Thai Yellow Curry Chicken

This easy Thai Yellow Curry recipe tastes straight out of a restaurant!  It’s wonderfully creamy, bursting with flavorful chicken and veggies (potatoes, cauliflower, carrots and peas) and all made in one pot!  

This Thai Yellow Curry recipe is my go-to “what’s for dinner” recipe and I guarantee it will be a new favorite in your home!  You can use the suggested veggies or make it the best “clean out the fridge” meal of your life!   Serve this Yellow Curry with rice, zoodles, noodles, quinoa – whatever makes your belly happy!

This EASY Thai Yellow Curry Chicken tastes straight out of a restaurant!  Its wonderfully thick and creamy, bursting with flavor and veggies (I highly recommend the listed potatoes, cauliflower and peas) and all made in one pot! Definitely a hit at our house!


 

Thai Yellow Curry Recipe

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  To help you welcome the New Year, I bring you one of my favorite recipes, Thai Yellow Curry Chicken with Potatoes, Cauliflower and Peas!  This curry chicken is huge flavor, minimal impact, and a whole lot of YUM!

It only seems appropriate that we start 2018 with a Thai yellow curry recipe as two of my top 5 Most Popular Recipes of 2017 were Thai inspired – my Thai Red Curry Coconut Chicken and Vegetables (remember when I begged you to make that one?) and One Pot Thai Chicken Noodle Soup, and I just posted my Chicken Pad Thai which is a MUST TRY recipe.

This Thai Yellow Curry recipe is equally delicious, so ridiculously delicious, in fact, I’ve made it several times the last few months and is my go-to last minute dinner recipe.  With one bite, you will taste why.

This warm, comforting, creamy Thai Yellow Curry Chicken recipe not only tastes like it’s been simmering for hours, but it is just so easy and you can use whatever veggies you have on hand!  My favorite veggies are the potatoes, cauliflower, peas and carrots per the recipe, but I’ve also used thick sliced bell peppers, zucchini, and snap peas.  So basically, keep yellow curry paste and coconut milk on hand, and you can make this Thai Yellow Curry Chicken any time, or more accurately, all the time.

What is Yellow Curry Paste?

The star of this Thai Yellow Curry Chicken recipe is the aforementioned yellow curry paste.  Yellow curry paste is made of dried red chilies, lemongrass, shallots, cilantro, ginger, garlic, curry powder,  turmeric, and cumin to create a medley of pre-packaged multi-dimensional flavors just waiting to be unleashed.

Unlike red curry paste, however, yellow curry paste can be difficult to find in grocery stores.  I would suggest calling ahead to your local Asian market to see if they carry it, or you can make your own OR, do what I do, and just order it on Amazon.  I pick my battles.

This EASY Thai Yellow Curry with Chicken tastes straight out of a restaurant!  Its wonderfully thick and creamy, bursting with flavor and veggies (I highly recommend the listed potatoes, cauliflower and peas) and all made in one pot! Definitely a hit at our house!

Can I substitute Yellow Curry Paste with Curry Powder?

If you are itching to make this Thai Yellow Curry recipe and can’t get your hands on yellow curry paste, you may substitute curry powder.

Curry powder can be found in the spices section of your grocery store an will simply be labeled “curry powder.”

You can make an even swap an use two tablespoons curry powder.   You can also use curry powder for my Coconut Curry Chicken, Roasted Cauliflower and Cauliflower Soup.  

Ingredients for Thai Yellow Curry Recipe

The recipe ingredient list might look somewhat lengthy for this Thai Yellow Curry recipe, but I promise the recipe is super simple – just saute, dump and simmer away to rich, lusciously silky yellow curry infused sauce enveloping your tender chicken, potatoes and veggies.

  • Yellow curry paste:  the yellow curry is what gives his Thai Yellow Curry recipe it’s name so don’t skip it!  As previously discussed you may substitute it with curry powder if you’re in a pinch.
  • Onions, Garlic, Ginger:  these aromatics awaken and elevate the curry flavor.   If you’re looking to safe time and skip some chopping, you can substitute the fresh onions, garlic and ginger with powders. The typical rule of thumb is 3:1, so one part dried to three parts fresh.
  • Coconut milk: quality coconut milk is essential if you want the BEST Thai Yellow Curry recipe.  My favorite brand is Chaokoh.  This is not a paid endorsement, they are simply the best!  It will make your curry so much creamier.  Some grocery stores carry Chakoah, otherwise you can find it at some Asian markets or Amazon.
  • Chicken: I like to slice the chicken into ¼” thick by 2-inch long pieces.  This ensures the chicken is thin enough for the curry powder to infuse it with flavor and thick enough that it doesn’t overcook.  You may also chop into bite size pieces if you prefer.
  • Potatoes:  use Yukon gold potatoes for their creamy, buttery texture.  They also don’t fall apart or ever taste mealy like Russet potatoes.
  • Fish sauce: I promise fish sauce will not be detectable or make your Thai Yellow Curry taste fishy.  It simply adds the balance of savory and salty flavor.
  • Soy sauce:  use low sodium soy sauce so you can control the saltiness of the curry.
  • Asian sweet chili sauce: this might be my favorite Asian condiment.  It is sweet and spicy and packed with flavor from a combination of red chilies, onion, garlic, brown sugar and fish sauce.  It can be found in the Asian section of your grocery store.
  • Lime juice:  you may use fresh or bottled lime juice.
  • Asian hot chili saucecustomize the spice level with sriracha a or Asian hot chili paste to taste.
This EASY Thai Yellow Curry with Chicken tastes straight out of a restaurant!  Its wonderfully thick and creamy, bursting with flavor and veggies (I highly recommend the listed potatoes, cauliflower and peas) and all made in one pot! Definitely a hit at our house!

Do you have to use full-fat coconut milk?

I highly suggest full fat coconut milk for luscious, creamy restaurant-worthy Thai Yellow Curry Chicken BUT you can use low fat coconut milk, just don’t expect it to be as creamy.  If you must use light coconut milk, I suggest adding an additional ½ tablespoon cornstarch to help thicken it up.

Can I Use Different Vegetables?

Potatoes and cauliflower are common in Thai Yellow Curry Chicken and taste AMAZING, but you may substitute them with other vegetables.  The potatoes take up a lot of volume, so you will need quite a bit more other vegetables to take their place.

Other vegetables will only need to be simmered about 5 minutes or until crisp tender, as opposed to the potatoes which require 15-20 minutes.  Some vegetables, such as snow peas, spinach and bok choy, take even less time to cook and should be added the last minute.  Here are a few more vegetable ideas:

  • broccoli
  • zucchini
  • edamame
  • bell peppers
  • squash
  • sweet potatoes
  • bok choy
  • peas
  • snow peas

Can I use Chicken Thighs?

Absolutely!  You can use either chicken breasts or chicken thighs for this Thai Yellow Curry Chicken recipe.  I use chicken breasts because they are leaner and emerge wonderfully juicy in this preparation, but you are welcome to use chicken thighs as well.

How to Make the BEST Thai Yellow Curry Recipe

The secret to making the best Thai Yellow Curry recipe is to bloom the curry.  You unlock the full potential of yellow curry paste by sauteing it with plenty of onion, garlic and ginger.

For this Thai Yellow Curry Chicken recipe, we stir fry our chicken, onions, potatoes, carrots and curry paste together until the chicken is no longer pink, then add our cauliflower, ginger and garlic and sauté 1 minute.  At this point, the yellow curry paste has permeated all of the ingredients even before we’ve added our creamy coconut milk.

This EASY Thai Yellow Curry with Chicken tastes straight out of a restaurant!  Its wonderfully thick and creamy, bursting with flavor and veggies (I highly recommend the listed potatoes, cauliflower and peas) and all made in one pot! Definitely a hit at our house!

CAN I PREP THAI YELLOW CURRY IN ADVANCE?

If you would like your Thai Yellow Curry recipe to come together super quickly at dinner time, you can prep the ingredients earlier in the day or the night before.

You can chop your chicken, onions, garlic, ginger, carrots and cauliflower  all in advance and store them in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator until ready to use.

You can also chop your potatoes ahead of time but they will need to be submerged in water, covered, and refrigerated to prevent them from browning.

CAN I MAKE THAI YELLOW CURRY AHEAD OF TIME?

Yes!  This Thai Yellow Curry recipe tastes even better the next day so it makes amazing make ahead lunches, dinners or meal prep meals.

HOW TO REHEAT THAI YELLOW CURRY CHICKEN?

To reheat a large portion, add Thai Yellow Curry to a large skillet and warm over medium heat.  You will likely need to add a splash of water as the curry thickens in the refrigerator overnight.

To warm smaller portions, add Thai Yellow Curry to a microwave safe dish/plate, and hear for one minute, stir then continue to microwave at 30 second intervals until heated through.

HOW LONG IS THAI YELLOW CURRY GOOD FOR?

Thai Yellow Curry Chicken should be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator.  When stored properly, it is good for up to five days.

CAN I FREEZE Thai Yellow CURRY CHICKEN?

I do not recommend freezing this Thai Yellow Curry recipe if you use potatoes.  Potatoes tend to get mushy and mealy and an overall unpleasant texture when frozen and reheated.

If you would like to omit the potatoes, then this Thai Yellow Curry Chicken will freeze well.

To freeze, let curry cool to room temperature.  Add yellow curry to a large airtight container or freezer bag and squeeze out any excess air in order to prevent freezer burn.  Seal, label and store for up to three months.  When ready to use, thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

WHAT SHOULD I SERVE WITH Thai Yellow CURRY?

I love serving this Thai Yellow Curry recipe with basmati rice.  Basmati rice  does not clump or dry out like most other rice varieties so it reheats beautifully.  For low carb options, you may use cauliflower rice or broccoli rice or even spaghetti squash or zoodles.

It is also delicious with naan or roti bread, a simple green salad and fruit such as mangos, oranges, kiwis.

Looking for more Thai Recipes?

This EASY Thai Yellow Curry with Chicken tastes straight out of a restaurant!  Its wonderfully thick and creamy, bursting with flavor and veggies (I highly recommend the listed potatoes, cauliflower and peas) and all made in one pot! Definitely a hit at our house!

Want to try this Thai Yellow Curry Recipe?

Pin it to your ASIAN, CHICKEN, or DINNER Board to SAVE for later!

Find me on Pinterest for more great recipes!  I am always pinning :)!

©Carlsbad Cravings by CarlsbadCravings.com

This EASY Thai Yellow Curry with Chicken tastes straight out of a restaurant!  Its wonderfully thick and creamy, bursting with flavor and veggies (I highly recommend the listed potatoes, cauliflower and peas) and all made in one pot! Definitely a hit at our house!

Thai Yellow Curry Chicken, Potatoes, Peas

This easy Thai Yellow Curry Chicken recipe tastes straight out of a restaurant!  It’s wonderfully creamy, bursting with flavor and veggies (potatoes, cauliflower, carrots and peas) and all made in one pot!   
Servings: 6 servings
Total Time: 40 minutes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes

Save This Recipe To Your Recipe Box

You can now create an account on our site and save your favorite recipes all in one place!

Ingredients

Add later:

  • 1 cup frozen petite peas, thawed
  • chili sauce to taste (optional)

Garnish

Instructions

  • Heat oil over medium high heat in large skillet with sides. Add chicken, onions, potatoes, carrots and curry paste and cook just until chicken is no longer pink. Add cauliflower, ginger and garlic and sauté 1 minute.
  • Whisk some of the coconut milk (about 1 cup) with cornstarch and add to skillet. Add remaining coconut milk along with all remaining ingredients up to peas (don’t add peas).
  • Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 15-20 minutes, uncovered, or until the potatoes are tender. Stir in peas and cook just until peas are heated through, about one minute. If you would like a thinner sauce, thin with water/chicken broth. Discard bay leaf.
  • Garnish with optional lime juice (love), fresh basil, cilantro and Sriracha to taste. Serve with rice, zoodles, etc.

Notes

*Chicken is much easier to slice if partially frozen. It will thaw quickly once sliced. **Yellow Curry paste can be difficult to find at local grocery stores.  I buy mine on Amazon and use Mae Ploy Thai Yellow Curry Paste. You can check to see if your local Asian market carries it, but I suggest calling ahead. ***You can substitute one can of coconut milk with light coconut milk or chicken broth for less calories.  It won’t be quite as creamy, but still delicious. ***This is a great “clean out the fridge” meal and is delicious with all sorts of veggies!

Did You Make This Recipe?

Tag @CarlsbadCravings and Use #CarlsbadCravngs

Leave a Review, I Always Love Hearing From You!

©Carlsbad Cravings Original

Reader Interactions

leave a review

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

25 Comments

  1. Lisa says

    Happy New Year! I was excited to see this in my inbox because your Red Curry is one of our family favorites! I am trying this tomorrow and I know it will be another winner. Thanks for all your hard work, beautiful photos and delicious recipes. I haven’t tried one yet my family hasn’t loved!

    • Jen says

      Thanks so much for your awesome comment Lisa! I LOVE hearing your family loves the Red Curry (they have good taste 🙂 ) and is enjoying all my recipes! That is awesome they have all been winners – wahoo! I hope this Yellow Curry is another hit! Happy New Year!

  2. Cindy says

    Hi Jen not sure if my comments posted but just Incase I was wondering if I store this in refrigerator do I close it with a lid and what is your advice on warming this up I have to four times this recipe so I will have to warm up in batches. Ty again and sorry for so many questions but u have been so hopeful ty!

    • Jen says

      Hi Cindy, either a lid or foil would work great. I would omit the peas when you make it initially and then add them after you’ve warmed up everything and then heat through. I would try warming it up in a crockpot so you can do it all at once – or a large dutch oven. Set it on low and stir occasionally. I hope that helps!

  3. Kelly says

    Hi Jen! I just made your red curry (loved it) and was thinking about giving this a try next! I notice that this recipe and your Panang recipe call for 2 cans of coconut milk, while the red curry recipe only calls for one. Just wondering why that is! Thanks—love your recipes!

    • Jen says

      Hi Kelly! It is just because this yellow curry and the Panang curry have a larger quantity of other veggies so they need the extra liquid – just a ratio thing. Hope you love this one!

  4. Janet Gerner says

    Can I substitute lemon juice for the lime juice?

    • Jen says

      Hi Janet, I don’t recommend it as it will change the flavor profile, sorry!

  5. Barbara says

    I have just made this recipe for my family for the second time everyone loves it. I was a little hesitant because I hadn’t made Curry before but with your complete instructions it was easy. Thanks I’m sure we’ll be enjoying this dish many times over

    • Jen says

      Thank you so much for taking the time to comment Barbara! I’m so please you found this recipe easy and delicious and that it will be on repeat!

  6. Vicky Soler says

    I absolutely love and recommend this recipe! We’ve had it multiple times already and every time I can’t wait for dinner! Thank you!

    • Jen says

      Thank you so much for taking the time to comment Vicky! I love hearing this yellow curry is a repeat favorite!

  7. Jackie says

    This is so delicious! I cook a lot of Thai food, and the depth of flavor is sublime for such an easy dish. I used Maesri yellow curry paste(the best IMO), and a little less coconut milk. Added 1/4 cup chicken broth to thin it out a little. Had to substitute with veggies on hand….red and yellow peppers, haricot verts, and 3 small diced cooked Yukon golds. Added fresh basil and cilantro at the end of cooking. Thank you so much!

    • Jen says

      Thank you so much Jackie, I’m so pleased this yellow curry chicken was a hit! Your veggie subs sound wonderful as do your fresh basil and cilantro!

  8. Darcy says

    I am so interested in this. And many other curry dishes but so many call for fish paste or fish sauce as this one does, but I am allergic. Do you have any ideas or recommendations for a substitute or do you think it would be okay to just leave out and to more soy sauce?
    Thanks in advance.
    – Darcy

    • Jen says

      Hi Darcy, you can definitely swap the fish sauce for soy sauce. Let me know how it turns out!

  9. Rachel V says

    Made this for my 17 month old and she LOOOOOOOVED it! Such a good flavor profile. And simple! Thanks for a new favorite to add to our rotation.

    • Jen says

      You’re so welcome Rachel, I’m so pleased you found a new repeat favorite!

  10. Matt says

    Can I make this recipe and just use the red curry paste?

  11. vera says

    How many people does this serve?

  12. Kristi says

    So good! I’ve made other yellow curries in the past that were rather boring. This recipe is very flavorful. My husband is allergic to peas so I didn’t use them. I added a sweet red pepper instead. I love yellow curry and this was restaurant quality, IMO.

    • Jen says

      Yay, Kristi! I am so happy this yellow curry is a winner! Your addition of the sweet red pepper sounds delicious! Thank you for the awesome comment!