Ever noticed how curry has magical powers? It can take the gloomiest Tuesday night and turn it into something that feels like a mini holiday. The only problem? Most curry recipes are written for a crowd. You start with “one can of coconut milk” and before you know it, you’ve cooked enough food to single-handedly supply a yoga retreat.
That’s where this solo-friendly Coconut Curry Chicken Thigh swoops in to save the day. It’s rich, creamy, and gently spiced — but sized just for you. No mystery leftovers, no guilt over wasting half a can of chickpeas, and definitely no eating the same curry for four nights straight (unless you want to, no judgement).
Slow cooking here does all the heavy lifting, turning humble chicken, spinach, and a splash of coconut milk into a dish that feels like a proper takeaway — only healthier, lighter, and about 93% cheaper.
🛒 Ingredients (1 serve)
- 1 chicken thigh fillet (skinless, boneless – about 120–150g)
- ½ cup canned chickpeas, drained & rinsed (freeze the rest, see tips)
- ½ cup baby spinach (a small handful)
- ½ small onion, finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ½ tsp grated ginger (or a pinch of dried)
- ⅓ cup light coconut milk
- ½ cup chicken stock (salt-reduced)
- 1 tsp curry powder (mild or medium, your choice)
- ½ tsp olive oil
- Pinch of salt & black pepper
- Optional: squeeze of lime and fresh coriander to serve
🛍️ Solo Shopping Tip
Coconut milk and chickpeas are fantastic — until you open the can and realise you’ll never finish the rest before they go off.
👉 Here’s how to make them solo-friendly:
- Coconut milk – buy the small 165ml cans if you spot them (most Asian grocers and some Aussie supermarkets stock them). If not, pour the leftover into an ice cube tray, freeze, then pop into a zip-lock bag. Each cube is about a tablespoon — perfect for future curries.
- Chickpeas – use half the can, then freeze the rest flat in a container or bag. They reheat beautifully straight into soups, curries, or salads.
- Spinach – grab a small handful from a bag and freeze the rest if you don’t get through it in a week. Frozen spinach works just fine in slow-cooked dishes.
👩🍳 Method
- Heat olive oil in a small pan and sauté onion, garlic, and ginger for 2–3 minutes until soft (optional step, but adds flavour).
- Place chicken thigh in the slow cooker, then scatter over chickpeas and cooked onion mix.
- Stir together coconut milk, chicken stock, curry powder, salt, and pepper, then pour over the chicken.
- Cook on Low for 6 hours or High for 3 hours, until the chicken is tender and the sauce is fragrant.
- Stir through spinach in the last 15 minutes so it just wilts.
- Serve with a squeeze of lime and a sprinkle of coriander if you’ve got them — or skip the garnish and dive straight in.
🌱 Nutrition Note
- Protein: About 30g total from chicken and chickpeas, which makes this a filling, muscle-friendly dinner.
- Fibre: Chickpeas + spinach give you a gut-friendly fibre boost.
- Healthy fats: Coconut milk provides medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), a quick energy source.
💡 Tips & Swaps
- Bulk it up: Add cauliflower florets or cubed sweet potato in the last hour if you want extra veg.
- Make it vegan: Swap chicken for cubed tofu or more chickpeas.
- Cooking for 2–3: Triple all ingredients. Keeps 3 days in the fridge or 2 months in the freezer (portion it before freezing).
- Reheating tip: Microwave with a splash of water or stock — curries thicken when chilled.
✨ Final Thoughts
This solo curry is everything a takeaway should be: warming, satisfying, and flavour-packed — minus the oily containers and delivery fee. It proves that slow cookers aren’t just for giant stews; they can turn out perfectly portioned, vibrant meals for one.
👉 If you’re yet to invest in a slow-cooker (mini or regular size), head over to the Kmart website for a nifty little mini-slow cooker, perfect for 1-2 people. If thats no longer being stocked (or you don’t live any where near a Kmart) you can also find small slow cookers over at Amazon.com.
If you loved this recipe, check out the rest of our slow cooker series for one right here on Plan4One.com. Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a new idea (or a cheeky tip for making supermarket shopping solo-friendly). And if you’ve got a friend who thinks solo curry is “too hard,” share this link and watch them change their mind.
