Thai Coconut Chicken Soup

Featured in: Soups and Stews

This creamy coconut chicken soup packs bold Thai flavors with red curry paste, lime juice, and fresh herbs. Rotisserie chicken keeps it simple while rice noodles add heartiness. Adjust spice to taste and enjoy a ready-in-minutes meal perfect for busy nights.
punchofyummy
Updated on Mon, 24 Mar 2025 17:56:47 GMT
A bowl filled with creamy chicken soup, noodles, fresh lime, and cilantro in a spicy coconut broth. Pin it
A bowl filled with creamy chicken soup, noodles, fresh lime, and cilantro in a spicy coconut broth. | pinchofyummy.com

I whipped up an amazing Thai Chicken Curry Soup in my kitchen last night and just gotta share it with you guys. This came together when I wanted something warm and tasty without spending forever cooking. It's all about mixing juicy chicken with smooth coconut milk and bold Thai spices for a bowl that feels like a hug. And guess what? You'll only need 30 minutes to make it happen.

What Makes This Soup My Absolute Favorite

My family always crowds around whenever I'm cooking this - they can't resist those wonderful smells. It seems fancy but it's actually super easy. I cut corners with ready-made curry paste and already-cooked rotisserie chicken. You can make it as mild or fiery as you want, and it works great for anyone avoiding gluten too.

Grab These Things From The Store

  • Olive Oil: A little bit to start cooking everything.
  • Onion and Garlic: I look for the most flavorful onions and always use fresh garlic cloves.
  • Ginger: Get the real root for that perfect spicy kick.
  • Red Curry Paste: This tiny container packs all those traditional Thai flavors.
  • Chicken Broth: Homemade is awesome but boxed works just fine.
  • Water: To get the right thickness for your soup.
  • Lime Juice: Squeeze it yourself for the best taste.
  • Rice Noodles: Thin or thick - whatever you like most.
  • Coconut Milk: Go with full fat for the creamiest result.
  • Chicken: Grabbing a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken saves tons of time.
  • Herbs: Fresh basil, cilantro and green onions really brighten everything up.

Let's Cook Up Something Wonderful

Getting Started
Warm up your biggest pot, add a touch of oil, and cook those onions until they're soft and golden. Toss in the garlic, ginger and curry paste. Your house will smell fantastic right away.
Creating Your Base
Add the broth, water and a good squeeze of lime juice. When it starts to bubble, drop in your rice noodles.
Adding Richness
Pour in the coconut milk and add your shredded chicken. Lower the heat and let everything hang out together for about 5-10 minutes until the noodles feel just right.
Final Touches
Mix in all your fresh herbs and taste it. Add a bit more salt or pepper if it needs it.
Grab Your Spoons
Pour into deep bowls and serve with lime wedges on the side. I like to add some crunchy bean sprouts on top too.

Tricks For The Best Results

  • Prep Everything First: I cut and measure all ingredients before turning on the stove. Makes cooking so much smoother.
  • Don't Skip Fresh Lime: The bottled stuff just won't give you the same bright flavor here.
  • Adjust The Flavor: Want more kick? Throw in some Thai chilies. Need it milder? Use less curry paste.
  • Keep Eye On Cooking Time: Those noodles cook really quick so don't walk away. Soggy noodles can ruin the whole dish.

Fun Ways To Change It Up

  • Skip The Meat: Use vegetable broth instead and try crispy tofu chunks.
  • Spice It Up: I sometimes add extra curry paste or a few drops of sriracha.
  • Hate Cilantro?: You can leave it out but don't skip the basil - it's really important.
  • Try Different Noodles: Udon or soba work great in this too.
  • More Veggies: I often throw in some bell peppers, fresh spinach or sliced mushrooms.
A bowl of savory soup featuring shredded chicken, lime wedges, and fresh cilantro in a rich, orange broth. Pin it
A bowl of savory soup featuring shredded chicken, lime wedges, and fresh cilantro in a rich, orange broth. | pinchofyummy.com

Storing What's Left

Store any extra soup in containers in your fridge. It'll stay good for around 4 days. Just warm it up slowly on the stove when you want more. You might need to add a bit of broth if it's gotten too thick. I don't recommend freezing this soup because the noodles turn mushy after thawing.

Complete Your Dinner

This soup tastes amazing with some fresh bread for dipping. Sometimes I'll make a quick Thai quinoa salad to go alongside it. Try topping your bowl with crunchy bean sprouts or a dash of hot sauce. Want to go all out? Start with some homemade spring rolls before the soup.

Common Things People Ask Me

  • Can I freeze it? The liquid part freezes well but cook fresh noodles when you heat it up again.
  • Is green curry paste okay? Absolutely! It'll give you a totally different but equally yummy version.
  • Will this work for my dairy-free diet? You bet! There's no dairy in this soup at all.
  • Forgot to buy fresh ginger? You can use about a teaspoon of powdered ginger instead.
  • Will my children find it too hot? Use less curry paste at the start - you can always add more later.

Warm Wishes With This Cozy Meal

This Thai Chicken Curry Soup shows up on my dinner table almost weekly now. It's perfect when I want something that tastes special without spending hours cooking. Feel free to play with the recipe until it's just right for your taste buds. I'd really love to know how yours turns out!

A bowl of vibrant soup featuring shredded chicken, rice noodles, lime wedges, fresh cilantro, and green herbs in a creamy, spicy broth. Pin it
A bowl of vibrant soup featuring shredded chicken, rice noodles, lime wedges, fresh cilantro, and green herbs in a creamy, spicy broth. | pinchofyummy.com

Frequently Asked Questions

→ What kind of rice noodles should I pick?

Go for medium-width rice noodles, around 3mm thick. Thai Kitchen stir-fry noodles are a great option, but anything similar works too.

→ How hot does this dish get?

Heat depends on the curry paste brand. Thai Kitchen’s red curry paste leans flavorful, not spicy. For hotter brands, start small and adjust to your liking.

→ Can I prep this in advance?

You can make the broth ahead of time, but wait to add the noodles until just before serving. Reheat the base and you might need extra broth to thin it out.

→ What if I don’t have rotisserie chicken?

Any shredded cooked chicken works fine. Use leftovers or prepare chicken thighs or breasts specifically for this dish.

→ Why full-fat coconut milk?

The full-fat kind gives a rich, authentic taste and texture. Light coconut milk makes the soup lighter but less creamy.

Thai Coconut Chicken Soup

A warm, creamy Thai noodle soup made with tender chicken, fragrant herbs, red curry flavors, and coconut milk for a satisfying one-bowl meal.

Prep Time
10 Minutes
Cook Time
20 Minutes
Total Time
30 Minutes
By: Amelia

Category: Soups and Stews

Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: Thai

Yield: 6 Servings (6 bowls)

Dietary: Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free

Ingredients

01 1 can (13.5 ounces) full-fat coconut milk.
02 3 cloves garlic, minced.
03 Juice of 1 lime.
04 1 tablespoon olive oil.
05 Salt & pepper to taste.
06 4 tablespoons Thai red curry paste.
07 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated.
08 3.5 ounces uncooked rice noodles.
09 2 cups shredded cooked chicken.
10 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth.
11 1/2 medium onion, finely chopped.
12 Chopped scallions to taste.
13 Generous handful fresh basil, torn.
14 2 cups water.
15 Handful fresh cilantro, chopped.

Instructions

Step 01

Warm up some oil and cook the onion for about 5 minutes on medium-high.

Step 02

Toss in garlic, ginger, and curry paste. Let it cook for 30 seconds.

Step 03

Mix in the broth, lime juice, water, and noodles. Let it come to a light boil.

Step 04

Drop in the coconut milk and shredded chicken. Give it 10 minutes to simmer.

Step 05

Toss in the fresh herbs and season with some salt and pepper.

Step 06

Dish it out while hot and enjoy with lime on the side.

Notes

  1. Noodles soak up liquid as it sits.
  2. Add extra broth if reheating leftovers.
  3. Curry paste brands vary in heat level, so adjust to your liking.
  4. Medium-thick rice noodles work best here.

Tools You'll Need

  • A big pot for cooking.
  • Ginger grater or similar tool.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 304
  • Total Fat: 20 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 19 g
  • Protein: 15 g