This is a Healthy Chicken Curry recipe that you need in your life and it's cooked in just 30 minutes. If you are looking for a new way to eat lean chicken breast, but you don't like spicy food, then give this Tomato Chicken Curry recipe a try. It's a rich and creamy curry with just a tiny bit of spice, which could easily be left out to make a lovely mild tomato based curry. This is a great kid friendly curry, that freezes well too.
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One of our aims for this year was to order less takeaways and cook more alternatives at home. This healthy chicken curry is our go-to on a Friday night rather than ordering from the local Indian restaurant! It has all of the flavour of a takeaway tomato based chicken curry, but much less calories.
If you are looking for some other takeaway alternatives to make at home, then why not try our Soy Sauce Noodles, Turkey Kebabs, Healthy KFC or Chicago Deep Dish Pizza?
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Why You Will Love It
- A mild chicken curry - This is a tomato based chicken curry and the focus is on the tomato sauce, rather than spice. You can easily leave the chillies out to make it really mild.
- Quick and easy - This healthy chicken curry takes just 30 minutes to cook, which is less time than it would take to get it delivered.
- Kids love it - If you are looking to introduce more flavours into your kid's meals, then this is a good way to do it because of how mild it is.
- Freezer friendly - This is great for batch cooking because it freezes so well.
- Low in calories - There are under 400 calories a portion and it is protein packed too. The average Indian takeaway curry has 800 calories, so our healthy chicken curry is a much lighter option.
Ingredients and Substitutions
A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Chicken - We used chicken breast to keep this curry nice and lean, however, you can use chicken thighs instead, which are juicier but they do have a higher fat content.
- Garlic - This is a fairly garlic heavy curry, so feel free to reduce the quantity to your own taste. You can save time and use crushed garlic in a jar, but freshly crushed is always best. Crush it so it is almost a paste, so it has an even distribution in the curry sauce.
- Ginger - Along with garlic, ginger is the base of most curries. You can save time and use frozen ginger. Did you know that you can use a teaspoon to easily peel the skin off fresh ginger.
- Greek yogurt - This adds a nice creaminess as well as cooling the curry down a bit. You can use coconut milk too, which would give a nice added flavour.
- Plum tomatoes - Good quality plum tomatoes are always preferable as cheaper ones can be a bit watery and you really will taste the difference. We use plum over chopped as they have less of a metallic taste.
- Onion - You could use shallots for a sweeter taste and you can also use frozen onion to save time.
- Spice mix - We made our own spice mix consisting of cumin, turmeric, chilli, cinnamon and coriander. You can use your own spice blend or even some garam masala or a good quality store bought curry blend.
- Coriander (cilantro) - Fresh coriander to finish the dish off.
Variations
As with all our recipes, this tomato chicken curry is easy to adapt. We have had this as a vegetable curry when we needed to do a fridge clear out, we have had it with tofu and we have done a seafood version too that was really good. We've also used chicken thigh instead of breast, which makes it cheaper, but higher in fat.
We often add in some mushrooms, peppers, courgettes, cauliflower, broccoli or peas and even cut down the amount of chicken and add in some chickpeas or lentils for a protein boost. To give this curry and green vegetable boost, you can stir in some spinach just before serving too.
Step by Step Instructions
One: Heat oil in a large pan and then add the onion, garlic and ginger and cook on a medium heat for 3 minutes until softened.
Two: Add the chicken and cook for a further 3 minutes until browned.
Three: Once the chicken is browned, add the red chilli flakes, cumin, turmeric, cinnamon and coriander to the pan and mix well and cook for a further 1 minute.
Four: Add the chopped tomatoes and tomato puree to the pan and gently simmer for 10 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.
Five: Stir in the Greek yoghurt and coriander and season with salt and pepper before serving.
Serving Suggestions
Curry goes perfectly with rice, which soaks up all that incredible creamy sauce. You could just go with plain basmati rice, or why not try our Turmeric Rice for something a little different? You could swap rice for quinoa for a protein boost.
Soft and fluffy bread is always a good option with curry too, so why not try making our Homemade Flatbreads - they are so simple. And then dip them in some of our homemade cucumber raita or mango chutney. If you want lots of flavour, then try our Peshwari Naan.
If you want a little more colour, then our Cucumber Tomato Salad or Carrot and Coriander Salad go well with a curry.
Storage
Store: If you do have leftovers then they can be stored in an air tight container in the fridge for 2 days.
Freeze: Yes, this curry freezes really well. Just let it cool fully and then store in plastic containers and it will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Reheat: Once it has defrosted you can either microwave it or heat it up in a pan until piping hot.
Dannii's Top Tips
- If you like your curries spicier, add an extra sprinkle of chilli flakes before serving.
- Don't have all the different spices? Just use 2 tablespoons of curry powder or curry paste instead. Or if you have Garam Masala, you can use that.
- Make the curry a little more indulgent by stirring some cream through just before serving.
- Make sure you only cook the chicken until it is just cooked, so it stays nice and juicy. If it is cooked for too long then it will become rubbery and dry.
- Add a portion of vegetables to this easy chicken curry by throwing in some chopped spinach a few minutes before the curry is finished.
- Don't like chicken? You could use any vegetables instead, or use tofu or king prawns.
- Try leftovers in a wrap with some grilled halloumi or on top of a baked potato.
- Why not halve the amount of chicken and add some chickpeas instead?
- Try stirring in some spinach a few minutes before serving for an iron boost.
- Add a little crunch to this curry by serving with some cashew nuts on top.
- You can give this an extra protein boost by adding some quick cook lentils at the same time as the tinned tomatoes.
- If you want a smooth sauce, then you could swap the tinned tomatoes for passata.
Frequently Asked Questions
This easy chicken curry has plenty of flavour going on, but we kept it mild as I know not everyone wants to be blown away by a curry. It's really all about the spices, rather than the heat. There is cumin, coriander, cinnamon and of course lots of garlic, but just a sprinkle of chilli flakes which could easily be left out.
It will be cooked when the juices run clear, but that is a bit hard to tell with the curry sauce. The best way to ensure that it is cooked through is to use a meat thermometer. Chicken is cooked when it has an internal temperature of 75°C/167°F.
Yes, as long as you use your own spice blend and make sure that there is no cross contamination, then this can be gluten free.
Yes, you can swap the garlic, ginger and spiced for curry paste instead. That way you can use a different curry paste each time to change the flavour. We like making a Thai version of this with Thai red curry paste.
If you have problems with the consistency of the curry, then we have some tips for you. If it is too thick, then you can thin it out with some coconut milk or stock. This has probably happened because it was cooked at too high a heat. If the sauce is too thin, then simmer it for a bit longer before or add tomato puree or more yoghurt to thicken it.
More Curry Recipes
If you've tried this Healthy Chicken Curry, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.
Recipe
Tomato and Garlic Chicken Curry
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of Olive oil
- 400 g (14 oz) of Chicken breast - cut into chunks
- 1 Onion - diced
- 30 g (1 oz) of Fresh ginger - grated
- 4 Garlic clove - crushed
- 0.5 teaspoon of Ground cumin
- 0.5 teaspoon of Ground turmeric
- 0.5 teaspoon of Red chilli flakes
- 0.5 teaspoon of Ground cinnamon
- 0.5 teaspoon of Ground coriander
- 2 tablespoon of Tomato puree
- 400 g (14 oz) of Chopped tomatoes - canned
- 4 tablespoon of Greek yogurt
- 30 g (2 cups) of Fresh coriander (cilantro) - finely chopped
Instructions
- Add 1 tbsp of Olive oil to a large pan and add 1 Onion, 4 Garlic clove and 30 g of Fresh ginger and cook for 3 minutes until softened.
- Add 400 g of Chicken breast and cook for a further 3 minutes until browned.
- Once the chicken is browned, add 0.5 tsp of Red chilli flakes, 0.5 tsp of Ground cumin, 0.5 tsp of Ground turmeric, 0.5 tsp of Ground cinnamon and 0.5 tsp of Ground coriander to the pan and mix well and cook for 1 minute.
- Add 400 g of Chopped tomatoes and 2 tbsp of Tomato puree and gently simmer for 20 minutes until the chicken it cooked through.
- Stir through 4 tbsp of Greek yogurt and 30 g of Fresh coriander (cilantro) before serving.
Recipe Video
Recipe Tips
- If you like your curries spicier, add an extra sprinkle of chilli flakes before serving.
- Don't have all the different spices? Just use 2 tablespoon of curry powder or curry paste instead. Or if you have Garam Masala, you can use that.
- Make the curry a little more indulgent by stirring some cream through just before serving.
- Make sure you only cook the chicken until it is just cooked, so it stays nice and juicy. If it is cooked for too long then it will become rubbery and dry.
- Add a portion of vegetables to this easy chicken curry by throwing in some chopped spinach a few minutes before the curry is finished.
- Don't like chicken? You could use any vegetables instead, or use tofu or king prawns.
- Try leftovers in a wrap with some grilled halloumi or on top of a baked potato.
- Why not halve the amount of chicken and add some chickpeas instead.
- Try stirring in some spinach a few minutes before serving for an iron boost.
- Add a little crunch to this curry by serving with some cashew nuts on top.
- You can give this an extra protein boost by adding some quick cook lentils at the same time as the tinned tomatoes.
- If you want a smooth sauce, then you could swap the tinned tomatoes for passata.
Nutritional Information
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The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.
CO says
I know tomato paste and tomato puree as two different tomato products. However, In certain areas, they are the same. Can you confirm if tomato paste can be used in this recipe?
Dannii Martin says
If your tomato paste is a thick red paste, then yes, that is what we have used here.
Lauren Swenson says
This was really good, and is full of simple ingredients! Definitely going in my rotation.
- My mom doesn't like spicy, so I quartered the red chili flakes... I think doing the full amount would have been spicy (I love spicy, but I think I'd only make it with half of the chili flakes, allowing for more to be added after serving).
- The recipe needs salt IMHO. I'd start with half the amount of all the other spices, then add more if needed.
- I used chicken thighs, and instead of olive oil I started with coconut oil which added a little coconut flavor; next time I may try starting with ghee.
Lauren says
Oh also, YES, adding that chopped fresh spinach in was amazing and a great way to add nutrition, color and fiber to the meal! And I just used the leaves from one bunch of cilantro/coriander (chopped), vs measuring out the full amount. So yummy.
Melinda says
I followed to a tee. It was "ok". I tasted as I went. I added curry powder.
I will next time add salt for sure, its missing it, as well as some garam masala, maybe some cardamom. Something was missing. Not sure what it was.
Sal says
Really tasty, quick & easy to make, all the family love it. I double up and freeze it if there is any left !
Dannii Martin says
Yes, this is a great recipe to freeze.
Rosalie says
This was really delicious but unfortunately the yogurt curdled when I added it to the sauce and it didn’t look too great! Any suggestions on preventing the yogurt curdling due to the acid from the tomatoes?
Dannii says
This sometimes happens depending on what brand yoghurt you use, but it won't change the taste. You can always remove a little of the sauce, to add to the yoghurt first and then add all of that to the curry.
Alex Stenning says
II cannot get this to print. I push print and it resorts back to ‘jump to recipe’
Thank you.
Dannii says
Are you still having problems with this? I have checked and got someone else to check too and it works for both of us.
Susan says
Thank you really enjoyed the chicken curry recipe, my husband does not like hot curry but loved this one. Great tips as well which are always useful. I added some mushrooms as well. Will certainly make again.
Kakohikes says
Hello! This looks pretty good and would like to try it but am concerned over the difference in quantity of spices in the uk vs us measurement.
Uk/metric is
0.5 tsp Ground cumin, 0.5 tsp Turmeric, 0.5 tsp Red chilli flakes, 0.5 tsp Ground cinnamon, 0.5 tsp Ground coriander
Us conversion is
1 tbsp Ground cumin, 1 tsp Turmeric, 0.5 tsp Red chilli flakes, 1 tsp Ground cinnamon, 1 tsp Ground coriander.
Seems like spices are mostly doubled, or more in cumins case. Just starting to make curries and no clue which version is right. Help?
Dannii says
Hello! That is an error in the recipe card. Thanks for flagging it - will will get that changed. The UK measurements will be correct, as we are in the UK and that is what we measure in. The US one is an automatic conversion, in the recipe card, but sometimes there is an error.
Kakohikes says
Thanks for the response :) I made this for dinner tonight, it was so good! I see myself making this one quite oft
Patricia says
This recipe was a little weird. Not sure how to simmer just two tablespoons of purée so I added a whole can and that made it so much better! Also toned down on the cumin and added salt. But otherwise it’s not bad.
Dannii says
Hello, thanks for your comment. There is just 2 tbsp of tomato puree, but also a 400g can of chopped tomatoes - which is where all the sauce of the curry comes from. Using a whole can of tomato puree would have given it too much of an intense tomato flavour. As for the cumin, we feel that curries should have a strong cumin flavour, but those kind of things are always personal preference.
Julie says
Excellent recipe! I added more tomatoes for extra sauce and everyone loved it.
Just the right amount of spice :-)
Dannii says
It's great to hear that you all enjoyed it :)
Sarah says
Hello,
If I'm using curry powder instead of a mix of spices...how much do I use please :)
Dannii says
I would say about 2 tbsp, depending on how intense you want the curry flavour.
Laul says
The balance of spices is not great . Too much cumin
Paul says
Made this tonight for my son and l , lovely. Really easy to follow, couldn't fault it.
Dannii says
That's great to hear. Thanks for sharing.
Pat says
The comments section of this recipe frustrate me-please make the curry before you rate it as opposed to rating how you think it will taste!
Dannii says
There are lots of comments from people that have made it too :)
David says
Yum! Love chicken curry, and I like the flavorful but not too hot approach. That also is in keeping with our son's taste, who does like curry but not too much heat.
marie johson says
This recipe is very easy and everyone in my family loved it. It tastes to good. Gonna try it again for sure. Thanks for sharing <3
Tracy Johnstone says
Easy to make and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it. Will definitely make it again.
Dannii says
Happy to hear you all enjoyed it :)
Manasi says
Made it with a mixture of salmon and prawns instead of chicken and it’s wonderful! Next time I am going to make up some of the sauce and freeze it in portions!
Dannii says
Ooh, that sounds like a good swap! I am going to try that soon!