One-Pan Coconut Curry Rice With Chicken and Vegetables

One-Pan Coconut Curry Rice With Chicken and Vegetables
Johnny Miller for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Rebecca Jurkevich
Total Time
1 hour
Rating
4(4,533)
Notes
Read community notes

Baking rice is a fail-safe way to a fluffy bowl of grains — and a quick route to a fragrant, hearty dinner. Red curry paste, coconut milk and peanut butter spice the chicken, rice and vegetables in this hands-off, one-pot recipe. Chunky peanut butter adds nuttiness, crunch and creaminess all at once. Feel free to swap out the carrots and broccoli for vegetables with similar cooking times, like sweet potato or snap peas. Drizzle your red curry rice with lime-spiked coconut milk for brightness just before digging in.

  • or to save this recipe.

  • Subscriber benefit: give recipes to anyone
    As a subscriber, you have 10 gift recipes to give each month. Anyone can view them - even nonsubscribers. Learn more.
  • Print Options


Advertisement


Ingredients

Yield:4 servings
  • 1(13-ounce) can full-fat coconut milk
  • ¼cup red curry paste
  • 3tablespoons crunchy peanut butter
  • 2tablespoons fish sauce
  • 4garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  • Kosher salt and black pepper
  • 1pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into ¾-inch pieces
  • 2large carrots, peeled and thinly sliced (about 1 cup)
  • cups jasmine rice, rinsed
  • cups boiling water
  • 1head broccoli, thick stems discarded, florets separated (about 2 cups florets)
  • 1tablespoon lime juice
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

741 calories; 33 grams fat; 20 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 6 grams monounsaturated fat; 3 grams polyunsaturated fat; 80 grams carbohydrates; 8 grams dietary fiber; 6 grams sugars; 38 grams protein; 1359 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Powered by

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat the oven to 400 degrees. In a 9-by-13-inch/3-quart baking pan, combine 1 cup of the coconut milk with the red curry paste, peanut butter, fish sauce and garlic; whisk until blended. Season with salt and pepper. Add the chicken and carrots, then scatter the rice over everything. Add the boiling water, seal the pan tightly with foil, and bake until the rice is just tender, about 40 minutes.

  2. Step 2

    Remove the foil from the pan, scatter the broccoli florets over the rice, season with salt and pepper, then reseal with foil and bake for another 5 minutes, until the broccoli has steamed. Remove from the oven and let sit for 3 minutes.

  3. Step 3

    Meanwhile, stir the lime juice into the remaining coconut milk and season with salt and pepper. Fluff the rice with a fork and stir to mix. Serve with a drizzle of coconut sauce.

Ratings

4 out of 5
4,533 user ratings
Your rating

or to rate this recipe.

Have you cooked this?

or to mark this recipe as cooked.

Private Notes

Leave a Private Note on this recipe and see it here.

Cooking Notes

Instead of cooking this under foil, place an inverted sheet/jellyroll pan on top of it. Please, everyone--stop using foil, plastic wrap & bags, & paper towels. They're never necessary, & they're doing an enormous amount of harm to the planet (& to human health, if the former doesn't ring an alarm for you). Generations managed without them; we can, too. For ex., store food in serving bowls, w an inverted plate or saucer to cover. Wrap pie dough in wax paper, then in a clean kitchen towel.

Red curry pastes vary widely in their spice content. You pretty much have to try them to see what you can tolerate, or look if chiles are near the top of the ingredient list. Mae Ploy pastes are very hot; Thai Kitchen's are milder. I would never use 1/4 cup of Mae Ploy in a dish meant for only 4 people.

Those tough broccoli stems? Scrape the outer membrane off, slice the stem, and add to the dish. Those bits are as tender as can be and need not be discarded.

As suggested by JJ. covering the pan with a jellyroll pan won't work at all for this recipe--the liquid will evaporate before the rice is cooked. Aluminum foil is very recyclable, and could be wiped off and reused.

If you use a covered Le Creuset Dutch oven rather than the foil covered 9x13, no problems with uncooked rice or dry chicken. Mae Ploy red curry paste has the best flavor IMO.

Made this with tofu. Seared the tofu first in some oil then added to the sauce. Sautéed some sweet onion in the pan before adding back the tofu, sauce and rice. I also added green onions with the broccoli. Finished product was good but a bit dry (tofu is not a juicy as chicken). Next time I will add in all the coconut milk and lime juice rather than saving some to drizzle on top.

We shopped for this meal early in the day, and then our power went out for 24 hours. So, we couldn't use the oven, but could use our gas burners on the stovetop. We prepared as directed, but instead of putting it in the oven, put it covered on the stovetop in a dutch oven (with foil between lid and pot) for 40 minutes. It was outstanding. We loved all of the crispy rice that formed at the bottom of the pot. Going to make again tonight -- on the stovetop!

I made this almost exactly as written. I used 1.5 pounds of chicken, an extra garlic clove, maybe a smidge more curry paste, and a shot of fish sauce and crushed red pepper added to the coconut milk drizzle at the end. Wow! Exceeded expectations. Really great depth of flavor. I used Smucker’s Natural for the peanut butter and I think it really helped make the texture. I served with scallions, chopped coriander, and limes on the table. Perfect. Will make often.

So.... You changed the ingredients, the amount of ingredients, the cooking vessel, and, it would seem (since you had a burned bottom), the cooking method. Then you complain about the flavor, the texture, and the extra labor to clean. Got it.

If you want to make this with shrimp, cook it for the amount of time indicated because you’ll need that time for the rice. Add the shrimp when you add the broccoli - about five or 10 minutes before you’re ready to finish cooking it. You know it’s done when the shrimp is pink and translucent

Delicious!! Made it exactly as written, except added the broccoli 5 minutes early and let it cook for a full 10 minutes. My family devoured it. Could have probably halved the recipe for three people but the leftovers will be just as good. Definitely going to make it again.

Just made this with brown Jasmine rice. I used 1 and 1/3rds cans of coconut milk in the first stage, and I added some tuscan kale at the end with the broccoli. I used the Taste of Thai paste, and I think the entire jar wouldn't have been too spicy. I baked it for 55 minutes at the first stage and 10 for the second. The broccoli was crunchy, the rice was done, and all the liquid was absorbed. It was good, and I will make this again. I will shop for a more flavorful red curry paste.

Replaced broccoli with shredded kale, added green onions at the end with the kale as it wilted. Added cilantro on the side. Really great, will make again!! I bet it would also be good with seared pork shoulder cubes or shrimp (if timed differently).

Yum! Keep these one pan meals coming! Delicious combination of flavors that the whole family loved. I used only 1 Tbsp of red curry paste (Aroy D brand) and my three- and five-year old boys claimed it was spicy but ate it right up, husband said it was perfect. For me perhaps two Tbsp would’ve been just right, but happier to have everyone eat well. Basmati rice worked well, drizzled the sauce over the whole pan before serving, and cilantro was a great touch. Used juice of 1 lime in sauce.

This is missing an essential Thai flavor for balance-sweet. A small amount of palm sugar gives it a more authentic flavor. A couple of finely diced Thai chili’s are also helpful.

Made in instant pot 5 mins on high pressure. Steamed the broccoli separately in microwave 2-3 mins. I used the low fat coconut milk and it was still great.

It’s so easy, we pre-cook it and take the whole pan with us camping!

The rice took a lot longer to cook than it said

Used 3 tbsp of creamy PB and 1/8th cup of chopped roasted, salted peanuts.

I brought all the liquid (water, coconut milk, peanut butter, curry paste, fish sauce) up to a boil, along with the carrots and garlic, hoping it all might cook faster. At 38 min, the rice was still a bit crunchy. Definitely needed about 45-50 min in the oven for the rice to be fully cooked.

smooth peanut butter

Made this and loved it! Will double the amount of chicken next time so it’s more in balance with the bountiful and delicious rice.

Chicken broth instead of water

Easy and tasty. I added some snap peas with the broccoli for additional veggies. The whole family liked it and the hands on time is minimal. Great for a night where you don't feel like putting in a whole bunch of effort but want a solid meal.

I used this recipe as a jumping off point - and simply cooked the rice separately in a rice cooker My variation was I cooked some chicken thighs and veggies, put the sauce over it and let it simmer for a half hour or so. Everyone raved about it.

Each time I make this I add different vegetables. Tomorrow I’m adding mushrooms, peas and zucchini. It’s become a favorite meal for when I want to have leftovers for a couple of nights. It’s delicious every time!

P. S. I followed others' advice about the sauce. I used a 5 oz can of coconut milk, juice of a whole small/medium lime, a sprinkle of lime zest, a drizzle of honey. a glug of fish sauce and a couple of cilantro leaves. Shake it up! I served it with Thai basil, cilantro, lime slices. sri-racha, chopped peanuts, and the coconut lime sauce. This dish is so veryvery good! The man had seconds! He was skeptical about his precious rice being cooked with everything else.

Fabulous in Dutch oven on stovetop. We cooked it similar to method in Fancy Weeknight Chicken & Rice. Sauteed carrots for 4 mins in oil, added garlic 30 seconds, added chicken 4 mins, and then salted. Poured in liquid & more salt and brought to boil; then simmered covered for 10 minutes. Added broccoli on top and cooked covered another 4 mins. Took off heat and left covered for 10 minutes. For our taste, we reduced the curry and used chicken broth instead of the water. So good!

I used a whole 14 oz can plus a 5 oz can of coconut milk, a whole jar of Thai Kitchen red curry paste, a little extra creamy peanut butter, a can of fire roasted tomatoes, a thinly sliced red bell pepper, a fat thumb of thinly sliced peeled ginger, and broccolini instead of broccoli, which I steamed a little before I added it. It all cooked about 65 minutes, and then I stirred in the broccolini, lightly replaced the foil, turned off the oven, and let it sit for about 10. So very good!!

This is a fantastic, easy one-pot recipe. (As others have noted, I just use a Dutch oven with tight lid & don't have to mess with foil.) Seems easy to vary: tofu instead of chicken, or no protein & more vegetable, have also swapped the broccoli for chopped collard stems & greens. Will keep on riffing!

Private notes are only visible to you.

Advertisement

or to save this recipe.