Quick and Easy Indian Chicken Curry in 15 Minutes
This quick and easy Indian Chicken Curry is a real treat. This simple, easy and effortless recipe is made with exotic Indian spices like cumin, coriander, and garam masala. In addition, it has an added zing from tomato paste and sour cream. And it gets its gorgeous color from sweet hot paprika.
Quick and Easy Indian Chicken Curry in 15 mins, Quick Indian curry, Best Indian curry, Simple Indian Curry,
The best part? This curry takes only 15 minutes to cook and tastes absolutely heavenly when served over steamed rice or Indian bread, such as chapati or naan.
I bet you saw the short video I shared on my Instagram story – about this recipe. I know it was so gorgeous! Everybody kept asking about the color!!
We love chicken curry! It’s probably one that my kids never ever complain. If you ask them what they want for lunch they’ll usually say – Indian chicken curry with chapati.
And yet, don’t be fooled by the color. It’s not spicy at all. My kids are 8 and 10 and if they can enjoy this so can you. Since I use sweet paprika I get the rich red color but without the heat. We love the nice rich red color for our Indian chicken curry – right?
Quick and Easy Indian Chicken Curry in 15 mins, Quick Indian curry, Best Indian curry, Simple Indian Curry,
Let’s talk ingredients and substitutes (save/Pin)
- Chicken – you can use breast of course. I always use thighs. I think it’s more juicy and tender than breast meat.
- Tomato paste – I like using a little bit of paste for the color and thickness it adds but you can totally omit it as well.
- Sour Cream– I like sour cream in this but again if you prefer you can add yogurt as well.
- Spice Mix – Almost everyone has these common spices because they are used in most Indian or Middle Eastern dishes. If you don’t have these you can substitute the powders in the recipe with 2 tbsp of curry powder.
Quick and Easy Indian Chicken Curry in 15 mins, Quick Indian curry, Best Indian curry, Simple Indian Curry,
Quick and Easy Indian Chicken Curry in 15 minutes (save/Pin)
Ingredients
- Boneless chicken – 800 grams
- Tomato – 1 medium chopped (about 1/2 cup)
- Tomato paste – 1 tbsp (mostly for color)
- Sour cream – 1/2 cup
- Lemon juice – 1 tbsp
- Canola oil – 2 tbsp
- Salt and pepper to taste
Grind to a Paste
- Onion – 1 medium (1/2 cup chopped)
- Garlic – 4 medium cloves
- Ginger – 2-inch piece
- Cilantro leaves- 1/4 cup
- Red chili peppers – 3 large – (sweet or hot)
- Curry leaves – 5 nos
- Coriander powder – 1 tbsp
- Cumin powder – 1/2 tbsp
- Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp
- Garam masala – 1/2 tsp
Method
Prepare
- Soak red chilies in hot water for 2 to 3 minutes. (to soften them).
- Clean, wash and chop chicken.
- Season with salt pepper and lemon juice – set aside.
- Add all the paste ingredients to a food processor and blend until smooth.
Cook the curry
- Heat oil in a saute pan large enough for the whole recipe.
- Add the ground paste and cook on medium for about 3 minutes.
- If necessary, add a few tablespoons of water to prevent the spices from burning.
- You will know the spices are cooked when you get a nice aroma in the house.
- Next, add the chopped tomatoes and tomato paste. Stir well.
- Add the chicken pieces and coat well with the mixture.
- Add one cup of water and stir.
- Cook for about 8 to 10 minutes until the chicken is cooked.
- Add sour cream and stir well.
- Check and adjust seasoning.
- Sprinkle with more chopped cilantro before you serve.
Don’t forget to save this recipe on Pinterest for later.
You can find a collection of my tutorials and recipes here on Pinterest.
Quick and Easy Indian Chicken Curry in 15 mins, Quick Indian curry, Best Indian curry, Simple Indian Curry,
Quick and Easy Indian Chicken Curry in 15 Minutes
Ingredients
- 800 grams Boneless chicken
- 1 Tomato chopped
- 1 tbsp Tomato paste mostly for color
- 1/2 cup Sour cream
- 1 tbsp Lemon juice
- 2 tbsp Canola oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Grind to a Paste
- 1 medium Onion 1/2 cup chopped
- 4 cloves Garlic
- 2 tbsp Ginger
- 1/4 cup Cilantro leaves
- 3 Red chili peppers sweet or hot
- 5 Curry leaves
- 1 tbsp Coriander powder
- 1/2 tbsp Cumin powder
- 1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
- 1/2 tsp Garam masala
Instructions
Prepare
- Soak red chilies in hot water for 2 to 3 minutes. (to soften them).
- Clean, wash and chop chicken.
- Season with salt pepper and lemon juice - set aside.
- Add all the paste ingredients to a food processor and blend until smooth.
Cook the curry
- Heat oil in a saute pan large enough for the whole recipe.
- Add the ground paste and cook on medium for about 3 minutes.
- If necessary add a few tablespoons of water to prevent the spices from burning.
- You will know the spices are cooked when you get a nice aroma in the house.
- Next, add the chopped tomatoes and tomato paste. Stir well.
- Add the chicken pieces and coat well with the mixture.
- Add one cup of water and stir.
- Cook for about 8 to 10 minutes until the chicken is cooked.
- Add sour cream and stir well.
- Check and adjust seasoning.
- Sprinkle with more chopped cilantro before you serve.
Nutrition Information
Do you love Indian food?
Well then you must check out some of my other Indian recipes from slow-cooked curries to quick and easy as well as Indian Biryani and desserts.
A Collection of Modern Indian Recipes by Veena Azmanov
Jaimi
I loved the recipe and would make it again. I just had one question, you said the onion should be chopped, but never said when to add them when cooking. Do I make a paste with it with all the spices or add it after cooking the spices.
Veena Azmanov
Hey Jaimi, So happy you enjoyed this recipe and will be making it again. Yes, the onions are included in the paste ingredients and then it says – add all the paste ingredients to the food processor. So they get ground in the chilies, ginger garlic etc. I hope that makes it clear. Thanks for coming back to write this feedback.
Jessica Pinney
This looks delicious!
Veena Azmanov
Thanks Jessica
Christine
Oh, yum! Been craving a recipe like this. Love how easy it looks!
Veena Azmanov
Thanks Christine
Michelle Alston
I love Indian curry and can’t believe something that looks this good took only 15 minutes to make! Brilliant! Will definitely be trying this 🙂
Veena Azmanov
You will be surprised Michelle. It’s really a simple and easy recipe. Indian curry can really take only 15 mins.
Abby @ WinsteadWandering
I had no idea chicken curry could be made so quickly! This is a perfect weeknight meal.
Veena Azmanov
Absolutely Abby. It’s really simple and easy
Ashley @ Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen
I love Indian food – it’s incredible that you can get all that flavor in just 15 minutes!
Veena Azmanov
Absolutely Ashley and it’s so easy to make too.
Erin
I love curry especially during the Winter. Delicious!
Veena Azmanov
Thanks Erin.
Monica | Nourish & Fete
Lovely! I’ve been wanting to try more Indian cooking at home, and a super fast dish like this would be a great entree!
Veena Azmanov
Absolutely Monica. Love something like this on busy weekday cooking You must try it.
Kate
Yum! I just love Indian food! I dont’ eat meat, but I would make this sauce and put something vegetarian in it for sure! Looks delicious!
Veena Azmanov
Oh this would be perfect with any vegetables too Kate.
prasanna hede
Your pictures made me drool! Amazing recipe and lovely clicks.Love all the flavors in here.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you Prasanna.
aditi
Absolutely delighted to see this lovely collection of indian delicacies. This chicken curry recipe looks simple but so inviting and rich that am going to surely try this out.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you Aditi. Please do.. and let me know what you think. Thanks
Cheryl
I love chicken curry, but it takes too long to make. It’s so great that you have a quick and easy version that I could try on a week night. Looks great too 🙂
Veena Azmanov
This one is really easy Cheryl. It’s quick and easy. If you prepare rice simultaneously it a perfect lunch.
Patti
I love curry, and I love that his recipe is so simple and is ready in such a short time. I can’t wait to try this one.
Veena Azmanov
Than you so much Patti! I do hope you try it.
Patti
I love curry, and I love that this recipe only takes 15 minutes to prepare. I agree with you about using thighs. They ARE so much more flavorful; plus, they usually cost less than breasts.
Veena Azmanov
Absolutely Patti. Really simple and easy to make recipe. You will love it. So true thigh do cost less than breast. I’m not really a big fan of breast in curries
Dominique | Perchance to Cook
I absolutely love Indian curry, but I’ve never made it on my own before. This recipe looks wonderful and simple enough for me to try for my first time. Bookmarking this!
Veena Azmanov
Oh you must try Dominique – It’s really easy to make at home especially with all these spices so easily available. This ones real simple. Let me know if you have any questions.
Kirthana
Just tried this recipe today and I have to say its so simple and it came out pretty delicious too.. Looking forward to trying more of your recipes 🙂 Good job !
Veena Azmanov
Thank you so much Kirthania!! So happy to hear you loved it. Thanks so much for the feed back.