Sep 15, 2023 by Cook With Dana

One Pot Coconut Curry Chicken and Rice

Name: One Pot Coconut Curry Chicken and Rice
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 60 min
Ingredients: ½ cup coconut milk; 0.6 to 0.75 pound chicken thigh (boneless and skin-less); 1 shallot (finely minced); 2 garlic cloves (minced); 1 tablespoon red curry paste; 1 tablespoon fish sauce; 1 tablespoon soy sauce; ½ tablespoon brown sugar; wedge lime (juiced); 2 cups jasmine rice (use Zojirushi rice cup); 1¼ cup water (add water up to the second line on the pot for jasmine rice); cilantro (chopped); thai chilis (sliced); cucumber (sliced)

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This one pot coconut curry chicken and rice is made in the rice cooker resulting in a savory rice with a nice kick of spice. All you have to do is add all the ingredients (rice, chicken, aromatics) in the rice cooker and wait for the magic to happen!

curry chicken on a plate with cucumbers, chili, lime, fork and rice

This easy one pot coconut curry chicken and rice is inspired by Chicken Rendang (Coconut Curry Chicken) that is very popular in Indonesia and Malaysia. Chicken rendang is usually slow cooked and stewed in the rendang sauce until thickened. Since this dish is not authentic Chicken Rendang, the flavors and cooking style will vary. Don’t underestimate the explosion of delicious flavors from the curry chili sauce that the chicken is marinated in. Check out this easy one pot chicken and rice when you’re having a busy work week!

Thank you so much Zojirushi for sponsoring this blog post and giveaway! It’s a dream to work with Zojirushi (click here to learn more) as you know I always use their rice cooker for my one pot recipes! Stay tuned to the end of the blog post to win your very own Zojirushi rice cooker so you can make delicious one pot meals at home (Update: The giveaway has now ended). #LifewithZojirushi

What if my chicken doesn’t get cooked through?

This Zojirushi IH (Induction Heating) rice cooker will ensure that every grain of rice will be cooked to perfection and the chicken will be cooked evenly. The induction heating technology generates quick and even heat within the inner cooking pan meaning the rice is cooked from all angles, which eliminates any potential for unevenly cooked grains. Learn more about Induction Heat Technology and how this rice cooker will change your rice cooking game.

Pro tip: Make sure to follow this recipe’s measurements (water and rice ratio) for juicy chicken and tender rice. Be careful, don’t add excessive amounts of non-rice ingredients (i.e. more vegetables or chicken) than the recipe suggests. This causes uneven cooking of the rice.

Ingredients

Equipment

Zojirushi rice cooker (Model: NW-QAC10) – I’m a loyal fan of using Zojirushi for my one pot meals as the rice doesn’t get soggy or too hard when cooking with vegetables and/or protein. This is a great appliance to invest in as it always makes fluffy and delicious rice, every time!
- Use setting: Jasmine

*note: use Zojirushi’s rice cup and water measuring line on the pot to measure the rice and water quantity

Chicken marinade

Coconut milk – provides creaminess to the chicken and rice
Chicken thigh – I recommend using boneless and skinless chicken to ensure quick cooking and juicy chicken!
Shallot – aromatics in the marinade
Garlic cloves – aromatics in the marinade
Red curry paste (lemongrass, garlic, kaffir lime leaves, curry, chilis, blended in mix) – I highly recommend using this curry paste to make things quicker and taste authentic. This is always an inexpensive ingredient that gives this dish lots of flavor!
Fish sauce – provides umami to the marinade
Soy sauce – using this to salt and season the chicken
Brown sugar – helps balance the spiciness and acidity from the lime juice
Lime, juiced – balances the spicy and sweet flavor!

Rice Cooker

Marinated chicken – marinate the chicken as long as it takes for you to wash the rice (5 minutes)
Jasmine rice – wash the rice until water it becomes clear (5-7 times)

Garnish

Chopped cilantro (optional)
Thai red chilis (optional)
Cucumbers (optional)

How to make one pot coconut curry chicken and rice:

mix all marinade ingredients together with coconut milk

chicken marinated in a curry sauce in bowl

Marinate chicken

Make your marinade by mixing coconut milk, minced garlic, shallots, red curry paste, fish sauce, soy sauce, lime juice and brown sugar. Add your chicken thigh and marinate for 5 minutes.

Wash rice

Add 2 cups of uncooked jasmine rice using Zojirushi’s measuring cup in the pot. Then, wash rice for 5-7 times until the water runs clear. Then, add water up to the second line on the pot for jasmine rice.

Add chicken and rice in the rice cooker

Add the marinated chicken (don’t add the liquid marinade to the rice or it will be too soggy) on top of the rice and place the rice in the rice cooker! Press the ‘cook’ button on the rice cooker.

curry chicken rice made in the rice cooker garnished with cilantro and chilis

Once your rice is ready and cooked, let it rest in the rice cooker for 15 minutes before opening the lid! I know this is hard but this helps make your rice more fluffy and moist!

(Optional) Don’t waste the marinade, you can re-use it to marinate more chicken or boil the curry sauce for 5 minutes so you can add on top of your rice!

Serve

Garnish the rice with cilantro, Thai red chilis, and cucumbers. The cucumbers bring freshness and a crispy texture to the dish. To serve, mix the rice together and eat the rice while warm. I highly recommend boiling the chicken curry marinade for 5 minutes to use as a savory sauce on top of your rice. It’s so delicious! Hope you enjoy!

chicken with curry sauce on a plate with rice and cucumbers

Expert Tips

Use jasmine rice for this dish. Don’t forget to wash the rice in a strainer a few times until the water runs clear. If you don’t wash off the excess starch in the rice, the rice clumps together and tastes a little grainy when cooked. After washing the jasmine rice, the grains will separate and make the rice smooth and soft!
Make sure you strain all the water after washing your rice to ensure that you add the right amount of liquid to the dish. The water should barely cover the surface of the rice. The right amount of proportions ensure that the rice is tender, flavorful and not mushy!
Chicken thighs are perfect for this recipe as the meat becomes juicy from the steam cooking. If you want to use chicken breast, you certainly can substitute it. Remember to use the same portions of 0.6 to 0.75 pound chicken thigh. Too much protein can cause the rice to cook unevenly.
Make sure that the chicken is boneless! Bone-in chicken thighs can be tricky to cook as it is usually muchusually a much thicker and can be cold in the center from the refrigerator.
Use the leftover marinade as a curry sauce! You will need to cook the sauce and boil for 5 minutes since it was used to marinate the raw chicken. You can also reuse this sauce to marinate more chicken at a later time. Place in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Add the marinated chicken and don’t add the liquid marinade to the rice. The excessive amounts of seasonings may cause the rice to burn.

FAQ

What does chicken rendang taste like?

The rendang tastes like a rich and savory curry. The coconut milk creates a creamy and sweet flavor while the complex blend of spices makes the chicken aromatic and spicy!

What’s the difference between Curry and Rendang?

Rendang is a type of curry that leans toward South East Asian flavors especially if lemongrass and the kaffir lime leaves are used.

How can I store leftovers?

Place the chicken and rice in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, I like to stir-fry the chicken and rice in a pan until warm or microwave for 1-2 minutes with a damp paper towel.

Can I substitute the chicken with another protein or plant based protein?

Yes, you can substitute with beef or tofu (use firm tofu and press out the water as much as you can to avoid ending up with flavorless or soggy rice). If you substitute the protein, make sure it’s still the same proportion as the chicken (0.6 to 0.75 pounds).

Giveaway 🎉

One lucky winner will get one Zojirushi NW-QAC10 (same rice cooker I used in this recipe!) rice cooker! (Update: The giveaway has now ended. Thank you to everyone for entering!) Congrats to Sabrina for winning the giveaway!

To enter the giveaway, you will need to complete the first requirement. You can have two additional bonus entries after completing the first requirement.

(Required) Add a comment on the blog post! Make sure to leave your name, and best email so we can contact you if selected.
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Entry Window: 09/08/2023 at 08:00 AM (Pacific Time (US & Canada)) and ends on 09/14/2023 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time (US & Canada))
One winner will be selected randomly and will be announced on this blog post! We will contact the winner to get their rice cooker!
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