Easy Thai Green Curry Chicken
by Creamy Thai Green Curry Recipe with juicy chicken and sweet roasted vegetables. This dump-and-go style Thai Green Curry is super easy to assemble. Just add all the ingredients to your Instant Pot or Slow cooker. You’ll love how easy it is to have a pot of delicious Thai Green Curry Chicken at the comfort of your home!
Thai Green Curry Recipe (Paleo, Whole30, Keto, Easy!)
My name is ChihYu Smith and I’m addicted to Thai food. 🙂 Growing up in Taiwan, Taiwanese people love food from all over the world, especially foods from the neighboring countries. It goes without saying that Taiwanese food is most closely related to Chinese cuisine but Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, and Korean cuisines are also well represented in my home country. Today’s Thai Green Curry Recipe is a modified version from the traditional Thai green curry you’ll find in Thailand.
I simplified the traditional Thai green curry cooking methods and made it easy for meal prep and suitable for all levels of homecooks. This easy curry recipe comes with two instructions – Slow Cooker and Instant Pot – and all you need to do is combining the ingredients so everyone should absolutely give this Thai green curry chicken a try!
What is Thai Green Curry
The name Green Curry comes from the color of the dish, which comes from the green chilies in the curry paste. The color is light milk green and the ingredients aren’t exactly fixed. Most often, you’ll see fish fillets, fish paste made meatballs, chicken, or shrimp with Thai eggplants and vegetables…etc. Homemade Thai green curry paste has brighter and more vibrant color. The store bought version is more muted green but it’s convenient for homecooks.
To keep it simple and accessible, I use chicken as the main protein, topped with roasted Italian eggplants (or globe eggplants) to replace Thai eggplants, and with carrots and butternut squash.
The reason I roasted vegetables for my Thai green curry as opposed to cook them in the same pot is because I want to maintain the shape and texture of the vegetables. The caramelized sweet carrots with slightly charred smoky eggplants, pair with creamy smooth curry chicken is super addictive!
The Best Store Bought Green Curry Paste
I use Mae Ploy store-bought green curry paste for this Thai green curry chicken recipe. The curry paste ingredients are super clean with no additives. The past comes in different sizes and once you open it, please store the paste in the fridge. If you can finish the paste in a month or 2 that will be the best before the fragrance goes away.
A Note On Store-Bought Curry Paste
One thing to caution when using store-bought curry paste – different brands have different curry flavor profiles and the salty level can be quite different, too. In general, I found that homemade green curry paste is less salty and the color is more vivid. Store bought curry paste is usually on the salty side so taste it with a small teaspoon before mixing it with other ingredients. Aim with less quantity because you can always add more later on.
What Goes In Easy Thai Green Curry p.s. Perfect for meal prep!
To keep my Thai green curry chicken easy and meal prep friendly, I simplified the traditional cooking method.
- Add chicken thighs or a combination with breast to a large ziplock bag or meal prep container
- Add the green curry paste, chicken stock, fish sauce, and kaffir lime leaves.
- Massage the bag so that the paste is dissolved into the liquid.
- Carefully squeeze out the air and seal the bag tightly.
- Store it in the freezer until you are ready to cook.
About Kaffir lime leaves
This is an optional ingredient so please don’t feel that you can’t make this green curry chicken unless you have the exact ingredients. Kaffir lime leaves will make your Thai chicken curry taste even more authentic. I purchased mine on Amazon from Burma Spice. You can order them directly from Burma’s website, too. Once you give them a try, you’ll know the difference.
Kaffir lime leaves have an earthy and citrus flavor. If you don’t have it handy but still want to give it a try, the closest substitute for Kaffir lime leaves are – 1 bay leaf, 1 whole lime zest, and 1-1.5 tbsp of fresh lemon thyme. Mix together and you have a very close substitute.
How To Make Thai Green Chicken Curry – Instant Pot or Slow Cooker
- Add the chicken, green curry paste, stock, fish sauce, and kaffir lime leaves, if using, to your instant pot or slow cooker.
- For instant pot, from thawed, cook for 8 minutes + 10 minutes natural release. From frozen, cook for 15 minutes + 1- minutes natural release.
- For slow cooker, from thawed, cook on high for 4 hours or 6 hours on low.
- Stir-in coconut milk cream, bamboo shoots, nut butter of choice.
- Top with any vegetables you like. I prefer roasted carrots, butternut squash, eggplants and raw sliced sugar snap peas or snow peas for crunch.
My Paleo Thai Green Curry Is –
- Creamy, Umami-rich, Naturally sweet – Use coconut milk cream with nut butter (or nut-free Sunbutter) to tone down the heat level and make it creamy smooth.
- Aromatic – kaffir lime leaves really make a difference. You can order either fresh or dried kaffir lime leaves on amazon or from local Indian, Chinese grocery stores. If you don’t have them handy, follow the recipe notes for alternative substitute.
- Easy to make, Perfect for meal prep – Just dump all the ingredients to a meal prep bag and freeze for later!
- Super scrumptious – I wrote this Thai green curry chicken recipe with simplicity in mind for busy homecooks. It’s creamy, naturally sweet, and nutty delicious. And you can pair it with any roasted vegetables you like to add to your curry.
Make A Complete Meal With These Side Dishes
- Chinese Broccoli (Gai Lan) Stir-Fry
- Thai Bok Choy Salad
- Bok Choy Dim Sum
- Broccoli Fried Rice
- Bok Choy Salad with Toasted Sesame Dressing
- Asian Coleslaw
- Thai Cauliflower Shrimp Fried Rice
- Chinese Cabbage Stir-Fry
- More Paleo Side Dishes
More Thai and Curry Recipes
- Chiang Mai Noodles (Chicken Khao Soi)
- Thai curry meatball soup
- Instant Pot Pumpkin Chicken Curry
- Grilled green chicken curry drumsticks
- Green curry chicken
- Homemade Thai red curry chicken
- Dutch oven roasted red curry whole chicken
Thai Green Curry Recipe (Paleo, Whole30, Keto)
Ingredients
- 1.5-2 lbs boneless/skinless chicken thighs, or breasts or a combination
- 2.5-3 tbsp Mae Ploy green curry paste, see notes
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 6 whole dried kaffir lime leaves , or 3 fresh kaffir lime leaves, optional, see notes for alternative
- 2 tbsp fish sauce
- 140 gram bamboo shoots, liquid drained
- 1 cup coconut milk cream, or use the top cream part of a canned 14 oz. full fat coconut milk
- 3-4 tbsp nut butter of choice, or sunbutter for nut-free
- Half one whole lime juice or to taste, plus extra for garnish
Optional roasted vegetable choices:
- 2 cups eggplants, diced
- 2 cups butternut squash, diced
- 1 cup carrots, diced
- 1 tsp coarse sea salt
- 3 tbsp olive oil
Serving:
- Sugar snap peas or snow peas, sliced lengthwise, as much as you like
- Cilantro, garnish, optional
Instructions
For Meal prep –
- In a gallon size freezer friendly bag, combine ingredients from chicken to fish sauce. Carefully massage the bag to dissolve the curry paste into the liquid. Squeeze out the air and seal the bag. Store in the fridge for up to 2 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can also make this dish right away without marinating.
- When you are ready to cook, dump the entire bag into the pot. Try to arrange the chicken in a single layer. Make sure each piece is in contact with the liquid.
Instant Pot:
- Add everything to the Instant Pot. If it’s thawed, cook for 8 minutes manual high pressure + 10 minutes for natural release. If it’s frozen, cook for 15 minutes manual high pressure + 10 minutes natural release. Stir-in bamboo shoots, coconut milk cream, nut butter, and lime juice to taste. Shred or dice the chicken and add back to the pot.
Slow Cooker:
- From thawed, add everything to the slow cooker. cook for 4 hours on high, or 6 hours on low. Stir-in bamboo shoots, coconut milk, nut butter, and lime juice to taste. Shred or dice the chicken and add back to the pot.
If adding vegetables:
- If you are adding the roasted vegetables, season the eggplants, carrots, and butternut squash cubes with salt and olive oil. Toss well. Roast at 420F for 20-30 minutes or until tender. Check and flip the vegetables after 20 minutes.
- You can serve the roasted vegetables on the side or add them to the curry pot. Garnish with raw sliced sugar snap peas and cilantro, if using. Serve extra lime wedges on the side.
Notes
- The salt and spicy lever of the store bought curry paste varies. Different brands have slightly different flavor profiles and the salty level can be quite different, too. Store bought curry paste is usually on the salty side so taste it with a small teaspoon before mixing it with other ingredients. Aim with less quantity because you can always add more later on.
- The sauce will be very thin before we add the cream and nut butter. Once we mix-in the cream and nut butter it will become creamier. Once the sauce cools down, especially the next day, it will become much thicker. When you reheat, thin with more chicken stock or coconut milk.
- Kaffir lime leaves have an earthy and citrus flavor. If you don’t have it handy but still want to give it a try, the closest substitute for Kaffir lime leaves are – 1 bay leaf, 1 whole lime zest, and 1-1.5 tbsp of fresh lemon thyme. Mix together and you have a very close substitute.
So much flavor and so easy to make! Give a try and you won’t be disappointed!
Thanks so much, Amita!
I loved the creaminess the nut butter contributed to this dish! I made the roasted veggies on the side, super yum! Thanks!
That’s awesome. So happy to hear!
Yum! This recipe was so delicious! I used Thai Kitchen green curry paste, which I don’t think is as spicy, but still had great flavor. I added peanut butter which added a really nice depth and creaminess. Also, huge thanks for providing an alternative to kaffir lime leaves. I have lemon thyme in my garden, so it was easy to substitute along with lime zest and bay leaf in a pinch. I doubled the recipe so I could do the freezer meal prep too. Highly recommend!
So happy to hear. Thank you, Vanessa!
This was absolutely delicious! Thank you so much for sharing. I didnt know what nut butter to use so I didnt add any nut butter at all and it was still incredible. Adding the roast vegetables is genius! Thank you again xx
So happy to hear. Thank you so much, Linda!
Hello, I’ve loved following your recipes thank you so much for sharing! Would you mind letting me know if peanut butter would be a suitable nut butter for this dish? Thanks Linda x
Hi Linda, so sorry I’m late getting back to you. Yes! peanut butter will work, too!
This looks so amazing. Can’t wait to make this this week!
Green curry is my absolute favorite! I’ll have to try that brand. I’ve never seen it before!
Love Thai curry and Mae Ploy is just the best curry paste ever!
Looks so yummy and nourishing! Love the tip about curry past and also adding less, and more if needed.
Just what I needed today after a long walk in our cold weather
That’s perfect. I’m so happy to hear that!
Oh yum. Green curry paste is often too spicy for me but with all that luscious coconut cream and nut butter I bet this would be perfect for me.
I’ve always wanted to know how to make this! I adore Thai green curry so I’m so excited to try this recipe!
I love green curry! Love that you roasted your veggies for it!
Wow, that looks delicious! I’ve never made anything with kaffir lime leaves before….
I absolutely love curry and this may just be one of the most wondrous ones! A fantastic combination of flavors!
Thank you so much! We love how easy it is for meal prep!
This is my favorite thing to get when we get Thai food, and you got the flavor on point! So delicious and flavorful.
The Mae Ploy is my favorite too!! And since I had it on hand already, this was a snap to throw together …..and to roasted veg made me swoon! SO SO good, thank you!