11 Best Coconut Chicken Recipes

Coconut is a common ingredient in kitchens across Asia, especially in India and Thailand. It’s also very common in parts of Africa, and one thing all these cultures have in common is that, at some point, they all realised that coconut tastes amazing with chicken.

Here we’ll share our favourite coconut chicken recipes, but before we do so, there’s something important we need to clear up first.

Coconut milk or coconut cream (or cream of coconut)?

This doesn’t seem like it should be that hard, but it’s all too easy to ruin a recipe by using coconut milk when you should be using coconut cream and vice versa. Even more so when you’ve accidentally bought cream of coconut instead.

So let’s look at the differences and what you can do if you’ve already bought (or added) the wrong ingredient.

Firstly, though, let’s begin by saying that if you’ve only got coconut water to hand then you’re in trouble. Coconut milk, coconut cream, and cream of coconut are all made with shredded coconut flesh that’s been simmered with water (and not always coconut water). Coconut water by itself makes for a refreshing beverage, but not the most delicious coconut chicken.

The differences are:

Coconut milk is made with 1 part shredded coconut flesh to 1 part water. It has more or less the consistency of cow’s milk you might buy from the supermarket.
Coconut cream is made with four parts shredded coconut flesh to 1 part water. As you’d expect, it’s much thicker and creamier (hence the name).
Cream of coconut is basically coconut cream with added sugar for use in drinks or desserts.

As you may have guessed, you can simply add more water to coconut cream to make coconut milk. You might also be able to do the same with cream of coconut, but only if a) you don’t mind the recipe being a fair bit sweeter (so maybe don’t try it with a recipe you haven’t tasted before), or b) the recipe calls for further sweeteners that you can simply leave out, relying on those in the cream of coconut to the work instead. It’s worth noting, however, if the sweeteners add more to a flavour profile than just 'sweet', as with palm sugar, for instance. Don’t expect cream of coconut to be a perfect substitute for coconut milk or cream whatever you do.

If you only have coconut milk when you need coconut cream, it may be that the “milk” has separated, with a thick creamier part on top and the thinner watery part beneath. If so, you can simply use the creamy top.

Alternatively, you can also learn how to make your own coconut milk (or cream) here. Or else click here for more Thai food tips from Nahm’s own David Thompson.

Coconut chicken recipes

Chicken Laksa

Like tasty food? (Of course you do.) Then you can’t miss this Malaysian chicken curry recipe. Chicken laksa is a spicy Malaysian soup with Chinese, Indian and Malay influences.

Coconut Chicken Caribbean Style

A deeply complex blend of flavours and aromas makes this easy coconut chicken breast recipe one of the best entry level dishes for learning how to cook Caribbean style.

Coconut Soup with Chicken

This exotic Thai soup recipe with chicken, lime, coconut and ginger is so delicious you won’t believe it only took half an hour to cook.

Coconut and Chicken Soup

Stay fit and healthy by making this vitamin-rich protein bomb garnished with coriander a regular part of your weekly meal plan.

Chef Samuelsson's Coconut Fried Chicken Recipe

Famous for his Red Rooster restaurants and cooking for Barack Obama, Marcus Samuelsson is one of the most talented chefs out there. If you don’t believe us, try his coconut-fried chicken recipe and eat your words (as well as the chicken).

Crispy Coconut Chicken with Spicy Honey Orange Sauce

Once you’ve tried Marcus Samuelsson’s coconut fried chicken, why not mix things up by heading over to Sally’s Baking Addiction next time for Sally’s take served with spicy honey orange sauce?

East African-style coconut chicken

We’ll go on record as saying that East African food doesn’t get the love it deserves. Show your own by trying this exceptional East African-style coconut chicken recipe over at Kitchen Stories.

Thai chicken coconut curry

Want to make mouths water the second you plate up? Then check out this Thai chicken coconut curry recipe from Averie Cooks for one of the best looking (and tasting) out there.

Creamy Coconut Milk Chicken

Or if you prefer your chicken coconut curry to be super creamy and loaded with rustically chopped veggies and herbs, then Katerina at Diethood has the recipe for you here.

Coconut chicken curry

Getting bored of chicken yet? Chelsea’s Messy Apron has a recipe for coconut chicken that arguably tastes even better with butternut squash instead of the meat. Keep this one in your locker for when butternut squashes are in season or you fancy giving Veganuary a try.