How to Make Chicken Curry at Home (Step-by-Step Recipe)

Welcome to my kitchen! I’m Ritika, and like many of you, my love for Indian food started with family traditions and everyday cooking. There’s nothing quite like a warm, comforting bowl of chicken curry served with fluffy rice or warm naan. It’s the ultimate comfort food for a curry lover.

Today, I’m excited to share with you a truly special recipe – my go-to simple chicken curry recipe. This is a traditional chicken curry recipe that uses basic ingredients you likely already have in your pantry to create a dish bursting with flavor. Whether you’re new to Indian cooking or looking for a reliable recipe, this one is a fantastic place to start.

About Chicken Curry

Chicken Curry is a classic Indian dish made by simmering pieces of chicken in a rich, flavorful sauce with lots of spices, herbs, onions, and tomatoes. It’s believed to have originated in India and is now enjoyed all over the world. You might also hear it called curried chicken.

Indian cuisine is incredibly diverse, which means there are countless ways to make Indian-style chicken curry. While spices, herbs, and onions are always staples, some recipes use ingredients like yogurt, coconut, poppy seeds, or nuts to make the sauce thicker and add different layers of flavor. This particular recipe focuses on classic ingredients for a wonderfully balanced taste.

Ingredients

Gathering your ingredients is the first step to making this delicious chicken curry recipe.

Here’s what you’ll need, based on a traditional approach:

• Chicken: ½ kg (about 1.1 lbs.) chicken, preferably bone-in for the best flavor and texture, but boneless works too. Curry-cut chicken, which includes pieces from a whole chicken, is traditionally used in many Indian households.
• Oil: 2 to 3 tablespoons oil.
• Onions: 1 cup (about 3 medium) finely chopped onions. Finely chopping helps them cook down into the sauce.
• Green Chilies: 1 to 2, slit (adjust based on your spice preference).
• Ginger Garlic Paste: 1 tablespoon, or mince ¾ inch ginger and 3 cloves of garlic.
• Tomatoes: ½ cup (about 2 medium) pureed or finely chopped. If using canned tomatoes, you may need to adjust the spices.
• Yogurt (optional but recommended): ¼ cup whisked yogurt. Choose thick yogurt with less whey. You can substitute this with cashew butter or a paste made from soaked cashews, almonds, or poppy seeds.
• Salt: ½ to ¾ teaspoon (adjust to your taste).
• Hot Water: ½ to 1 cup, or light coconut milk. Using hot water helps prevent the chicken from becoming tough.
• Coriander Leaves: 2 tablespoons finely chopped, or mint leaves. You’ll need more for garnish later.

Spice Powders

• Turmeric Powder: ¼ teaspoon.
• Kashmiri Red Chili Powder: 1 teaspoon, or smoked paprika (use ½ tsp for less spice).
• Garam Masala: 1 teaspoon (you can add ½ tsp more later if needed, adjust to taste). Using a good quality garam masala is key to a delicious curry. You can use homemade or store-bought.
• Coriander Powder: 1 teaspoon.

Whole Spices (Optional but Recommended)

These add an extra layer of traditional flavor. You can leave them out if you don’t have them.

• Bay Leaf: 1 small, or 1 sprig of curry leaves.
• Cinnamon: 2-inch piece.
• Cloves: 4.
• Green Cardamom: 3.

Steps to Make Chicken Curry

Making this best chicken curry recipe is a labor of love that pays off in flavor! The key is slow cooking to let the spices meld beautifully.

Watch Video: How to Make Butter Chicken

1. Heat the Oil: On a medium flame, heat the oil in a heavy bottom pan. A heavy bottom pan helps distribute heat evenly.
2. Add Whole Spices (Optional): Once the oil is hot, add the bay leaf, cinnamon, cloves, and green cardamoms.
3. Sauté Onions: Stir in the finely chopped onions and green chilies. Sauté them until they turn a deep golden color, which should take about 7 to 8 minutes. Properly sautéing the onions until deep golden is crucial for building the foundational flavor base of your curry.
4. Add Ginger Garlic Paste: Stir in the ginger garlic paste and sauté until you smell a nice aroma, about a minute. Make sure the raw smell disappears completely.
5. Cook Tomatoes: Add the tomatoes, turmeric, and salt. Mix well and cook until the tomatoes become soft and mushy. Fry until the raw smell has gone and the tomatoes are completely mushy.
6. Add Yogurt and Spices: Turn the heat down to low. Stir in the whisked yogurt (or cashew paste), red chili powder, garam masala, and coriander powder.
   • Tip: If using yogurt, whisk it well with a fork. For extra caution against splitting, you can temper the yogurt by mixing in 2 tablespoons of the hot onion-tomato masala before adding the yogurt to the pan. Lower the flame completely before pouring the yogurt in.
7. Sauté Spice Mix: Cook on low heat until the mixture smells wonderful and aromatic. Sauté until it becomes thick and begins to smell good. Cooking the spices on low heat is important as it prevents them from burning and allows their flavors to bloom fully.
8. Add Chicken: Add the chicken pieces and the 2 tablespoons of chopped coriander or mint leaves. Fry on a medium heat until the chicken turns white or pale in color, which takes around 3 minutes. Sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until the chicken turns pale.
9. Absorb Flavors: Cover the pan and cook on a low heat for 3 to 4 minutes. This step is really important as it lets the chicken soak up all those delicious spice flavors before adding liquid.
10. Heat Water: While the chicken absorbs flavors, heat up 1 cup of water in a separate pot or microwave. Remember, using hot water is key to keeping the chicken tender.
11. Add Water and Simmer: Pour in just enough hot water to create a thick gravy, starting with about ½ cup. The chicken will release moisture as it cooks, so you can add more water later if you need a thinner consistency. Just use enough to partially cover the chicken.
12. Cook Until Tender: Cover the pan again and cook on a low to medium heat until the chicken is soft and tender. This took about 10 minutes for the original recipe author, but it can vary based on your chicken and the size of the pieces. Do not cook on a high temperature. The chicken is done when it falls off the bone easily if using bone-in pieces.
13. Final Adjustments: Check if the chicken is cooked by pricking it with a fork – it should be soft. Taste the curry and add more salt if needed. If the flavor feels a bit low, you can also add another ½ teaspoon of garam masala at this stage.
14. Finish: When the curry reaches your desired consistency, switch off the stove. Garnish with more fresh coriander leaves. Keep it covered until you are ready to serve.

Recipe Summary: Prep Time, Cook Time and Servings

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 35 minutes
• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Servings: 3 people

Serving Suggestions

This delicious simple chicken curry pairs wonderfully with many things. In my home, we love to serve it with:

• Fluffy steamed rice
• Turmeric rice
• Jeera rice (cumin rice)
• Ghee rice
• Naan
• Chapati or roti
• Artisan bread

For a complete meal, you can also add a simple raita (yogurt side dish), an onion salad, or kachumber (a simple Indian salad) on the side.

Expert Tips from My Kitchen

Based on my experience making this dish, here are a few extra tips to help you get the best results:

Tip 1 – Onion Prep: Take the time to fine chop your onions. This helps them cook down into that lovely, jammy texture in the curry sauce. You can use a chopper or food processor to speed this up.

Tip 2 – Slow Cooking is Key: Don’t rush the cooking process. A slow-cooked curry on a low heat really allows the flavors to develop beautifully and stands out compared to a curry cooked quickly on high heat.

Tip 3 – Chicken Choice: While boneless chicken is convenient, bone-in chicken adds wonderful depth of flavor due to the marrow. It can also help naturally thicken the curry without needing extra thickeners.

Tip 4 – Don’t Skip Whole Spices (If You Can): Bay leaf, cinnamon, cloves, and cardamoms add a more intense and robust flavor to the curry. Since ground spices can lose potency over time, whole spices release flavors slowly as the curry simmers.

Tip 5 – Yogurt Tips: Using a thicker, less sour yogurt with less whey works best to prevent splitting. If your yogurt is runny, you can strain it first. Tempering the yogurt as described in step 6 is also a great technique.

Tip 6 – Substitutes for Thickening: If you’re not using yogurt or want a creamier sauce, you can use a paste made from soaked cashews, almonds, or white poppy seeds. Just blend them with hot water until super smooth. Coconut or coconut paste is also a traditional option.

Tip 7 – Make it Creamy: Towards the end of cooking, you can stir in 3 to 4 tablespoons of heavy cream, cooking cream, or thick coconut milk for a richer, creamier texture. Be careful not to add too much, as it can make the dish bland.

Tip 8 – Pressure Cooker: If you are using country chicken (naatu kodi / kozhi), you can make this in a pressure cooker. Cook for about 4 whistles on a medium flame.

Tip 9 – Freezing: Yes, you can freeze leftover chicken curry.

Tip 10 – Sourcing Spices: The quality of your spices significantly impacts the final dish. Try to source fresh, good quality spices for the best flavor.

Tip 11 – Adjusting Spice Levels: Remember to adjust the amount of green chilies and red chili powder based on your personal spice preference. You can also add more garam masala at the end for a spicier finish if desired.

Variations

This recipe is a fantastic base, and you can easily adapt it:

1. Smooth Sauce: If you prefer a curry without chunky onions and tomatoes, you can cool the sautéed onion-tomato mixture (masala) after step 7, blend it with about half a cup of water until smooth, and then strain this puree back into the pan with the chicken.
2. Using Coconut Milk: As mentioned in the ingredients, you can use hot light coconut milk instead of water for a different flavor profile. You can also add thick coconut milk at the end for creaminess. This variation is sometimes referred to as how to make chicken curry with coconut milk.
3. Using Curry Powder: While this recipe uses individual ground spices, you can substitute them with a good quality curry powder as needed. Note that curry powder has a different aroma and spice level than garam masala. This would be an easy chicken curry with curry powder.
4. Make it Your Own: Feel free to experiment! You can add other vegetables like potatoes, peas, or bell peppers, or even try this base recipe with different types of protein like goat or lamb (adjusting cooking time accordingly).

Nutrition Per Serving (1/3 of Recipe)

• Calories: ~300–350 kcal
• Protein: ~25–30 g
• Fat: ~15–20 g
  • Saturated Fat: ~3–5 g
• Carbohydrates: ~10–15 g
• Sugars: ~4–6 g
• Fiber: ~2–3 g
• Cholesterol: ~90–110 mg
• Sodium: ~400–600 mg (varies with added salt)

Note That: If you’re using skinless chicken breast, the fat and calories will be lower. Adding coconut milk, cream, or yogurt will increase the fat content. Serving it with rice or naan will add additional carbs and calories.

Please note that this is an estimated nutrition information per serving, based on a yield of 3 servings for this recipe.. The exact values may vary depending on the specific ingredients and quantities you use.

I hope you enjoy making and sharing this homemade chicken curry recipe as much as I do! It’s truly a taste of home.

Happy Cooking!

About the Author

Ritika Yadav

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Chicken Curry Recipe

Learn how to make chicken curry at home with this easy recipe—flavor-packed, beginner-friendly, and better than your favorite takeout!

Course Main Course

Cuisine Indian

Keyword chicken curry

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes minutes

Total Time 50 minutes minutes

Servings 3

Calories 350kcal

Author Ritika Yadav

Equipment

• 1 Heavy-bottom pan with lid
• 1 Cutting Board
• 1 Spatula or Wooden Spoon
• 1 Bowl & Whisk/Fork
• 1 Small Pot or Microwave-Safe Bowl
• 1 Knife

Ingredients

• Chicken: ½ kg about 1.1 lbs. chicken, preferably bone-in for the best flavor and texture, but boneless works too. Curry-cut chicken, which includes pieces from a whole chicken, is traditionally used in many Indian households.
• Oil: 2 to 3 tablespoons oil.
• Onions: 1 cup about 3 medium finely chopped onions. Finely chopping helps them cook down into the sauce.
• Green Chilies: 1 to 2 slit (adjust based on your spice preference).
• Ginger Garlic Paste: 1 tablespoon or mince ¾ inch ginger and 3 cloves of garlic.
• Tomatoes: ½ cup about 2 medium pureed or finely chopped. If using canned tomatoes, you may need to adjust the spices.
• Yogurt optional but recommended: ¼ cup whisked yogurt. Choose thick yogurt with less whey. You can substitute this with cashew butter or a paste made from soaked cashews, almonds, or poppy seeds.
• Salt: ½ to ¾ teaspoon adjust to your taste.
• Hot Water: ½ to 1 cup or light coconut milk. Using hot water helps prevent the chicken from becoming tough.
• Coriander Leaves: 2 tablespoons finely chopped or mint leaves. You’ll need more for garnish later.
• Turmeric Powder: ¼ teaspoon.
• Kashmiri Red Chili Powder: 1 teaspoon or smoked paprika (use ½ tsp for less spice).
• Garam Masala: 1 teaspoon you can add ½ tsp more later if needed, adjust to taste. Using a good quality garam masala is key to a delicious curry. You can use homemade or store-bought.
• Coriander Powder: 1 teaspoon.
• Bay Leaf: 1 small or 1 sprig of curry leaves.
• Cinnamon: 2-inch piece.
• Cloves: 4.
• Green Cardamom: 3.

Instructions

• Heat the Oil: On a medium flame, heat the oil in a heavy bottom pan. A heavy bottom pan helps distribute heat evenly.
• Add Whole Spices (Optional): Once the oil is hot, add the bay leaf, cinnamon, cloves, and green cardamoms.
• Sauté Onions: Stir in the finely chopped onions and green chilies. Sauté them until they turn a deep golden color, which should take about 7 to 8 minutes. Properly sautéing the onions until deep golden is crucial for building the foundational flavor base of your curry.
• Add Ginger Garlic Paste: Stir in the ginger garlic paste and sauté until you smell a nice aroma, about a minute. Make sure the raw smell disappears completely.
• Cook Tomatoes: Add the tomatoes, turmeric, and salt. Mix well and cook until the tomatoes become soft and mushy. Fry until the raw smell has gone and the tomatoes are completely mushy.
• Add Yogurt and Spices: Turn the heat down to low. Stir in the whisked yogurt (or cashew paste), red chili powder, garam masala, and coriander powder.
• Tip: If using yogurt, whisk it well with a fork. For extra caution against splitting, you can temper the yogurt by mixing in 2 tablespoons of the hot onion-tomato masala before adding the yogurt to the pan. Lower the flame completely before pouring the yogurt in.
• Sauté Spice Mix: Cook on low heat until the mixture smells wonderful and aromatic. Sauté until it becomes thick and begins to smell good. Cooking the spices on low heat is important as it prevents them from burning and allows their flavors to bloom fully.
• Add Chicken: Add the chicken pieces and the 2 tablespoons of chopped coriander or mint leaves. Fry on a medium heat until the chicken turns white or pale in color, which takes around 3 minutes. Sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until the chicken turns pale.
• Absorb Flavors: Cover the pan and cook on a low heat for 3 to 4 minutes. This step is really important as it lets the chicken soak up all those delicious spice flavors before adding liquid.
• Heat Water: While the chicken absorbs flavors, heat up 1 cup of water in a separate pot or microwave. Remember, using hot water is key to keeping the chicken tender.
• Add Water and Simmer: Pour in just enough hot water to create a thick gravy, starting with about ½ cup. The chicken will release moisture as it cooks, so you can add more water later if you need a thinner consistency. Just use enough to partially cover the chicken.
• Cook Until Tender: Cover the pan again and cook on a low to medium heat until the chicken is soft and tender. This took about 10 minutes for the original recipe author, but it can vary based on your chicken and the size of the pieces. Do not cook on a high temperature. The chicken is done when it falls off the bone easily if using bone-in pieces.
• Final Adjustments: Check if the chicken is cooked by pricking it with a fork – it should be soft. Taste the curry and add more salt if needed. If the flavor feels a bit low, you can also add another ½ teaspoon of garam masala at this stage.
• Finish: When the curry reaches your desired consistency, switch off the stove. Garnish with more fresh coriander leaves. Keep it covered until you are ready to serve.

Video

Notes

1. Onion Prep: Take the time to fine chop your onions. This helps them cook down into that lovely, jammy texture in the curry sauce. You can use a chopper or food processor to speed this up.
2. Slow Cooking is Key: Don’t rush the cooking process. A slow-cooked curry on a low heat really allows the flavors to develop beautifully and stands out compared to a curry cooked quickly on high heat.
3. Chicken Choice: While boneless chicken is convenient, bone-in chicken adds wonderful depth of flavor due to the marrow. It can also help naturally thicken the curry without needing extra thickeners.
4. Don’t Skip Whole Spices (If You Can): Bay leaf, cinnamon, cloves, and cardamoms add a more intense and robust flavor to the curry. Since ground spices can lose potency over time, whole spices release flavors slowly as the curry simmers.
5. Yogurt Tips: Using a thicker, less sour yogurt with less whey works best to prevent splitting. If your yogurt is runny, you can strain it first. Tempering the yogurt as described in step 6 is also a great technique.
6. Substitutes for Thickening: If you’re not using yogurt or want a creamier sauce, you can use a paste made from soaked cashews, almonds, or white poppy seeds. Just blend them with hot water until super smooth. Coconut or coconut paste is also a traditional option.
7. Make it Creamy: Towards the end of cooking, you can stir in 3 to 4 tablespoons of heavy cream, cooking cream, or thick coconut milk for a richer, creamier texture. Be careful not to add too much, as it can make the dish bland.
8. Pressure Cooker: If you are using country chicken (naatu kodi / kozhi), you can make this in a pressure cooker. Cook for about 4 whistles on a medium flame.
9. Freezing: Yes, you can freeze leftover chicken curry.
10. Sourcing Spices: The quality of your spices significantly impacts the final dish. Try to source fresh, good quality spices for the best flavor.
11. Adjusting Spice Levels: Remember to adjust the amount of green chilies and red chili powder based on your personal spice preference. You can also add more garam masala at the end for a spicier finish if desired.

 

Variations

This recipe is a fantastic base, and you can easily adapt it:

1. Smooth Sauce: If you prefer a curry without chunky onions and tomatoes, you can cool the sautéed onion-tomato mixture (masala) after step 7, blend it with about half a cup of water until smooth, and then strain this puree back into the pan with the chicken.
2. Using Coconut Milk: As mentioned in the ingredients, you can use hot light coconut milk instead of water for a different flavor profile. You can also add thick coconut milk at the end for creaminess. This variation is sometimes referred to as how to make chicken curry with coconut milk.
3. Using Curry Powder: While this recipe uses individual ground spices, you can substitute them with a good quality curry powder as needed. Note that curry powder has a different aroma and spice level than garam masala. This would be an easy chicken curry with curry powder.
4. Make it Your Own: Feel free to experiment! You can add other vegetables like potatoes, peas, or bell peppers, or even try this base recipe with different types of protein like goat or lamb (adjusting cooking time accordingly).