Coconut milk makes a fantastic marinade, tenderising and infusing the chicken with rich flavour. The added bonus is that the marinade makes a fabulous sauce! Try grilling this Coconut Marinated Chicken – or cook it on the stove, your choice!
This is based on a recipe by Bobby Flay, one of my grilling idols. His shows started airing in Australia a few years ago and I was hooked.
Though I have to say…gosh, this could get me in trouble…Does anyone else think he really should consider wearing sunglasses? Because he always seems to be squinting!! 😉
I think he is incredibly talented at bringing together unique flavours with familiar ingredients. I have a killer of a 3 ingredient glazed pork chop recipe of his that I regularly use which I plan to share soon.
But as for this coconut marinated chicken – I am not actually sure whether he had it on his show. I got it from his book, Bobby Flay’s Barbecue Addiction. He makes this with pork tenderloin and has a relish to accompany it. I tried it with pork tenderloin but found that it was difficult to cook to make it moist and tender on the grill.
But the flavour was so awesome that I decided to give it a go with chicken – and scored! It’s sensational!
I like to make a coconut based sauce to serve with the chicken, just to really drive home the coconut flavour. It’s made using the excess marinade – but don’t worry, it’s simmered rapidly to make it safe for consumption.
The chicken is sensational as it is, but honestly, the sauce “makes” this. I do hope you consider giving this a go! – Nagi x
If you love coconut milk sauces, you’ll love these!
-
An amazing easy Thai Coconut Noodle Soup
And more of my favourite Asian Chicken recipes
All these are ideal for grilling but can also be cooked on the stove
-
Yakitori Chicken – Japanese chicken skewers on my mother’s Japanese recipe website, RecipeTin Japan
-
Thai Grilled Chicken (Gai Yang) – marinated in a fragrant Thai marinade
-
Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken – infused with beautiful Vietnamese lemongrass flavours
-
Asian Chicken – marinated in a great Asian marinade that’s sweet sand savoury
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Coconut Marinated Chicken (Grill or Stove)
Ingredients
Marinade
- 1 can coconut milk (preferably full fat, but light is ok) (14oz/400g)
- 2 limes - all the zest + 3 tbsp of juice
- 1 tbsp mild curry powder
- 2 tsp paprika
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger , finely grated
- 3 garlic cloves , crushed
- 2 tbsp Frank's classic hot sauce , or other hot sauce of choice (adjust to taste) (Note 2)
- 3/4 tsp salt
- Black pepper
Chicken
- 1.5 lb / 750g chicken thigh fillets , skinless and boneless
- 1 tbsp oil (for cooking)
- 3/4 cup water
Garnish (optional)
- Fresh coriander leaves
Instructions
- Combine the Marinade ingredients in a ziplock bag. Add the chicken and set aside to marinate for at least 3 hours, preferably overnight.
- Remove the chicken from the Marinade, shaking off the excess. Keep the Marinade for the Sauce (below).
- Brush the BBQ with oil and heat to medium high, or heat the oil in a skillet over medium high heat.
- Cook the chicken for around 7 minutes on the first side and 5 minutes on the second side, or until cooked through.
- Transfer the chicken to a plate, cover loosely with foil and rest for 5 minutes.
- Serve with Sauce and garnished with fresh cilantro leaves, if using.
Sauce
- Pour the marinade into a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Add the water and bring to a simmer. Cook for at least 10 minutes, or until thickened to desired consistency. (Note 1) Transfer to a sauce bowl.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
OMG!!!!!!!! This was delicious, I could seriously just drink the sauce morning noon and night. It was amaze!!!!! I used breast because my family have officially decided that thigh and it’s texture, is not for them so from now on all of your recipes are going to have to be with breast (ooooh this is sounding saucy lol). I served it up with your restaurant style chines broccoli with oyster sauce (sooooo perfect, husband is in love) and some rice. Fantastic meal and the whole family loved it.
AWESOME! So happy to hear you and the fam enjoyed this Lisa, and thanks for letting me know! N x
This was super yummy. Th sauce was terrific — fabulous flavor with just a little kick!
I’m so glad you enjoyed this Jennifer! I have a big soft spot for this 🙂 Thank you for coming back o let me know! N x
I’m so glad you enjoyed this Jennifer! I have a big soft spot for this 🙂 Thank you for coming back to let me know! N x
What a yummy recipe! It was a hit with the whole family, including the discerning five and nine-year-old 😉
I have a question regarding the sauce though. I simmered for at least 20 min. and the consistency did not change. How long must I leave it to achieve a thicker sauce, such as yours in the picture?
That’s odd! 20 minutes is ages, it should definitely thicken well before then, especially given it has coconut in it. Did you use full fat?? In anycase, I’m so glad you and your family enjoyed it Yvonne, thank you so much for coming back to let me know!!! N x
This was delicious!
Love your website- thank you for all the wonderful recipes.
YAY!! Glad to hear you enjoyed it Bev, thanks for taking time to come back and let me know!
Hi so I’m going to make this tonight but don’t have a grill so going to pan sear them should I start with med/high then raise to high or cook them the med/high the whole time? Also should I pat them dry with a paper towel or just straight from the marinate to the pan thank you I really appreciate anyfeed back that would help ! 🙂
Oh and what kind of paprika I have Hungrian,smoked or just regular ground paprika 🙂
Hi Salina! Any will be great in this! 🙂
Hi Salina! Medium high for the whole time should be just fine. And nope, don’t pat them dry, just plonk them straight in the pan!
Awesome thank you! I’m excited and hungry
I want try this but I don’t have limes, would this work with lemon juice instead?
Hi Fiona! I don’t feel that lemons has the same flavour, I’m sorry! Lime + lemon grass + coconut is a match made in heaven. 🙂
This sauce… Wow!!!
I didn’t marinade my chicken for long enough so was a little bland but the sauce was amazing. Will double up sauce recipe next time for more sauce as it was a bit sparse once thickened!
Do you think you could use this sauce as a base for a curry? Wondered if I could pop chicken in to simmer rather than grill like crazy on my tiny George foreman!
Made your coconut rice with this – deffo doing again (and again!)
YES! It’s like you read my mind! I made a chicken curry using the sauce. 🙂 I thinned it out with chicken broth and increased the flavour a bit. It was so delicious and I definitely plan to share it soon!
Wow. I came across your site today and it’s amazing. Your photography is top-notch and I want to lick the screen!
I’ve got a can of coconut milk and this will be a perfect way to use it up. I’m also making your Greek Chicken and Rice this week, and your Sticky Mongolian Beef is on my to-try soon list!!! Heck I’ll just make ALL of your recipes.
Fantastic blog, Nagi. Keep up the great work!
Thank you Jasdiip! 🙂 Oooh, the Greek Chicken and Rice is a big blog favorite at the moment! I do hope you love it!!
Nagi, this looks amazing!!! I started saving my marinades and simmering them down to make a sauce and it’s been one of the best things I’ve learned in cooking 🙂
I love it! I do it for most of my marinades too 🙂
Hey Nagi
last Saturday night seems like a long time ago right now, but I really needed to let you know we had the coconut grilled chicken for dinner. As usual in our home, doubling the recipe is a must !
And I MUST say, WOW ! This was sensational, and the sauce was finger lickin’ good. But, as usual there weren’t any leftovers for me to indulge in the next day but my husband was very pleased he had a healthy serve to take for lunch, made working on a Sunday a little more manageable ! We all love your recipes, I just say Nagi’s recipe and it’s like we are eating at your restaurant!!
So thank you from all of us, you have really invigorated my inspiration for cooking which I lost for a while. X 5 stars as always but It won’t allow me to for some reason.
Oooh! I am SO GLAD you and your family loved it!! Especially the sauce 🙂 Thank you for your kind words about my recipes, you made my day!! And we all need a little inspiration every now and then. That’s what life’s all about! N x
Wow, this looks sounds amazing!! I don’t remember getting your email about this dish, so I’m really glad I fell upon it on your site. Have to try it!
I love Bobby Flay’s recipes and it’s fun to hear you are enjoying his show. He creates great flavors! Susan mentioned Tyler Florence and I like him as well. The tomato relish in his Dad’s Meatloaf with Tomato Relish recipe helped me see how to get great onion/tomato flavor in meatloaf without ending up with half-cooked onion bits.
Ooh, I do hope you try this! It’s REALY good. Bobby Flay is awesome!
J Daddy wants you to know this:
– This dish is a definite “must make again and again and again”.
– Oh, wow, this chicken is so tasty.
– The sauce is great. The sauce is really great.
– I took the leftovers to work and I made my work colleagues jealous. I was asked over and over again what my lunch was, so I made sure I told them it was a Nagi recipe.
This is from me:
– I was very sad when there were no leftovers for me today.
– This dish is soooooooo amazing.
– We were in love with this dish from the first bite, and enjoyed every single bite all the way to the end. And then wanted more.
You feature so prominently on our weekly menu that I sometimes feel like I have to make excuses / justifications to J Daddy. But, rest assured, J Daddy LOVES your recipes, so much so that the last time I tried to justify why I was cooking 6 of your recipes in the one week, he said “Oh, I have no problems with you cooking Nagi’s recipes. I think you think I have a problem with it, but trust me, I am happy to eat any and all of Nagi’s recipes.” Yep – you have two very big fans here!
https://instagram.com/p/7VDDJ7KyQp/
OMG OMG!! Thank you SO MUCH for letting me know how much you and J Daddy enjoyed it. YAY YAY YAY! Literally doing the happy dance around the kitchen right now! I love the thought of J Daddy making all his work colleagues jealous!! And aren’t you nice giving him all the leftovers!! 🙂
And now, I have J Daddy’s family in NZ trying this recipe, based on my “review”. I’ll let you know what they think – this is on the menu tonight at Aunty Noelene and Uncle Dennis’s house!
SO COOL!! 🙂 <3
Nagi
This looks amazing, trying it tomorrow evening ! Will give you feedback but I do not doubt that it will be as good as it looks!
Please be on the lookout for my emails sent. I purchased the Wing Book but having download challenges.
Kind Regards
Hi Nyameka! I got your email and just responded with a new link – I do hope it works ok this time! I checked the links you sent me and actually, it worked ok for me. Strange. Technology – humph!
I do hope you do try this!! It really is incredible. Bobby Flay. He’s a gem! N x
I am in love with this grilled chicken. they look delicious and succulent. Craving this chicken right now.. Marinating the chicken with coconut milk sounds amazing.. Can’t wait to try this!! Pining! 😀
Thanks so much Arpita! The marinated in coconut really does make an incredible difference. 🙂
Bobby Flay is awesome! I love watching his shows and his recipes never fail!
These chickens look very delicious! Love the sweet coconut sauce/marinade. Gotta try them this labor day weekend!
I agree! Sometimes his recipes have very lengthy ingredient lists but they are always EASY! 🙂
Big fan of Bobby Flay as well 🙂 This chicken looks incredible and I agree it would be a shame to get rid of the sauce!
Hi Nagi,
This looks too delish for words. I was wondering if one could bake the chicken instead of grilling on a BBQ?
TIA
Hi Devorah! Yep, you sure can. You won’t get quite the caramelisation on the crust but the flavour inside will be the same. 🙂 Hope you love it!
Marinating the chicken with coconut milk is a fantastic idea! This dish looks mouthwatering! Can’t wait to try it out this week.
Thanks Mary! I can’t take credit – all goes to Bobby Flay! 🙂
Hi. It was my first time when I tried to make your recipe! 🙂 it was very easy and clear instructions . When I made this dinner me and my husband where in paradise! It was perfect dish for first day of spring! – very fresh and juicy! I made it with black rice and salad: lettuce, orange and papaya fresh seeds . Thank you for that great recipe! 🙂
Hi Anna! Oooh, I love the sides you made! I’m so glad you enjoyed this. Thank you so much for coming back to let me know! 🙂 N x
All those flavours sound epic together Nagi. perfect BBQ food . Bobby Flay. I havent heard that name in a while .
He’s a legend!! 🙂