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Test Kitchen Approved

Tropical Dreaming Chicken

Time: 30 minutes

Yield: 4 servings

About

It's a chicken that dreams of warm sandy beaches and turquoise waters... and with a bite, you will be, too! Tropical Dreaming Chicken is golden, savory, juicy chicken braised in a lightly spicy and creamy coconut and tomato sauce for the full island life experience! A hint of sweet, tangy lime and fragrant cilantro elevates Tropical Dreaming Chicken even further, so this will be the dinner you're dreaming of for a long time to come!

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Ingredients

  • 6 chicken cutlets
  • 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil or vegetable oil, divided
  • 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 1 small jalapeño, stemmed and seeded, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 4 teaspoons ginger, peeled and finely chopped
  • 2 large, ripe beefsteak tomatoes, seeded and finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 (15-ounce) can unsweetened coconut milk
  • 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, coarsely chopped, for serving
  • lime slices, optional, to taste, for garnish

Directions

Step 1 -Season the chicken cutlets on all sides with the paprika, the salt, and the black pepper.

Step 2 -In a large, high-sided skillet over medium-high heat, add 1 tablespoon of the oil.

Step 3 -In batches, add the chicken cutlets to the hot oil, and cook, turning them halfway through, until they are golden-brown on both sides but not fully cooked through, about 2 minutes per side.

Step 4 -Transfer the chicken cutlets to a plate and repeat until all of the cutlets are cooked.

Step 5 -In the same skillet over medium-high heat, add the remaining oil.

Step 6 -Add the onions to the hot oil and cook, while stirring occasionally, until the onions are slightly tender and just starting to turn golden, about 5 minutes.

Step 7 -Add the jalapeño, the garlic, and the ginger to the onions and cook, while stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Step 8 -Add the tomatoes and the tomato paste to the onion mixture and cook, while stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes are softened and the tomato paste is slightly toasted, about 2 minutes.

Step 9 -Add the coconut milk and the brown sugar to the tomato mixture and stir to combine.

Step 10 -Bring the sauce mixture to a boil.

Step 11 -Cook the sauce mixture, while stirring, until the sugar is dissolved and the flavors meld together.

Step 12 -Nestle the seared cutlets into the sauce and bring the sauce to a boil.

Step 13 -Boil until the chicken cutlets reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, about 1-2 minutes.

Step 14 -Transfer the skillet from the heat.

Step 15 -Add the lime juice to the sauce and stir to combine.

Step 16 -Serve topped with the cilantro and the lime slices.

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