Classic Chicken Biryani

Classic Chicken Biryani

Authentic Indian dish at home

Recipe by
Reviewed by Arturs Arnicans
Prep Time: 9m
Cook Time: 1h 7m
Total Time: 1h 16m
Servings: 4
Difficulty: Easy
5.0 (12 Reviews)
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Ingredients

Adjust servings:

Nutritional Information

617
Calories
12g
Fat
4g
Saturated fat
83g
Carbs
19g
Sugar
49g
Protein
Classic Chicken Biryani

Recipe Description

Classic Chicken Biryani is an authentic Indian dish known for its chunks of succulent chicken amongst pillows of fluffy rice fragrant with all kinds of spices. In this recipe I use cardamom, bay leaf, cinnamon and turmeric to produce a heady aromatic mix of flavors, and curry paste to add heat to the dish. Raisins and crisp toasted almonds add texture and the chopped cilantro brings freshness and a burst of green against the warm yellow of the turmeric rice. Moreover this spicy dish is actually gluten-free!

Biryani is a one-pot dish, making it an easy way to produce a big and hearty meal with just a few simple steps!

To make Classic Chicken Biryani, you will need the following ingredients:

Ingredients for Classic Chicken Biryani

Steps to make

  1. 1

    Soak the rice

    35 min
    Step 1 - Classic Chicken Biryani

    Soak the rice in warm water for at least 30 minutes. Then wash thoroughly under running water and drain.

  2. 2

    Cook the onion and aromatics

    10 min
    Step 2 - Classic Chicken Biryani

    Melt the butter in a large pan. Add the onion, along with the bay leaf, cardamom and cinnamon, and fry gently for 10 minutes until the onion is translucent.

  3. 3

    Cook the chicken

    10 min
    Step 3 - Classic Chicken BiryaniStep 3 - Classic Chicken Biryani

    Add the chicken, turmeric and curry paste to the pan and stir together. Cook until the chicken has browned all over.

  4. 4

    Cook the rice

    7 min
    Step 4 - Classic Chicken BiryaniStep 4 - Classic Chicken BiryaniStep 4 - Classic Chicken Biryani

    Add the rice and raisins to the pan before pouring over the chicken broth. Place a lid over the pan and bring the broth to a boil, before lowering the heat and simmering for 5 minutes.

  5. 5

    Leave to rest

    10 min
    Step 5 - Classic Chicken BiryaniStep 5 - Classic Chicken BiryaniStep 5 - Classic Chicken Biryani

    Remove from the heat and leave for 10 mins.

  6. 6

    Add cilantro and almonds

    2 min
    Step 6 - Classic Chicken BiryaniStep 6 - Classic Chicken BiryaniStep 6 - Classic Chicken Biryani

    Scatter over half the cilantro and give everything a good stir. Then scatter over the remaining cilantro and the toasted almonds to serve.

  7. 7

    Serving Classic Chicken Biryani

    Step 7 - Classic Chicken Biryani

    Bon Appétit!

Classic Chicken Biryani looks so beautiful on the plate...ready to be devoured! What do you think of this Indian classic? Let me know in the comments section and tag your beautiful biryani photos with tag #cookmerecipes.

About the author

Bethany Lim

Bethany is very passionate about maintaining a healthy lifestyle and clean diet. She’s trying to cut meat out of her diet as much as possible and focuses on cooking vegetarian food and fish. Bethany gets a kick from finding ways to add new twists to classic dishes. What’s more, thanks to her Asian roots, she’s great at combining different cuisines to come up with something extraordinary. Bethany’s recipes will inspire you to add new colors and flavors to your everyday meals.

Recipe Reviews

Have you made this recipe? Share your experience and help other cooks!

★★★★★
★★★★★
5.0 out of 5 (12 reviews)
Zara Thompson
November 27, 2024
Verified

I made this biryani for my friend’s dinner party, and everyone loved it. So simple yet so mouth-watering.

Peter
October 30, 2024
Verified

Amazing.

Davey
February 15, 2024
Verified

Delicious, simple, fun

Gabi
January 5, 2024
Verified

Easy and delicious. My family loves this biryani on special occasions.

Ursula
January 5, 2024
Verified

Spicy goodness! My family loved this biryani. It was easy to make and the flavors were incredible. I made it for my kids' birthday party and they devoured it! Definitely a new favorite in our household.

Rachel
October 14, 2023
Verified

The Biryani was such a hit at our family dinner! My kids loved the raisins.

Maggie
October 12, 2023
Verified

So easy, we loved!

Cathy
October 5, 2023
Verified

The biryani brought back memories of family dinners.

Emily Johnson
June 25, 2022
Verified

Delish

Alex
September 4, 2021
Verified

I recently tried the Classic Chicken Biryani, and I am so thankful for this recipe. As a single guy, cooking can be tough, but this one-pot meal was easy and so delicious. The mix of spices filled my apartment with an amazing aroma. It made me feel proud to serve it to friends and enjoy together.

Samantha
January 11, 2021
Verified

OMG, this Chicken Biryani is bomb! Made it last night for my fam, and they devoured it! The spice combos were on point. I can't believe how simply I chucked everything in one pot! Totally a go-to for our next game night! So stoked!

sarah
March 22, 2019
Verified

Thanks!

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