Bring takeout taste home by making Chinese curry chicken in your kitchen. It’s brimming with tender chicken and crisp veggies in a cheerful bright yellow curry sauce. {Gluten-Free Adaptable}
When you’re in the mood for an exotic dinner that’s simple to make, you’ve got to try this Chinese curry chicken. It’s like takeout, only better. My recipe shows you how to get the chicken nice and tender while keeping those vegetables crisp. It’s all tied together with a wonderful yellow curry sauce that is amazing on top of rice.
Ingredients
Curry powder
When compared to traditional curry, you’ll use much less curry powder so don’t worry about it being spicy. I love using S&B Japanese curry powder in this recipe because it’s a mild and well balanced blend. You can use Madras curry powder as well.
You can feel free to adjust the amount of chili flakes to your preference, too. This Chinese curry chicken also uses turmeric, which is great for your health. Turmeric has great benefits with plenty of antioxidants to fight damage from free radicals. It’s highly anti-inflammatory and good for your heart, and it adds to the bright yellow color of the dish. With green bell peppers and carrots, the vibrant color and heavenly aroma are absolutely irresistible, so much that even kids will adore it.
Cooking process
It’s so unbelievably easy to make. You don’t even need to stir fry the chicken as it quickly cooks in the curry sauce. The marinade generates tender juicy chicken pieces and thickens the sauce at the same time, creating a great texture that you’re going to love.
Here’s all you need to do:
- Toss the vegetables with aromatics and spices
- Add the broth and bring to a boil
- Cook the chicken pieces with the rest of the ingredients
- It’s ready when the sauce has thickened
In fact, the day I made this dish, my husband smelled it and told me that it reminded him of the curry from the local Chinese restaurant of his childhood. Classic comfort in homemade takeout style, this Chinese curry chicken really does have it all. Plus, from prep to plating, it takes less than 25 minutes to get ready, making it a splendid and filling meal even on your busiest days!
More delicious takeout Chinese recipes
- Tofu Lettuce Wraps
- Seafood Chow Mein (海鲜炒面)
- Honey Garlic Pork Chops
- XO Fried Rice with Char Siu
- Three Cup Chicken (三杯鸡)
Chinese Curry Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 (12 oz / 340 g) chicken breast , thinly sliced against the grain into 1/4” (5mm) thick pieces
Marinade
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine (or dry sherry)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Spice mix
- 1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder (*Footnote 1)
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes depending on spice level (Optional)
Stir Fry
- 2 tablespoons peanut oil (or vegetable oil)
- 1/2 large white onion , chopped
- 1/2 ” (1 cm) ginger , minced
- 1 green bell pepper , chopped
- 1 carrot , sliced
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons oyster sauce
Instructions
- Combine the chicken, salt, Shaoxing wine, and cornstarch in a medium-sized bowl. Mix to coat the chicken evenly and set aside.
- Add oil to a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat until hot. Add the onions and stir fry for 1 minute.
- Add the ginger, pepper, carrot, and spice mix. Cook and stir until the vegetables are beginning to soften, about 2 minutes.
- Pour in the chicken broth. Add the sugar, salt, and oyster sauce. Stir to mix well and bring to a boil.
- Turn to medium-low heat to bring the broth to a low simmer. Add the marinated chicken with minimal overlapping. Use your spatula to separate any pieces that are stuck together. Simmer for 2 minutes, or until the slices of chicken are just cooked through and the sauce is slightly thickened. (*Footnote 2)
- Transfer everything to a big plate. Serve hot over rice as a main dish.
Notes
- S&B Japanese curry powder and Madras curry powder work well in this recipe.
- The sauce will thicken a bit more once it has cooled down a bit, so you don’t need to over reduce the broth at this point. It might overcook the chicken.
Video
Nutrition
Lilja Walter is a part of the Omnivore’s Cookbook team and worked closely with Maggie to develop and test this recipe.
Family favorite, love the magic of marinating the chicken ❤️
Good recipe, but you really should cook the curry powder and turmeric in hot oil first, so the spices don’t taste raw.
I made this today and wow! It is delicious. I substituted several thinly sliced shallots for the onion, since I didn’t have one, and vegetarian oyster sauce (made with mushrooms) for the normal oyster sauce because I am allergic to oysters, and added about 3/4 of teaspoon of chili flakes since I like spicy and it all came together incredibly easily, quickly and tasted divine.
Great recipe; the chicken is perfectly cooked and tasty!
Followed the recipe to a T, except for subbing Sherry, and was richly rewarded. CNt wait for leftovers!
I’ve made this so many times, I’ve lost count! Seriously simple and quick to put together, and it tastes even better the day after.
Perfect recipe! I thought I made enough for some leftovers; I was wrong! Everyone devoured it! Easy and delicious!
I have made this recipe now a few times and it’s a family favorite. In fact I’ve made many of your recipes and all have been amazing. I love your simple techniques yet authentic tastes. Thanks!!!!
This recipe came out exactly as described and awesomely delicious. I didn’t change a thing
We love all the vegetables in this recipe. I will sometimes steam up some broccoli and add it to the final step jut before serving.
This was delicious & super easy to make!
It was SO good. Simple but delicious.
I made this last night. Excellent and very quick and easy. Adding it to my collection of favorite recipes
Delicious! No need to change this recipe at all unless you want to add more veggies! I doubled the recipe for leftovers and we loved this dish! I used the S & B curry powder that was recommended and 1/2 tsp chili flakes perfect spice level.
Reminds me of childhood, eating a lot of curry chicken Chinese takeout. Love!
Could I swap in shrimp instead of chicken? Would it work, or be overpowered by all the veggies and flavors?
I think it’s totally OK to replace the chicken with shrimp! The sauce is not as heavy as Indian curry, so it should work well with shrimps.
Absolutely delicious!! Prep was longer than I expected (probably because I quintupled it haha) but it was very well worth it! We can’t wait to eat it again tomorrow! Thanks!
At what point is the turmeric and curry powder added? I didn’t see that in the directions.
You add them at step 3 (both are included in the spice mix).
Loved recipe, just like English takeaway. I added rice noodles into curry. Went down a storm. 😀
This Recipe is absolutely nothing short of FANTASTIC!!