Chicken Korma is a mild, sweet Indian curry dish with tender bites of chicken simmered in a rich, creamy yogurt-based sauce infused with traditional aromatic spices. Served over steamy white rice, this one-pan chicken curry is easy enough for a cozy weeknight dinner.
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Chicken Korma Recipe
Korma recipes vary across India, with each region bringing its own unique touch. My husband made this Chicken Korma for lunch, and everyone was impressed! He adapted the recipe from Nicky of Kitchen Sanctuary, and I loved how easy yet flavorful it turned out. I especially appreciated the streamlined method—skipping the traditional long onion-cooking process and pre-blending the sauce in a blender (who wants more dishes to wash?)—while still delivering the rich, authentic taste of traditional Chicken Korma.
I love making chicken dishes for my family—it’s such a versatile ingredient that takes on exciting flavors from cuisines around the world, from Asian-inspired Honey Garlic Chicken to Italian Chicken Piccata, Ukrainian Chicken Kiev, and French Chicken Fricassee. If you love exploring new flavors, you’ll love this Chicken Korma.
Chicken Korma Video
You’ve been asking for Indian curry recipes, and it’s finally here! Watch this video as I walk you through each step to make Chicken Korma. It’s rich, flavorful, and so easy to make—you’ll be adding it to your regular recipe rotation, no doubt!
Ingredients for Chicken Korma
With simple ingredients and a blend of traditional aromatic spices, this Chicken Korma comes together effortlessly.
- Chicken – You can use chicken breasts, thighs, or tenderloin cut into bite-sized pieces. Darker chicken meat is more forgiving, even if you overcook it.
- Onion – Yellow onion, finely chopped, adds sweetness to the dish and lends incredible flavor when sautéed.
- Ginger – You’ll need a 1-inch, finely minced piece of ginger, which adds an aromatic zing that complements the other spices and balances the richness of the sauce. You can also use frozen ginger (I love how it’s portioned in 1 tsp squares from Trader Joe’s).
- Garlic – Four cloves, minced, to enhance the overall flavor, contributing a savory, aromatic element.
- Spices – Garam masala, ground cumin, ground coriander, chili powder, and ground turmeric come together to create the classic Korma flavor.
- Tomato paste – Traditional Indian Korma recipes do not include tomato paste, but adding just a couple of tablespoons deepens the flavor with mild acidity, balancing the creaminess and sweetness of the sauce.
- For the Sauce – You’ll need Greek yogurt (fat-free or whole), canned coconut milk (you want the cream portion at the top), almond flour (optional), sugar, and heavy whipping cream. These ingredients create the rich, creamy, and slightly nutty sauce that defines Chicken Korma.
Natasha’s Pro Tip:
Make sure you use canned coconut milk and do not shake the can before opening it because you want the thick, creamy portion at the top of the can, which will help make the sauce thick and velvety. The Thai Kitchen brand organic coconut milk is my favorite. I should also note that I’ve had weird grainy results with the Trader Joe’s coconut milk (2 cans in a row!).
How to Make Chicken Korma
- Saute Onions – Heat a large pan over medium heat. Sauté the onions in oil until golden – if you chop them finely, it only takes about 5 minutes, and the onions will blend into the sauce nicely.
- Add the chicken and sauté for about 5 minutes until the outside is no longer pink. Don’t worry about cooking it through at this point – we’ll do that in step 4.
- Build Flavor – Stir in the minced garlic, ginger, all the spices, and tomato paste. Stir constantly for another 2 minutes to bloom the spices and develop flavor.
- Make the Sauce – stir in yogurt, coconut cream, almond flour, and sugar and simmer uncovered for 8-10 minutes. The chicken should be fully cooked through.
- Add heavy cream and bring it back to a simmer, then season with more salt to taste (I add another 1/4 tsp salt)
- Serve the Chicken Korma warm, garnished with cilantro.
How to Serve Chicken Korma
- Over Grains – White Rice (jasmine or basmati are great options), brown rice, or Quinoa. Start cooking the rice when you start the chicken, they should be done cooking at just about the same time.
- Garnish – Freshly chopped cilantro and sliced almonds
- With Bread – Traditional Indian Naan bread, Pita Bread, or soft Dinner Rolls ensure you can soak up every last drop of the amazing sauce.
- With Vegetables – pair it with simple sides like Roasted Carrots, Roasted Cauliflower, Roasted Broccoli, or Cabbage Cucumber Salad.
Is Chicken Korma spicy?
No, Korma is known to be sweet and mild- one of the mildest curries, yet still packed with flavor. If you prefer a spicy curry, you can turn up the heat by adding more chili powder, cayenne pepper, or red pepper flakes if you like. Its mild flavor makes it a great option to introduce your kids to curry without worrying about it being too spicy.
What is Chicken Korma vs Butter Chicken?
Chicken Korma is a creamy sauce with a nutty flavor peaking through the aromatic spices. Butter Chicken is known for its buttery tomato-based sauce and tangy flavor profile.
Storage and Reheating
Chicken Korma is quick and easy to prepare, and the leftovers taste even better as the flavors meld together. Make sure you cool the chicken completely before storing it.
- To Refrigerate: Transfer Chicken Korma to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
- Freezing: Store in an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight before reheating. Rice freezes well but freeze it separately.
- To Reheat: Thaw in the refrigerator overnight for the best texture. Reheat in a pan over medium-low heat with a splash of cream or water to loosen the sauce. Avoid overheating so the sauce doesn’t separate. If microwaving, cover and heat in 30-second increments until hot.
It’s a treat to bring the amazing flavors of India to your family’s table with this Chicken Korma recipe. It’s rich, creamy, and filled with warm spices – it’s definitely an exciting weeknight or weekend chicken dish!
Chicken Korma Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp light olive oil, or vegetable oil
- 1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1 ½ lbs chicken breast, tenderloin, or trimmed thighs, cut into bite-size pieces
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tsp minced ginger, about 1-inch piece of ginger
- 2 tsp garam masala
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp ground turmeric
- ½ tsp fine sea salt, plus more to taste
- ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 2 Tbsp tomato paste
- ½ cup plain greek yogurt, preferably full-fat
- ½ cup canned coconut milk, preferably the cream on top*
- ¼ cup almond flour, or 2 Tbsp almond butter or cashew butter, optional
- 1 tsp granulated sugar
- ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Saute Onions – Set a large skillet over medium heat and add 2 Tbsp oil. Add onions and sauté until softened and golden, about 5 minutes.
- Add the chicken and sauté until the chicken is no longer pink on the outside, about 5 minutes. You don’t have to cook it through at this point.
- Build Flavor – Add minced garlic, ginger, cumin, coriander, garam masala, chili powder, turmeric, salt, pepper, and tomato paste. Cook for another 2 minutes, stirring constantly until the chicken is coated and the mixture is fragrant.
- Make the Sauce – Add yogurt, coconut cream, almond flour, and sugar and stir to combine. Bring to a light boil, then reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce is reduced to your desired thickness.
- Stir in the heavy cream and return to a simmer, then remove from heat. Season to taste with salt (I added an extra ¼ tsp salt).
- Serve over white rice if desired and garnish with cilantro.
Notes
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
More Chicken Dinner Recipes
- Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken
- Chicken Enchiladas
- General Tso’s Chicken
- Chicken Marsala
- Cilantro Lime Chicken
- Chicken Salad
- Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Made this for my husband’s birthday dinner. It was delicious and very easy to make.
Happy birthday to your husband. I’m so glad it was enjoyed.
Natasha your recipes are amazing!!!! My family loved loved this chicken korma ❤️ We love you at home!
Hi Natasha! South Indian here. I like your recipe, even though it’s very different from what I make at home. My Hyderabadi recipe does call for golden, crispy fried onions, and that takes time. I’d like share this tip: grind your own spices. This will make a world of difference in flavour. Garam masala is simply equal proportions of ground cloves, green cardamom, cinnamon and royal cumin. Coriander powder is made from dry roasted coriander seeds. Enjoy!
Natasha! This is sooooo yummy! House smells amazing! I prepped everything and put all the spices together (like you did) so I was ready to go. Did not fully cook chicken so it could finish in the sauce. It will be another of your many favorite recipes that I will make again and again!
You never disappoint Natasha! This chicken korma was DELICIOUS and even better the next day! Hubby approved too! Will definitely make it again and again!
Thank you so much, Jazz!
Amazing simple recipe, this turned out yummy…It’s the best ever!! I made couple of days back using chicken drumsticks, but reduced the ingredients (like coconut milk and tomato)—OMG, it turned out absolutely delicious! 😍🍗
I love this recipe! I have made it twice now, the first time exactly as written, and the second time I used dairy-free almond yogurt (Kite Hill plain) and omitted the cream to make it dairy-free for some friends. Both times it was delicious!
I am from Odessa, Ukraine. So I am a good cook, I thought…Until I found Natasha.
I HAVE COOKED THIS DISH OVER 20 TIMES!!! SERVED EXTREMELY RICH INDIAN PEOPLE, who said it was BETTER THAN MOST expensive dish in Indian restaurants in Dubai! ITS SIMPLY AWESOME! LITTLE note. Add 1tbsp of brown sugar and instead of Greek yogurt USE SOUR CREEM. This way you will not need heavy cream at all.
So very delicious! More curries, please, Natasha.
Hi Deborah, I’m so happy you loved the Korma! Thank you for the wonderful review.