chopped onion in the olive oil until it starts to brown. You want it to be a bit brown because it adds a lot of flavor to the sauce.
chopped onions in pan
  1. Add the chicken pieces and spices, and cook over medium heat until the chicken is cooked through.
chicken cooking with curry spices
  1. Stir in the full fat coconut milk. Simmer for about 15 minutes.
chicken cooking in coconut milk
  1. Mix the non-dairy milk and corn starch together and drizzle this mixture into the pan. Cook for about 5 more minutes until the sauce thickens.
dairy free chicken curry in pan
  1. Serve over rice and top with chopped green onions and red pepper flakes if desired.
bowl of coconut chicken curry with rice

Serving Suggestions

Serve this chicken curry with:

  • Jasmine or Basmati rice
  • Cauliflower rice (for a grain free alternative)
  • Dairy free naan bread
  • Curried red lentil dip

Storage

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They should stay fresh for about 3-4 days.

You could also freeze the leftovers. Store in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months.

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Recipe

dairy free chicken coconut curry

Easy Dairy Free Chicken Coconut Curry.

Kelly Roenicke
This tasty chicken curry is made with a flavorful coconut milk sauce. You will love this delicious and easy dinner recipe.
5 from 3 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 35 minutes mins
Total Time 40 minutes mins
Course Entree
Cuisine Dairy Free, gluten free, Indian
Servings 4
Calories 493 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 sweet onion diced
  • ½ Tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into small pieces
  • 2 ½ Tablespoons curry powder
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 1 teaspoon Garam Masala
  • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • 15 ounces full fat unsweetened coconut milk
  • ½ cup non-dairy milk
  • 2 teaspoons corn starch
  • 2 Tablespoons non-dairy milk
  • Jasmine or Basmati rice for serving
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Instructions
 

  • Place the olive oil and diced onion in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook until the onion starts to brown, about 10-15 minutes. (You want it to brown, it adds a lot of flavor to the sauce).
  • Once the onion has started to brown, add the chicken and the spices. Cook over medium heat.
  • When the chicken is mostly cooked through, add the canned coconut milk. Stir well. Continue to simmer until the chicken is done and the sauce is fragrant, about 15 minutes.
  • Add the ½ cup of non-dairy milk and stir. Put the corn starch and the two tablespoons of non-dairy milk in a small container and shake to remove lumps. Drizzle this mixture into the pan and stir.
  • Continue to simmer for a few minutes until the sauce thickens.
  • Serve over Jasmine or Basmati rice. Top with green onions or red pepper flakes if desired.

Notes

Nutrition facts are for the curry only, not for the rice.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They should stay fresh for 3-4 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 493kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 37gFat: 33gSaturated Fat: 22gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 162mgSodium: 631mgPotassium: 880mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 237IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 131mgIron: 7mg
Keyword easy
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment below and tag @prettybeeblog on instagram!

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Filed Under: Dairy Free, food, Gluten Free, Main Dishes, Nut Free, Recipes Tagged With: Dairy Free, Egg Free, Fish Free, Garlic Free, Gluten Free, Mustard Free, Nut Free, Peanut Free, Sesame Free, Shellfish Free, Soy Free, top 8 allergy free recipe, Tree Nut Free

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Kelly Roenicke
Kelly Roenicke
Mom to two boys with food allergies and sensitivities, Kelly is passionate about allergy friendly cooking and baking. She believes that you can enjoy amazing, easy recipes even when cooking for multiple food allergies.
Kelly Roenicke
Latest posts by Kelly Roenicke (see all)
  • Slow Cooker Garlic Chicken Thighs. - September 22, 2023
  • Dairy Free Cheesy Vegetable Soup. - September 18, 2023
  • Dairy Free Seasoned Rice. - September 14, 2023

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jo Waters

    February 08, 2019 at 2:05 pm

    5 stars
    Everyone in our home loved this and I have some picky eaters. Best home made curry recipe I have tried!

    Reply
  2. Jodi

    November 13, 2018 at 4:05 am

    5 stars
    This dish is absolutely delicious! I have made a few dairy free curries and this is definitely the best. It’s creamy and perfectly spiced. Thank you!

    Reply
  3. Sekhar Padmanabhan

    October 08, 2018 at 11:00 pm

    Hi there!

    Would this work with something like tofu or garbanzo beans in place of the chicken?

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Kelly Roenicke

      October 17, 2018 at 9:46 am

      Yes, that would be good!

      Reply
  4. Katie

    June 28, 2018 at 6:57 pm

    5 stars
    Delicious recipe!

    Reply
  5. Bridgette Riggin

    February 27, 2018 at 11:09 pm

    I made this for the first time today. My family loved it! The spice level was perfect and the flavors were so wonderful.

    Reply
    • Kelly Roenicke

      March 12, 2018 at 10:30 am

      So glad to hear that!

      Reply
  6. Amy

    November 20, 2015 at 10:29 am

    I made a quick version yesterday for lunch, it was perfect.

    Reply
  7. Jena @fuelingafitfam

    November 11, 2015 at 6:14 pm

    This looks amazing! I am always looking for new dinner ideas! My nursing baby is not digesting diary or soy well so take out is not an option for us either and it is breaking my heart. Seven months and I still crave my favorite Thai place! This will definitely be on the menu next week!

    Reply
    • Kelly

      November 15, 2015 at 8:09 am

      Thank you! I understand how you feel, that can be so difficult! I hope you love this dish!

      Reply
  8. Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice

    November 11, 2015 at 8:00 am

    I love the flavors in this curry, Kelly! Sounds like such a delicious lunch or dinner!

    Reply
    • Kelly

      November 15, 2015 at 8:16 am

      Thanks, Gayle!

      Reply
  9. Julia

    November 11, 2015 at 12:59 am

    Magnificent! I’m all about chicken curry and am always interested to see how other people make it. This is on my to do list, for sure! And I hear ya on the Indian food..I’d have a hard time not ordering take out from my favorite restaurant here on a lazy night. Looks like you’ve got your ethnic fix covered, though!

    Reply

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An easy, comforting, delicious recipe for dairy free chicken coconut curry. The perfect wintertime dinner!
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Hi! I’m Kelly, and I believe that you can enjoy amazing, easy recipes even when cooking for multiple food allergies.

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