Next Post
One Bowl Chocolate Chunk Chai Banana Muffins.
This post may contain affiliate links, please see our privacy policy for details.
This 30 Minute Coconut Milk Braised Chicken with Sweet Potatoes and Rice is a fusion of Thai and Indian flavors. It’s the perfect bowl of warming comfort food that’s also healthy…and so delicious. Quickly made in your instant pot (slow cooker, or on the stove) in just about 30 minutes. Made using good for us ingredients like high protein chicken, antioxidant-packed spices, sweet potatoes, spinach, and creamy coconut milk. It’s cozy, creamy, a little spicy, and filled with vegetables. Finish each bowl off with steamed rice and serve with fresh naan. You’ll have the perfect healthy chicken curry that can be enjoyed any night of the week. Bonus? The leftovers are even more delicious the next day.
This is the very first post of 2020…and the very first post of a whole new decade too. I hope you all had a great NYE and enjoyed a laid back New Years’ Day. Our NYE day was low-key but very fun. We spent the afternoon playing kickball in the snow, just what everyone wanted. At night I ended up making my Indian Coconut Butter Cauliflower along with my Chicken Tikka Masala from the HBH Super Simple Cookbook. This was not what I had planned on making for NYE, but it was delicious and everyone really enjoyed it.
Today I’m feeling so excited for the new year and ready to jump right into work. Anyone else feeling the same? Something about January 2nd is always so exciting. There’s a whole fresh new year ahead…kind of like a blank slate!
Today kicks off the start of healthy January 2020. If you missed it, I rounded up all my favorite healthy recipes on Tuesday. But today I’m sharing a new family favorite. I debated sharing a salad, but in the end, this just felt right for today. This dish is so GOOD and it’s filled with healthy ingredients too.
Like the majority of HBH recipes, this was inspired by my family. I made this over Christmas break because everyone, even my brothers, all enjoy a spiced chicken curry. I wanted the flavors to be somewhat of a mix between Thai and Indian and I wanted the sauce to be extremely creamy.
Most importantly, I wanted to create a cozy, warming winter curry that was healthy, filling, and delicious. Quick and easy was a top priority as well!
I did some googling, looked through past HBH recipes, and ended up combining a few HBH recipes to create this one. The outcome? An easy chicken braised in coconut milk that’s delicious when served over rice…and with a side of naan. Of course.
For starters, this chicken braised in coconut milk can be made in the instant pot, slow cooker, or on the stove-top. I prefer using the instant pot, but either method is great. The instant pot just seems to always leave me with perfectly tender chicken that’s never dry, plus it’s so easy.
The dish starts out simply by tossing the chicken with plenty of turmeric and ground ginger which is key to creating a really flavorful chicken. Sear the chicken to give it even more flavor.
Then toss in a good amount of shallots and garlic, more ginger, sweet potatoes. and a touch of spices too. Stir this all together, then add your broth and coconut milk.
If using the instant pot, lock the lid and let it do its thing.
As this cooks, the aroma in the kitchen is truly incredible. It’s almost Indian like, but with a Thai twist.
Once done cooking, all you need to do is simmer the sauce down a little, then stir in a good amount of both spinach and lime juice.
And that’s it. Simple. Simple.
I served my chicken over steamed rice with some fresh naan for scooping up the creamy, coconutty sauce. If you want to go the extra mile, make some homemade chili oil, but swap the garlic for shallots. it’s DELICIOUS spooned over top the curry.
Alternately, you could serve the chicken on its own or over brown rice for a whole grain option. Rice noodles would also be delicious.
I swear they taste even better the following day. The flavors have time to mend and the sauce is just more intense. This would make for a great lunch to pack up and take to work, or just enjoy the leftovers for dinner. Either way, you’ll have an amazing meal to enjoy not once, but twice…assuming you’re not serving more than four people.
I can’t tell you how much I love this recipe. This curry is SO flavorful, SO full of color, and filled with good for us ingredients. Yet it feels totally comforting with the sweet potatoes, creamy coconut milk, and rice. The best part, well aside from all the deliciousness, is that this requires only one pot and is ready in just about 30 minutes. Perfect.
And with that, have a wonderful (healthy) start to 2020!
If you make this 30 Minute Coconut Milk Braised Chicken with Sweet Potatoes and Rice be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Great flavors, but I made the stovetop version and the sauce was way too thin after 30 minutes – it came out more like soup. Not sure why as I followed the recipe to the letter.
Hey Eleanor,
Awesome! I am thrilled this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it! If you refer to my photos you will notice that this dish is not meant to have a thick sauce. xTieghan
Yum I love this recipe. I always have faith that your recipes will be delish! Super yum and I will be adding it to my list of easy favourites. Thanks so much Tieghan xx From New Zealand
Hey Christy,
I am so glad this recipe was a winner, thanks a bunch for giving it a try! xxTieghan
This recipe is my go-to for a warm flavourful dish! I love that it works with my AIP meal plan! I just leave out the cayenne pepper, rice, chili oil and naan; serving it as a stew/soup instead! Makes wonderful leftovers too!
Hey Brittany,
Awesome! I am so glad this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it! xTieghan
Wonderful flavors in this recipe. Made the garlic herb Mann to go with it.
Hey Sandy,
Happy Sunday! Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am thrilled that it was enjoyed! xTieghan
Made this tonight stove top version. Fiancé wasn’t sure about the sweet potatoes but I liked it just as it was. I did cut up my chicken before cooking and only cooked until sweet potatoes were soft but still holding their shape. Added it over rice and enjoyed. I will be making this again, with less sweet potatoes next time.
Hey Kristy,
I am delighted that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a try! Happy Easter ?Tieghan
I’d like to know if this is something anyone has made ahead and frozen. I am prepping for postpartum and this recipe was recommended on a page a I follow. Let me know what you think. Thanks!
I hope you love the recipe Amanda! xTieghan
I make and freeze this frequently before a busy rotation as a medical student. Freeze both individual portions and by the quart. I also sub out riced cauliflower for rice sometimes (or make a mixture) and it’s awesome. Another good hearty veggie rich curry type situation is Emeril’s Mulligatawny (tons of chopping but worth it! huge yield!) (Tiegan- please make an even tastier version of his recipe!)
Hey Madeline,
Awesome! Love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it! Have the best weekend:) xTieghan
Agree with the other users that experienced runny soup and mushy potatoes. Love the ingredient mixture though and will come up with my own way of cooking so it does not run. Thanks for the idea though!!
So sorry you did not enjoy the recipe Ariana! xTieghan
This was excellent flavor and pretty easy to pull together – some thai dishes can take forever to prep! The ONLY changes I would make would be to cut the chicken into bite sized pieces and the sweet potato into smaller pieces. I had trouble getting the two to come up and the same time… aside from that – A KEEPER!!! Thanks Tieghan!
Hey Leslie,
Thanks a bunch for giving this recipe a try, I am thrilled that it was enjoyed! Have a great week:) xTieghan
Why can’t I reply to comments?
I’ve tried different browsers and mobile/PC.
Hey Nicole,
Is there something with this recipe that you need help with? Let me know! xTieghan
Made this for dinner tonight and my whole family loved it!
Hey Vanessa,
I am thrilled this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it! Happy Sunday! xTieghan
I looove this recipe
I have made it countless times this past year and its always amazing!
Thank you
Hey Yanet,
Thanks so much for making this recipe, it makes me so happy that it was enjoyed. Happy Friday! xTieghan
Love love this recipe! This is a regular in our meal prep line up, very easy, delicious, and healthy. The recipe is hard to mess up! We use chicken thighs every time and pair it with garlic naan—delicious!
Hey Aisling,
Thanks a bunch for making this recipe, I am delighted it was enjoyed!! xTieghan
Such a simple recipe! Great flavor- loved the sweet potatoes! I overcooked my chicken a bit, so it didn’t reheat well, but that’s the cook’s error!
Hey Jenny,
Thanks a bunch for making this recipe, I am delighted it was enjoyed!! xTieghan
This has so much flavour and is so delicious and easy to make! It is in the rotation in our house! My six year old gets so excited when I tell her I am making “the yellow curry” for dinner. It is THAT good!
Hey Simona,
I am delighted that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a try! xTieghan
Not bad for homemade, but I’d be disappointed if I got this in an ethnic restaurant. Cutting the chicken breast into large pieces made sense, but it also meant the cooking times were too long for their small size. I used only 1 can (13.5 oz) coconut milk and 1 cup broth and it was still very runny.
Hey Patrick,
Thanks for giving the recipe a try, so sorry you did not enjoy. Let me know if I can help in anyway! xTieghan