Chicken Curry Udon is where Japanese comfort food meets bold, cozy flavor. Combining thick, chewy udon noodles with a fragrant curry-infused broth and tender pieces of chicken, this dish is as satisfying as it is simple to make.
Japanese curry is different from its Indian or Thai counterparts, it’s milder, slightly sweet, and deeply savory. When blended into a soup with dashi or chicken broth, it creates a thick, velvety base that coats the udon noodles beautifully. The broth warms you from the inside out, making it ideal for chilly evenings or whenever you need something nourishing and rich.
The chicken is typically sliced thin or cut into bite-sized chunks, cooked until juicy and tender. It absorbs the curry flavor without overpowering the dish. You can use chicken thigh for a richer bite or breast for a leaner option, both work well depending on your preference.
Udon noodles are key here. Their soft, chewy texture stands up perfectly to the thick curry broth, making each bite feel indulgent. If you’re using frozen or pre-cooked udon, just warm them up and let them soak in the curry goodness.
Vegetables like onions, carrots, and scallions are commonly added, giving the dish a little sweetness and extra texture. Toppings can be as simple or fancy as you like. A soft-boiled egg, sliced green onions, or even crispy tempura bits make great additions.
Chicken Curry Udon is a one-bowl meal that doesn’t require much time or effort. It brings together the best of Japanese curry and noodle soup in a way that’s deeply comforting and full of flavor. Perfect for a weeknight dinner or even as a weekend treat, this dish is sure to become a regular in your kitchen.

Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp curry powder
- 1 onion thinly sliced
- 2 carrots sliced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 2 packets udon noodles
- Salt and pepper to taste
- cilantro chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- In a large pot, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat
- Add the minced garlic and sliced onion to the pot and cook until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes
- Add the sliced chicken breasts and cook until they are no longer pink in the middle, about 7-8 minutes
- Stir in the curry powder and cook for another minute to toast the spices
- Add the sliced carrots, chicken broth, and coconut milk to the pot and bring to a simmer
- Let the soup simmer for 15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together
- Cook the udon noodles according to the package instructions, then drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process
- Divide the cooked udon noodles among 4 bowls and ladle the curry soup over the noodles
- Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve hot
I gotta say, I wasn’t sure about the coconut milk in a curry. But it worked! Crazy but true. Thumbs up!
Really comforting and the coconut milk makes it mellow in a good way. The curry-to-spice timing step is key—mine smelled amazing right after toasting the curry powder.
Coconut milk in curry? Why? Coconut is not for curries, I don’t care what anyone says. Stick to traditional recipes, please!
I actually love coconut milk in my curries! It adds a lovely richness. Tradition is nice, but sometimes it’s great to mix things up!
So good! The coconut milk made it creamy and perfect. But can we skip the cilantro? Yuck!
Yum!!! I don’t think I ever tried udon noodles before. So chewy and good!!! 😍
The ingredient list is great, but 4 cups broth for 2 packets udon feels off to me? I ended up with thicker soup and needed more broth. Maybe my udon packets are bigger.
Absolutely loved this recipe! The flavors are amazing, and my family devoured it! Will definitely make again!
Thanks for sharing your review! I can’t wait to try this myself. It sounds so delicious and comforting!
Just made this for dinner and it was a hit! My husband loved it. Thanks for sharing!
Yummy! I’ve never cooked with coconut milk before but it really changes the game!
Coconut milk is amazing! It makes everything creamy. You should try it in smoothies too!
I don’t know, coconut milk can be really weird tasting. Not everyone likes it, you know?
This was an AMAZING recipe! The flavors are incredible, and my family loved it. Will definitely make again!
I’m so glad you loved it! It’s one of my favorites too. The coconut milk really takes it up a notch, right?
Noodles + curry?? Sounds odd but tasted alright. Not my go-to meal but I would eat it if someone made it for me.
Really solid instructions—especially toasting the curry for that extra depth. I did add a pinch of sugar because my curry powder is super bitter, but otherwise followed it pretty closely.
Totally agree—toasting the curry powder makes a huge difference. I never think to add sugar though, but that makes sense if your curry powder runs bitter. I’ll try a tiny pinch next time!
Pinch of sugar fixes everything 😅. My only concern: 2 tbsp curry powder for 4 cups broth + coconut milk seems kinda intense—like it could overpower. Still, if your version tastes good, don’t change it.
This was absolutely delish! The flavors are so good together, my whole family loved it. Definitely making this again!
Curry good, udon great!! Love this whole mix. Will make again for sure! 😍
Can I use almond milk instead of coconut milk? Don’t have any at home.
This is delicious! I added some mushrooms because I had them lying around. Yum!
Chicken curry u don? Love it. 🥢😋
This chicken curry udon recipe is amazing! The flavors are so rich and teasty. I added a bit of spicy chili and it was perfect!
I totally agree! The rich flavors really make this dish special. Adding chili is a great idea, I’ll try that next time! 🌶️
How much is 2 packets udon? Is that like, a cup or two? Need more clear details.
Whaaat! Chicken in curry? Sounds weird to me, but to each their own I guess. 🤷♀️
I get what you mean! Curry and chicken together may sound odd, but trust me, it’s a game changer! You might wanna give it a shot! 🤗
Yummm! I added some extra veggies like bell peppers and mushrooms. Turned out great! 😋
I’m not sure about simmering 15 minutes with the coconut milk. Mine looked slightly split after a while, but it still tasted good. Next time I’ll probably add the coconut later.
Honestly, this was way too complicated. Who has time to cook for 45 minutes?!
Eh, it was okay. I added more veggies but still felt something was missing. Not sure if I’ll make it again.
Eh, I don’t know, it was pretty good for me! We all got different taste. Maybe you just prefer lighter flavors?
I feel you! I tried it too but added bell peppers and it turned out way better! Maybe try different spices next time?
It was edible, I guess. The curry flavor was kinda one-note for me. Also I forgot to rinse the udon and it turned gummy… my bad.
Yummy! Also, can I use beef instead of chicken? Just wondering!
I followed the recipe but my chicken was still pink after the time noted. Not very happy about that.
I’m skeptical about the two packets of udon—mine were way more than enough noodles for 4 bowls and I ran out of broth. Maybe check noodle weight vs your packet size.
Good catch. I always add broth until it feels right before the noodles go in, but the noodle package sizes are all over the place.
Yeah, I had the same issue once. Some udon packets are tiny and some are basically meal-sized. I usually weigh mine—2 packets can be perfect or too much depending on the brand.
Looks easy. Gonna try it. Hope my curry doesn’t taste like ketchup tho 😅
Yeah it’s pretty straightforward! 😄 The coconut milk usually smooths out the curry powder, so it shouldn’t taste like ketchup—unless your curry powder is super tangy/sweet. Let us know how it turns out!
Did I miss something? The curry was too overpowering for me. Might try less curry next time.
Less curry next time for sure! I like my curry strong, but everyone has different tastes. Just adjust based on what you enjoy!
I think you might’ve added too much curry powder! It’s strong stuff. I usually stick to 1 tbsp for a milder taste. Give it another shot! 😊
This tastes like actual comfort food. The curry-to-coconut combo is spot on, and the cilantro at the end makes it feel restaurant-y. I used a bit more curry powder and it was perfect.
This is realy good and simple. I love curry! But I used more garlic than listed 🙂
I tried this recipe but it didn’t turn out like I expected. The curry was too strong for my taste, and the noodles got all mushy. Not sure if I’ll make it again.
It was okay, but I thought it could use more spices. Maybe some chili flakes next time?
Yeah, I agree! A bit of heat would really elevate this dish. Chili flakes sound perfect! 🌶️
Was this supposed to be spicy? I expected a kick but it was kinda bland 🙁
This looks so easy, but are you serious with the 15 minutes simmer time? My stuff was done in 10 and it was fine.
Made this tonight and it was a hit. I added a pinch of chili flakes for extra warmth and it still tasted balanced. Would 100% make again.
No cilantro? Jk 😅 But seriously, why is it called curry udon if there’s no curry paste? Also 7-8 minutes chicken seems too long for thin slices.
I don’t know… I thought the coconut milk made it too sweet. Maybe I’ll try it without next time.
I don’t think it’s too sweet! But I get not everyone likes coconut. Just adjust it to your taste and make it work for you! Cooking is about experimenting!
I actually loved the coconut milk in this recipe! It adds a creaminess that really complements the curry. You should give it another shot, maybe try a little less if you’re worried about the sweetness!
Easiest recipe ever! It took a bit longer than I thought but i’m also slow. Next time I’ll add more veggies!
I don’t really get the coconut milk with chicken. It tasted… strange. 🤔
Made this for my family and they all asked for seconds. Definitely a hit in our house!
So glad to hear that! This really is a family favorite. 🙌
Absolutely delicious! The curry flavor is spot on. Will definitely make again!
So good! I added some extra veggies just to make it healthier. Yummy!
This was delicious! I loved the curry flavor and how creamy it was. Will make again!
Udon in curry soup is genius. I didn’t even rinse the noodles (oops) and they still worked, but I can see why rinsing matters to prevent clumping.
This chicken curry udon recipe is fantastic! It was so easy to follow and the flavors were amazing. My family loved it! I’ll definitely make this again.
Really? I tried it and found it too salty. Maybe I just did something wrong? Idk…
I’m so glad to hear that! I’ve been looking for an easy recipe, and this sounds amazing. Family-approved is always a win!
I tried it but my curry tasted weird. I think I added too much coconut milk? Not a fan of udon either, prefer rice.
I think the coconut milk can be a bit overpowering sometimes! Maybe try using less next time, and I totally agree, rice would work better. Hope it goes better next time!
Idk about “curry udon” like… feels weird. Shouldn’t you boil the udon in the curry broth? Mine came out fine though lol.
Instructions were clear, but I accidentally used spaghetti instead of udon noodles. Still turned out pretty good.
Glad it turned out! Spaghetti is a wild choice, but if it works for you, that’s great! I’ll have to try it sometime.
I love udon, so this was fun. I used pre-sliced chicken breast and it cooked fast. Next time I might add mushrooms because I feel like they’d fit.
The broth + coconut combo is great. I followed the simmer time but my carrots stayed a tiny bit crunchy—next time I’ll simmer 5 minutes longer.
I don’t know… It was ok but too much coconut milk for me. I prefer my curry less sweet.
First time making curry and it was so good!! Who knew cooking could be this easy? Thanks for sharing!
Meh…I don’t get it. Just tastes like chicken soup to me. Next!
I don’t know, I thought it was super tasty! You’re missing out if you just think it’s chicken soup. Maybe try adding more spices next time?
Tastes like chicken soup? Nah man, you must’ve missed something! There’s curry in there, that’s a whole different vibe!
Super tasty. I didn’t have udon noodles, so I used spaghetti and it worked just fine! Thanks for sharing!
Glad to hear it worked out! Spaghetti is super versatile, nice job!
Just okay, not the best recipe. Way too much garlic for my liking. I mean, who need that much garlic?!
Udon noodles taste funny. I thought they were supposed to be soft. Is that normal?
Good idea, but I think 2 tbsp curry powder is a lot for “to taste” unless your curry is mild. Mine turned out pretty strong—still tasty though.
This turned out super comforting—love the creamy curry broth with the udon. The timing for cooking the chicken was spot on too.
I dont know if I did something wrong but mine turned out too watery. How do you make it thicker?
Not bad! The onions and garlic base smelled great. I’m docking a point because my carrots stayed a little firm after only 15 minutes—might need longer or thinner slices.
Totally agree—15 minutes is kinda quick for carrots. I usually slice them thinner (like coin-thin) and simmer closer to 25. Otherwise they stay crunchy.
Pretty tasty, but I felt like 2 tbsp curry powder was a bit strong. I’d use a little less next time and maybe add more coconut milk for balance.
Totally agree—2 tbsp curry powder is bold. I usually do 1–1.5 tbsp and it still tastes great. Adding extra coconut milk at the end really helps mellow it out.
I’m gonna disagree 😅 I like it strong. If it’s too intense for you, try cooking the spices a bit longer in step 4? Also cilantro fixes everything. (Okay maybe not everything.)
Curry + udon? Yum!
Not bad, but I found it kinda bland until I added more salt and pepper. Also my garlic got a little too browned—watch the heat.
I followed it exactly but it tasted kinda flat until I added extra salt. Also, I didn’t have cilantro and used parsley—still okay, just not the same vibe.
Totally get that—curry can taste a little muted if you don’t season aggressively. Extra salt (and maybe a tiny splash of soy sauce or lime at the end) usually brings it to life. Also parsley works in a pinch, just not as bright as cilantro.
I didn’t know what udon noodles were so I used spaghetti. Wasn’t the same lol!
This tastes like something you’d get at a cozy restaurant. The instructions are super clear and it came together quickly during the week.