This flavorful Almond Milk Chicken Curry is a rich, dairy-free twist on the classic! The warm spices create a comforting, one-pan weeknight dinner. It’s incredibly tasty and pairs perfectly with rice for a complete meal!

chicken curry on a bed of rice and bread on a blue plate

5-Star Review

“This curry was phenomenal and so easy.” -Catherine

Creamy Almond Chicken Curry

My mild spicy almond chicken curry is the lighter version of my Greek Yogurt Chicken Curry. I make a rich, flavorful curry paste from scratch for a fresh, vibrant sauce. Almond milk adds the perfect creamy consistency without any dairy — a delicious, lighter Indian curry you’re sure to love!

Recipe Card

Easy Almond Milk Chicken Curry Recipe

4.54 from 69 votes
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 40 minutes
Servings: 4
Author: Becky Hardin
almond milk chicken curry
This tasty Almond Milk Chicken Curry is a perfect light weeknight meal that the whole family will love! This easy to make recipe is packed full of flavor and mild in spices. 
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Ingredients 

For Curry Paste

  • 1 onion chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground tumeric
  • 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • 1 teaspoon course sea salt

For Almond Milk Chicken Curry

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil divided
  • 2 pounds chicken breast cut into 1 inch cubes
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • curry paste see recipe below
  • 6 ounces tomato paste 1 small can
  • 1.75 cups almondmilk
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • white rice for serving
  • cilantro for serving optional

Instructions 

For the Curry Paste

  • Place the curry paste ingredients in a food processor and pulse until smooth and combined. Set aside.
    1 onion, 2 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/2 teaspoon ground tumeric, 1 teaspoon ground cardamom, 1 teaspoon garam masala, 1 teaspoon course sea salt

For the Almond Milk Curry

  • Heat 1/2 tablespoon olive oil in a large saucepan over high heat. Add the chicken and season with salt and pepper to taste.
    Cook for 3-5 minutes, stirring as you cook. Once golden, remove and set aside.
    1 tablespoon olive oil, 2 pounds chicken breast, salt and pepper to taste
  • Add remaining 1/2 tablespoon olive oil to the saucepan and add curry paste. Stir to combine. Cook for 2 minutes or until fragrant.
    curry paste
  • Add the tomato paste, almond milk, ground cinnamon, and chili powder. Stir to combine.
    6 ounces tomato paste, 1.75 cups almondmilk, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • Return the chicken to the saucepan and stir to coat.
  • Reduce heat to medium/low and cook for 30 minutes or until thickened and chicken is fully cooked.
  • Serve with white rice and top with cilantro. Enjoy!
    white rice for serving, cilantro for serving
Calories: 396kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 53gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 145mgSodium: 726mgPotassium: 1719mgFiber: 5gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 1465IUVitamin C: 23.2mgCalcium: 200mgIron: 3.7mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave a comment!

How to make Dairy Free Chicken Curry

Make the curry paste: Place the curry paste ingredients (1 chopped onion, 2 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric, 1 teaspoon ground cardamom, 1 teaspoon garam masala and 1 teaspoon course sea salt) in a food processor and pulse until smooth and combined. Set aside.

Prepare chicken curry: Start by heating 1/2 tablespoon olive oil (out of 1 tablespoon) in a large saucepan over high heat. Add the 2 pounds chicken breast and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Cook for 3-5 minutes, stirring as you cook. Once golden, remove and set aside.

Add the remaining 1/2 tablespoon olive oil to the saucepan and add curry paste. Stir to combine. Cook for 2 minutes or until fragrant.

Now add the 6 ounces tomato paste, 1.75 cups almond milk, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon and 1 teaspoon chili powder. Stir to combine.

Return the chicken to the saucepan and stir to coat. Reduce the heat to medium/low and cook for 30 minutes or until thickened and chicken is fully cooked.

Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro and serve with white rice. Enjoy!

close up view of chicken curry in pan with wooden spoon
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How to Store and Reheat

Transfer leftovers to an airtight container and refrigerate for 2-3 days. Gently reheat on the stovetop or microwave for one minute.

This chicken curry with almond milk freezes beautifully. Make a big batch and cool it completely. Transfer to freezer-friendly bags and freeze for up to 3 months. It’s a good idea to freeze in portions so you thaw only what you need. Thaw overnight and reheat.

Serving Suggestions

I love serving this with white rice such as basmati or jasmine, and if you are feeling particularly hungry you can add naan or a roti.

more chicken recipes to try

Meet Becky Hardin

Becky Hardin is a wife and mother living in Saint Louis Missouri. She founded The Cookie Rookie in 2012 as a creative way to share recipes. Now, she is a trusted resource for easy cooking around the world, being featured in Taste of Home, The Kitchn, ABC’s Home and Family, and more. Here at The Cookie Rookie she is the editor in chief of all recipes and continues to enjoy sharing her passion for cooking for busy families. She has since founded two additional food blogs, Easy Chicken Recipes and Easy Dessert Recipes.

4.54 from 69 votes (57 ratings without comment)
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25 Comments
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Daniel
Daniel
August 1, 2023 5:33 am

Really enjoyable curry. Becoming a favourite in my house, especially with the children.4 stars

Pam
Pam
February 11, 2023 2:38 pm

Absolutely delicious chicken curry! I tried out the recipe before making it for my team dinner with members who have dairy & coconut sensitivities. Thank you!5 stars

Catherine
Catherine
June 12, 2022 8:26 pm

This curry was phenomenal and so easy5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
June 16, 2022 9:30 am
Reply to  Catherine

I love to hear that!

Emily
Emily
February 17, 2022 6:58 pm

So good!! I had to substitute a couple of things bc I didn’t feel like running to the store lol. I used yellow curry powder instead of garam masala. I also didn’t have tomato paste, but I had stewed tomatoes. I strained as much of the liquid as I could and puréed them. It came out delicious! I added some veggies I had on hand to the dish, as well. Easy way to sneak them in for the kids. So, so, so good and easy to modify as needed!5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
February 28, 2022 9:39 am
Reply to  Emily

Thanks for sharing and yes definitely modify to your liking/needs!

Nick Parkes
Nick Parkes
December 27, 2021 4:30 pm

> 6 ounces tomato paste 1 small can
Do you mean chopped tomatoes as this is a lot of concentrated tomato paste?

I plan to cook this tomorrow5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
December 29, 2021 10:09 am
Reply to  Nick Parkes

Tomato paste, but modify if you’d like!

Alyssa
Alyssa
April 6, 2021 7:06 pm

This recipe is addicting! Perfect for people who are looking to save on calories! Packed with flavor! I used a small jar of store bought curry paste. Delicious!5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
April 9, 2021 2:48 pm
Reply to  Alyssa

Thanks for sharing, Alyssa!

Rick
Rick
September 28, 2020 5:13 pm

Hi if I wanted to make this with a store brand curry paste what is the measurement I should use if not making my own curry paste?5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
April 25, 2020 3:25 pm

Oh no! I’m so sorry that happened!

Carole
Carole
April 19, 2020 7:27 pm

I made this recipe and instead of all chicken, I only used 2 chicken breasts and added a whole cauliflower and package of green beans (cut up bite-size). I also doubled the curry paste and sauce since this was a lot more food. Came out delicious!5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
April 26, 2020 12:57 pm
Reply to  Carole

Yum, that sounds delicious!! I’m going to have to try that!

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
April 26, 2020 1:08 pm
Reply to  Carole

Yum, that sounds delicious!! I’m going to have to try that next time!

Debbie Florio
Debbie Florio
December 11, 2019 6:28 pm

I was looking for a curry sauce that was non dairy. I don’t eat meat so I started the recipe at the step where you fry the paste. I served it over cauliflower and basmati rice. It was satisfying and deliciousness!5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
December 13, 2019 8:38 pm
Reply to  Debbie Florio

I’m glad you enjoyed it so much!