Indian Chicken Curry with Evaporated Milk (Easy Recipe) (2024)

This Quick Indian Chicken Curry recipe is bursting with amazing spicy flavor and is ready to eat in just 30 minutes! It is made with boneless, skinless chicken breasts, curry powder, coconut oil, yellow onion, garlic, ginger, lemon juice, crushed tomatoes, and evaporated milk. Learn how to make homemade chicken curry with this fast and easy recipe.

Indian Chicken Curry with Evaporated Milk (Easy Recipe) (1)

Quick Chicken Curry: An Easy Indian Dinner Recipe

You are going to love this spicy, rich curry made with tender, juicy pieces of chicken. It is ideal for busy weeknights because it delivers maximum flavor in minimal time. Serve this rich, flavorful curry over steamed basmati rice or with warm naan bread for a complete, satisfying dinner when you are in the mood for something exotic.

Normally when you read Indian recipes, they include a large number of spices in the ingredient list that many people don’t readily have on hand. So, I developed a recipe that uses curry powder, which contains a bunch of fragrant spices that have been ground up and mixed together in one handy package.

This curry recipe uses evaporated milk, rather than heavy cream, to add creaminess and to tone down the spices a bit. Evaporated milk adds almost the same creaminess, but with much less of the fat and calories than heavy cream.

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More Curry Recipes to Try

Craving more spicy dinner inspiration? Here are some of my faves:

  • Indian Butter Chicken
  • Mixed Vegetable Curry
  • Curried Pumpkin Soup
  • Coconut Chickpea Curry
  • Thai Shrimp Noodle Soup

Indian Chicken Curry with Evaporated Milk (Easy Recipe) (2)

Where to Buy Organic Chicken and Other Meats

I am a huge advocate of only eating organic, humanely-raised chicken. This is because naturally-raised, organic meat is just so much more healthy, ethical, sustainable and flavorful than factory-farmed meat. And for the best-tasting organic chicken and other meats, I highly recommend using ButcherBox.

ButcherBox is a popular organic meat delivery service that delivers hormone-free and antibiotic-free cuts directly to your door. Their meat selection includes 100% grass-fed and grass-finished beef, free-range chicken, heritage breed pork, and wild-caught seafood.

The main reason why I love ButcherBox is because of the high quality of their meat. ButcherBox sells the cleanest, healthiest meat possible and it always tastes amazing. The meat arrives frozen and individually vacuum-packed in an insulated and eco-friendly box. The price works out to less than $6 per meal and shipping is free!

If you want to learn more about ButcherBox, I have written a detailed Butcher Box Review here on the blog. But if you still don’t think ButcherBox is for you, I wrote another article called: The Best Organic Meat Delivery Services. In that article, I discuss a bunch of online delivery services for organic meat (in addition to ButcherBox) that might be a better fit for you.

Indian Chicken Curry with Evaporated Milk (Easy Recipe) (3)

Can You Freeze Chicken Curry?

This recipe freezes really well, so you could make a bit batch and then store some (or all) of it in the freezer. That way you can have chicken curry on-hand and ready to go on evenings when you don’t have time to cook dinner. Just remember to transfer it to the fridge a day or so in advance, so that it has time to defrost.

For this Quick Indian Chicken Curry Recipe, I recommend:

Here are a some pantry staples that I suggest using to ensure this chicken curry recipe turns out perfect. All of these ingredients can be ordered online from Thrive Market, which is an online retailer that sells healthy, organic food at wholesale prices. I like to think of it like Amazon (online marketplace) meets Costco (wholesale prices) meets Whole Foods (all wholesome, junk-free foods).

  • Thrive Market Curry Powder – The quality of this curry powder is excellent and it gives a rich, fragrant, and well-rounded flavor to curries and spicy dishes.
  • Pure Lemon Juice– I don’t always have fresh lemons on hand, so I like to keep a bottle of organic lemon juice in my fridge. I use this one because it is 100% pure fruit juice (not from concentrate) and nothing else.
  • Nutiva Coconut Oil – I always use this unrefined, virgin, and organic coconut oil for optimal flavor and health benefits.

If you’re interested in purchasing any of the above items, you’ll need to get a Thrive Market membership. However, if you’re a reader of my website, you will get an exclusive bonus when you sign up:

Click here to get a FREE gift, up to $22 value, when you purchase a 1-month or 1-year risk-free Thrive Market membership!

If you make this Quick Indian Chicken Curry recipe, let me know! Leave a comment with a star rating ★ below, because I love hearing from you! ♡

Indian Chicken Curry with Evaporated Milk (Easy Recipe) (4)

Indian Chicken Curry with Evaporated Milk (Easy Recipe)

Alia Kay

This Indian Chicken Curry recipe is super quick and easy to make. Serve with rice or naan bread for a hearty, satisfying meal.

5 from 9 votes

Print Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Main

Cuisine Indian

Servings 6 servings

Calories 197 calories

Ingredients

  • 5 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons curry powder, divided
  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil
  • 1 yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon grated ginger
  • 1 (15-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup evaporated milk

Instructions

Notes

  1. Serve your chicken curry with rice or naan for a satisfying meal.
  2. If possible, I highly recommend using organic chicken in this recipe.
  3. Leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for about a week or can be frozen for up to three months.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Indian Chicken Curry with Evaporated Milk (Easy Recipe)

Amount per Serving

Calories

197

% Daily Value*

Fat

7

g

11

%

Saturated Fat

4

g

25

%

Cholesterol

66

mg

22

%

Potassium

684

mg

20

%

Carbohydrates

11

g

4

%

Fiber

2

g

8

%

Sugar

6

g

7

%

Protein

23

g

46

%

Vitamin A

251

IU

5

%

Vitamin C

12

mg

15

%

Calcium

101

mg

10

%

Iron

2

mg

11

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Keyword Chicken Curry, Chicken Curry with Evaporated Milk, Indian Chicken Curry

Did you try this recipe?Let me know what you thought!

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Indian Chicken Curry with Evaporated Milk (Easy Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

Can I use evaporated milk instead of coconut milk in curry? ›

Evaporated milk

Evaporated milk is an excellent substitute for coconut milk in soups or creamy dishes and can be used at a 1:1 ratio. It's made by heating cow's milk to remove up to 60% of its water content. Still, this thick, slightly caramelized product isn't suitable for people who don't consume dairy (11).

Can I use evaporated milk instead of heavy cream in curry? ›

Evaporated Milk – With a similar consistency, you can use a 1-to-1 swap of evaporated milk for heavy cream in most sweet and savory dishes. Its flavor is richer with unique caramelized tones and is not a lower-fat option, but evaporated milk makes do in a pinch.

What is the secret ingredient in Indian curry? ›

TURMERIC. That is the go to spice in any South Indian kitchen to enhance a dish.

What is the secret to the best Indian curry? ›

Fresh Garlic and Ginger Paste

Garlic and ginger are maybe the most-loved ingredients in Indian cuisine. The combination of these two fragrant elements produce an aroma that is an integral part of the many Indian curry sauces, and adds a gorgeous depth and complexity to most of Indian cooking.

What is the conversion evaporated milk to coconut milk? ›

Another alternative for evaporated milk is to substitute coconut milk 1:1 in the recipe. This will impart a coconut flavor to the recipe, so it works in some recipes but not all.

How to make curry if you don t have coconut milk? ›

Our answer. If you don't like the taste of coconut milk (or some people also avoid coconut milk as it has a high fat content) then you could use either soy milk or almond milk as alternatives. However make sure that you use an unsweetened, unflavoured version of these milks.

How can I thicken my curry without cream? ›

Use wheat flour, rice flour, or coconut flour plus a fat (like ghee, olive oil, or coconut oil) in equal amounts. Cook both ingredients for a few minutes to cook out the raw flour taste, then add your curry ingredients. Once the whole curry dish comes to a boil, the sauce will thicken.

Does evaporated milk go bad? ›

The shelf life of an unopened evaporated milk is usually between 6 to 12 months, but check the label for a “Best By” date. It will not be harmful after that, but its flavor will have deteriorated. Once opened, it should last similarly to fresh milk held in the refrigerator, about five days to a week.

How do restaurants make curry so creamy? ›

The actual sweetness and creaminess of such curries meanwhile, usually comes from fried onions and either cashews and/or dairy products. Instead of (or in addition to) onion, ground coconut may be used. White poppy seeds and/or watermelon seeds are also used in some creamy sauces.

How to make Indian curry more creamy? ›

Pour coconut milk into the wok-if coconut milk has separated from the fat, pour the liquid in and add a tablespoon or so of fat until you have the creamy consistency that you desire.

How to enhance the taste of chicken curry? ›

1. Spices: Experiment with spices like turmeric, cumin, coriander, garam masala, or curry powder to enhance the flavor profile of your curry. 2. Fresh Herbs: Adding fresh herbs like cilantro, mint, or curry leaves can bring a burst of freshness to your curry.

What is the most important spice in curry? ›

Fenugreek (Methi)

This Indian spice is what people say "smells like curry." Of all Indian spices, this spice may be the most essential. You may use up to a few tablespoons in a family size dish near the end of the cooking process, but start with a teaspoon. Fenugreek seeds also have many health benefits.

What is the secret to authentic curry? ›

Onions are the key

Onions form the base of any memorable curry sauce. When cooking onions for curries, use plenty of oil and fry them until they are a rich, deep golden colour for maximum flavour.

How do you thicken Thai curry without coconut milk? ›

If while making the gravy base has become runny, there are a few corrections that can be made:
  1. Adding mashed potatoes, or simmering for some time if the dish has potatoes.
  2. Adding starchy slurry (cornflour, rice flour or plain flour, made into a paste in a couple of spoons of water)
  3. Adding beaten cream.
May 15, 2021

What is a good substitute for coconut milk? ›

In recipes where the fat content doesn't compromise texture, you plant-based beverages, such as coconut milk beverage, almond, cashew, macadamia, oat, soy or hemp, to substitute for traditional coconut milk. These plant-based beverage options would be best for smoothies, coffees and specialty drinks.

Is coconut milk the same as evaporated milk? ›

Evaporated milk adds a delicious thickness and creaminess to whatever you pair it with, and is a great choice for baking. Coconut milk, on the other hand, is much thinner, but still creamy. It's a great way of adding the delicious coconut flavor to different things, and has some solid nutritional benefits!

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