By Becky Hardin
Updated Mar 19, 2025
This flavorful Almond Milk Chicken Curry is a rich, dairy-free twist on the classic! The warm spices create a comforting, one-pan weeknight dinner. It’s incredibly tasty and pairs perfectly with rice for a complete meal!
5-Star Review
“This curry was phenomenal and so easy.” -Catherine
Creamy Almond Chicken Curry
My mild spicy almond chicken curry is the lighter version of my Greek Yogurt Chicken Curry . I make a rich, flavorful curry paste from scratch for a fresh, vibrant sauce. Almond milk adds the perfect creamy consistency without any dairy — a delicious, lighter Indian curry you’re sure to love!
Ingredients1x2x3x
For Curry Paste
- ▢ 1 onion chopped
- ▢ 2 cloves garlic
- ▢ 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ▢ 1/2 teaspoon ground tumeric
- ▢ 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- ▢ 1 teaspoon garam masala
- ▢ 1 teaspoon course sea salt
For Almond Milk Chicken Curry
- ▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil divided
- ▢ 2 pounds chicken breast cut into 1 inch cubes
- ▢ salt and pepper to taste
- ▢ curry paste see recipe below
- ▢ 6 ounces tomato paste 1 small can
- ▢ 1.75 cups almondmilk
- ▢ 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ▢ 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ▢ white rice for serving
- ▢ cilantro for serving optional
Instructions
For the Curry Paste
- Place the curry paste ingredients in a food processor and pulse until smooth and combined. Set aside. 1 onion, 2 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/2 teaspoon ground tumeric, 1 teaspoon ground cardamom, 1 teaspoon garam masala, 1 teaspoon course sea salt
For the Almond Milk Curry
- Heat 1/2 tablespoon olive oil in a large saucepan over high heat. Add the chicken and season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook for 3-5 minutes, stirring as you cook. Once golden, remove and set aside. 1 tablespoon olive oil, 2 pounds chicken breast, salt and pepper to taste
- Add remaining 1/2 tablespoon olive oil to the saucepan and add curry paste. Stir to combine. Cook for 2 minutes or until fragrant. curry paste
- Add the tomato paste, almond milk, ground cinnamon, and chili powder. Stir to combine. 6 ounces tomato paste, 1.75 cups almondmilk, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon chili powder
- Return the chicken to the saucepan and stir to coat.
- Reduce heat to medium/low and cook for 30 minutes or until thickened and chicken is fully cooked.
- Serve with white rice and top with cilantro. Enjoy! white rice for serving, cilantro for serving
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to make Dairy Free Chicken Curry
Make the curry paste : Place the curry paste ingredients (1 chopped onion, 2 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric, 1 teaspoon ground cardamom, 1 teaspoon garam masala and 1 teaspoon course sea salt) in a food processor and pulse until smooth and combined. Set aside.
Prepare chicken curry : Start by heating 1/2 tablespoon olive oil (out of 1 tablespoon) in a large saucepan over high heat. Add the 2 pounds chicken breast and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Cook for 3-5 minutes, stirring as you cook. Once golden, remove and set aside.
Add the remaining 1/2 tablespoon olive oil to the saucepan and add curry paste. Stir to combine. Cook for 2 minutes or until fragrant.
Now add the 6 ounces tomato paste, 1.75 cups almond milk, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon and 1 teaspoon chili powder. Stir to combine.
Return the chicken to the saucepan and stir to coat. Reduce the heat to medium/low and cook for 30 minutes or until thickened and chicken is fully cooked.
Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro and serve with white rice. Enjoy!
How to Store and Reheat
Transfer leftovers to an airtight container and refrigerate for 2-3 days. Gently reheat on the stovetop or microwave for one minute.
This chicken curry with almond milk freezes beautifully. Make a big batch and cool it completely. Transfer to freezer-friendly bags and freeze for up to 3 months. It’s a good idea to freeze in portions so you thaw only what you need. Thaw overnight and reheat.
Serving Suggestions
I love serving this with white rice such as basmati or jasmine, and if you are feeling particularly hungry you can add naan or a roti.
more chicken recipes to try
Jerk Chicken Wings
Hot Honey Chicken Sliders
Creamy Tuscan Chicken
Creamy Chicken Soup
Easy Almond Milk Chicken Curry Recipe
Ingredients
For Curry Paste
- 1 onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground tumeric
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon course sea salt
For Almond Milk Chicken Curry
- 1 tablespoon olive oil divided
- 2 pounds chicken breast cut into 1 inch cubes
- salt and pepper to taste
- curry paste see recipe below
- 6 ounces tomato paste 1 small can
- 1.75 cups almondmilk
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- white rice for serving
- cilantro for serving optional
Instructions
For the Curry Paste
- Place the curry paste ingredients in a food processor and pulse until smooth and combined. Set aside. 1 onion, 2 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/2 teaspoon ground tumeric, 1 teaspoon ground cardamom, 1 teaspoon garam masala, 1 teaspoon course sea salt
For the Almond Milk Curry
- Heat 1/2 tablespoon olive oil in a large saucepan over high heat. Add the chicken and season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook for 3-5 minutes, stirring as you cook. Once golden, remove and set aside. 1 tablespoon olive oil, 2 pounds chicken breast, salt and pepper to taste
- Add remaining 1/2 tablespoon olive oil to the saucepan and add curry paste. Stir to combine. Cook for 2 minutes or until fragrant. curry paste
- Add the tomato paste, almond milk, ground cinnamon, and chili powder. Stir to combine. 6 ounces tomato paste, 1.75 cups almondmilk, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon chili powder
- Return the chicken to the saucepan and stir to coat.
- Reduce heat to medium/low and cook for 30 minutes or until thickened and chicken is fully cooked.
- Serve with white rice and top with cilantro. Enjoy! white rice for serving, cilantro for serving
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
