Yogurt curry chicken is a high-protein meal featuring tender chicken thighs marinated in a bold, zesty yogurt sauce. This recipe is great for meal prep, and is bursting with flavor! As an added plus, this yogurt marinated chicken is also keto friendly!

Yogurt curry chicken

Yogurt curry chicken is a high protein, low carb option when you need a quick meal. It is both low carb diet and keto friendly.

This is a great make-ahead main dish since you can set it to marinade the night before, or you can get it ready in about 30 minutes just about any night of the week.

One of the best parts about this style of chicken is the amazing flavor from the curry, yogurt, and other seasonings. If you like it hot, you can add in some sriracha for both heat and added flavor.

When you marinate the chicken in yogurt, it helps to tenderize the meat. It also helps to balance out the flavor of the curry. The result is a tender, juicy piece of chicken that will satisfy your taste buds.

Ingredients you’ll need 

Yogurt curry chicken only needs a few ingredients to get a smokey, earthy flavor and incredibly moist chicken. Here’s what you’ll want to have on hand:

•       Chicken: I use chicken thighs when I make the recipe, but you can also use drumsticks or chicken breast
•       Seasonings: You can use your preferred curry powder, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
•       Yogurt: I used Greek yogurt because I find it has the best consistency, but any yogurt will work. Just make sure you are using plain yogurt.
•       Minced Garlic: Adds great flavor to marinade.
•       Lime Juice: I find that freshly squeezed lime juice tastes best, but you can use bottled juice if that’s what you have on hand.
•       Sriracha Sauce (optional): Adds a nice kick and an extra layer of flavor, but you can skip it if you find it is too hot for your liking.

How to make chicken curry with yogurt

Here's how to make chicken curry with yogurt marinade:

1. Add all of the marinade ingredients to a large bowl, and whisk everything together.
2. Place the chicken in the bowl with the marinade, and use your hands or a large spoon to mix everything together. Be sure that the chicken is evenly coated with the marinade.
3. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or aluminum foil, and allow the chicken to marinate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 1 day.
4. Cook the chicken using any of the below cooking methods:

• • For the stovetop: Add olive oil to a nonstick grill pan. Over medium-high heat, cook the chicken for about 8 minutes on each side. Note: You can also use a nonstick skillet, however, the chicken tends to burn more easily in a skillet vs. a grill pan.

• • For the grill:  Brush the grill with olive oil. Heat the grill to medium-high and grill chicken for about 5 to 7 minutes on each side.

• • For the air fryer: Air fry for 15 minutes at 400 degrees. Flip the chicken halfway through the cooking time.

Frequently asked questions

• What does adding yogurt to curry do? Adding yogurt to curry helps to balance out the flavor of the curry. The yogurt can also act as a base for a curry sauce.
• What does adding yogurt to chicken do? Yogurt acts as a tenderizer for chicken. It also adds a bit of tangy flavor.
• How long can you marinate chicken in yogurt? Chicken can be marinated in yogurt for up to 24 hours. Marinating chicken in yogurt longer than 24 hours may result in mushy chicken.
• Do I need to wipe the marinade off of the chicken prior to cooking? No, you do not have to wipe off the marinade prior to cooking. You'll want some of the marinade to be on the chicken while cooking for added flavor.

What to serve with

Yogurt curry chicken makes a great main dish, so you will want to compliment it with delicious sides. Here are a few ideas:

• Broccoli Salad with Bacon
• Oven Roasted Broccoli with Lemon and Parmesan
• Air Fryer Garlic Green Beans
• Instant Pot Southern Style Green Beans
• Greek Lemon Potatoes

Storing and reheating leftovers

Once you cook the chicken, it should stay fresh in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Individual servings can be reheated in the microwave or the air fryer.

More easy chicken recipes:

For more great chicken recipes, check out these yummy options:

• Crispy Baked Chicken Drumsticks
• Marinated Chicken Wings
• Best Oven Baked Chicken Thighs
• Easy Marry Me Chicken

Continue to Content

Yogurt Curry Chicken

Yield: 5 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Marinade Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes

An easy Yogurt Curry Chicken recipe made with juicy chicken thighs that can be grilled or air fried!

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Ingredients

For the marinade

• 3/4 cup Greek yogurt
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 tablespoon curry powder
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon sriracha sauce, (or more to taste, optional)

For the chicken

• 2 pounds boneless chicken thighs
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, (to oil the grill pan or grill)

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, add the yogurt, minced garlic, chopped cilantro, lime juice, curry powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and sriracha sauce. Whisk everything together.
2. Add the chicken to the bowl with the yogurt marinade. Stir everything together until the chicken is evenly coated with the marinade.
3. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and place in the fridge to marinate for at least 30 minutes. The chicken can marinate for up to 1 day.
4. Cook the chicken using one of the following cooking methods:

For the stovetop:

• Preheat a grill pan to medium high heat. Add the olive oil to the pan, and cook the chicken for about 8 minutes on each side. Note: You can also use a nonstick skillet, however, the chicken tends to burn easier in a skillet vs. a grill pan.

For the outdoor grill:

• Preheat the grill to medium heat. Grill the chicken for about 5 to 7 minutes on each side.

For the air fryer:

• Air fry the chicken at 400 degrees for 12 - 15 minutes. Flip the chicken over halfway through the cooking the cooking time.

Notes

• You can also use chicken breasts instead of chicken thighs.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 5 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 375Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 223mgSodium: 758mgCarbohydrates: 3gNet Carbohydrates: 2gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 48g

All nutritional information and calculations are provided as a courtesy. Nutritional values are estimates only. Variations may occur due to product, and brand selection. You should not rely on this information for medical advice.

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Kay Johnson

Kay is passionate about living a healthy low carb lifestyle. She loves low carb comfort foods that are also family-friendly!