Tender chicken, cauliflower, onions, bell pepper, and chilies roasted in the air fryer, then simmered in a simple stove-top robust curry sauce with fire-roasted tomatoes, coconut milk, and spices, creating the perfect chicken chickpea vegetable curry.
Table of Contents
Jump to:
- Easy and Flavorful Curry
- Ingredients with Steps
- Culinary Glossary
- Instructions with Pictures
- Equipment List
- Kitchen Must-Haves Reviews
- Storage and Reheating
- Substitutions
- Variations
- Optional Cooking Methods
- 5 Quick Cooking Tips
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Indian Recipes
- Cooking Tips and Tutorials
- Serving Suggestions
- 📖 Recipe
- Have a Comment or Question?
Easy and Flavorful Curry
If you are craving a healthy, protein-packed meal that's ready in 30 minutes. Try the Air Fryer Roasted Chicken Chickpea Vegetable Curry! It's a simple cooking process for a popular dish, using the air fryer to create perfectly caramelized chicken, cauliflower, red peppers, and onions.
Then, a simple yet flavorful curry sauce made with fire-roasted tomatoes, creamy coconut milk, and warming spices like turmeric, cumin, and coriander takes this dish to the next level. This chicken, vegetable, and chickpea curry recipe is perfect for busy weeknights or relaxed weekend suppers, offering a nutritious and delicious option that satisfies!
So, gather your spices, fire up your air fryer, and prepare to be amazed by this easy and flavorful curry! Also, if you're looking for authentic Indian cuisine? Check out Swasthi's Recipes and Ranveer Brar.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Fast and Convenient - The air fryer quickly roasts the chicken and vegetables, cutting down cook time without sacrificing flavor.
- Perfectly Cooked Every Time - Roasting locks in moisture while creating lightly caramelized edges on the chicken, cauliflower, and bell peppers.
- Bold Curry Flavor Without the Fuss - A simple stovetop sauce with fire-roasted tomatoes, coconut milk, and warm spices delivers big flavor with minimal effort.
- Balanced and satisfying - Lean protein, hearty chickpeas, and vegetables come together for a filling meal that still feels light and nourishing.
- Weeknight-Friendly - Ready in about 30 minutes, making it a great option for busy nights when takeout sounds tempting.
- Easy to Customize - Adjust the heat, swap vegetables, or change the protein to fit your family's preferences.
Note From Chef Maika
We love ordering Indian food, but I wanted a convenient way to make those bold, comforting flavors at home for my family. Using the air fryer to roast the chicken and vegetables was the perfect solution; it's fast, efficient, and helps keep everything at its optimal peak without overcooking.
Paired with a simple, robust curry sauce on the stovetop, this method creates a satisfying, homemade meal that feels just as special as takeout, but works beautifully for everyday cooking.
Recommended Reads
- Jamaican Curry Spatchcocked Chicken & Vegetables | Sheet Pan Meal
- Curried Chickpeas and Mushrooms with Spiced Brown Basmati Rice
- Curried Air Fryer Lamb Chops with Chickpea Cucumber Salad
- Curried Ground Turkey, Vegetables, and Olives
- Chickpeas and Egg Masala Skillet
Ingredients with Steps
Blend the ginger, garlic cloves, and fresh cilantro to form an aromatic paste. Heat the aromatics on the stovetop with avocado oil and ghee until fragrant, then add the chickpeas, fire-roasted tomatoes, and coconut milk to create a rich curry base.
Next, air-fry the skinless, boneless chicken breast, onion, red bell pepper, jalapeño, and cauliflower florets with curry powder, kosher salt, black pepper, and avocado oil until lightly caramelized. Once cooked, combine the roasted chicken and vegetables with the simmered chickpea curry and cook briefly to meld the flavors.
Culinary Glossary
This section provides concise definitions of key ingredients and techniques to enhance understanding and improve cooking skills related to this recipe.
Ingredients
- Avocado Oil: A neutral-tasting oil with a high smoke point, making it ideal for air frying and high-heat cooking without burning. Learn more about Heart Healthy, High Smoke Point Oils for Cooking.
- Coconut Milk: A creamy liquid made from grated coconut flesh, commonly used in curries to add richness and balance spice.
- Curry Powder: A spice blend that typically includes turmeric, cumin, coriander, and other warm spices, used to add depth and color to curry dishes.
- Fire-Roasted Tomatoes: Tomatoes roasted over an open flame, then crushed, giving them a slightly smoky, deeper flavor than regular canned tomatoes.
- Garam Masala: A fragrant Indian spice blend added near the end of cooking to enhance aroma without bitterness.
- Ghee: Clarified butter where the milk solids have been removed, resulting in a nutty flavor and higher heat tolerance than regular butter.
- Jalapeño: A mild to moderately spicy chili pepper that adds heat and fresh pepper flavor to dishes. Learn more about the Scoville Scale and Chili Peppers.
- Chickpeas (Garbanzo Beans): Firm, nutty legumes that add protein, texture, and heartiness to curries and stews.
- Cauliflower Florets: The bite-sized flowering portions of the cauliflower head, which cook evenly and absorb flavors well.
Techniques
- Aromatics: Ingredients like garlic, ginger, onions, and herbs that release flavor when gently cooked in fat and form the foundation of many savory dishes. Check out Batch‑Prep Aromatics & Staples on Sunday Roundup.
- Simmer: Cook the liquid gently at a low temperature, with small bubbles forming, allowing flavors to blend without boiling.
- Sweat: Gently cooking aromatics in fat over moderate heat until softened and fragrant, without browning.
- Butterfly: Slicing chicken breasts horizontally to create thinner, even pieces that cook more quickly and evenly. Learn How to Butterfly Chicken Breasts | Step-by-Step Guide.
- Caramelization: The browning process that occurs when natural sugars in foods cook at high heat, creating deeper flavor and color.
Instructions with Pictures
Follow the instructions and cooking tips below using the step-by-step picture guide.
Make the Curry Base
The food processor is used to quickly chop the aromatics. However, this can be chopped by hand as well. Get this KitchenAid Food Chopper.
The ghee-avocado oil mixture with the aromatics forms the base for the curry, adding a nutty yet earthy depth. Get this Lodge Cast Iron Enamel Dutch Oven.
The aromatics will sweat with no browning until the onions are translucent.
The sauce is made first, since it gives the curry and chickpeas enough time to meld, creating a rich, flavorful sauce.
Roast the Chicken and Vegetables
Roasting the chicken and vegetables in the air fryer is a convenient way to caramelize them and add another level of flavor. Learn about prepping sweet peppers.
The vegetables and chicken are uniformly cut to cook evenly, resulting in golden-brown edges. Here's how to cut chicken uniformly.
Parchment paper for the win! Because you can use it in your air fryer or oven. Plus, it makes cleaning up and transferring to the cutting board easier. Now, there are Air Fryer Disposable Paper Liners that do the same. (Note: This picture and the following are from an older version of this recipe)
Cut the vegetables and meat so they finish cooking simultaneously; the roasting cooks evenly. Then, you remove the ingredients, keeping them on the parchment paper to cool off to the side.
Combine
Reducing the coconut milk and the fire-roasted tomatoes with curry powder will give the sauce a velvety, vivid orange look.
Roasting the jalapeno will give the curry great texture and flavor.
Add the garam masala at the end; it helps prevent a bitter curry while adding a bright, aromatic flavor.
Equipment List
Here's what you'll need to make this recipe with ease. By the way, the links in this section may take you to an external site to shop for that item.
- Food Processor - Used to quickly blend the aromatics.
- I used the KitchenAid 3.5-Cup Food Chopper for this recipe, which is perfect for quick chopping and making cold sauces or dressings.
- Enameled Dutch Oven - A heavy-bottom pot like the Lodge 6-Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven helps prevent sticking while providing even heat distribution and excellent heat retention.
- A medium sauté pan with tall sides works well if you don't have a Dutch oven.
- Large Mixing Bowl - Used to combine and season the chicken and vegetables before air frying.
- Air Fryer - For roasting the chicken, vegetables, and chili pepper, I used the Ninja Foodi 5-in-1 Indoor Grill. If you don't have an air fryer, you can roast everything in the oven at 400°F for 20-30 minutes, depending on the size of the pieces, stirring once to ensure even browning.
Kitchen Must-Haves Reviews
Find a collection of my reviews of kitchen equipment that I have purchased or recommend. Kitchen Must-Haves - Find other tools I use here.
My Review: The KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Food Chopper is a must-have in the kitchen at a great price. It’s compact, powerful, and lightweight, making meal prep easier without taking up much space. I love its one-touch operation, perfect for quickly chopping, mixing, and puréeing. Plus, it's easy to clean. Watch me use it for my Spicy Tomato Farro Risotto and Chili Herb Crusted Rainbow Trout recipes. This chopper is essential, especially if you love cooking with lots of gadgets like me!
My Review: For 125 years, Lodge Cast Iron has been a family-owned company located in South Pittsburg, Tennessee. Their cookware, known for its dependability, is made of rugged, seasoned cast iron for excellent heat retention and durability. This is still my go-to Dutch oven. You'll find it in a lot of my recent videos. It's heavy, durable, non-stick, and it holds heat well. Also, a big lesson: never preheat an enameled Dutch oven without oil. This will crack the enamel. I learned this the hard way.
My Review: I love the clean, classic look of this Pyrex 3-piece glass mixing bowl set. It’s a staple in my kitchen. Pyrex is known for its durability, and these bowls definitely live up to that reputation. I use them for everything from mixing batters to storing leftovers, and the fact that they’re microwave-safe makes them super multifunctional. They’re also easy to clean and stack nicely in the cabinet. The only reason this isn’t a five-star for me is because I always have that little fear of breaking them when I’m using or storing them, even though they’re made to last.
Review: The Cosori Turbo Blaze Air Fryer has been an absolute big help in my kitchen! The large basket is perfect for cooking bigger portions, and cleanup is a breeze—just toss it in the dishwasher, and it comes out spotless with no damage. I also love the thoughtful design, with a flat grid basket and silicone feet that prevent scratching and are super easy to remove and reinsert. The big, clear display with multiple preset temperature and time options makes cooking so quick and hassle-free, taking all the guesswork out of the process. Honestly, I love it so much that I haven’t had to pull out my Ninja air fryer since getting this one!
Storage and Reheating
Learn how to properly store leftovers and reheat them to keep them fresh and flavorful. Learn more about Understanding Food Temperature Safety Zones: Cook, Store & Serve Safely.
- Refrigerator - Allow the chicken chickpea vegetable curry to cool slightly, then transfer it to a shallow container (about 2 inches deep) so it cools quickly and safely. Once cooled, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freezer - After the curry has fully cooled in the refrigerator, transfer it to a labeled, freezer-safe airtight container. Freeze for up to 3 months for the best quality.
- Reheating - Reheat individual portions gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat or in the microwave until warmed through, stirring occasionally. Add a small splash of water or chicken broth if the sauce has thickened during storage.
Airtight Food Containers: I interchange glass food storage containers with plastic clip-on lids. I always suggest glass storage containers because they can be microwaved, hold food without staining, and keep food at a more stable temperature, keeping it fresher and longer. I recommend checking out these airtight food containers on Amazon.
Substitutions
Find easy ingredient swaps to fit dietary needs or what you already have in your pantry.
Dairy Free
- Ghee - This easy and delicious recipe can be dairy-free by omitting the ghee and using only avocado oil. To give the dish a nutty ghee flavor, add a small amount of toasted sesame oil to add a hint of nuttiness without overpowering the dish.
Gluten-Free
- This air fryer chicken recipe is already gluten-free.
Vegetarian
- Omit the chicken and increase the cauliflower for a fantastic vegetarian option.
Convenience
- Fresh Ginger and Garlic Cloves - Use ginger-garlic paste, available at your local Asian market or grocery store.
- Canned Chickpeas - If you only have dried chickpeas, soak them overnight in a bowl of water with a small amount of baking soda, and they will double in size. ChefSteps suggests using ½ teaspoon of baking soda for every 1 cup of chickpeas.
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts - Use boneless chicken thighs for a more flavorful dish.
Change Heat Level - Modify the chicken curry recipe's heat level to your liking and learn more about the Scoville Scale and Chili Pairings.
Variations
Explore fun twists and creative ways to make this recipe your own.
- Red Onions - Swap the yellow onion for a red onion to add a pop of color and a slightly sweeter flavor once roasted.
- Vegetable-Forward Curry - Skip the chicken and increase the cauliflower, or add vegetables like zucchini, carrots, or spinach for a hearty vegetarian curry.
- Chicken Thigh Option - Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead of breasts for a richer, more succulent curry with slightly higher fat content.
- Spicier Curry - Increase the heat by adding cayenne pepper, extra jalapeño, or a pinch of chili powder to the curry sauce.
- Creamier Sauce - Use full-fat coconut milk and simmer the sauce a few extra minutes for an even richer, silkier curry.
- Sweet Potato Curry - Add air-fried sweet potato cubes for a subtle sweetness and extra texture, pairing beautifully with warm spices.
- Greens Finish - Stir in fresh spinach at the end of cooking, letting it wilt into the curry for added color and nutrients.
Optional Cooking Methods
- Slow Cooker Variation (Optional) - If you prefer a hands-off method, prepare the curry sauce on the stovetop as directed, then transfer it to a slow cooker. Add the air-fried chicken and vegetables, cover, and cook on low for 2-3 hours until the flavors meld. Avoid overcooking to preserve the vegetables' texture.
- Instant Pot Variation (Optional) - Use the sauté function to prepare the curry base, then add the chickpeas, tomatoes, coconut milk, and air-fried chicken and vegetables. Pressure-cook on low for 3 minutes, then quick-release and finish with garam masala.
5 Quick Cooking Tips
Your Cooking Tips Resource Guide - Become a better home cook with tips to help you cook more efficiently on the Cook's Notebook tab. Learn how to butterfly a chicken breast. In addition, learn why avocado oil is used in the air fryer instead of olive oil. and Learn about prepping sweet peppers.
- Prep Everything First - Chop the vegetables, blend the aromatics, and measure the spices before turning on the heat so the cooking process flows smoothly.
- Cut Ingredients Evenly - Slice the chicken and vegetables into similar-sized pieces to ensure they roast evenly in the air fryer without drying out.
- Do Not Overcrowd the Air Fryer - Arrange the chicken and vegetables in a single layer so hot air can circulate and create proper caramelization.
- Simmer the Sauce While roasting - Letting the curry base simmer while the chicken cooks allows the flavors to deepen and saves time.
- Finish with Garam Masala - Add garam masala at the end of cooking to preserve its aroma and prevent the curry from tasting bitter.
Modern Cooking Techniques: While this recipe is inspired by classic Indian curry flavors, it uses modern cooking techniques, such as the air fryer, to streamline the process for home cooks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tikka roughly means small bits of meat or vegetables, while masala means a spice blend, aka curry. Together, you get the description of an Indian dish with bits of meat or vegetables in a curry.
Traditional tikka masala is a delicacy of Indian cuisine in the global eye, with interesting roots stretching back centuries. Its history is complex and diverse; some think it originated in the Punjab region of India and Pakistan, while others contend its lineage traces back to the Mughal Empire.
However, this cooking method was developed outside India, possibly in the UK, by Indian migrants seeking an alternative to making butter chicken. Regardless of its origins, tikka masala has become one of the most beloved dishes worldwide.
Cooking tikka masala is usually relatively easy: marinated pieces of meat or paneer cooked in a spiced tomato sauce, making for a simple dish. Also, many chefs have variations on this classic dish, adding things like cream, nuts, yogurt, or other spices to make it more unique.
Whether you cook it at home or eat it out, tikka masala promises to tantalize your taste buds every time!
Authentic tikka masala recipes usually involve marinated chicken in a lemony yogurt sauce with garlic and ginger paste, along with various spice combinations such as turmeric, cumin, chili powder, coriander, garam masala, and paprika.
Then the meat is cooked on an open flame, such as a grill or tandoori oven, on skewers, or seared in a pan until golden brown. Next, in a pan, you'll sauté the aromatics, which include onions, spices, and chilies. Finally, you'll add tomato paste and other spices and finish with cilantro.
If you've ever had the opportunity to order tikka masala and butter chicken in a restaurant, they both really do almost look the same. But there are a couple of interesting differences.
First, if you read the history of tikka masala above, you would have learned that it didn't originate in India but may have originated in the UK. Butter chicken actually originated in New Delhi.
Second, they both focus on different ingredients. Tikka masala uses tomato paste, while butter chicken uses fresh tomatoes. Make one more tomatoey while the other is more buttery. Can you guess which one? Hahaha.
Yes. While the air fryer helps caramelize the chicken and vegetables quickly with less oil, you can roast everything in a conventional oven at 400°F, stirring once for even browning, then finish the curry on the stovetop as directed.
Avocado oil is a neutral-tasting oil that can withstand heat above 400F° without smoking, making it a high-smoke-point oil.
Ghee is a clarified butter used mainly in India; during processing, the milk solids are caramelized, enhancing the oil's flavor before they are removed.
Indian Recipes
Looking for other Indian-inspired recipes like this? Try these:
- Fresh Cranberry Ginger Chutney | Quick and Easy
- Quick Spicy Potstickers | Chili Momo Tibetan Style
- Best Fragrant Creamy Potato Coconut Curry Fish Soup
- Calabrian Lemon Yogurt Baked Chicken Thighs with Vegetables
Cooking Tips and Tutorials
If you found this tutorial helpful, you'll love my Cook's Notebook collection. From knife skills and flavor bases to time-saving tricks and essential equipment guides, this section is packed with chef-tested lessons to help you cook with confidence.
- Best Food Audiobooks for Chefs & Home Cooks
- Winter Seasonal Produce Guide: What's In Season
- What Is HACCP and Why Every Home Cook Should Care About It
- Holiday Kitchen Safety Tips: How to Cook, Serve, and Store
Serving Suggestions
This was great with crispy greens and green goddess dressing. The dressing has a pleasant citrus kick that complements the curry. And what is a more perfect way than using naan to soak up the sauce? Delicious!
Alternatively, try serving it with Easy Spiced Brown Rice with Quinoa - a yellow-brown rice and quinoa side dish spiced with turmeric, cumin, paprika, chili flakes, cinnamon, coriander, and lemon zest. Excellent side dish for Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, African, and Indian-inspired main dishes, as well as rice or Buddha bowls.
Or plate it with a side of brown or regular basmati rice (your choice), naan, and/or salad. You might find this even more delightful served over air-fried chunks of sweet potato.
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Roasted Chicken Chickpeas Vegetable Curry
Ingredients
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 small onion
- 1 medium red bell pepper
- 1 medium jalapeno
- 2 cups cauliflower florets
- 1 tablespoon curry powder
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1 tablespoon ghee
- 1- inch ginger
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 cup cilantro leaves
- 1 can chickpeas 15-ounces
- 1 cup crushed fire-roasted tomatoes
- 1 cup full-fat coconut milk
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
Equipment
Instructions
- Save time in the kitchen: Read the instructions thoroughly, then gather and prep all your ingredients before cooking! Learn Prepping Tips.
- Prepare Your Side Dish: Begin with your chosen side dish. I commonly serve this with brown basmati rice. But you can serve it with your choice of rice, couscous, or a fresh salad.
- Make the Aromatic Paste: Cut the ginger into ½-inch pieces, blend with the garlic and cilantro in a food processor, and set aside.
- Make the Curry Base: Heat a Dutch oven over medium heat with oil and ghee, and sweat the aromatics for 3 minutes, stirring. Then, add chickpeas, fire-roasted tomatoes, and coconut milk, and simmer on medium-high heat for 25 minutes. Stir occasionally.
- Prepare the Chicken: While the sauce simmers, butterfly the chicken breast and slice them into 3-inch pieces. Then, pat the chicken pieces dry with paper towels and set them aside in a large mixing bowl.
- Set the Air Fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 375 °F. Set the cooking time to 15 minutes.
- Prepare the Vegetables: Peel and large-dice the onion and red bell pepper, then add them to the bowl. Halve and add the jalapeno. Then, add the cauliflower florets and chicken breast pieces and toss with curry powder, salt, pepper, and avocado oil.
- Roast the Mixture: Place the mixture in the air fryer and toss it halfway through. Then remove and slice the jalapeno, add it to the curry-stewed chickpeas along with the cooked chicken, vegetables, and garam masala, and simmer for 3 minutes. Finally, taste and season with salt and serve.
Video
Notes
- Cilantro - For convenience, take a bunch of cilantro and grab a handful that closely matches the unit size you need, then twist off three inches of leaves and stems together. The rest of the leaves on the thicker stems are picked off. For this recipe, you can use the younger stems.
- Coconut Milk - Shake the can before using.
- Cooking the Chicken and Vegetables - Depending on the size of your air fryer basket, if smaller than 4 quarts, you may have to cook this in two batches.
Nutrition
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