This creamy coconut milk chicken recipe is made with fresh lime juice, creamy coconut cream, and tender, juicy chicken breasts. Easy and delicious, have this one-pan, dairy-free, and low-carb chicken dinner on the table in just about 30 minutes!
This creamy coconut milk chicken is one of my all-time favorite, super easy weeknight dinners! It’s yummy any time of year, rain or shine, and so easy to whip together.
I first shared this Thai and Indian inspired recipe with you guys over three years ago – and it remains, even today, one of my go-to simple recipes.
It’s made with simple pantry ingredients like coconut milk, chicken broth, and soy sauce, plus a few fresh ones like tender chicken breasts, zesty lime juice, garlic, and ginger. The creamy coconut milk combined with the tangy freshness of lime juice and saltiness of soy sauce is one of the most amazing flavor combinations.
Best served over steaming hot rice, it’s also delicious with zucchini noodles, steamed vegetables, or cauliflower rice.
Kids love it, too! Just ask my 7-year-old (and his friends) who practically polished off what you see in these photos before I had a chance to get any myself!
How to Make Coconut Milk Chicken
(Full ingredients and instructions are in the recipe card below)
1. Slice each chicken breast in half lengthwise to make four thinner chicken breast cutlets. If preferred, pound your chicken breasts using a meat tenderizer to equal thickness, however, I find that to be more work and significantly messier.
2. Season generously with salt, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder.
3. Melt some coconut oil in a large skillet then sear the chicken for about 3-5 minutes on each side. The chicken should be golden and nearly cooked through. Remove chicken to a clean plate leaving behind any juices and seasoning in the skillet.
4. In the same skillet, cook the onions over medium heat until softened. Then add the garlic, ginger, and minced chili pepper (such as jalapeño or serrano pepper).
5. Stir in the chicken stock, fresh lime juice, brown sugar, and soy sauce, and simmer for about 5-10 minutes.
6. Stir in the coconut cream and return to a simmer.
7. Add the chicken back to the skillet, cover, and cook everything all together until the chicken is fully cooked and heated through.
What to Serve with Creamy Coconut Milk Chicken?
I recommend serving with a side of fragrant basmati rice or jasmine rice. I also love to serve it with a side of roasted sweet potatoes.
To keep this recipe low-carb, try serving with cauliflower rice, zoodles, or steamed veggies like green beans, broccoli, or cauliflower.
Recipe Notes & Tips
- For best results, use full-fat unsweetened coconut milk or unsweetened coconut cream. Using lite coconut milk is not recommended.
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can thicken it up by allowing it to simmer, for longer, over medium-low heat, or by adding a little cornstarch slurry. Note, however, that the sauce for this recipe is not meant to be super thick (which is also why it’s so delicious served with warm rice).
- Add additional veggies like bell pepper, zucchini, or tomatoes.
- To make gluten-free: swap out the soy sauce for coconut aminos or tamari (available at most grocery stores).
- To make keto-friendly: leave out the brown sugar.
- Make it even more flavorful and add a couple of tablespoons of fish sauce.
- Make it even spicier by adding a generous pinch of cayenne powder to the sauce.
- This coconut milk chicken is also delicious with skinless chicken thighs. Simply adjust the cooking time as needed.
Try these other delicious chicken recipes,
Creamy Mushroom Chicken Recipe
Creamy Chicken Florentine Recipe
Skillet Chicken with Bacon, Caper and Olive Sauce
Did you try making this creamy coconut milk chicken recipe?
Tell me about it in the comments below! I always love to hear your thoughts.
Creamy Coconut Milk Chicken Recipe (One-Skillet)
Ingredients
- 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts ((cut in half lengthwise (or 4 chicken breast cutlets)))
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp coconut oil (or olive oil)
- 1 medium onion (diced)
- 5 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 tsp fresh ginger (grated)
- 1 serrano chili pepper (or jalapeño, diced (optional))
- 1½ cups low-sodium chicken broth
- ¼ cup fresh lime juice (plus more to taste)
- 1 tbsp brown sugar ((see notes))
- 2 tsp soy sauce ((use tamari or coconut aminos for gluten-free))
- 1 (15 ounce) can coconut cream (or full-fat coconut milk)
- fresh cilantro (to garnish)
- red pepper flakes (to garnish)
Instructions
- Slice each chicken breast in half lengthwise to make four thinner chicken breast cutlets. Season both sides with salt, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Melt the coconut oil in a large skillet set over medium-high heat. Once the pan is hot, add the chicken and sear for approximately 3-5 minutes on each side, or until golden and nearly cooked through. Remove chicken and transfer to a clean plate and set aside.
- In the same skillet over medium heat, add one more tablespoon of coconut oil. Add the onions and sauté for 4-5 minutes, stirring frequently. Once the onions have softened, add the garlic, ginger, and diced chili pepper (if using). Mix well and continue to cook for one minute more, stirring continuously.
- Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium-low. Stir in the fresh lime juice, brown sugar, and soy sauce. Mix well to combine.
- Allow the mixture to simmer and reduce for approximately 5 minutes, then add the coconut cream.
- Optional - to thicken your sauce, whisk together 1 tsp cornstarch with 1 tbsp water and add directly to the simmering coconut broth. Repeat, as needed, until the desired thickness is reached.
- Add the chicken back to the skillet. Cover and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked and heated through.
- Serve garnished with chopped cilantro, red chili flakes, and fresh lime juice.
Jessica's Notes
- For best results, use full-fat unsweetened coconut milk or unsweetened coconut cream.
- The sauce is not meant to be super thick like gravy. You can thicken it up by allowing it to simmer, for longer, over medium-low heat, or by adding a little cornstarch slurry.
- Add additional veggies like bell pepper, zucchini, or tomatoes.
- Use coconut aminos or tamari rather than soy sauce to make this recipe gluten-free.
- Omit the brown sugar to make this recipe keto-friendly.
Nutritional Information
(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and specific brands of ingredients used.)
This was an easy and tasty recipe, I used coconut milk instead of coconut cream and it came out lovely. Thank you very much 😊
Thank you for the kind feedback Tammy. I will have to try that variation 🙂
This is such an easy recipe, and I love that it feels like pure comfort food. I’m always looking for stuff like this, and I’m sure it’ll be a big hit! Also, belated happy birthday 🙂
Thank you so much, Richa 🙂