Easy Keto Chicken Curry

I love curry! Specifically chicken curry, but really any keto curry brings me joy. And I’d eat it for every single meal if my husband didn’t have a say. Making it at home gives you all the warmth and complexity that you crave from your favorite Indian restaurant in the comfort of your own kitchen.

Here’s what I’ve learned from my love affair, but Beware! You may crave it every day now too—and when you do I’ve got more curry based low carb chicken recipes, such as my curry chicken salad, chicken curry soup, and my keto chicken tikka masala.

Testing, Testing 1, 2, 3!

This is easily the most tested recipe that I’ve ever shared with you for one simple reason: I love to make it, I love to eat it. Is that two reasons!? Maybe. Here’s how to love this keto chicken curry as much as I do:

The first thing I want you to do is to skip a step. So many recipes call to brown the meat, and while this does develop flavor, I find that it can be difficult to get it just right, resulting in tough chicken. I skipped this step one night and let the chicken gently poach in the coconut milk and spices. It was the most tender chicken curry I had ever made. Better results, less work!? I’m in!

Here’s the trade-off—I insist that you toast your spices. In only a couple of minutes, dried spices get toasty and take on a whole new depth of flavor. Trust me, it’s worth your time.

And here’s where all the recipe testing really pays off. I had made this low carb curry so many times and was happy with the flavor—but honestly, it was still missing something. After a lot of research, I learned that the secret to the thick, slightly sweet, restaurant-style sauce is the addition of a sautéed onion. It adds mellow sweetness and the perfect amount of body. Using a blender makes the texture smooth and luscious.

Mmmmm… I can’t even write about this keto curry without craving it… I think I know what’s for dinner tonight!

What to Expect From This Keto Chicken Curry Recipe

Maybe you’ve had chicken curry a million times before and are looking for a recipe to call you own. Maybe you’ve heard it’s delicious but aren’t sure what to expect. Here’s what this recipe will deliver: 

• Thick, creamy, sweet and coconut-y sauce
• Zesty
• Warm and comforting
• Great meal prep/freezer meal
• KETO! Low carb!

Important Ingredient Notes

This easy keto chicken curry recipe comes together with a handful of kitchen staples. Here are a few ingredients notes before you get shopping:

1. Coconut milk – For this keto chicken curry recipe, we want the THICK full fat coconut milk, which can be found in the canned goods aisle–the thinner refrigerated coconut milk is not a sub here, as it won’t add as much creamy flavor. Now, if you have an allergy to coconut milk, you can use chicken broth–however, I MUCH prefer coconut chicken curry.
2. Chicken – Most curry recipes are made with cubed chicken, but I prefer the texture of thinly sliced. Feel free to use whatever you prefer, just make sure the chicken has cooked to 165 F before removing it from heat.
3. Ginger – Pro tip, you can buy peeled and grated ginger in the freezer section of Trader Joes. YES!

Reheat/Storing/Freezing Tips

This dish is one of my favorite freezer meals. I like to store portions in individual bags–just remove as much air from the bag as possible before freezing. Chicken curry is easy to reheat in the microwave or over the stove, just top your warm bowl of curry with some freshly chopped cilantro before serving.

Serving Recommendations

The obvious answer here is curry chicken and rice with a side of freshly baked naan–but feel free to serve this dish however you’d like! Just me know what you try in the comments below.

Is Curry Keto?

This keto chicken curry has 7g total carbs, and 5g net carbs per serving, with 6 servings per the recipe below. Now, there are ways to cut the carbs in curry even more, just know it will totally change the flavor of the recipe. For example, you can:

1. Skip the onion
2. Skip the diced tomatoes

If you’re after a keto curry, I would focus most on what you serve this dish with. There are plenty of options for serving alongside curry instead of rice for low carb dinners–cauliflower rice and low carb naan are my two faves.

Commonly Asked Questions

Take the guesswork out of how to make keto chicken curry with these commonly asked questions:

• Is curry healthy? This depends on your goals and eating plan, but curry is loaded with spices such as turmeric, which is known to reduce inflammation. It’s also packed with protein (from the chicken) and fat (from the coconut milk).
• How can I add flavor to chicken curry? You can adjust the spices in your curry to your liking. I suggest taste testing after your curry has simmered, then adjust the seasoning and salt to your liking.
• How do I make spicy curry? Adjust the amount of cayenne pepper added to this recipe. You can also add a jalapeno in with the onion.
• How do you thicken a curry? The reason we saute, then puree the onion is to create a THICK red curry sauce. If you like your curry even thicker, consider adding 1/8-1/4 teaspoon of xanthan gum. This thickens sauces just like flour, but with a cleaner flavor.
• Can I add vegetables to the curry? YES! Just be sure to saute them before, otherwise, they’ll water down your sauce. I love low carb vegetables such as broccoli and mushrooms in my curry.
• Do I have to blend the sauce? Nope! Just keep in mind, if you skip this step, your curry sauce will be thinner and not as sweet.

More Asian Inspired Recipes

• Hunan Chicken
• Thai Chicken Soup
• Asian Chicken Marinade
• Chinese Chicken Salad
• Thai Chicken Salad

Keto Chicken Curry

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Servings :6 servings

Prep Time25 mins

Cook Time25 mins

Total Time50 mins

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Ingredients

• ▢ 2 tablespoons Coconut oil or vegetable oil divided (Note 1)
• ▢ 1 1/2 cups Yellow onion chopped (1 medium)
• ▢ 3 Garlic Cloves minced
• ▢ 2 Teaspoons Ginger minced
• ▢ 1 Tablespoon Curry Powder
• ▢ 1 Teaspoon Ground Cumin
• ▢ 1 Teaspoon Ground Turmeric
• ▢ 1 Teaspoon Ground Coriander
• ▢ 1/2 - 1 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
• ▢ 1 13.5 Oz can Full Fat Coconut Milk (Note 2)
• ▢ 3/4 cup Canned Diced Tomatoes drained
• ▢ 1.5 Lb Chicken Breasts boneless/skinless. Sliced very thin (Note 3+4)
• ▢ 1 - 1 1/2 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
• ▢ 2 Tablespoon Fresh Cilantro

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

• Saute + Simmer. Heat 2 tablespoons mild tasting oil over medium heat in a dutch oven or large pot (make sure you have a lid for this). Add onion and saute until soft, about 6 minutes. Add garlic and ginger, and saute until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes. Add curry powder, cumin, turmeric, coriander, and cayenne pepper (start with 1/2 teaspoon, we'll adjust later), and toast another minute or two, until fragrant. Stir in the coconut milk and tomatoes, and bring your sauce to a simmer. Simmer to marry the flavors for 5 minutes.
• Blend + Taste. Ladle or pour the sauce into a blender (Note 5 skipping blender option) along with the salt -- start with 1 teaspoon of salt and increase to your liking, I always use 1 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Blend sauce until completely smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning -- add more cayenne pepper if you'd like a spicier curry.
• Want to add veggies to your curry? See note 6 below.
• Chicken. Add the sauce back to the pot along with your veggies. Add chicken and stir to combine. Bring sauce to a simmer, and cover/cook until the chicken reaches an internal temp of 165 F -- about 7-11 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in cilantro, and serve over cauliflower rice or rice. Enjoy!

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Lindsey's Tips

1. Vegetable or coconut oil. We want an oil with a high smoke point. For this particular recipe, coconut oil is a great option to enhance the coconut flavor.
2. Full-fat coconut milk. This is coconut milk in a can, light coconut milk (from the refrigerator section) is not a substitute.
3. Chicken (thin slicing hack!). Freeze the chicken for 10 to 15 minutes before cutting for an easier slice.
4. Cubed vs. thinly sliced chicken. I prefer the texture of thinly sliced chicken in curry, but it's up to you. If you'd rather cubed, slice chicken into 1" cubes.
5. Can I make this without a blender? Yes, however, your sauce will be thinner and not as sweet (still delicious!).
6. Want to add veggies to your curry? Before adding your sauce back to the pot, saute veggies in 2 tablespoons of shimmering oil (the same type you used before), until they're soft and enough liquid has been released to not water down our sauce (about 6-8 minutes). We love adding broccoli and red bell peppers.
7. Nutritional information is for 1/6 of this recipe and doesn't include cauliflower rice/rice, or additional veggies:

Nutrition

Calories: 202kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 25gFat: 8gCholesterol: 73mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gNet Carbs: 5g

©Little Pine Low Carb. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media/website/blog is strictly prohibited.

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