Chicken Katsu Curry

This dynamic recipe for chicken katsu curry combines two popular Japanese comfort foods into one delicious entree. The crunch of the chicken katsu provides a beautiful contrast to the mildly sweet, melt-in-your-mouth beef curry. Who’s hungry?

It’s been rainy here and it’s really been putting me in the mood for a big plate of comfort food. This dish combines two of my favorites, Japanese curry and chicken katsu [チキンカツ], together into one glorious meal.

Imagine biting into a juicy piece of chicken with a perfectly crispy breading and, with your next bite, savoring a rich, melt-in-your-mouth morsel of beef coated in a luscious, rich, almost sweet curry sauce. My oh my. Next time you’re craving a meal that will warm you to your core, try this chicken katsu curry. You might even make some crispy scallion pancakes to go with it!

Why You’ll Love This Chicken Katsu Curry Recipe

This katsu curry is so fun because it has many different components. There is a lot to love about it, but here are some things that stand out to me.

• Dynamic flavors and textures. Every bite will be an adventure as different flavors and textures excite your senses. Crispy chicken with tender beef in a sweet, warm curry sauce is a pairing you do not want to miss out on!
• A full meal. Protein, carbs, and veggies all play a strong role in this entree, bringing you a wide variety of nutrients. You won’t need to scurry to get side dishes on the table to complete the meal…unless you want to of course.
• Simple process. It might seem intimidating to make two dishes at the same time, but both the curry and the chicken katsu are actually quite easy to make. Just take it step by step and enjoy the process.
• Great for picky eaters. We all have that one picky eater in the family. Maybe it’s your young one, maybe it’s your visiting uncle. This recipe is perfect because, if someone doesn’t like curry, they can have the chicken and vice versa.

What Is Katsu Curry?

Katsu is a Japanese dish that usually stars either chicken or pork. The name refers to the way in which the protein is prepared. It is coated in Japanese breadcrumbs and then fried to a crispy golden brown. It is extremely popular and is often served over rice with katsu sauce or in a sandwich.

To make katsu curry, the katsu is paired with a thick Japanese curry, containing potatoes, carrots, onion, and stewed beef. Serve all of that over some white rice and you’re all set!

Recipe Ingredients

Here is a list of ingredients required to make this dynamic katsu chicken curry. Scroll to the recipe card below for details on measurements and amounts.

For the Curry

• Chuck roast – It can be tempting to skimp and just grab “beef stew meat”. Don’t do it. The beef is the star of the show here, so make sure to pick a good cut. Chuck is by far the best choice.
• Vegetables – My go-to veggies for this recipe are yellow onion, carrots, potatoes, and celery.
• Low-sodium beef stock or broth – The curry cubes tend to have a lot of salt, so I like to cut down on sodium elsewhere.
• Curry cubes – These will lend a sweet, warm spice to your curry. You can, however, buy spicy curry roux cubes if you want a beef curry with more heat.
• Salt and pepper – I like to use kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.

For the Chicken Katsu

• Boneless skinless chicken breasts – Boneless skinless chicken thighs can also be used.
• All-purpose flour – Gluten intolerant? Use your favorite 1:1 gluten-free flour. I like King Arthur’s Measure for Measure Flour.
• Salt and pepper – Same notes as above.
• Eggs – To bind the breadcrumbs to the chicken while it cooks.
• Panko breadcrumbs – If you can tolerate gluten, I highly recommend using Panko but if you can’t, feel free to use almond flour to bread the chicken.
• Vegetable oil – Any neutral oil with a high smoke point will work.

How to Make Chicken Katsu Curry

This recipe might seem intimidating because you are making two dishes at once but fret not. It’s actually quite simple. I have broken the instructions into sections to make it easier for you. Here is a basic rundown on how to make katsu chicken curry. Scroll to the recipe below for more details.

For the Curry

• Brown the beef. Heat some olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat and brown the chuck roast cubes. Transfer them to a plate and set them aside.

• Sauté the veggies. Add the onion to the pan and sauté until translucent before tossing in the potatoes, carrots, and celery and cooking for a few minutes.
• Add the stock…and everything else. Add enough stock to cover the veggies and bring them to a boil before adding the curry cubes, followed by the browned chuck. Bring everything back to a boil, turn the heat down, and simmer for 30-40 minutes. The curry should be nice and thick.
• Season. Add some salt and pepper to taste.

For the Chicken Katsu

• Pound the chicken. Place the chicken in a plastic bag and pound it to an even thickness.
• Arrange your breading station. Mix flour, salt, and pepper in one bowl, beat 2 eggs in another bowl, and place the panko in a third bowl. Line the bowls up with flour on one side, eggs in the middle, and panko on the other side.
• Prepare the pan. Heat some vegetable oil in a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat.

• Bread the chicken. Coat a piece of chicken in the flour, then dip it in the eggs before covering it in breadcrumbs.
• Fry the chicken. In the prepared pan, fry the chicken for 3-4 minutes on both sides until golden brown, remove it from the pan, and set it aside.
• Repeat. Remove any panko from the pan and repeat the breading and frying process with another piece of chicken.

To Assemble

• Put it all together. Over a bed of cooked white rice, ladle a serving of curry. Slice a piece of katsu into thin strips and arrange it next to the curry.

Tips for Success

Follow the recipe carefully and you should come out with a pretty magnificent dish. That being said, I do have some tips and tricks to set you up for success.

• Use the two-hand technique. In order to avoid a mess when dredging and frying the chicken katsu, use the two-hand method. With one hand (we’ll call it the dry hand), coat the chicken in flour before transferring it to the eggs. With your other hand (we’ll call it the wet hand) coat the chicken in eggs and then in panko. Finally, use the dry hand to place the panko-coated chicken in the frying pan. You will avoid a gummy mess by keeping one hand dry and one hand wet. Trust me.
• Pound the chicken to an even size. In order to achieve evenly cooked chicken katsu, it is important to pound the chicken pieces to an even thickness. No need to get the measuring tape out, but use your best judgment.
• Don’t crowd the pan. When frying the chicken, give each piece plenty of room to breathe. Use a similar technique with the beef. If you crowd the pan in either case, the temperature will drop, making it harder to achieve that golden brown you are looking for. If your pan isn’t big enough, brown the beef and fry the chicken in batches.
• Get the oil temperature right. When frying the katsu, be vigilant about the temperature of the oil. Too hot will lead to burned breading and too cool will lead to soggy breading. Throw a couple of drops of water in the pan. If the oil sizzles, it’s ready. If not, give it more time to heat up or turn up the heat a tad. If you see smoke at any point, turn the heat down and add a bit more oil.

Substitutions & Recipe Variations

Feel free to play around with this katsu curry recipe. Here are some variations that I have been enjoying.

• Use pork. If you are a pork lover, feel free to use pork instead of chicken in the katsu (see my recipe for pork katsu). You can even swap the chuck out for pork if you’d like.
• Use different or additional veggies. It can be fun to add mushrooms to the curry or to swap the potatoes out for sweet potatoes. Pick your favorites and add them in with the rest of the veggies.
• Gluten-free. If your body doesn’t tolerate gluten, it’s ok to use your favorite 1:1 gluten-free flour in place of the conventional flour and to use almond flour in place of the panko bread crumbs. The texture will be different, but your body will be happier.

What Goes With Chicken Katsu Curry?

This katsu chicken curry really is a meal in and of itself. That being said, it is traditionally served over steamed white rice with katsu sauce. Want to play a little more in the kitchen and enjoy a nice side dish? Here are a few that go well with this heartwarming entree.

• Green beans. Garlic roasted green beans go with pretty much any meal you can think of, including this one!
• Cucumbers. Crisp chilled garlic soy cucumbers are a light, refreshing side with flavors that pair quite well with this dish.
• Soup. This easy 15-minute miso soup would be a great choice!
• More veggies. I enjoy steamed broccoli, cabbage stir fry, and Japanese pickled vegetables (tsukemono).

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

Katsu chicken curry makes for great leftovers. I suggest storing and reheating the components separately so as to prevent sogginess (the sauciness of the curry will seep into the katsu if the two are stored together). Here is how to properly store and reheat.

• Storing. Seal the katsu chicken in one container and the curry in another. Place both in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Reheating. When ready to reheat, put the curry in a pot on the stovetop over medium heat until warmed through. At the same time, place the katsu in a toaster oven (or an oven heated to 375 degrees F) and bake for 6-7 minutes. Serve the curry and the katsu together over rice.

Can I Freeze Extras?

You can! Seal the katsu and the curry in separate airtight containers and place them in the freezer. They will keep there for up to 2 months. When you are ready to reheat, allow both components to thaw in the refrigerator before following the reheating instructions above.

More Easy Curry Recipes:

Many cultures have their version (or multiple versions) of curry. They are such flavorful, heartwarming dishes. This katsu chicken curry is one of my favorites, but here are a couple of other ideas for you to try at home.

• Tofu and Shiitake Coconut Curry Bowls
• Coconut Curry Ramen
• Thai Chicken Curry Noodles
• Chicken Butternut Squash Red Curry

Photography by Eat Love Eats