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This instant pot * Thai basil chicken currywith coconut milk recipe is one of my top five all-time favorite go-to recipes. I make it 2-3 times a month. It will become your favorite too. If you follow me at all, you've probably started to notice that I like a wide variety of cuisines.
I like to pick the best recipes for each type of cuisine and simplify and Americanize them. This recipe is a good example of that. It's traditionally a Thai recipe, but I've adapted it for the crockpot - because, well, the crockpot is awesome.
My older children love this dish, my third child hates anything with chicken in it, so she doesn't count, and my youngest won't eat anything with a sauce on it, so that only kind of counts - because she is definitely not the only child with that opinion.
But I LOVE it. I especially love it with fresh basil that I grow in my house. This and chimichurri sauce are two of my favorite uses for my fresh basil.
I grow my basil in my office, which is technically the living room since it's the room you see right when you come in the house. But in my house, you walk into a "greenhouse" with tons of plants and herbs growing on wire shelves with grow lights.
It's my sanctuary, especially in the winter. I also grow most of the flowers, vegetables, and herbs that I grow in our yard too.
Substitutions and Adaptations
- Every time I use chicken thighs in a recipe someone asks me if they can substitute chicken breasts. Sure. I suppose you can, but chicken breasts are meant for recipes you cook with high heat quickly, like coconut chicken tenders, pieces of chicken in pasta or in my Paleo lemon chicken recipe. Chicken thighs are best for recipes where you cook low and slow, like this one! Using chicken thighs in a crockpot makes them really tender and it's a lot harder to dry out chicken thighs. Chicken breasts in this recipe would be tough and dry. Bonus! Chicken thighs are usually cheaper than chicken breasts.
- I often make this recipe in a pan on the stovetop. It's pretty much the same process. Just let it cook until the chicken is nice and tender, about an hour or so.
- If you haven't tried coconut milk in the crockpot before, you will be pleasantly surprised at how well it tenderizes the meat.
- This can easily be made in the Instant Pot *. Just throw everything in up until the tapioca starch and push the Meat button. Tender like the crockpot and much faster.
- I'm really picky about my spices. I really do think that the Spice Hunter curry is the best (and no one is paying me to tell you that). They just have so much more flavor than other spices, especially their curry powder *.
- I use frozen chicken thighs all the time, so don't be afraid to try that. The only difference is it takes a bit longer to come to pressure.
- I've stopped bothering with fresh ginger myself and just put two drops of ginger essential oil in. Just make sure it's food-grade quality.
- If you have children who don't think they like onions, cut them really small. They will pretty much disintegrate to nothing.
- I love the jalapeno in this recipe, but it's not necessary.
- If I don't have fresh limes on hand, I use two drops of lime essential oil instead.
- Personally, if I don't have fresh basil on hand, I don't make this recipe. It's not the same at all with dry basil.
- This recipe would also work just fine in a crockpot. Pretty much the same thing, just cook it on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.
Instant Pot Variation
This recipe is so easy to put in the Instant Pot and come back in a little over half an hour and have a healthy, flavorful meal! I'm in love with my Instant Pot * and with Indian food. It all started with myChicken Korma Coconut Milk Recipe and now this curry is one of my favorite recipes.
I love that I can throw all the ingredients in my Instant Pot and then at the end just add some lime juice and a bunch of fresh basil from my kitchen herb garden. And hey, if you don't have a kitchen herb garden as I do, try buying the basil plants I've seen at several grocery stores and use the top half for this recipe and give it a try to grow the rest of it in your house in a sunny window or with a plant light on them.
Please let me know if you try this and what you think. It's a staple in our house and I hope it will be in your house too!
Recipe
Instant Pot Thai Basil Chicken Curry with Coconut Milk Recipe
★★★★★5 from 14 reviews
- Author: Rebecca Baron
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 480 minutes
- Total Time: 500 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Paleo
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Description
This Thai basil curry chicken recipe gets so tender and flavorful in the crock pot. I crave it all the time!
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 Chicken Thighs (boneless, skinless)
- 1 13.5 oz can Coconut Milk *
- 2 Tbl Coconut Oil (omit for Instant Pot * instructions)
- 1 Onion (cut in half and sliced lengthwise)
- 1 Jalapeno (chopped seeds removed for less heat, if desired)
- 1 Tbl Garlic (chopped)
- 1 Tbl Fresh Ginger (grated)
- 1 tsp Sea Salt
- 1 Tbl + Curry Powder *
- 2 tsp Tapioca Starch
- 1 Small Lime (juiced)
- 15-20 Fresh Basil Leaves
Instructions
Slow Cooker Instructions
- Place the chicken in a slow cooker and pour the coconut milk over the top. Place the lid on the slow cooker and turn the heat to medium for an 8 hour cook time, or high, for a 4 hour cook time.
- One hour before the chicken is finished cooking, place the coconut oil in a saute pan and melt over medium/high heat. Add the onion and jalapeno to the pan and saute for 3-4 minutes, or until onion begins to soften. Add the garlic, ginger, salt, curry powder, and tapioca starch. Stir into the vegetables until coated and saute for another 30 seconds.
- Add the vegetables to the slow cooker and gently stir in until combined. Let curry cook for another 45 minutes to an hour. Liquid should thicken slightly in this time. Taste the curry and add salt and pepper, as needed. Lightly shred the chicken.
- Add the lime juice and basil to the curry and stir until leaves are distributed through the curry. Serve hot over your choice of "rice," such as cauliflower rice, brown rice, Jasmine rice, quinoa, etc.
Instant Pot Instructions
- Place everything but the coconut oil, tapioca starch, lime and basil in the Instant Pot. Place the lid on the Instant Pot and push the Chicken button so it cooks for 15 minutes at high pressure.
- Let come off pressure on its own (in reality I usually wait about 10 minutes cause I want to eat it and it's close enough to off pressure by then). Open the lid and taste the curry and add salt and pepper to taste.
- Lightly shred the chicken (I often just shred it with a spoon since it gets so tender).
- If you like your sauce thin you may move to the next step. If you like it thicker, push the saute button for a few minutes and cook off some of the liquid or mix the tapioca starch with a little cold water in a separate cup and stir. Then add to the curry and saute for a minute or so.
- Turn off the Instant Pot then add the lime juice and basil to the curry and stir until leaves are distributed through the curry.
- Serve hot over your choice of "rice," such as cauliflower rice, brown rice, Jasmine rice, quinoa, etc.
Notes
- The total cook time doesnotinclude the time it takes for the Instant Pot to get to pressure and the time for the natural pressure release. Plan for additional time.
- To cook from frozen chicken thighs, increase the time under pressure to 20-25 mins (instead of 15). Experiment with this timing as it may vary depending on the size of your frozen chicken thighs.
- For best results, do a natural release. If you want to do a quick release, you will need to increase the time under pressure. If the internal temperature of the chicken thighs isn't high enough (at least 74C (165 F)), cook longer.
Keywords: Americanized, easy, tender, flavorful
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Laura
This recipe is SO good. I used 2lb chicken breast and added 1 potato (cubed) in the slow cooker at the beginning. Quick and easy prep with delicious result. Thank you!
★★★★★
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Heather
This looks good! Do I need to use regular basil or Thai basil with this? I assume thai basil because of the name but in the picture it kind of looks like regular basil so I’m not sure. Thanks!
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Rebecca Baron
Technically you should use Thai basil but I can't get that around here and love it with regular basil.
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Stephanie Elliott Downing
This was SO delicious! It's definitely what my family likes to call "a keeper". I made the slow cooker version. I didn't have all the stuff so I subbed with a red onion and used garlic powder, powdered ginger and arrowroot powder for the tapioca starch. It was so good, I imagine it's even better with fresh garlic and ginger. The only change I'll make for next time (besides fresh garlic and ginger) is to chiffonade the basil into strips bc I personally never love just taking a big bite of basil. Thank you for the great recipe!
★★★★★
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Jean
I made the instapot version and used high pressure for 8 mins with natural release for 10 minutes. I used one very large jalapeño and I'd say the spice level was mild so OK for kids. After I took the chicken out and while it was cooling, I cooked the liquid down some (I didn't add the tapioca). I then added cubed zucchini into the boiling liquid (after it had reduced) for about 3 - 4 minutes. I added a full lime's worth of juice (it wasn't limey at all). I was very generous with the basil, too. I did wind up adding salt and pepper to taste at the end. This was really easy and a good way to use up some basil I had! I'll definitely make it again. Good weeknight meal. (I forgot to take a photo!)
★★★★★
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Rebecca Baron
I'm so glad you like it. I love all your helpful tips!
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Jessica
Loved this!! 5/5. Did 1/2 a lime so it didnt overpower and added an extra jalepeno for more kick.
★★★★★
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Summer
Not bad not bad
★★★★★
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April
I was just given an InstaPot and cannot WAIT to make this. Great way to use up a lot of my fresh basil in my herb garden. Thank you for the detailed instructions😄
★★★★★
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Bridget
I appreciate this recipe so much, thank you!
★★★★★
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Rebecca Baron
You're welcome. I'm glad you like it!
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Pinal B
It was good but next time I’ll have to add more spice
★★★★★
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Rebecca Baron
Go for it!
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Lindsey S
Delicious!! My husband and I love this recipe.
★★★★★
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Stephanie Hohmann
This was good and quickly devoured. I used 2 jalapeños and it didn’t have any heat. I was hoping it would be somewhat spicy. Good flavor but not spicy at all.
★★★★★
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Christina J
It was just ok, I will put fish sauce, use Thai Basil and Thai hot pepper next time and see if it tastes more authentic Thai.
★★★★★
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Rebecca Baron
Let me know how it turns out. Sounds like you like it hot!
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Erin
Does this keep if frozen?
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Rebecca
I haven't tried it myself but I've tried similar things and they have worked well. I just wouldn't freeze the carb with the curry or it will absorb all the liquid.
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Alicia Titus
Very good and super easy! I will add vegetables next time!
★★★★★
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Dr. Michael
I'm trying this recipe tonight. It sounds delicious. As a matey of fact, I was salivating while shopping for the ingredients!
BTW, it did not take 10 min of prep time. More like 30Reply
Rebecca
I would love to know if you like how it turned out!
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Dr. Michael
It was delicious! I made a few modifications: added fresh basil for aroma and cubed sweet potatoes, 1:1 ratio with the chicken
★★★★★
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Rebecca
Good to hear - and thanks for the ideas of modifications. I'm sure other readers will find them useful.
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Caroline
Have you tried this recipe with light coconut milk? Does that do anything to the flavor?
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Rebecca
I haven't. I love the full fat. . .
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Lindsay
Hi! If we use the IP method, do we ever need to add in the tapioca at some point or can we just skip it?
Thanks!!
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Rebecca
I usually just skip it. It's only to thicken it and if you don't mind it thinner and more like soup, just skip it.
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Abigail Moises
Thanks for this recipe. I love the fresh basil!
★★★★★
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Rebecca
I'm glad you like it. Thanks for taking the time to comment!
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