After-Practice Recipe

After-Practice Chicken Curry Rice Bowls

After-practice chicken curry rice bowls come together in twelve minutes from one can of coconut milk and three tablespoons of mild yellow curry paste.

IngredientsTimingStoragecoconut sauce
Comic-book style illustration of hungry kids coming home from practice to a fast hot dinner for After-Practice Chicken Curry Rice Bowls.

Mild paste at the stove, chili flakes at the table.

Whisk the can of coconut milk with three tablespoons of mild yellow curry paste over medium until it goes smooth, then simmer three cups of frozen mixed vegetables in it for five minutes.

Three cups of cooked diced chicken warmed through to 165F, then lime juice and a teaspoon of brown sugar right at the end. Over rice, with naan if the bag is still in the freezer.

Ingredients

The recipe serves 4. Plan on 12 minutes to finish (plus earlier prep).

  • 3 cups cooked diced chicken
  • 1 can (13.5 oz) coconut milk
  • 3 tbsp mild yellow curry paste
  • 3 cups frozen mixed vegetables
  • 3 cups cooked rice
  • 1 tbsp lime juice
  • 1 tsp brown sugar

How to Make It

  • Add the coconut milk and curry paste to a skillet over medium and whisk smooth.
  • Stir in the frozen vegetables and simmer 5 minutes until they are hot.
  • Add the chicken and warm through, about 3 minutes, until it reaches 165F.
  • Stir in the lime juice and brown sugar.
  • Spoon over warm rice.

Do the Slow Part Early

Cook the chicken and rice before practice so the curry is a quick simmer.

  • Cook and dice the chicken in the morning, or use rotisserie
  • Cook the rice early and chill it
  • Keep the curry paste and coconut milk in the pantry, ready to go

Store and Reheat

Coconut curry reheats smoothly; a splash of water brings the sauce back together.

  • Microwave 2 to 3 minutes, stirring once, with a splash of water
  • Warm the rice separately with a splash of water, 2 minutes
  • Keeps 3 days in the fridge
  • Serve with: naan, cucumber slices, mango chunks

Parent Tip

Mild curry paste keeps it kid-friendly. Add heat at the table with chili flakes.

Make it fit tonight

Small changes that make this one fit your night

Keep the pan mild

Chili flakes on the table mean one kid's dinner is not ruined by heat.

Full-fat coconut milk

The light can splits when it simmers and the sauce goes thin and watery.

The brown sugar matters

One teaspoon rounds off the paste and is why kids finish the whole bowl.

Naan in the toaster

Ninety seconds and it comes out warm enough to scoop the sauce with.

Water when you reheat

Coconut sauce tightens overnight and a splash pulls it back together smoothly.

Plan the next step

Plan your cozy weeknights

Use the planner to keep comforting bowls like this on hand for the cold, drawn-out evenings.

Plan your cozy weeknights