Curry Chicken Marinade (5-Ingredients)
Developed and tested by Robyn Conley Downs
on Jul 10, 2023 (last updated Apr 8, 2026) 
This quick and easy curry chicken marinade produces warmly spiced, tender and savory chicken with only 5-ingredients, including curry powder and protein-packed Greek yogurt! Grilled or baked in the oven, it makes the perfect busy weeknight dinner, yields the best leftovers for chicken salad or sandwiches, and is elevated enough to entertain with.
5 star review
“I love how easy this was to make…and the entire family enjoyed, including the kiddos (bonus!). Great flavor with just 5 ingredients that we already have on hand. I especially liked the use of Greek yogurt, which helped us get in more protein and also just makes the best marinade base with chicken coming out so juicy and tender! This one is a keeper!!”
– Erin
Curry Chicken Marinade with Greek Yogurt
I love a quick and easy marinade to elevate any meal, as it requires very little effort for a big payoff. This fresh Greek yogurt curry marinade is no different, as with only 5 ingredients and little effort, you get perfectly tender chicken with a huge amount of flavor. My secrets for maximum flavor and texture are Greek yogurt, brown sugar, and Indian-style curry powder. Greek yogurt is an excellent marinade ingredient, as it helps tenderize the meat in a shorter amount of time (why I also love my Greek yogurt chicken marinade), plus it adds an extra boost of protein, making it a fantastic easy dinner.
When I tested this recipe with regular yogurt it was too thin and watery, so I don’t recommend substituting regular yogurt. This curry chicken only needs to marinate for 30 minutes (but can marinate for up to 4 hours), just enough time to heat up the grill or oven. The other key tenderizing ingredient is the brown sugar. It also tenderizes the meat faster and helps meat brown and caramelize while cooking, which deepens the flavor, so don’t skip the sugar! I don’t use any speciality or hard-to-find ingredients to boost the flavor in this recipe, but instead use a spice you most likely have in your pantry, Indian-style curry powder.
You can customize the spice level based on your preference by using either spicy curry powder or a mild curry powder (which makes this dish kid-friendly as well!). As far as what cuts of chicken to use, it’s up to you! I tested this recipe with chicken breasts and chicken thighs, and both turned out excellently. And for a hands-off way to use curry flavors at dinner, my slow cooker vegetable curry is a great weeknight option that requires almost no active cooking time.
Welcome to My Kitchen, Let’s Make Curry Marinade for Chicken
Testing Tips for Curry Chicken Yogurt Marinade
- Greek yogurt is essential for best results. Regular yogurt is too thin and watery and will affect the texture of both the marinade and the chicken.
- Don’t skip the brown sugar! It tenderizes the meat and helps the chicken caramelize and brown during cooking.
- Marinate for at least 30 minutes but no longer than 4 hours. The yogurt works quickly and over-marinating can affect texture.
- Customize the heat by choosing spicy or mild curry powder. Mild makes it kid-friendly, spicy adds more depth.
- Both chicken thighs and breasts work well here. Boneless, skinless thighs stay juicier on the grill, while breasts work best for slicing.
Curry Yogurt Chicken Marinade (5-Ingredients)
Ingredients
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon curry powder
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts
Equipment
- Grill pan optional
Instructions
Grilling Instructions
- Whisk the yogurt, curry powder, brown sugar, lime juice and salt together in a large baking dish or 1-gallon zip-top bag until well combined.
- Toss the chicken in the marinade to coat, then press as much air out of the bag (if using) as possible, or cover with plastic wrap (if using a baking dish). Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours, flipping halfway through.
Grilling Instructions
- When ready to grill, heat a gas grill to high. Allow to preheat, then remove the chicken from the marinade, shake off any excess, and discard any remaining marinade from the bag or dish.
- Grill, with the cover down, for 6-9 minutes, then flip, and grill uncovered until the internal temperature reaches 165F, about 2-7 additional minutes.
- Remove to a cutting board and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Slice against the grain into ½ inch slices.
Oven Baking Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425F. Remove the chicken from the marinade, shaking off any excess. Discard any remaining marinade.
- Add the chicken to a foil or parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165F.
- Remove to a cutting board and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Slice against the grain into ½ inch slices.
Notes
- Yogurt: whole, 2% or 1% plain Greek yogurt work best for this recipe.
I love how easy this was to make…and the entire family enjoyed, including the kiddos. (bonus!). Great flavor with just 5 ingredients that we already have on hand. I especially liked the use of Greek yogurt, which helped us get in more protein and also just makes the best marinade base with chicken coming out so juicy and tender! This one is a keeper!!
Yay, so happy to hear this one was a hit with the whole fam, Erin. Thanks so much for leaving a review!
A new family favorite! So easy to throw together and so so flavorful!
Hi! We are making this recipe tonight on the grill! Quick question: Can this marinade recipe also be used as a sauce for the curry chicken? My kiddo’s are looking for a curry based dip!
Angie, absolutely! In this case I’d recommend doubling the marinade recipe. Set aside half for dipping before using the remaining to marinate the chicken. Just be sure to discard any marinade that’s been in contact with raw chicken. I hope it’s a hit!