Here at Delish, we always have a can (or two or three) of coconut milk in our kitchen cabinets. Why? Because that simple can is able to turn so many basic ingredients into a wonderful meal, from breakfast to dessert. From special occasion standouts to easy weeknight dinner staples, there’s a recipe in here for everyone. Check out our list of 40 coconut milk recipes—you'd be coconuts not to try them.
If you’re unfamiliar with cooking with coconut milk, let us break it down for you: For these recipes, you'll want to find the kind, which is a blended combination of water and coconut meat. There is also boxed coconut non-dairy milk, which has a much higher concentration of water to coconut meat, and coconut water, which is the liquid found in young green coconuts—neither will work well here. If you’ve ever opened a can of coconut milk and seen that the coconut cream has risen to the top, don’t fret. For most coconut milk recipes, you can use both parts, but if you want extra creamy coconut flavor, refrigerate your can so they separate and just use the coconut cream on top. This will be extra helpful in dessert or drink recipes like our spiked coconut limeade, our lemon coconut tart, our vegan cheesecake, or our coconut ice cream. Be careful to not accidentally mix it up with cream of coconut, which often has added sugar.
Coconut milk is popular in many Asian cuisines, and you may have encountered it in Thai and Indian food. We’d be remiss not to highlight one of coconut milk’s best ingredient friends: curry powder or paste. We love the flavor profile whether we’re slurping a bowl of comforting soupy noodles, like our Thai red curry coconut noodles or our creamy chicken ramen soup; spooning sauce over seafood, like in our coconut curry salmon; marinating chicken, like in our curried chicken & garlic golden rice; or tucking into a thick and flavorful stew, like our coconut chicken curry or our ribeye panang curry. They’re the perfect match because coconut milk can help soothe the spice of curry, while not diminishing its flavors.
Coconut milk is also an incredible way to take your average pasta and rice dishes to the next level. Try making coconut rice once, and we bet you won’t be making plain ‘ole white rice again for a while. Turn it into a casserole, like our chicken and coconut rice casserole, or serve it under your favorite protein, like in our mahi mahi with avocado crema. Try adding it to some of your old standbys—we added it and miso to our favorite bolognese, and now have a new favorite weeknight pasta dinner.
Coconut Chicken Curry
Coconut curry chicken has TONS of variations; from South India to Thailand, no two curries are exactly the same. Our Americanized version might be a bit untraditional, but trust us, it's delicious. Be sure to reach for full-fat coconut milk for an ultra-velvety sauce.
Get the Coconut Chicken Curry recipe.
Thai Chicken Coconut Soup
Known as Tom Kha Ghai, this coconut soup is one we are always craving. The creamy coconut paired with ginger and lime gives this soup its unique and delicious flavor. This Thai soup is also traditionally topped with a chili oil to give it some heat—if you're not a spice fan, don't worry, the creamy coconut milk helps mellow it out.
Get the Thai Chicken Coconut Soup recipe.
Coconut Curry Salmon
The coconut milk and spice go so well together here, making a rich, but not heavy, sauce that really tastes and feels far more complicated than it is. The salmon simmers in the milk keeping it very tender and flaky and extra flavorful. Spoon the sauce over the salmon a few times as it cooks to give it a nice coating.
Get the Coconut Curry Salmon recipe.
Coconut Rice
Popular in many parts of the world, coconut rice uses a slightly different method than you would normally use to cook rice. Typically, you would bring the water to a boil first before adding the rice, but in this recipe, you bring the coconut milk, water, and rice all to a boil together. What results is a fantastic side that can be sweet or savory.
Get the Coconut Rice recipe.
Coconut Cream Pie
We love our perfect pie crust so much and think that everyone should use it whenever they make pie. But if you're short on time (or just don't wanna), store-bought refrigerated dough works just fine for this pie too.
Get the Coconut Cream Pie recipe.
Chicken Satay
We're using flavorful chicken thigh meat here, but you can substitute anything from breast meat, to pork or beef, or even tofu and vegetables, though cooking times will vary. And that peanut sauce? Absolutely essential to the eating experience. It's the ultimate wingman to satay, containing all the fragrant notes of lemongrass, coconut, fish sauce, and fresh lime zest.
Get the Chicken Satay recipe.
Chicken & Coconut Rice Casserole
Coconut milk is truly magical. It turns ordinary rice into a creamy, flavorful, perfectly cooked rice. We're honestly never cooking our rice without it again.
Coconut Ice Cream
This coconut ice cream is no joke. Not only is it dairy-free but it's completely vegan, too. It's ultra-creamy with a sweet coconut flavor that only gets better topped with toasted coconut. We love it with the real vanilla bean, but you can easily use an additional teaspoon of vanilla extract if you don't have any.
Get the Coconut Ice Cream recipe.
Creamy Chicken Ramen Soup
Chicken soup is amazing, but sometimes we are in the mood for something that has a bit more flavor than your run of the mill canned soup. This recipe packs a flavorful punch and then some! You get some spiciness from the curry powder, a rich creaminess from the coconut milk and if you top that of with a squeeze of lime, you have a chicken soup that will ambush your taste buds.
Get the Creamy Chicken Ramen Soup recipe.
Spiked Coconut Limeade
We love a good frozen summer cocktail, and this coconut number is no exception. We used cream of coconut here, but if you can't find it, refrigerate a can of coconut milk, and try to use as much of the thick white cream off the top as possible.
Get the Spiked Coconut Limeade recipe.
Curried Chicken & Garlic Golden Rice
Believe it or not, you CAN have a hearty, delicious meal on your table in less time than it takes to order delivery. Coating frozen, thin-sliced chicken breasts in a curry-ginger yogurt sauce ensures your chicken is loaded with flavor. Paired with garlicky curried rice, spinach, and bright and crunchy quick-pickled red onions, this easy weeknight dinner checks all our boxes.
Coconut Ranch Kale Salad
The best salads are loaded with roasted veggies and topped with a creamy dressing. This vegan coconut ranch dressing is absolutely irresistible (Seriously, you'll want to dip everything in it.). But the crunchy chickpeas may just be our favorite part. Who needs croutons?
Get the Coconut Ranch Kale Salad recipe.
Lemon Coconut Tart
This revamped lemon tart has a few major upgrades. 1) The buttery graham cracker crust is loaded with toasted shredded coconut. 2) Coconut milk makes the lemon curd filling extra creamy and flavorful. 3) Thanks to Meyer lemons, it is just the right balance between tart and sweet. (But if you prefer citrus desserts with a little more pucker, swap in regular lemons.)
Get the Lemon Coconut Tart recipe.
Coconut Shrimp Curry
This is a wildly flavorful and easy homemade curry that'll have you ditch your take-out menu after one bite. Feel free to swap in lite coconut milk for full-fat here if you'd like.
Get the Coconut Shrimp Curry recipe.
Miso Bolognese
Miso may sound intimidating at first, but trust us—you’re going to love how it elevates this bolognese sauce to new heights. The strong flavors of miso alongside coconut milk and sherry wine melt right into the fettuccine, creating something both new and exciting and familiar.
Get the Miso Bolognese recipe.
Piña Coladas
Piña Coladas arethe perfect drink to have ready when your summer BBQ guests arrive. Fresh pineapple makes ours extra tropical, but don't forget the paper umbrella. It's half of the appeal!
Get the Piña Coladas recipe.
Khao Soi
Thai Khao Soi is a delicious (traditionally yellow egg) noodle soup made with chicken. Chiang Mai is one of the cities that celebrates this dish from every corner; everyone there says they make the best khao soi. Their style was created when Chinese Muslims migrated to the north and introduced khao soi with coconut milk and spices.
Get the Khao Soi recipe.
Creamy Coconut Lime Salmon
This creamy skillet salmon is rich without being too decadent. The combo of fresh ginger, lime juice, and basil brightens everything up. Trust us, you're going to LOVE the sauce.
Get the Creamy Coconut Lime Salmon recipe.
Coconut Zoodle Soup
Meet our new favorite soup. It's rich with coconut milk and packed with chicken, bell peppers, and zoodles. It's a more festive take on the classic chicken noodle soup, and we might just love it more.
Get the Coconut Zoodle Soup recipe.
Coconut Cake
This cake gets its amazing flavor from vanilla and almond extracts and, of course, shredded coconut. Also in the batter: 5 eggs and buttermilk. Both contribute to an extremely rich and tender crumb. Adding coconut milk to cream cheese frosting is a GAME CHANGER.
Get the Coconut Cake recipe.
Camille Lowder is the digital food producer at Delish, otherwise known as our resident queen of recipe galleries. Previously, she attended the Natural Gourmet Institute for culinary school and worked at/managed a number of New York restaurants. She loves anything vegan, foods masquerading as other foods (hello, cauliflower), and a well-used Oxford comma.
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