Coconut-Braised Berbere Chicken with Creamy Sauce
Succulent chicken simmered in a luscious coconut milk sauce infused with aromatic berbere spices for a rich, mildly spicy curry. This Ethiopian-inspired curry recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs chicken breasts, berbere spice blend, coconut milk for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 390 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1 pound, cut into 1-inch pieces chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons berbere spice blend
- 1 can (13.5 oz), full fat coconut milk
- 1 large, diced yellow onion
- 3 cloves, minced garlic cloves
- 1 tablespoon, minced fresh ginger
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon, freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons, chopped (optional) fresh cilantro
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Equipment for this recipe
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Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 large diced yellow onion and sauté for 6-7 minutes until soft and translucent.
- Step 2: Add 3 minced garlic cloves and 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger, stirring for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
- Step 3: Sprinkle 2 tablespoons berbere spice blend over the onion mixture and cook for 1 minute to release the spices' aroma.
- Step 4: Add 1 pound cut chicken breast pieces, stirring to coat with the spices and onions. Cook for 5 minutes until the chicken starts to brown.
- Step 5: Pour in 1 can (13.5 oz) full-fat coconut milk, stirring well to combine. Season with 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper.
- Step 6: Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and the chicken is cooked through.
- Step 7: Stir in 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice and sprinkle 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro over the curry before serving with steamed rice or injera.








