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Dinner recipe

Slimming World Chicken Curry

By Jenny Updated

Dinner Prep: 10 mins Cook: 35 mins Serves 4
This syn-free chicken curry is the kind of recipe that makes Slimming World feel genuinely easy. Using fat-free natural yogurt instead of cream gives you that same silky, rich sauce texture without any of the syn cost, while a generous blend of curry powder, turmeric, cumin, and coriander delivers depth of flavour that rivals anything from a jar. The trick is stirring the yogurt in off the heat right at the end — this prevents it splitting and gives you a beautifully creamy finish. Serve with boiled rice or cauliflower rice for a completely free meal that the whole family will request again and again.

Ingredients

Serves 4

  • 4 large, diced into 3cm chunks chicken breasts
  • 1 large, finely diced onion
  • 3, crushed garlic cloves
  • 1 tbsp ginger paste
  • 400ml passata
  • 400ml fat-free natural yogurt
  • 1 tbsp curry powder
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • to taste salt
  • 8 sprays Frylight cooking spray
  • handful, to serve (optional) fresh coriander

Method

  1. 1

    Spray a large, deep frying pan or casserole dish with Frylight and place over a medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for 6–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and starting to turn golden at the edges.

  2. 2

    Add the crushed garlic and ginger paste to the pan and stir for 1 minute until fragrant.

  3. 3

    Add the curry powder, turmeric, cumin, and ground coriander to the pan. Stir for another minute to toast the spices and coat the onion mixture — this blooms the spices and builds the base flavour of the curry.

  4. 4

    Add the diced chicken breasts to the pan and stir well so each piece is coated in the spiced onion mixture. Cook for 3–4 minutes, turning the chicken until it is sealed and white on the outside.

  5. 5

    Pour in the passata, stir to combine, and season with salt. Bring to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has thickened.

  6. 6

    Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the fat-free natural yogurt. Do this off the heat to prevent the yogurt splitting. Stir until fully incorporated and the sauce is creamy and uniform.

  7. 7

    Taste and adjust seasoning, then serve immediately over boiled basmati rice or cauliflower rice, scattered with fresh coriander if using.

Tips & swaps

Stirring the yogurt in off the heat is the key step — if you add it while the pan is still on a high heat it will curdle and become grainy. Let the pan cool for just 30 seconds before adding. If you prefer a thicker sauce, remove the lid for the last 10 minutes of simmering to allow some of the liquid to evaporate. This curry freezes well in portions for up to three months.

FAQs

Is this chicken curry really syn-free on Slimming World?

Yes — every ingredient in this recipe is either a free food or a Healthy Extra on Slimming World. Chicken breast, passata, fat-free natural yogurt, onion, garlic, and spices are all completely free. Frylight cooking spray is also free. As long as you use fat-free yogurt rather than cream or coconut milk, the entire dish costs zero syns per serving. It pairs with boiled rice or cauliflower rice for a completely syn-free meal.

Can I use coconut milk instead of yogurt?

Coconut milk is not free on Slimming World — full-fat coconut milk is around 7 syns per 100ml, which would add significant syns to the whole dish. Reduced-fat coconut milk is lower but still not syn-free. The fat-free natural yogurt in this recipe genuinely replicates the creamy texture and richness you get from coconut cream without any syn cost. If you want a coconut flavour, you can add a small amount of desiccated coconut as part of your Healthy Extra B allowance.

What can I serve with this to keep the meal syn-free?

Boiled or steamed basmati rice is completely free on Slimming World and the most popular accompaniment. Cauliflower rice is also free and adds a Speed Food element to the plate. Plain naan bread is not free — it typically costs 9–12 syns — but a small wholemeal wrap used as a HExB can work as a lower-syn alternative. Plain boiled lentils, syn-free poppadoms made from a dry pan, and a side of cucumber raita made with fat-free yogurt are all completely free additions.

Can I make this chicken curry in the slow cooker?

Yes — this recipe adapts very well to the slow cooker. Follow the method through step four to seal the chicken and toast the spices on the hob first, then transfer everything including the passata to the slow cooker and cook on low for 6–7 hours or high for 3–4 hours. Stir in the fat-free yogurt just before serving rather than during slow cooking, as yogurt can split over extended cooking times. The slow cooker version develops an even deeper flavour as the spices have more time to infuse.

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