1-Hour Hawaii Chicken Curry Recipe – Super Easy And Quick

Last Updated on January 31, 2023

The ultimate Hawaii chicken curry recipe is here! It’s quick, easy, and packed with flavor thanks to the combination of fresh ingredients we’ve used.

Now, you can have a hearty, filling, rich, and uber-creamy curry with a twist. You won’t regret trying this recipe!

Jump to Recipe

About Our Filling Flavor-Packed Chicken Curry

Today’s chicken curry stew recipe is Hawaii-inspired. We will be creating a very simple chicken curry base, but incorporating some authentic Hawaiian flavors. This includes mainly bell peppers, pineapple, and cherry tomatoes.

This recipe is incredibly easy to make and doesn’t require any strange or special ingredients. It’s also very customizable. You can adjust the level of spiciness, the exact vegetables you use, and the consistency and texture of the final curry.

Our step-by-step guide will take less than an hour, making it the perfect busy weeknight dinner. But trust us, this Hawaii chicken curry recipe is so good, you’ll want it most days of the week!

If you store it inside of your fridge in an airtight container, it will last up to 3 days without any worries. And, this curry holds up really well inside the freezer. You can store it for up to 6 months!

You can serve this chicken pineapple curry with all your traditional side dishes. It will go great with some fresh jasmine rice, buttered naan bread, paratha, roti, or even a plain salad.

If you aren’t convinced yet, all that’s left to do is try it yourself! We can almost guarantee that it will become a new staple curry in your home.

chicken curry stew recipe is Hawaii

What You Need To Make This Hawaii Chicken Curry Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 pound chicken breasts, boneless, skinless, cubed into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons mild curry powder of your choice
  • 1 small green bell pepper, deseeded and diced
  • 1 small red bell pepper, deseeded and diced
  • 1 – 2 cups pineapple chunks (fresh or canned)
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 1/2 cups vegetable stock, low sodium
  • 1 can of coconut cream
  • Sea salt flakes, to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Fresh parsley leaves, for garnish

Equipment

  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Mixing bowls
  • Medium or large saucepan
  • Mixing spoon or spatula
 

Step by step instructions

Step 1: Brown the chicken

To start, make sure that your chicken is prepared completely. That also goes for the rest of your ingredients.

Add the olive oil to a medium or large saucepan over medium heat. Then, add the diced onions. Allow them to sweat for 5 minutes.

Once they have become translucent, add the diced chicken. Increase the heat and allow the chicken pieces to brown.

Step 2: Finish off the curry base

After they got some color, add the minced garlic, fresh ginger paste, and curry powder. Give them a stir so they coat all of the chicken.

Then, add the bell peppers, pineapple chunks, and tomatoes. Mix the ingredients well.

Next, add the vegetable stock so it almost covers the ingredients.

Step 3: Leave the Hawaiian chicken curry to simmer

Bring the curry to a boil. Then, reduce the heat and allow it to simmer for about 15-20 minutes. The chicken should be tender along with the other vegetables.

Step 4: Finish off the curry

Remove the curry from the heat. Then, stir in the coconut cream. Keep mixing until you have a uniform Hawaii chicken curry recipe.

Finally, season the curry with salt and pepper to your liking. Garnish it with fresh parsley leaves before serving the curry.

Expert Tips And Tricks

  • You can easily make this curry vegan by replacing the chicken with tofu. You can also have a look at this list of vegan alternatives for chicken. Just keep in mind the flavor profile of this curry. The substitute should blend it seamlessly.
  • Traditional chicken curry in Hawaiian style doesn’t contain spicy ingredients. However, it is perfectly fine if you’d like to add some chili to the recipe. We like to add fresh bird’s eye chili or green Thai chili. You can use chili powder or paste as well. The easiest alternative is to simply use a spicier curry powder.
  • Coconut cream is often hard to find. You can use coconut milk instead. But, if you want an uber-creamy substitute, use plain yogurt, heavy whipping cream, creme fraiche, or cream cheese. These are all great alternatives that will help keep the rich thick texture of the curry.
  • When you initially simmer to curry (before adding the coconut cream) the goal is to reduce the liquid (stock). This helps concentrate the flavors and helps create a thicker curry. If you don’t reduce it enough, you will have a very runny curry once you add the coconut cream.
  • Do not boil the coconut cream. Doing so will separate it from the curry base. The curry will still be perfectly edible, but it won’t be visually appealing to look at.
  • Another great addition to this Hawaii chicken curry recipe is coconut flakes. You can use fresh shavings or dried and toasted ones. Toasted coconut shavings add a slightly nutty flavor and it helps give some texture too.
  • This curry can be frozen for several months. It actually keeps really well! Just store it inside an airtight container. Then, wrap the container in a layer of aluminum foil. This will protect it from excess freezer burn, which makes it taste better for longer.

Preparations Times And Servings

Preparation TimeCooking TimeServings
10 minutes30-40 minutes4

Wrapping Things Up – A Juicy Tender Hawaii Chicken Curry Recipe

This Hawaii chicken curry recipe is incredibly easy to make and super filling. It is loaded with fresh flavors and a ton of nutrients. And, it’s surprisingly low in calories too!

You can make this curry for any night of the week, any occasion, and during any time of the year. And, if you are lucky enough to have any leftovers, you can store it for later use!

If you enjoyed this recipe, let us know in the comments below. And, don’t forget to go have a look at our other amazing recipes!

1-Hour Hawaii Chicken Curry Recipe - Super Easy And Quick

The ultimate Hawaii chicken curry recipe is here! It's quick, easy, and packed with flavor thanks to the combination of fresh ingredients we've used. Now, you can have a hearty, filling, rich, and uber-creamy curry with a twist. You won't regret trying this recipe!
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time40 mins
Total Time50 mins
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Asian
Keyword: chicken curry in hawaiian style, chicken curry stew recipe is Hawaii, hawaii chicken curry recipe, hawaiian chicken curry
Servings: 4 servings

Equipment

  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Mixing bowls
  • Medium or large saucepan
  • Mixing spoon or spatula

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound chicken breasts, boneless, skinless, cubed into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons mild curry powder of your choice
  • 1 small green bell pepper, deseeded and diced
  • 1 small red bell pepper, deseeded and diced
  • 1 - 2 cups pineapple chunks, fresh or canned
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 1/2 cups vegetable stock, low sodium
  • 1 can of coconut cream
  • Sea salt flakes, to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Fresh parsley leaves, for garnish

Instructions

  • Brown the chicken
    To start, make sure that your chicken is prepared completely. That also goes for the rest of your ingredients.
    Add the olive oil to a medium or large saucepan over medium heat. Then, add the diced onions. Allow them to sweat for 5 minutes.
    Once they have become translucent, add the diced chicken. Increase the heat and allow the chicken pieces to brown.
    2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 small onion, diced, 1 pound chicken breasts, boneless, skinless, cubed into bite-sized pieces
  • Finish off the curry base
    After they got some color, add the minced garlic, fresh ginger paste, and curry powder. Give them a stir so they coat all of the chicken.
    Then, add the bell peppers, pineapple chunks, and tomatoes. Mix the ingredients well.
    Next, add the vegetable stock so it almost covers the ingredients.
    2 garlic cloves, minced, 1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced, 1 1/2 tablespoons mild curry powder of your choice, 1 small green bell pepper, deseeded and diced, 1 small red bell pepper, deseeded and diced, 1 - 2 cups pineapple chunks, fresh or canned, 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved, 1 1/2 cups vegetable stock, low sodium
  • Leave the Hawaiian chicken curry to simmer
    Bring the curry to a boil. Then, reduce the heat and allow it to simmer for about 15-20 minutes. The chicken should be tender along with the other vegetables.
  • Finish off the curry
    Remove the curry from the heat. Then, stir in the coconut cream. Keep mixing until you have a uniform Hawaii chicken curry recipe.
    Finally, season the curry with salt and pepper to your liking. Garnish it with fresh parsley leaves before serving the curry.
    1 can of coconut cream, Sea salt flakes, to taste, Freshly ground black pepper, to taste, Fresh parsley leaves, for garnish

Notes

You can easily make this curry vegan by replacing the chicken with tofu. Just keep in mind the flavor profile of this curry. The substitute should blend it seamlessly.
Traditional chicken curry in Hawaiian style doesn't contain spicy ingredients. However, it is perfectly fine if you'd like to add some chili to the recipe. We like to add fresh bird's eye chili or green Thai chili. You can use chili powder or paste as well. The easiest alternative is to simply use a spicier curry powder.
Coconut cream is often hard to find. You can use coconut milk instead. But, if you want an uber-creamy substitute, use plain yogurt, heavy whipping cream, creme fraiche, or cream cheese. These are all great alternatives that will help keep the rich thick texture of the curry.
When you initially simmer to curry (before adding the coconut cream) the goal is to reduce the liquid (stock). This helps concentrate the flavors and helps create a thicker curry. If you don't reduce it enough, you will have a very runny curry once you add the coconut cream.
Do not boil the coconut cream. Doing so will separate it from the curry base. The curry will still be perfectly edible, but it won't be visually appealing to look at.
Another great addition to this Hawaii chicken curry recipe is coconut flakes. You can use fresh shavings or dried and toasted ones. Toasted coconut shavings add a slightly nutty flavor and it helps give some texture too.
This curry can be frozen for several months. It actually keeps really well! Just store it inside an airtight container. Then, wrap the container in a layer of aluminum foil. This will protect it from excess freezer burn, which makes it taste better for longer.