Tender Coconut Milk Chicken Recipe - Quick & Easy Dinner Idea! (2024)

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Katerina

4.66 from 223 votes

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This Coconut Milk Chicken recipe comes together in one pan, with a creamy sauce that’s out of this world. You’ll love this stellar combination of delicate coconut milk, perfectly cooked chicken breasts, and exotic spices!

Tender Coconut Milk Chicken Recipe - Quick & Easy Dinner Idea! (2)

Tender Coconut Chicken

If you’re craving something savory without the fuss (hello, easy weeknight dinners!), this Coconut Milk Chicken recipe is just what you need! It’s a breeze to make, coming together in about 30 minutes, and all you need is one pan. The flavors are fantastic – tender, white-meat chicken in a creamy, spice-infused sauce, with the added zing of diced onion and fresh tomatoes. I’m excited for you to try it; it’s the kind of dish you’ll keep coming back to.

Tender Coconut Milk Chicken Recipe - Quick & Easy Dinner Idea! (3)

Ingredients Needed

  • Boneless, skinless chicken breasts: You can also use boneless, skinless chicken thighs.
  • Cumin, Paprika, Oregano, and Cayenne Pepper
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Olive Oil
  • Yellow Onion: Yellow onions tend to be sweeter, but white onion will work also.
  • Fresh Garlic
  • Fresh Tomatoes or 1 can diced tomatoes
  • Coconut Milk: I recommend unsweetened, light coconut milk for this dish.
  • Cilantro or Parsley: Chop finely for a garnish.
Tender Coconut Milk Chicken Recipe - Quick & Easy Dinner Idea! (4)

How To Make Coconut Milk Chicken

  1. Prepare the Chicken Breasts: Pat dry the chicken breasts with paper towels and set aside. Combine spices, herbs, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Rub seasoning mixture all over chicken breasts.
  2. Brown the Chicken Breasts: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken breasts and cook for 6 to 7 minutes on each side, or until browned. Remove chicken, cover, and set aside.
  3. Create the Sauce: Gently saute onions, garlic, and tomatoes in the remaining olive oil until soft. Stir in the coconut milk and bring to a simmer; simmer for 5 minutes, or until the sauce thickens.
  4. Finish Cooking the Chicken in the Sauce: Carefully add the chicken breasts back into the pan. Be careful not to splash the simmering sauce. Reduce the heat to low, and cook for 4 or 5 more minutes until the chicken is tender but not dry and has an internal temperature of 165°F. Adjust the salt and pepper to taste, and garnish with cilantro or parsley before serving.

Tips For Perfectly Tender Chicken

Chicken breast is a wonderful protein option when prepared correctly, but it does dry out easily! To avoid this, try these tips.

  • Use a thermometer: If you think the chicken is nearly done, test it with a meat thermometer first. The internal temperature should be 165°F.
  • Do the knife test: Try cutting the chicken with a sharp knife. If it seems rubbery and resistant, but not dry, cook for 3 more minutes and try again. Rubbery chicken will be juicy, but not tender.
  • Be careful not to overcook the chicken. Once it has gone past the rubbery stage, it will be perfectly tender and moist. Further cooking will dry out the chicken and cause it to be tough.
Tender Coconut Milk Chicken Recipe - Quick & Easy Dinner Idea! (5)

What Goes With Coconut Milk Chicken?

This dish pairs wonderfully with rice. My Lemon Rice is a great match, as is this Mediterranean Rice. If you’re trying to cut carbs or follow a Keto diet, I recommend Cauliflower Rice or Roasted Cauliflower Steaks. If you’d like a vegetable side, try my Asparagus with Lemon Butter Sauce or Shaved Brussels Sprouts Stir-Fry with Cranberries.

How To Store And Reheat Leftovers

  • How to store: Store leftover chicken in the sauce to keep it from drying out. Place the chicken with its sauce in a food storage bag or container and refrigerate up to 4 days. Refrigerate the rice in a separate container for the same length of time.
  • How to reheat: To reheat on the stove top, heat the chicken and rice separately, covered, on low until just heated through. Add a tablespoon or so of water to the rice to help it soften and re-steam.

More Coconut Chicken Recipes

  • Instant Pot Coconut Chicken Curry
  • Coconut Milk and Thyme Braised Chicken

ENJOY!

Tender Coconut Milk Chicken Recipe - Quick & Easy Dinner Idea! (6)

Coconut Milk Chicken Breasts

Katerina | Diethood

Enjoy tender chicken breasts simmered in a creamy coconut sauce with this easy, one-pan Coconut Milk Chicken recipe.

4.66 from 223 votes

Rate this Recipe!

Servings : 4 people

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, 1-inch to 1-1/2 inch thick
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked or sweet paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, If you like spicy food, use 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper. If you don't like spicy food, omit the cayenne pepper.
  • 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 cups seeded and diced tomatoes, or use 1 can (14 ounces) diced tomatoes, well drained
  • 1 can (14 ounces) unsweetened, lite coconut milk
  • chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish

Instructions

  • Pat dry the chicken breasts with paper towels and set aside.

  • In a small mixing bowl combine cumin, paprika, oregano, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper; stir until thoroughly incorporated.

  • Rub the seasoning mixture all over the chicken breasts.

  • Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken breasts to the heated oil and cook for 6 to 7 minutes on each side or until browned and almost cooked through. Cooking time will depend on the size of the chicken breasts.

  • Remove chicken from skillet and set aside on a plate; keep covered.

  • Add remaining olive oil to the skillet; add onions to the heated oil and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until tender and translucent.

  • Stir in garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add tomatoes and continue to cook for 5 minutes, or until tomatoes are soft.

  • Stir in the coconut milk and bring to a simmer; let simmer for 5 minutes, or until sauce thickens.

  • Return chicken breasts to the skillet; reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 4 to 5 more minutes, or until chicken is cooked through. Chicken is done when internal temperature registers at 165˚F.

  • Taste the sauce for salt and pepper; adjust accordingly.

  • Garnish with cilantro or parsley, and serve.

Equipment

Nutrition

Calories: 341 kcal | Carbohydrates: 12 g | Protein: 26 g | Fat: 20 g | Saturated Fat: 9 g | Cholesterol: 73 mg | Sodium: 941 mg | Potassium: 676 mg | Fiber: 2 g | Sugar: 4 g | Vitamin A: 500 IU | Vitamin C: 13 mg | Calcium: 59 mg | Iron: 2 mg

Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American, Fusion, Indian

Keyword: chicken dinner, chicken dinner ideas, coconut chicken, coconut milk chicken, low carb chicken

Did you make this recipe?Leave a Rating!

Categories:

  • Chicken Recipes
  • Dinner Recipes
  • One Pot Meals
  • Recipes
Tender Coconut Milk Chicken Recipe - Quick & Easy Dinner Idea! (2024)

FAQs

How to make chicken very soft and tender? ›

The best tenderizer though, is a salted yogurt marinade. The salt has the same effect as in a regular brine, but the lactic acid in the yogurt further tenderizes the meat. A 15-minute marinade with one cup of yogurt and one teaspoon of salt makes for the most tender chicken breasts imaginable.

How to use coconut milk in chicken? ›

Directions
  1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat and stir in ginger. Cook and stir until fragrant and lightly browned. ...
  2. Season chicken with salt and pepper. ...
  3. Return ginger to the skillet and add coconut milk. ...
  4. Stir in spinach and simmer uncovered until spinach is warmed through, 8 to 12 minutes.

What is coconut chicken made of? ›

Coconut Chicken may seem intimidating to make because of its complex flavor, but it is super easy. You need coconut milk, curry powder, tomato paste, garlic, onion, garam masala, and turmeric. What is this? The coconut milk makes the sauce super creamy and rich, while the tomato paste provides acidity.

How do you make chicken tender and not rubbery? ›

Best cooking methods to prevent rubbery chicken
  1. steaming.
  2. boiling/simmering.
  3. slow cooking (with liquid)
  4. stewing.
  5. braising.
  6. sous vide (a combination of dry/moist cooking)
Aug 2, 2021

Does coconut milk tenderize? ›

Adding coconut milk to marinades helps tenderizes meat and infuses it with flavor. Once your protein has had time to soak up the flavor, grill, roast, or sear as you would normally. Combine coconut milk with peanuts to make the very popular Thai dipping sauce, satay.

How do you make coconut milk taste better? ›

In a blender, combine the coconut, water, and salt. Blend, and then blend some more. Strain through a nut bag (makes it easy!) or fine strainer. Sweeten to taste if you like, I usually use a few drops of liquid stevia, or maple syrup.

How to use canned coconut milk in recipes? ›

Coconut milk adds richness and depth of flavor to soups, curries, and stews. Its natural fat content tames spices of all levels, turning down the heat while retaining flavor. Coconut milk is also an excellent dairy-free way to make the creamiest vegetable soups—simply substitute equal amounts of it for milk or cream.

What liquid tenderizes chicken? ›

We recommend marinating your chicken in buttermilk or yogurt overnight, but if it's urgent, then an hour will do. However, the texture of the chicken won't be as even as chicken marinated overnight. The process is simple: you only have to immerse the chicken in a container with enough yogurt or buttermilk and seal it.

How did the Chinese make their chicken so tender? ›

In Chinese cooking, proteins like beef, pork or chicken are velveted first before stir-frying them. There are several ways to velvet, but at its most basic level, it involves marinating meat with at least one ingredient that will make it alkaline. This is what tenderizes the meat, especially cheaper, tougher cuts.

Is coconut milk good for you? ›

Coconut milk may benefit health in several ways, such as by stimulating weight loss and lowering cholesterol. It can also add flavor to sweet and savory dishes and serve as an alternative to dairy milk. Coconut water is the liquid inside a coconut, while coconut milk comes from the fruit's white flesh.

Can I use coconut cream instead of coconut milk? ›

Can You Replace Coconut Cream with Coconut Milk? The good news about coconut cream and coconut milk is that although they may be different consistencies, they're very similar. You can use coconut cream in place of milk if you dilute it with additional water. Different coconut cream brands vary on fat content.

How to make coconut milk? ›

The procedure for making your own coconut milk is simple. Soak 2 1/2 cups of dried, shredded coconut in 3 cups of water for five minutes until soft. Blend on high for a minute, then strain the solids out through a sieve, pressing on the pulp to extract as much milk as possible.

How do restaurants get their chicken so soft? ›

Typically there are a couple of different ways restaurants use to velvet their chicken most Chinese restaurants use baking soda and cornstarch for the best results. However, a couple of other methods include using: Chemical tenderisers. Egg whites.

How do I make sure my chicken is soft? ›

If you don't like those cuts, here is what you can do to keep a chicken breast moist, i.e. soft and juicy:
  1. Brine your chicken. ...
  2. Don't overcook your chicken. ...
  3. Don't use such high heat, at least not toward the end. ...
  4. Don't be afraid to take your chicken off of the heat a little early.
Jan 19, 2024

How can you soften tough chicken? ›

Try placing the chicken in a covered dish with some broth or sauce, then bake or microwave it. Alternatively, slicing or shredding the chicken and incorporating it into a dish with a sauce or gravy can help add moisture and improve tenderness.

Does chicken get softer the longer you cook it? ›

Yes, chicken breast will become softer and more tender the longer it is cooked, provided it is cooked at a low enough temperature. If it is cooked at too high of a temperature, the chicken breast will become dry and tough.

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