30 min basil chicken with coconut cream sauce is a quick and easy chicken dinner recipe. Flavorful chicken in a smooth coconut cream sauce will quickly be your family’s new favorite weeknight meal!
We seem to be on an Americanized-Ethic food kick at our house, trying all kinds of new dishes. We’ve been trying to shop mostly the perimeter of the grocery store, staying away from the majority of the center aisles and the “processed foods”.
What it has done not only to our diets (let’s ignore all the chocolate chip and Earl Gray cookies we have been eating, though, ok?) but also our food budget is amazing. I’ve been spending a lot more time focusing on our menu/budget for each week, trying to get the best meals while not spending all day in the kitchen or going broke. For instance, last week we spent $70 on groceries for the three of us (things like diapers, dog food, and toilet paper are usually purchased at Wal-Mart)!
Now I call that awesome planning! If you need a refresher on how to plan meals and budget for groceries, you should check out How to Meal Plan Like A Boss!
Anywho, I love this 30 min basil chicken; it will definitely make a reappearance in our house! The spices are awesome, and the rice absorbs the creamy coconut-y sauce – yum yum yum!
Try it, you’ll like it!
If you love this recipe, make sure you also try Coconut Crusted Chicken with Cashew Curry Sauce!
How to make 30 Min Basil Chicken
30 Min Basil Chicken with Coconut Cream Sauce

Basil chicken with coconut cream sauce is a quick and easy chicken dinner recipe. Flavorful chicken in a smooth coconut cream sauce will quickly be your family's new favorite weeknight meal!
Ingredients
- 1 Pound chicken breasts, cut into 1″ pieces
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp cardamom
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp cloves
- 1/2 tsp coriander
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/4 tsp turmeric
- 1/4 tsp chili powder
- 1 TBSP olive oil
- 1/2 red onion, chopped
- 1 jalapeno, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 (14 ounces) can coconut milk
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- 3 TBSP fresh basil, chopped
- 1 TBSP fresh ginger, minced
- Rice to serve (jasmine rice is especially nice)
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine all of the seasonings.
- Cut the chicken into pieces and combine with the seasonings (I only used about 2/3 of the seasoning mixture because I didn’t want it to be too spicy for Ladybug. You can always add more seasonings after you thicken the sauce if you feel it is called for) so the chicken is well coated.
- Chop and mince the onion, garlic, jalapeño, basil, and ginger.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat, with the olive oil.
- Saute the onion, garlic, ginger and jalapeño for 2 minutes, or until they begin to soften. Remove from pan and set aside.
- Cook the chicken until browned and done, about 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from pan, place with the onion mixture, and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and coconut milk until combined, and then pour it into the pan.
- Simmer the coconut milk until it begins to thicken, stirring frequently.
- When the sauce is thickened, add the chicken and onion mixture back to the pan and stir to combine.
- Add the basil to the pan, stir to combine, and serve with rice!
- Enjoy!
Notes
(recipe slightly adapted from Baked Bree)
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 402Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 96mgSodium: 390mgCarbohydrates: 18gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 38g
(recipe slightly adapted from Baked Bree)
Looking for other awesomely delicious 30 minute meals? Check these out!
Super Easy Chicken Tikka Masala
Lauren Gaskill | Making Life Sweet
Monday 9th of May 2016
Whoa Jenni! This looks and sounds amazing. Totally making soon. :)
lisamichele
Sunday 23rd of December 2012
OMG..the more I scroll..the more my stomach growls. I love coconut with chicken and have a great recipe using lemongrass and goya cram of coconut (which I can eat with a spoon right out of the can) that said..this chicken looks phenomenal, Jenni!! I have to try it!