Dairy Free Simple Curry Marinade for Chicken (with Coconut Milk)

Looking for a simple, dairy-free curry marinade for chicken? This gently spiced, coconut milk-based marinade adds a light kick to any chicken dish—perfect for grilling, roasting, or tray bakes (sheet pan meals). It’s quick to prepare and guaranteed to be a hit with the whole family.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Marinating chicken is an amazing way to add flavour to your meal, as well as making the chicken more tender.

I particularly love this recipe because:

• It is versatile – it can be used on any cut of chicken and for grilling, sautéing, roasting or a tray bake (sheet pan meal).
• It is very easy to make – just mix the ingredients, add the chicken and leave to marinate!
• It uses only a few ingredients – coconut milk and a few spices are all you need for this recipe.
• It is dairy free – whereas a lot of curry marinades use yoghurt, this one uses coconut milk, and the result is delicious!

Marinating Method

Marinating meat may sound difficult but it really is so simple! The marinade is created by mixing all of the different ingredients together in a large bowl. There is no cooking involved at this time, it is just a case of assembling your ingredients.

Then you place the meat in the bowl, making sure every piece of meat is coated with the marinade. Cover, and put it into the fridge until you are ready to use it.

Generally, meat should be marinated for at least 30 mins for it to start taking on the flavour of the marinade. However, you can marinate it for longer, even overnight if you wish.

You then cook your meat as desired: on the BBQ, in the oven or in a pan, it’s up to you!

As you can see, it is extremely simple to marinate meat. Honestly, the hardest part is just remembering to start early enough!

Ingredients Needed to Make this Dairy Free Simple Curry Marinade for Chicken

For 1kg meat

• 1/2 can coconut milk
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1 tsp ground turmeric
• 1 tsp Garam Masala
• 1 tsp salt

Ingredients tips and substitutions

Coconut Milk

I love the gentle sweetness that the coconut milk brings to this recipe. I like to make sure I buy coconut milk that does not contain any additives.

If you are not worried about eating dairy free, you can substitute yoghurt but the taste will be more acidic.

Spices

I prefer to use mostly individual spices, but if you don’t have them, you can use a ready made curry powder. If you have food allergies, be sure to check the ingredients of your curry powder before use as they sometimes add extra ingredients such as potato starch.

How to Make Dairy Free Simple Curry Marinade for Chicken

This recipe is incredibly easy, simply mix together all the ingredients, add the chicken and leave to marinate for at least 30 mins and up to 6 hours or overnight in the fridge. Alternatively, you can freeze the chicken in the marinade for easy meal prep.

FAQs

Can I use this curry marinade for chicken breasts, thighs, or drumsticks?

Absolutely! This marinade is very versatile and works well with all cuts of chicken, whether boneless or bone-in. You will need to adjust the cooking time based on the cut and thickness – cuts of chicken with the bone in will take longer to cook.

How long should I marinate the chicken?

You can marinate the chicken for as little as 30 minutes, but for the best flavour and tenderness, marinate for 4–6 hours or overnight.

Can I freeze chicken in the marinade?

Yes, this is a very good idea for meal prep. Combine the chicken and marinade in a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight before cooking. Be sure to defrost the meat thoroughly before cooking, especially if you intend to slow cook the chicken.

Can I make this marinade without coconut milk?

If you are not worried about eating dairy free, you can substitute yoghurt but the taste will be tangier.

Is this curry marinade spicy?

No, this marinade is gently spiced but not hot. If you prefer a bit more heat, you can add a pinch of chilli powder or cayenne pepper to taste. If you decide to use curry powder instead of individual spices, be aware that some are already very spicy.

Let me know in the comments below how you used this simple curry marinade. Don’t forget to take a picture and tag me on social media @candleinthekitchen, I love seeing your creations!