This Thai-inspired Red Curry Chicken Soup is perfect comfort food. Tender chicken, fresh veggies, creamy coconut milk, and red curry paste all come together to form a slightly sweet, slightly tangy, and flavorful soup.
A Delicious Comfort Food Recipe: Thai Red Curry Chicken Soup
There is something so comforting about a hearty bowl of chicken soup, but you know what’s even better? A Thai inspired red curry chicken soup that’s packed with delicious Thai curry flavor and zucchini noodles. THE BEST.
I love Thai curries so much and the idea of turning one into a soup sounded like absolute heaven to me.
If you have never had red curry paste this soup is a great first introduction. Red curry has a delicious flavor, is milder than green curry, and easy to find at your local grocery store.
Not only is this soup delicious, it is also dairy-free, Paleo, and Whole30 compliant. Also, because it uses zucchini noodles, instead of traditional noodles, it is lower in carbohydrates. I know you’ll love this comforting soup that is great as a filling lunch or dinner!
What’s in Red Curry Paste
If you have never used red curry paste before it is absolutely delicious and my second favorite of the curry flavors (my first is green!). Red curry paste is made up of red pepper, garlic, lemongrass, galangal (Thai ginger), and makrut (sometimes called kaffer) lime leaves. It is also made up of several spices like coriander, turmeric, black peppercorn, and cumin.
For this recipe I used this brand of curry paste and the ingredients are red chili pepper, garlic, lemongrass, galangal, salt, shallot, spice, and kaffer lime.
I like to keep a jar of red curry paste in my pantry at all times. You can combine coconut milk and red curry paste to make a quick curry with protein and veggies, or add it to a stir-fry or marinade for even more flavor.
Red vs. Green Curry
Some of the most common curries are red curry and green curry, and many people are often confused about which curry to use. I personally love both red and green curry, but they both have slightly different flavors.
While it is easy to assume that red curry would be the spicier of the curries, red curry paste is actually milder. The green chilies that are used to make green curry paste are actually spicier which makes green curry paste the spicier of the two.
Where Can I Buy Red Curry Paste?
You can find red curry paste in the Asian aisle of your local grocery store. The canned coconut milk and red curry paste are usually found in the same aisle.
If you have an Asian grocery store near you, like H-Mart, you can also buy it there. If you are doing a Whole30, be sure to check the label for any non-compliant oils like soybean oil.
What is Full Fat Coconut Milk?
Coconut milk and red curry paste go together like PB&J. This recipe uses full-fat canned coconut milk to give the soup a delicious creaminess and slight coconut flavor.
This kind of coconut milk is different than the variety you find in the refrigerator section near the dairy or almond milk. Canned coconut milk is shelf-stable and found in the International aisle of most grocery stories.
When you are buying canned coconut milk for this recipe, the best kind to use is the full-fat variety. Full-fat coconut milk has a higher concentration of coconut and a lower water content which helps make soup perfectly creamy.
How to Make Red Curry Chicken Soup
Step 1 – The first step to make this red curry chicken soup is to cook the ginger, garlic, onion, and red pepper in a little oil over medium until they are just slightly tender. This is also a great time to add the salt during this steps to help develop more flavor.
Step 2 – Next, add four tablespoons of the red curry paste and stir until well combined. Then, add in the diced chicken breast and stir until until the veggies, chicken, and curry paste are all evenly mixed in.
Step 3 – Next, add chicken broth, coconut milk, lime juice, and seasonings like fish sauce and coconut aminos to the pot. Let the soup come to a boil and then reduce the heat down to a simmer for 30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. Give it a taste and add more salt or fish sauce if you want the soup to be a bit saltier.
Step 4 – The final step is to serve the soup over fresh zucchini noodles. To do this, just place the zucchini noodles in a bowl and ladle the soup over top. Finish the soup off with more fresh lime juice, green onion, and cilantro.
If You Love This Thai Red Curry Chicken Soup Recipe, I Know You’ll Love These
Heat a large pot over medium-high heat. Once hot add in ½ tbsp of coconut or avocado oil and then add the ginger, garlic, red bell pepper, and lime leaves to the pot. Season with salt while they cook. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the veggies start to become slightly tender.
Add the red curry paste and diced chicken breast and stir until well combined.
Add the chicken chicken broth, coconut milk, lime juice, fish sauce, and coconut aminos to the pot. Let the soup come to a boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer. Let the soup simmer for 30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. Give it a taste and add more salt or fish sauce if you want the soup to be a bit saltier.
Serve the soup over fresh zucchini noodles. To do this, place the desired amount of zucchini noodles in a bowl and ladle the hot soup over top. Finish the soup off with more fresh lime juice, green onion, and cilantro. Enjoy!
GREAT! Made with sweet potatoes, mushrooms, zucchini, eggplant, and red pepper. I didn’t have the lime leaves either. I did add cilantro, more lime, and some cayenne pepper. I spooned the soup over jasmine rice for my husband and he loved it. With the spice and mushrooms, it tasted just like Tom Kha Gai soup I always get at my local Thai place. Will 100% make again soon. Thank you!
Delicious!!! Made it with udon noodles instead and served with big helping of cilantro and lime juice at the end. Will be a regular dinner rotation – perfect for cold winter nights!! Thanks! Really loving all your recipes!
This soup is really tasty! I didn’t have the lime leaves, but followed everything else as shown and it turned out so delicious. Definitely keeping this in the dinner rotation!
I have tried so many curry recipes and eaten them with friends and family. This one….wow. It’s a master piece. It is hands down my go-to-curry dish now. What I love is how simple it is to make, and how you can pack so much flavor into simplicity. I haven’t tried a recipe from the website that I have not raced about. Thank you for your wonderful gift of cooking. Hugs from Austin, Texas.
One of my favorite recipes from ATHT! Its the perfect comfort soup for a rainy day or when I want some Thai flavor! We switch out the zucchini noodles for ramen since my husband isn’t a big zoodle fan, and honestly it becomes the perfect comfort dish. I have made this soup twice and I already know it is a staple in our house. DELICIOUS!
AMAZING!!! Let me say it again!!! AMAZING!!
A year ago, I moved 14 away from my favorite Thai restaurant. I have so missed the favor of their amazing Red curry, but there is no need to miss it anymore. This recipe is exactly like the authentic food back home, and I can eat it on my paleo journey! Personal preference, I added riced cauliflower in place of the zucchini noodles. The rich juce pair perfectly with the cauliflower, and gives the dish more of an authentic feel. I rounded my flavors off with a good hand full of Thai basil.
Quick, Easy, Paleo and Full flavored greatness.
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Oh my goodness, this was so delicious and tasted just like Tom kha I grew up with. Amazing job and thanks for making my Whole30 dreams come true!
★★★★★
You’re so welcome, Dr. Tseng! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thanks for sharing!
GREAT! Made with sweet potatoes, mushrooms, zucchini, eggplant, and red pepper. I didn’t have the lime leaves either. I did add cilantro, more lime, and some cayenne pepper. I spooned the soup over jasmine rice for my husband and he loved it. With the spice and mushrooms, it tasted just like Tom Kha Gai soup I always get at my local Thai place. Will 100% make again soon. Thank you!
★★★★★
I’m so happy you made this recipe work for you, Alex! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review!
Just wanted to come back to say how fabulous this soup is!
Thank you!
★★★★★
You’re so welcome, Londa! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thanks for sharing!
Delicious!!! Made it with udon noodles instead and served with big helping of cilantro and lime juice at the end. Will be a regular dinner rotation – perfect for cold winter nights!! Thanks! Really loving all your recipes!
★★★★★
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Bianca!
This soup is really tasty! I didn’t have the lime leaves, but followed everything else as shown and it turned out so delicious. Definitely keeping this in the dinner rotation!
★★★★★
So glad you loved the recipe, Lauren!
This recipe is absolutely delicious! It takes little time to prep and really hit the spot on this chilly evening.
★★★★★
Thanks for sharing, Rana! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Hi, can you tell me which brand of coconut aminos you used? Thanks, looking forward to making this!
I usually use Big Tree Farms coconut aminos!
Very delicious soup and super quick and easy to make!
★★★★★
thanks, Eric! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
I have tried so many curry recipes and eaten them with friends and family. This one….wow. It’s a master piece. It is hands down my go-to-curry dish now. What I love is how simple it is to make, and how you can pack so much flavor into simplicity. I haven’t tried a recipe from the website that I have not raced about. Thank you for your wonderful gift of cooking. Hugs from Austin, Texas.
★★★★★
I’m so happy that you loved it, Taylor! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review!
Loooove this soup!! It’s a new favorite. So delicious!
★★★★★
So happy you loved it, Kendra! This is one of my favorites, too!
This soup was easy to make and delicious! I’ll be making this time and time again for our Thai fix! Thanks for posting!
★★★★★
Glad you loved it, Cathy! Thanks for sharing!
One of my favorite recipes from ATHT! Its the perfect comfort soup for a rainy day or when I want some Thai flavor! We switch out the zucchini noodles for ramen since my husband isn’t a big zoodle fan, and honestly it becomes the perfect comfort dish. I have made this soup twice and I already know it is a staple in our house. DELICIOUS!
★★★★★
So tasty and super easy to make. Even my husband, who never really enjoys my healthy cooking, loved this soup.
★★★★★
AMAZING!!! Let me say it again!!! AMAZING!!
A year ago, I moved 14 away from my favorite Thai restaurant. I have so missed the favor of their amazing Red curry, but there is no need to miss it anymore. This recipe is exactly like the authentic food back home, and I can eat it on my paleo journey! Personal preference, I added riced cauliflower in place of the zucchini noodles. The rich juce pair perfectly with the cauliflower, and gives the dish more of an authentic feel. I rounded my flavors off with a good hand full of Thai basil.
Quick, Easy, Paleo and Full flavored greatness.
★★★★★
I 1st made this back in April and we love it! It’s so easy and so GOOD! I didn’t have any fish sauce or ginger and the flavor was great!
★★★★★
I made this today,
ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!! Will definitely make again.
Thank you,
Do you cook the zucchini noodles before you put them in the bowl, or do you just put them in raw?