Easy Chicken Curry (Printer-friendly)

Creamy chicken curry with aromatic spices and yogurt, ready in 45 minutes for easy weeknight dinners.

# Ingredient List:

→ Meats

01 - 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces

→ Vegetables & Aromatics

02 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 inch ginger, grated
05 - 2 medium tomatoes, finely chopped

→ Dairy

06 - 1/2 cup plain whole-milk yogurt
07 - 1/4 cup heavy cream

→ Spices

08 - 2 tablespoons curry powder
09 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
10 - 1 teaspoon ground coriander
11 - 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
12 - 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
13 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
14 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

→ Other

15 - 2 tablespoons vegetable oil or ghee
16 - 1/2 cup water
17 - Fresh cilantro leaves, chopped for garnish

# Directions:

01 - Heat oil or ghee in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and sauté until soft and golden, approximately 5 minutes.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and grated ginger, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add chicken pieces and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned on all sides, approximately 5 minutes.
04 - Sprinkle in curry powder, cumin, coriander, turmeric, chili powder, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to coat chicken and cook for 1 minute to release spice aromas.
05 - Add chopped tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes, allowing them to soften and break down into the base.
06 - Lower heat and stir in yogurt, mixing thoroughly. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
07 - Pour in water and heavy cream, stirring to combine. Simmer gently for 5 to 10 minutes until chicken is cooked through and sauce achieves a creamy, slightly thickened consistency.
08 - Taste and adjust salt or spices as needed for desired flavor balance.
09 - Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve hot with rice or naan.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour but tastes like you simmered it all afternoon.
  • The creamy, tangy sauce clings to every bite without feeling heavy or complicated.
  • You can adjust the heat and spice levels without losing any of the warmth or depth.
  • Leftovers somehow taste even better the next day, soaking up all those flavors overnight.
02 -
  • Always add the yogurt off high heat or it will split and turn grainy instead of creamy.
  • Blooming the spices in the pan for a full minute makes all the difference between flat and deeply flavored.
  • Chicken thighs are more forgiving than breasts, they stay moist even if you simmer a few extra minutes.
03 -
  • Use a heavy-bottomed skillet to prevent the sauce from scorching as it simmers.
  • Let the chicken rest in the sauce for a few minutes after cooking so it soaks up even more flavor.
  • If the sauce gets too thick, add water a tablespoon at a time until it reaches the consistency you want.
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