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Coconut Curry Chicken Soup

This delicious Coconut Curry Chicken Soup is a Thai inspired creamy coconut curry soup loaded with chunks of chicken, veggies and rice. It has bold and bright flavors, and is cozy and comforting for a cold day.

A bowl of coconut curry soup loaded with chicken, rice mushrooms and carrots

Thai inspired Creamy Coconut Curry Chicken Soup

We have been loving this warm and hearty coconut curry chicken soup this winter. Oh, who am I kidding, I love all my curries in the winter (it’s just the person season for it!), everything from this Curry Butternut Squash Soup to the more authentic Thai Red Chicken Curry.

Think of this coconut curry chicken soup as the soupier version of a Thai red chicken curry. The broth is still creamy because of the coconut milk in there, but it’s definitely more diluted than traditional curry. Then we throw in the rice and veggies, and serve it all in one bowl for easy consumption and cleanup.

SUCH A GOOD MEAL. Gosh I love my coconut curry chicken soup.

Please note that this creamy coconut curry chicken soup is not an authentic Thai dish, but it contains many ingredients and flavors that will remind you of Thai curry, such as fish sauce, cilantro, lime, and Thai red curry paste.

The flavors in my coconut curry chicken soup are bold and bright, yet not overpowering. You can also adjust the spice level based on your liking, but the red curry paste will pack a little bit of heat.

If you are craving some legitimate Thai flavors and want to make an easy, one pot meal to satisfy that cravings, this coconut curry chicken soup is for you!

Ingredients

The ingredients that make up this Thai coconut curry chicken soup makes this soup as delicious as it is. I have some substitution suggestions listed but try to stick to my ingredient list as closely as possible for the best tasting coconut curry chicken soup.

Scooping out some chicken and rice from  a pot of Thai coconut curry soup
  • shallots – white, yellow or sweet onions can be used as well.
  • chicken thighs or breast – I typically use boneless, skinless for the ease of it but you can use bone-in, skin-on if you prefer
  • red bell peppers
  • mushrooms – I used white mushrooms but any type works
  • carrots
  • Thai red curry paste – I linked my favorite brand. Note that when using different brands, the level of spice differs, so adjust accordingly. Use more of the paste if you want your coconut curry chicken soup spicier, and use less if you prefer it milder.
  • coconut milk
  • chicken broth – vegetable broth can be used as well
  • fish sauce – it might smell a bit fishy (and different) but I promise you this gives your curry an umami flavor that cannot be achieved otherwise. This is a super common ingredient in Thai dishes.
  • lime juice
  • cooked rice – for the ease for it, I use a bag of pre-cooked rice for this so I can just add it in after the soup is done cooking.
  • cilantro – unless you among the small percentage of people who has the gene that makes cilantro tastes soapy, I highly recommend not skipping this because it really does elevate the taste of the soup. I obviously do not have that gene. 😉

How to make it

To make coconut curry chicken soup, you will need a large pot or Dutch oven. We will be making it on the stovetop, so it’s pretty straightforward and simple.

Start by heating Dutch oven on the stovetop with a little bit of vegetable oil.

Add shallots and saute until fragrant, then add chicken thighs (that has been seasoned with salt and black pepper) and sear both sides until they are slightly brown on the outside.

Sauteing shallots and adding chicken to the Dutch oven

Next add all your veggies to the Dutch oven or pot – sliced bell peppers, mushrooms, and carrots.

Saute for about a minute, then add the Thai red curry paste.

Sauting carrots, bell peppers and mushrooms on stove top, then adding red curry paste

Mix everything together and then let’s add on the liquids and seasonings!

Start by adding chicken broth, and bring it to a boil. Then add fish sauce and lime juice.

Give it a good stir, cover pot with lid and let your curry chicken soup cook on medium low for 10 minutes, or until chicken is fully cooked, tender and shreddable.

Next, add in coconut milk to thicken your soup and make it super creamy.

Let your Thai coconut curry chicken soup come to a boil then shred or cut chicken into smaller pieces.

At this point I like to taste the soup and add more salt to open up the flavors if needed.

Last but not least, add cooked rice to it and garnish with cilantro. YUM!

A large pot of coconut curry chicken soup with rice and cilantro

It’s creamy, flavor-bursting and hearty.

The best part is, our coconut curry chicken soup takes about 30 minutes from start to finish so it makes the perfect easy one-pot meal on a busy evening.

Also, not to mentioned, it makes the tastiest leftovers!

Easy to reheat, easy to eat, east cleanup…what more can you ask for?

Variation and Substitution

Here are the other items you can add or substitute to your coconut curry chicken and rice soup that I think would be super tasty!

  • vegetables: zucchini, kale, spinach, broccoli, baby corn
  • protein: tofu, shrimp, pork, whatever leftover meats you have at hand!
  • others: chickpeas, bamboo shoots
Closeup of a bowl of creamy coconut curry chicken and rice soup

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this with noodles instead?

Absolutely! Instead of adding rice, add softened or cooked noodles to your soup. It will be just as tasty!

How do I make this more/less spicy?

To make it spicier, add more Thai red curry paste. To make it miler, add less Thai red curry paste. Thai red curry paste is what brings on the heat in this dish.

How do I cook this with skin on/ bone-in chicken?

You cook it the same way as you would boneless, skinless chicken. When shredding the chicken, you will also have to remove the skin and bones. It’s just a bit more work on that part.

Does this keep well as leftovers?

Totally! If you don’t want your rice to sit in the soup and get soggy, don’t add rice into the soup that you will not be consuming immediately and store rice separately as leftovers.

DID YOU ENJOY THIS RECIPE? Please comment below and give us a 5-star rating! This will help others find this recipe on Google and Pinterest. We very much appreciate your help! 🤍

More Delicious Soup Recipes

A bowl of thai red curry chicken soup, with cilantro, carrots and mushrooms

Coconut Curry Chicken Soup

A delicious Thai red curry soup loaded with chicken, rice, mushrooms, and vegetables. Hearty, creamy and filled with bold flavors.
5 from 28 votes
Print Pin
Course: Main Course, Soup
Cuisine: asian
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 752kcal
Author: MinShien

Ingredients

  • 1.5 lbs chicken thighs or chicken breast
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 2 tsp vegetable oil
  • 1 shallot sliced
  • 1 bell pepper sliced
  • 1 cup white mushroom sliced
  • 2 stalks carrots sliced
  • 2 tbsp Thai red curry paste adjust according to taste
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 1 tbsp fish sauce
  • 1 lime juice
  • 15 oz coconut milk
  • 2 cups cooked rice
  • 1/4 cup cilantro chopped

Instructions

  • Pat dry chicken thighs and season both sides with salt and black pepper.
  • Add vegetable oil to a pot or Dutch oven and heat pot under medium high heat.
  • Add shallots and saute for 30 seconds or until fragrant. Avoid burning shallots.
  • Add seasoned chicken thighs to pot. Sear both sides until they are slightly golden brown on the outsides.
  • Add bell peppers, mushrooms, and carrots. Saute for 1-2 minutes.
  • Add Thai red curry paste, and stir to combine.
  • Add chicken broth and bring to a boil.
  • Add fish sauce and lime juice. Then cover with lid and cook on medium low for 10 minutes, or until chicken is fully cooked on the insides.
  • Add coconut milk and bring to a boil again.
  • Remove chicken from the pot and shred or cut it into smaller pieces. Then return them into the soup.
  • Add cooked rice (see Note 1) and garnish with cilantro.
  • Serve and enjoy!

Notes

Note 1: If you are saving soup for leftovers, add cooked rice to individual bowls of soup when serving so that leftover soup is without rice in them – rice sitting warm soup for an extended period of time gets soggy. I highly recommend storing rice separately if storing leftovers. 

Nutrition

Calories: 752kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 55g | Saturated Fat: 28g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 171mg | Sodium: 1957mg | Potassium: 853mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 2412IU | Vitamin C: 46mg | Calcium: 75mg | Iron: 6mg
Did you make this recipe?Take a pic and tag me at @joyous.apron, or hashtag #joyousapron on Instagram!

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5 from 28 votes (20 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




18 Comments

  1. Can I make this with lite coconut milk? Can this soup be frozen?

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      Yes! Lite coconut milk works just fine! The soup can be frozen. I would freeze the rice separately though.

  2. 5 stars
    My family loved this soup so much! This recipe is definitely a winner and will be made often in my kitchen!

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      Thanks Sheila! So glad to hear!

  3. 5 stars
    What a gorgeous bowl of soup. It’s so flavorful and doesn’t weigh you down. My hubby raved about this recipe!

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      So happy to hear that, Jules!

  4. 5 stars
    This was downright delicious. Creamy yet not too heavy, and very flavorful. This will surely be on rotation in our house. A++

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      Great to hear that you love it!

  5. 5 stars
    This is a new family favorite! So much flavor.

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      That’s fabulous!

  6. Allie Chatham says:

    5 stars
    I tried this soup for dinner tonight, and it was delicious! It smelled good, looked good and tasted amazing. It’s savory and creamy but not too rich. I loved it with the rice. I’ll definitely make it again. Thanks for another tasty recipe!

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      Thank you, Allie! I love the rice in there as well! It soaks up all the delicious flavors and is so yummy!

  7. 5 stars
    Absolutely delish. This is my favorite kind of soup and I love making it at home!

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      Thanks Lynn! Glad you liked it!

  8. 5 stars
    Wow! Just like my favorite take out shop. Positively delish! And so versatile 🍜

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed this recipe!

  9. 5 stars
    This soup is so full of flavor tantalizing all taste buds on my tongue! Amazing recipe!!

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      Thank you so much, Verna! So happy to hear you enjoyed it.