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Close-up view of basil chicken in coconut curry sauce with fresh basil in white bowl

Basil Chicken in Coconut Curry Sauce

This Basil Chicken in Coconut Curry Sauce is incredibly easy to make and absolutely packed with delicious spice and flavor.
4.67 from 130 votes
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Course: Entree
Cuisine: American, Eclectic, Thai
Keyword: Basil Chicken, Coconut Curry Sauce, Homemade Thai Chicken
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Chicken Marinating Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Makes: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • ½ tsp cumin
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp ground cloves
  • ½ tsp ground cardamom
  • ½ tsp ground black pepper
  • ½ tsp chili powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp ground turmeric
  • 1 lb. skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces (you can substitute for thighs)
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil, divided
  • ¾ cup chopped onion (from 1 medium onion)
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 jalapeño peppers, minced (remove seeds if you want to cut down on heat in dish)
  • 1 14 oz. can coconut milk
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • cup fresh basil leaves, chopped (plus more for topping, if desired)
  • 1 Tbsp finely chopped fresh ginger
  • 2-3 cups cooked brown rice (can also use white rice, quinoa, cauliflower rice, or whatever you desire!)

Instructions

  • Mix all the spices (from the cumin to the turmeric) in a small bowl. 
  • Place chicken in a large bowl and sprinkle the spice mixture over it. Let it sit for 30 minutes.
  • Heat 1 Tbsp of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and jalapeño and cook for about 3 minutes. Then add the garlic and cook for one more minute, until fragrant. Remove mixture from skillet and place in a medium size bowl.
  • Add remaining Tbsp of oil to the same skillet and add half of the chicken pieces, spreading them out to make sure they’re not overcrowded. Cook for a few minutes on each side to cook through and lightly brown. When cooked through, remove from the skillet and add them to the bowl of onion/jalapeño. Repeat with remaining chicken and remove that to the bowl, too.
  • Pour the coconut milk into the skillet. Cook on medium-high and stir until sauce thickens and starts bubbling a bit. Mix in the Worcestershire sauce.
  • Add the chicken and onion/jalapeño mixture back into the skillet, along with basil and ginger and cook for 2 more minutes.
  • Serve basil chicken over rice. Spoon more coconut curry sauce over the top. Top with more basil if desired.

Video

Notes

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