Chinese chicken curry is a comforting and flavorful dish that brings together tender chicken, aromatic spices, and a rich, savory sauce. While curry is often associated with Indian cuisine, Chinese-style curry offers a unique twist with its mild yet flavorful blend of ingredients. This dish is easy to make, satisfying, and perfect for a weeknight meal that’s sure to please everyone at the table.
The foundation of Chinese chicken curry lies in the curry powder, which provides a warm and mildly spicy flavor without being overwhelming. The sauce typically combines a few simple ingredients, such as soy sauce, oyster sauce, garlic, ginger, and chicken broth. These flavors meld together beautifully to create a rich, velvety sauce that coats the chicken perfectly.
Chicken breast or thighs work well in this dish, as both provide tenderness and flavor. Once the chicken is cooked through, it’s simmered in the curry sauce along with a variety of vegetables. Traditional additions include bell peppers, carrots, and onions, but you can easily customize it by adding peas, mushrooms, or even potatoes for extra texture and heartiness.
The best part about Chinese chicken curry is its versatility. It can be served with steamed rice, fried rice, or noodles — whatever you prefer to soak up the savory sauce. If you’re looking for a lighter option, you can even serve it with cauliflower rice or alongside a crisp green salad.
Chinese chicken curry is the perfect balance of flavors, offering a comforting and filling meal that’s easy to prepare. With its fragrant spices and tender chicken, it’s a dish that’s sure to become a family favorite.
Ingredients
- 200 grams chicken breast cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 medium onion sliced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon curry powder
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch dissolved in 2 tablespoons of water
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat and add the sliced onion, cooking until soft.
- Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add the chicken pieces to the pan and cook until lightly browned.
- Sprinkle the curry powder over the chicken and mix well to coat.
- Pour in the chicken broth and soy sauce, bring to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes.
- Stir in the cornstarch mixture to thicken the sauce and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
- Serve hot over rice or noodles, garnished with fresh cilantro or chilly peppers if desired.
1 minute garlic? mine burnt lol. i think maybe my garlic cloves were too small or pan too hot. flavor was still alright but not restaurant-level.
Really tasty and not too complicated. The sauce thickened perfectly after the cornstarch step—served it over rice and everyone went back for seconds.
Tried it and wow—so good. My whole family asked for seconds 😂
Love hearing this! 😄 The cornstarch + broth combo really does thicken it up nicely. Thanks for trying it—what did you serve it with, rice or noodles?
Yum!! This recipe is perfect. I added extra garlic, so good!
Yum! Great recipe but I used beef instead of chicken. Still turned out great!
Good recipe, but I don’t have cornstarch. Can I just use flour?
Not really Chinese curry though… more like a quick pan curry. If you want authentic, this might not scratch that itch.
Pretty solid weeknight recipe. I used a bit more curry powder (because why not) and added a pinch of sugar to balance the soy. Tasted great.
This was so easy to make and tasted amazing! My family loved it! 😍
Sounds too simple to taste good. Are you sure it was that amazing? 🤔
I’m glad you enjoyed it! It’s one of my favorites too. Did you try it with rice or noodles?
Honestly, I thought Chinese curry was different. This tasted just like regular curry to me.
Good flavor, but I had to add a splash more broth because my sauce got too thick. Also used a bit less curry powder since it was pretty strong. Still tasty!
This is amazing! So simple and tasty! Will definitely make it again.
I made this and it was just okay. I’ve had better chicken curry from restaurants. Better off ordering out!
Great recipe but I mistakenly put in too much soy sauce, oops!
Tasty dish, but I used beef instead of chicken. Still good!
My dog wouldn’t even eat it… I wouldn’t recommend this recipe. 🙁
This recipe is bomb! My fam loved it!
Made this tonight—so comforting. The curry flavor really comes through, and the sauce thickened perfectly after the cornstarch step. Served it over rice and it was gone fast.
Super easy to make! I’m not great in the kitchen but I actually pulled this off. Thanks!
I substituted chicken with tofu and it was really good, thanks for the recipe!
I didn’t have chicken so I used tofu instead. Still turned out really great!
Quick and easy! Perfect for weeknight dinners. Thanks for sharing!
My curry powder was kind of old, so the flavor was weak. Once I used fresher curry, though, it improved a lot. The onion/garlic base is definitely the right move.
Totally agree—curry powder freshness makes a huge difference. Good call on the onion/garlic base too!
This was AMAZING! The flavors were so good, my whole family loved it!
Curry in Chinese food? Lol, is that a thing?
Yes, it’s actually pretty popular! Asian cuisine has a ton of curry dishes. You should try it!
I dunno, curry sounds weird for Chinese food. I stick to soy sauce and ginger!
Delicious! Will definitely make again! 🎉
Why is curry so yellow??? Is that normal? Tasted fine, just curious.
ugh, why is this called curry? I thought it was supposed to be spicy.
It’s called curry because of the curry powder, but yeah, it’s not super spicy. You can always add some chili if you want heat!
I thought real curry was spicy too! This sounds yummy tho. Maybe I’ll try it with more spices.
I dunno… it was alright but kinda bland. Had to add salt and more spices.
I totally get it! I usually add extra spices too, like chili powder or ginger. It really makes a difference! 🍜
Bland? Really? I thought it was pretty good. Maybe you just need to experiment more with flavors.
Super easy and quick to make! Will definitely make it again.
Glad you liked it! It’s one of my favorites too. 🙂
Made this last night and it’s seriously comforting. The cornstarch step thickened it perfectly—sauce clung to the chicken like I wanted.
Curry powder? I thought it was just chicken with sauce. 🤷♂️
Curry powder makes all the difference! You should definitely try it, it’s so tasty!
I love that it uses simple pantry stuff. No fancy ingredients, just simmer and thicken. Will make again!
Yes! The simple pantry vibe is the best part—onion + curry powder + simmer does most of the work. Mine always turns out great when I don’t overthink it. 😄
Agree-ish. I like it, but I’d maybe add a little ginger or some coconut milk so it’s less watery? Still, cornstarch slurry is a smart fix.
This was so good! My family loved it, I added some peas and carrots too. 🙂
Sounds amazing! I love the addition of peas and carrots. Will definitely try it out! 🙂
Not bad, but the instructions are a little vague—like when exactly to dissolve the cornstarch? I still got it to thicken, so… yay I guess.
Totally get you—good catch. I usually dissolve the cornstarch in those 2 tbsp water *right before* step 6, then stir it in once the sauce is at a gentle simmer. Cook just 2–3 min so it thickens without getting lumpy. Glad it still worked for you though!
Tried once. Not for me. Too curry-forward, and I like my chicken dishes more savory than spicy.
5 stars lol. I don’t even cook like that but it came out. onions were soft, chicken browned, sauce slayed.
I burned the garlic! How do I not do that? It wa too strong now.
I don’t usually cook but this was good, I guess.
Yum! Quick after work dinner, will make again.
Not gonna lie, 10 minutes simmer feels short for chicken breast—mine tasted a bit underdone even after. Maybe my pieces were bigger.
I dunno, my chicken turned out a bit rubbery. Maybe I overcooked it?
This is “Chinese” curry? I mean, curry powder is curry powder, but I’m skeptical. The soy sauce makes it taste more East-meets-style, which could be good, but I didn’t love the balance.
I don’t like curry, but I was tryin to impress my date. It worked! 😂
That’s great to hear! Sometimes we gotta do what we gotta do for love! 😂❤️
Chicken curry is like the best ever! But isn’t Chinese curry different?
Totally! Chinese curry is way different. It’s more about that umami flavor. Can’t wait to try this recipe!
I’m not a confident cook and I still pulled this off 😅. Steps were clear and it thickened nicely. I served it over rice and it disappeared fast.
I used leftover chicken and it turned out great! 👌
I bet it was delicious! Leftovers can make the best meals. 🍗✨
This was amazing! I never thought I could make curry at home. Thanks for sharing!
I followed it exactly and it came out too salty for me. Soy sauce amount is fine, but I think my broth was already seasoned. Would reduce soy next time.
Yeah, that sounds plausible. If your broth already had salt (or was a boxed/seasoned one), the 1 tbsp soy sauce could tip it over. Next time try low-sodium broth or cut soy to 1/2 tbsp.
Chinese chicken curry… huh. This tastes more like a generic curry sauce to me, not really “Chinese” unless there are specific spices missing. Still tasty though.
Totally get what you mean—this is more “curry-style” than truly Chinese. I’ve always thought the soy + curry powder combo makes it taste a bit generic, but it’s still super comforting. Glad you liked it!
Maybe you need more like ginger and five-spice? My aunty never used curry powder so it would taste different. But hey… chicken is chicken 😅 Still good with rice.
Followed the steps pretty much exactly. I served it over rice and it was super comforting. Next time I’ll add a little ginger for extra kick.
Meh. The curry powder flavor was a little flat for my taste, like it needed something fresh—next time I’ll add ginger or a squeeze of lime.
Flavor was good but I’d add a little more curry powder next time. Also, mine didn’t thicken as much until I simmered longer.
Yum! This was super tasty! A hit with my family.
I followed it pretty much exactly. Only swap I made was using thighs instead of breast and it stayed tender. Good weekday recipe.
Recipe is missing some flavor. I had to add a lot more soy sauce and salt. 🙁
Easy to follow! But I couldn’t find chicken broth so I used water.
This was surprisingly yummy! I made it for my family and they loved it. Will make again!
So glad to hear that! It’s always great when the family enjoys a meal. What side dishes did you serve with it?
Yum!
I followed exactly and it came out too salty. Next time I’ll reduce the soy sauce or use unsalted broth.
Totally get it—1 tbsp soy sauce can pack a lot depending on the brand. Next time try 1/2 tbsp or swap part of it with broth like you said.