Thai Curry Chicken and Rice Bowls

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This delicious one pan dinner of Thai Curry Chicken and Rice Bowls is a taste of southeast Asian cuisine. Tender bite sized chicken, shredded carrots, red pepper and sweet green peas are served in a creamy coconut sauce. Fluffy rice is the perfect accompaniment to soak up the delicious sauce.

I dream of travelling the world and tasting dishes like from all the different countries I would visit. One night would be a dinner of garlic roasted lemon chicken at an Italian trattoria in Tuscany. The next day I would dine in Spain on tapas with cured olives, grilled shrimp, and spicy potatoes. A stop in Thailand for Thai Curry Chicken and Rice Bowls would be next. The following breakfast of café au lait and flaky, buttery croissants would be savored at a French bistro in Paris. But with 2 kids in college next year and another not far behind, my worldwide culinary tour is on hold.

I love to cook because I can take a trip to a foreign land without leaving home.  Each night at dinner time, I can prepare a recipe from one of the almost 200 countries in the world.  On a night when I feel like dining in Southeast Asia, I make Thai Curry Chicken and Rice Bowls.

ingredients in Thai curry chicken

• kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• all purpose flour
• curry powder
• boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• extra virgin olive oil
• red bell pepper
• unsweetened coconut milk
• green peas
• shredded carrots
• cooked jasmine rice
• fresh cilantro
• salted cashews

what is curry powder?

A spicy dish with a hint of sweetness, this one pan dinner is quick to prepare on a busy weeknight.  Curry powder is the star ingredient and is popular in many Asian and Indian dishes.  The powder can vary in color from golden yellow to toasty brown.  It is typically a combination of spices including coriander, turmeric, cumin, and red pepper.  Depending on the mix of spices, it may also include ginger, fennel seed, nutmeg, garlic, cinnamon, and cloves. 

Curry powders can range from sweet to spicy.  Experiment with the variety of powders available in the spice aisle of your local grocery store. Find the one that suits your taste.  I tend to use a slightly sweet curry powder. My family can add more red pepper flakes to spice up their dinner as they like.

suggestions and recipe tips

One pan dinners are a busy cook’s hole in one. They are usually quick and easy to prepare. This rice bowl with Thai chicken is no exception.  A luscious coconut sauce surrounds curry dusted bite sized pieces of chicken with peas, red pepper, and carrots. Serve over a bed of fluffy jasmine rice (get my recipe for perfectly fluffy rice here). Sprinkle of fresh cilantro and chopped salty cashews for a family-pleasing dinner.

• Cut the chicken in small, bitesize pieces. Not only will they cook quickly but, they are fun to eat.
• Curry powders are a mixture of different spices. Their flavor ranges from sweet to spicy hot. Experiment with a few to find the right one for you.
• For this recipe, I recommend buying the already shredded carrots. They are thicker than ones you would shred yourself. Therefore, they will hold their shape when cooked.
• Substitute salted chopped peanuts or almonds for the cashews.

more one pan dinners I love

• Mussels Marinara
• Bolognese with Pancetta
• Roasted Maple Salmon with Sweet Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts
• Parmesan Everything Bagel Chicken with Baby Potatoes and Asparagus
• Baked Chicken Mozzarella Marinara
• Better Than Takeout Chicken Fried Rice

my videos ~ cauliflower rice pilaf

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This post was originally written in June of 2013 and revised in December of 2019. It has been updated with new photos and more in depth recipe detail.