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Home » Dinner

Leftover Chicken Curry

Published: Aug 28, 2023 by Lauren Woodger · Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links -This means I receive a commission for purchases made through those links, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases · 2 Comments

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A bowl of chicken curry garnished with red chilli.
A fork taking a piece of chicken curry out of a silver bowl.
A fork taking a piece of chicken curry out of a silver bowl.

This leftover chicken curry is a perfect way to use up leftover roast chicken. Mildly spiced so the whole family can enjoy, it's great for a quick midweek family dinner!

A bowl of chicken curry with a bowl of rice and some mango chutney in the background.

Have you ever wondered what to do with the leftover roast chicken after a Sunday roast? 

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Well, wonder no more! Transform those leftovers into this delicious leftover chicken curry!

I have made this curry delicately spiced ( like this mango chicken curry and salmon katsu curry) so the whole family can enjoy it, however, I will give you options further down in the post on how to raise the spice level if you like things a bit hotter.

Using leftovers is a great way to save money and cut down on food waste. Another of my favourite leftover recipes is this leftover lamb shepherd's pie.

⭐ If you are looking for more dairy-free dinner inspiration download my FREE 7 Dairy-Free Dinners E-Book! ⭐

Jump to:
  • ❤️ Why You Will Love This Recipe
  • 🥘 Ingredients Needed
  • ⚡ Variations
  • ✏️ How To Make Leftover Chicken Curry
  • 💡 Tips & Tricks
  • 🥡 Storage, Reheating & Freezing
  • 🍴 Serving Suggestions
  • 💬 Recipe FAQs
  • 📖 More Curry Recipes
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

❤️ Why You Will Love This Recipe

  • On the table in just 40 minutes: Perfect for a busy weeknight dinner.
  • Gluten, dairy, egg and nut free: Making it ideal for people with a range of food allergies.
  • Great for using up leftovers: Don’t let those last bits of chicken go to waste.
  • Mildly spiced: So the whole family can enjoy it. (You can easily adjust the spice level too!)

🥘 Ingredients Needed

Don't let the long list of spices put you off. They are all store cupboard staples that you will probably already have at home!

✋ Double check all packaging for allergens ✋

Ingredients laid out for leftover chicken curry.
  • Leftover Cooked Chicken - Use the leftovers from a roast chicken. Alternatively, you can use a rotisserie chicken or buy pre-cooked chicken slices.  If you would like to try a curry cooking the chicken from scratch, check out this chicken & aubergine curry.
  • Chicken Stock - You can either use a fresh chicken stock made from the chicken carcass or use a ready made stock. I love the Knorr chicken stock pots as they are gluten and dairy free.
  • Tinned Tomatoes - Canned tomatoes help to form the curry sauce.
  • Mango Chutney - Adds a slight sweetness to the curry. Depending on how spicy you would like the curry to be, you can either use a mild or hot version.
  • Aromatics - onion, garlic and ginger.
  • Spices - I have used mild curry powder, turmeric, garam masala, chilli powder, cumin & ground coriander. For more heat, swap the mild curry powder for hot curry powder.
  • Cornflour - Also known as cornstarch, this is used to thicken the curry sauce. Despite “flour” being in its name, cornflour is gluten free.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

⚡ Variations

  • Swap The Protein - Instead of cooked chicken, you can also make this curry with leftover roast turkey, lamb or beef.
  • Adjust The Spice Level - This curry is mildly spiced but leave out the chilli powder and use a mild mango chutney to make it even tamer. To heat things up a little, use hot curry powder, a hot mango chutney and increase the amount of chilli powder.
  • Add Veg - Toss in some baby spinach towards the end of cooking or add any leftover veg from the previous day's roast dinner.
  • Make It Creamy - Stir through some full-fat coconut milk once the curry has cooked for a creamy, mild flavour.

✏️ How To Make Leftover Chicken Curry

⬇️ Here you will find an overview of how to make the recipe. For full information on ingredients and quantities please see the recipe card at the bottom of the page ⬇️

Onions, garlic and ginger being stirred in a saucepan.

Step 1: Start by prepping the vegetables. Finely slice the onion and then grate the garlic and fresh ginger, using either a zest grater or the smallest holes on a box grater.

Step 2: Heat a large saucepan or frying pan on a low to medium heat and add the olive oil. Once the olive oil is hot, add in the onion and cook until the onion has softened and slightly browned.

Onions and spices frying in a pan.

Step 3: Add the garlic and ginger to the pan and cook for another couple of minutes. Keep stirring to make sure the garlic doesn’t stick to the pan and burn.

Step 4: Stir the spices into the aromatics mixture, let them toast and cook out for a couple of minutes.

Onions in a tomato sauce cooking in a pan. there is a wooden spoon in the pan.

Step 5: Next, pour in the tinned tomatoes, made-up stock and mango chutney. I have used mild mango chutney, but use the hot version to add an extra bit of heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, then lower the heat and leave to simmer for 20 minutes to allow the spices to meld together with the sauce.

Step 6: Once the sauce has been bubbling away for 10 minutes, add the cooked, sliced chicken to the pan and continue to cook for another 5 minutes until the chicken has warmed through.

Chicken curry being stirred in a saucepan.

Step 7: Make a cornflour slurry by combining the cornflour with 2tsp of cold water in a small bowl. Slowly pour the slurry into the curry sauce, stirring all the time until the sauce thickens up.

Step 8: Serve immediately and enjoy!

A bowl of chicken curry garnished with red chilli.

💡 Tips & Tricks

  • If you don’t have enough leftover chicken, bulk out the curry with extra vegetables like spinach, mushrooms, bell peppers or chickpeas.
  • If you can, make the curry the day before serving, leaving it in the fridge overnight before reheating when you are ready to eat. This will give the flavours time to really meld together and shine through.
  • Use a teaspoon to peel the skin on the fresh ginger. Hold the teaspoon concave side up and scrape the ginger skin gently with the teaspoon's edge.
  • Make your own chicken stock from the leftover chicken carcass.
  • Add half a can of full-fat coconut milk, just before the curry finishes cooking to add some creamy deliciousness!
  • Garnish with fresh coriander (cilantro) & sliced red chilli.

🥡 Storage, Reheating & Freezing

Storage

Providing you originally cooked the chicken the day before, this leftover chicken curry can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for 2 days.

Reheating

Reheat either on a low heat on the hob or in the microwave until piping hot throughout.

Freezing

Leave the curry to cool, then transfer it to a freezer-safe container, where it can be frozen for upto 3 months.

Defrost in the fridge overnight and reheat as above.

🍴 Serving Suggestions

Serve this leftover chicken curry alongside some pilau rice and gluten free naan bread.

It is also delicious spooned over a crispy jacket potato.

💬 Recipe FAQs


Can I use leftover chicken curry for a potluck or gathering?

Absolutely! Leftover chicken curry dishes can be perfect for potlucks or gatherings. You can reheat the curry, portion it into serving dishes, and bring it along with some fresh naan or rice for a crowd-pleasing meal.

Can I use leftover chicken curry as a dip?

Yes! Leftover chicken curry can be turned into a flavourful dip. Simply blend it until smooth and serve it with tortilla chips, pitta bread, or vegetable sticks.


How can I prevent leftover chicken curry from drying out when reheating?

When reheating, consider adding a splash of water, broth, or coconut milk to the curry to prevent it from becoming too dry. This will help maintain its moisture and flavour.

📖 More Curry Recipes

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

  • A spoonful of chicken curry being scooped out of a silver balti bowl containing chicken curry.
    Chicken & Aubergine Curry
  • Chicken curry in a silver curry bowl, garnished with fresh red chilli and coriander.
    Boneless Chicken Curry With Peppers
  • Prawn balti garnished with coriander with popadums in the background.
    King Prawn Balti
  • Curry pie with a slice cut out of it.
    Vegetable Curry Pies

📖 Recipe

Someone taking some chicken curry out of a silver bowl with a fork.

Leftover Chicken Curry

This leftover chicken curry is a perfect way to use up leftover roast chicken. Mildly spiced so the whole family can enjoy, it's great for a quick midweek family dinner!
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 236kcal
Author: Lauren Woodger

Equipment

  • Garlic Grater
  • Non stick saucepan
  • Wooden Spoon

Ingredients

  • 300 g (10.5 oz) leftover roast chicken or cooked rotisserie chicken
  • 300 ml (10 fl oz) chicken stock (knorr stock pot) check packaging to ensure its gluten free
  • 400 g (14 oz) tinned tomatoes
  • 1 heaped tbsp mild mango chutney
  • 1 medium onion finely sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic grated
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ginger grated
  • 1 tablespoon curry powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon chilli powder optional
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon cornflour

Instructions

  • Finely slice the onion, then grate the fresh ginger and garlic. 
  • Add the oil to a large saucepan or frying pan a heat on a low to medium heat. Add the sliced onion and fry for 5 minutes, stirring regularly.
  • Stir in the garlic and ginger and fry for a further 1-2 minutes.
  • Next, add the spices to the pan and toast for another 1-2 minutes, stirring regularly. 
  • Pour in the canned tomatoes, made-up stock & mango chutney, bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
  • Add the leftover chicken and simmer for a further 5 minutes until the chicken has warmed through.
  • Mix the cornflour (cornstarch) with 2 teaspoon of cold water in a separate small bowl. Slowly pour the slurry into the curry, stirring constantly until the sauce thickens up.
  • Serve immediately and enjoy!

Notes

Tips & Tricks
  • If you don’t have enough leftover chicken, bulk out the curry with extra vegetables like spinach, mushrooms, bell peppers or chickpeas.
  • If you can, make the curry the day before serving, leaving it in the fridge overnight before reheating when you are ready to eat. This will give the flavours time to really meld together and shine through.
  • Use a teaspoon to peel the skin on the fresh ginger. Hold the teaspoon concave side up and scrape the ginger skin gently with the teaspoon's edge.
  • Make your own chicken stock from the leftover chicken carcass.
  • Add half a can of full-fat coconut milk, just before the curry finishes cooking to add some creamy deliciousness!
  • Garnish with fresh coriander (cilantro) & sliced red chilli.

Nutrition

Calories: 236kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 59mg | Sodium: 546mg | Potassium: 606mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 308IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 67mg | Iron: 3mg

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About Lauren Woodger

I’m Lauren, the creator of The Scatty Mum. As a mum to two kids with a history of food allergies and intolerances, I know how tough it can be to cook meals that are both safe and delicious.

That’s why I share easy, allergy-friendly recipes to help families enjoy stress-free mealtimes.

Comments

    5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Mr Ed says

    May 14, 2024 at 12:41 pm

    5 stars
    Excellent curry, Quick and easy to make. Very tasty and practical.

    Reply
    • Lauren Woodger says

      June 03, 2024 at 8:54 am

      So glad you enjoyed it! : -)

      Reply
Lady sitting on a kitchen side with a coffee cup in her hand.

Hey, I'm Lauren!

I’m Lauren, the creator of The Scatty Mum.

As a mum to two kids with a history of food allergies, I know how challenging mealtimes can be when you’re trying to please everyone.

That’s why I share easy, family-friendly recipes and meal planning tips to help busy families enjoy tasty, stress-free dinners that work for all dietary needs.

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