Chicken is the go-to meat for most of the non-vegetarian foodies out there. It is lean meat and is easily available almost everywhere in the country. All the Indian chicken recipes are simple and easy to make. As with most Indian meat and poultry dishes, these also have a lot of spices and herbs going into them that enhance the taste and flavor.
Chicken is one of the easiest meats to cook. The Indian chicken dishes are always packed with flavors, various textures and are always made with recipes that have been passed down over generations. Over time, all the traditional recipes have evolved everywhere to suit the produce available in that region. Hence, there is no “authentic” recipe for most Indian dishes. However, there always is a major basic recipe that works as the skeleton for you to build your own recipe around.
Table of Contents
Best Indian Chicken Recipes – Starters
1. Tandoori Chicken Tikka
Chicken tikka is a classic Indian chicken recipe that is popular and loved throughout the world. The classic chicken tikka consists of succulent pieces of chicken slathered in flavorful red marination and cooked in a tandoor for that beautiful smokey flavor.
A good chicken tikka marination is very simple to make. A mix of heated mustard oil and red chili powder will add the much needed red color and spice to the marination. Hing, curd, ginger garlic paste, and various masalas go into the complete marination.
2. Murgh Malai Tikka
Murgh malai tikka is a delicious and cream-filled chicken starter perfect for kids and adults alike. It is also a very easy starter to make. All it needs is some hung curd, (or, you could use one of the thicker and creamy packaged dahi brands), cashew nut paste, cheese, and coriander roots. You can even add some finely chopped green chilies for some heat. For a kilo of chicken, you would need about two hundred grams of hung curd.
3. Kundapur Chicken Ghee Roast
The chicken ghee roast consists of succulent pieces of chicken cooked in lots of ghee and the special ghee roast masala. These pieces are then slow-roasted over a low flame on a large pan for almost an hour. The dish originated and gained popularity thanks to a small restaurant in the town of Kundapur in Karnataka and has since acquired lovers all over the country.
4. Chicken Sukka
Chicken sukka is a traditional Mangalorean chicken starter made with freshly grated coconut, dry red Byadgi chilies, and many traditional whole spices. The dish is particularly enjoyed on its own along with some alcoholic beverages or as an accompaniment with boiled rice.
5. Pepper Chicken
Chicken pieces marinated in a mix of ghee, pepper, onions, and a little bit of garam masala to warm you up from the inside. This makes the perfect accompaniment to some plain steamed rice or could be eaten as a starter. The simple Indian recipe is the easiest to make when in need of a quick fix and can be the perfect accompaniment for your alcoholic beverages too.
6. Chicken 65
If you love South Indian spices, then you would love this chicken dish. Chicken 65 is a popular South Indian style chicken starter. Batter coated deep-fried pieces of boneless chicken, tossed in a curry leaf and mustard seed tempering. Serve with onion rings and squeeze some lemon on top for that extra zingy flavor. Make sure you keep the chicken marinated for at least an hour or two before deep frying.
7. Chicken Shami Kebab
Usually shami kebabs are made with minced mutton, but chicken is commonly used to make shami kebabs too. Chicken Shami Kebabs are succulent and packed with lots of flavors. Some onion rings and green chutney on the side makes them a brilliant option. These chicken kebabs are a dinner party favorite!
8. Chicken Kathi Rolls
Originating from Kolkata, the convenience of a kathi rolls makes them a brilliant street food. You can add chicken, mutton, paneer, or even soya according to your preferences. Succulent boneless chicken pieces cooked to perfection rolled up in flatbread with onion rings and chutney. There have been many different variations of kathi rolls throughout the country using khasta paranthas, roomali roti and even lachcha paranthas.
Best Indian Chicken Recipes – Curries
1. Butter Chicken
Inspired by Mughlai cuisine, butter chicken has become a staple in most North Indian restaurants. Delicious succulent pieces of chicken cooked in a rich tomato-based gravy flavored with a plethora of whole Indian spices. For the crowd-favorite butter chicken, all you need to do is to make a makhani gravy first. The Makhani gravy consists of tomatoes, khoya paste, cream, and whole spices like bay leaves and cinnamon. The chicken can also be roasted or cooked in the tandoor after being marinated overnight for an added punch of flavor.
Did you know butter chicken was invented in a restaurant called Moti Mahal in Delhi? Moti Mahal restaurant is still standing tall in Daryaganj, Delhi, and serving its famous butter chicken.
2. Chicken Xacutti
The traditional Goan curry of chicken xacutti is a bomb of flavor and spice. It consists of tender pieces of chicken or any other meat cooked and gravy that is a mix of two masalas made from poppy seeds, red chilies, mace, peppercorn, and coconut. This Goan style chicken dish is absolutely lip-smacking.
3. Salli Murgi
Parsi cuisine uses salli (potato straws or aloo lachchas) very generously in their dishes. Salli Murgi being one of them. Delicious Parsi chicken curry with a fine blend of Indian spices along with some apricot puree. It is topped off with some deep-fried potato straws (salli).
4. Kozhi Vartha Curry (Chettinad Chicken Curry)
Spicy chicken curry cooked with robust whole spices and tamarind. This recipe is from the Chettiyar community of Tamil Nadu. The recipe consists of dry red chilies, peppercorns, curry leaves, and garam masala. The dish represents the robust, strong, and unique flavors the South Indian region is known for.
5. Kori Rotti
Kori rotti is a Manglorean favorite. It is a combination of lip-smacking chicken cooked in freshly squeezed coconut milk along with a paste made of coconut, dry red chilies, peppercorns, cinnamon, etc, served with rice rotti which are paper-thin rice wafers. This traditional dish is a must-have in most Mangalorean celebrations and parties, especially in the Bunt community of Southern Karnataka.
6. Kolhapuri Chicken
A Marathi speciality, the Chicken Kolhapuri has delicate pieces of chicken cooked in a spicy red gravy that can entice all your senses. Enjoy with some rice or fluffy rotis. Chicken Kohlapuri is one of the most delicious Indian chicken recipes.
7. Kashmiri Style Chicken – Yakhni Chicken
Need something fancy yet easy-to-make for a dinner party? Here’s a simple solution. Kashmiri style yakhni chicken is made with lots of khada masalas (whole spices) like black peppercorns, green cardamom, cinnamon, bay leaves and moti elaichi (black cardamom). The base for this gravy is made with yogurt and tastes amazing with some steamed rice. The robust flavor of whole spices and the overall mild curry tastes absolutely deliocus. This is one of the easiest Indian chicken recipes to make.
8. Simple Home Style Chicken Curry
While there are many fancy chicken recipes from around the country, nothing beats a good old chicken curry with some simple home cooked flavors. Every family has perfected that one chicken curry recipe that is passed on through generations. Chicken pieces cooked in an onion and tomato tadka with some home spices. This chicken tastes great with boiled rice or chapatis. You can cook the chicken in this tadka on slow flame, and add some malai for a rich flavor. Some fresh coriander leaves in top and your meal will be complete.
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9. Chicken Korma or Chicken Qorma
A chicken korma is a rich curry based dish made with braised vegetables, meat and yogurt. Kormas can be made with the meat of your preference like mutton or chicken. Kormas are extremely rich and taste great with naan or a thick tandoori roti. A few korma recipes also require adding coconut cream to increase the depth of flavor.
10. Dahi Chicken
As the name suggests, this chicken recipe has two core ingredients – Curd and chicken. Dahi chicken is a low fat chicken recipe that can be easily made at home. Just because we said it’s low fat doesn’t mean it tastes awful. Dahi chicken is a tangy chicken dish made by marinating pieces of chicken in a mix of curd, red chilli powder, ginger garlic paste, ground cinnamon and ground pepper. Marinate this for 2-4 hours and cook in a wok till the chicken is tender and cooked.
11. Kadhai Chicken
Kadhai chicken is very popular in the Northern belt of the country. Filled with diced bell peppers, onions and tangy masalas. This sweet, sour chicken sometimes has a hint of jaggery and tamarind. Tastes great with a butter naan and some lachcha onions.
12. Nimbu Dhaniya Murgh
Subtle flavors of coriander and lemon come together to make a beautiful chicken dish. This dish is very light and perfect for a summer time dinner. The flavors of the nimbu dhaniya murgh are very fresh and do not feel heavy on the stomach at all.
13. Kerala Chicken Stew
Kerala chicken stew has a handful of ingredients but the flavor is so deep, that you just cannot stop eating. With the beautiful flavors of coconut and curry leaves, a Kerala chicken stew pairs well with rice and appams.
Indian Chicken Recipes – Rice And Breads
1. Chicken Biryani
Lots of restaurants and food joints claim to sell authentic dum biryani, but is the claim true? What exactly goes in the making of a deliocus biryani? Layers of complex flavors that combine together to make a delectable dish. Chicken dum biryani is cooked on an extremely low flame, filled with whole spices, spiced chicken and long grain rice. The long grain rice parboiled with khada masala, saffron and ghee is the key to that distinct aroma. The flavor of a well cooked dum biryani paired with a cool raita remains unparalleled.
2. Chicken Keema Parantha
Minced chicken cooked in a variety of masalas and stuffed inside a parantha. The parantha is then cooked on a tawa and smeared with generous amounts of ghee. You really need nothing as an accompaniment with this chicken keema parantha.
Best Exotic Chicken Recipes – Easy Chicken Recipes From Around The World
1. Stir Fried Chicken
Cooking a stir fried at home needs one essential thing – A wok with a thin base. Small sized cubes of chicken stir fried in oils and then cooked for a couple of minutes in oyster sauce, chicken stock, chopped garlic and seasoning. This chicken dish is quick and easy to make and takes very less time to prepare. The beauty of stir fries is that you can use different sauces like a hot garlic sauce, schezwan sauce, black bean sauce, oyster sauce according to your liking.
2. Kaeng Khiao Wan Kai (Thai Green Curry with Chicken)
Chicken cooked with coconut milk flavored with Thai green curry paste. This paste is made with lemongrass, basil, coriander leaves, galangal, green chilies and spices. This curry tastes best served with simple long grain rice or sticky coconut rice. Cooking thai curry at home has been made extremely easy, thanks to the various readymade Thai curry pastes available in the market. Choose Thai curry pastes with care, especially if you are a vegetarian, as most of them contain shrimp paste.
3. Sliced Chicken in Hot Garlic Sauce
Sliced chicken deep fried after a simple flour batter coating cooked in hot and spicy garlic sauce made with minced garlic, tomato paste and red chilli paste along with seasoning. You can adjust the spice levels according to your tolerance.
4. Chicken Kiev
Chicken bread stuffed with herbed butter and then deep fried after a bread crumb coating. The butter can be mixed with herbs like parsley, tarragon and oregano before being frozen and placed in the chicken.
5. Fried Chicken
Look, don’t expect a KFC quality fried chicken at home, but what you can expect is a flavorful delicious dish. Add lost of herbs and spices according to your tolerance level to the batter. Dip chicken pieces in the batter, then coat them evenly in a crumb/breaded mixture. Deep fry the chicken pieces till golden and crisp. Serve with mayonnaise, ketchup, a spicy dip, or mustard.
FAQ’s
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What is Kadaknath Chicken?
The Kadaknath chicken has been the recent talk of town owing to its extremely low fat and high protein and iron properties. The most noticeable feature is the grey-black skin color due to the presence of high amounts of melanin. The chicken is an Indian breed indigenous to the Jhabua area of Madhya Pradesh. Studies have shown that the chicken is beneficial for people suffering from cardiac diseases, asthma, etc.
As awareness and popularity of this chicken is growing, they are priced almost 3 times as that of regular chicken. The chicken is bred by Adivasis and low income families and the government has also extended monetary support to such families. These are raised in a protective environment since Kadaknath chicks are sensitive to climatic changes.
The meat of Kadaknath chicken contains vitamins B1, B2, B12, C, B6 and E, protein, calcium, phosphorus, and iron.Its consumption helps increase RBC levels and haemoglobin in the blood.
It is important to know that the eggs of a Kadaknath chicken are not black in color. It is actually brown with a pinkish tinge. Kadaknath chickens lay only about 120-150 eggs a year, making them more expensive than regular eggs. These eggs are sold at rates of approximately Rs.50 per egg. These eggs are very low on cholesterol and is packed with amino acids. It is known to help reduce headaches, asthma, fainting and inflammation of the kidneys.
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How to choose the best cut of Chicken?
The various cuts of chicken can be used in different ways. While most of us are used to making use of the entire chicken for our curries and starters at home, there are certain cuts of a chicken that are more suited for curries while some other cuts are more suited to be roasted or fried.
The meatier thigh or breast cuts are perfect for your curries, pan-frying, grilling and deep-frying. The thick drumstick, generally referred to as leg piece in most Indian households, is best for your biryani or for tandoori kebabs.
If cut perfectly, you can get about 10-12 perfect cuts out of a whole chicken. These 10 cuts include a pair of drumsticks, a pair of thighs, a pair of wings, a pair of winglets and 2 large breast pieces.
While there are a number of different types of knives, always remember to use a good, sharp knife while cutting meats. Meats should always be cut with very sharp blades, with sweeping cuts going in only one direction. A cleaver, chef knife or a Santoku knife would be the best option for such cuts.
Chicken plays a key role in a protein rich diet. It is a very good source of protein and energy. This list of the many Indian chicken dishes you can try at home will hopefully help you try out something new right at home.
Chicken is one of the easiest meats to cook. The Indian chicken dishes are always packed with flavors, various textures and are always made with recipes that have been passed down over generations. Over time, all the traditional recipes have evolved everywhere to suit the produce available in that region. Hence, there is no “authentic” recipe for most Indian dishes. However, there always is a major basic recipe that works as the skeleton for you to build your own recipe around.
Best Indian Chicken Recipes – Starters
1. Tandoori Chicken Tikka
Chicken tikka is a classic Indian chicken recipe that is popular and loved throughout the world. The classic chicken tikka consists of succulent pieces of chicken slathered in flavorful red marination and cooked in a tandoor for that beautiful smokey flavor.
A good chicken tikka marination is very simple to make. A mix of heated mustard oil and red chili powder will add the much needed red color and spice to the marination. Hing, curd, ginger garlic paste, and various masalas go into the complete marination.
2. Murgh Malai Tikka
Murgh malai tikka is a delicious and cream-filled chicken starter perfect for kids and adults alike. It is also a very easy starter to make. All it needs is some hung curd, (or, you could use one of the thicker and creamy packaged dahi brands), cashew nut paste, cheese, and coriander roots. You can even add some finely chopped green chilies for some heat. For a kilo of chicken, you would need about two hundred grams of hung curd.
3. Kundapur Chicken Ghee Roast
The chicken ghee roast consists of succulent pieces of chicken cooked in lots of ghee and the special ghee roast masala. These pieces are then slow-roasted over a low flame on a large pan for almost an hour. The dish originated and gained popularity thanks to a small restaurant in the town of Kundapur in Karnataka and has since acquired lovers all over the country.
4. Chicken Sukka
Chicken sukka is a traditional Mangalorean chicken starter made with freshly grated coconut, dry red Byadgi chilies, and many traditional whole spices. The dish is particularly enjoyed on its own along with some alcoholic beverages or as an accompaniment with boiled rice.
5. Pepper Chicken
Chicken pieces marinated in a mix of ghee, pepper, onions, and a little bit of garam masala to warm you up from the inside. This makes the perfect accompaniment to some plain steamed rice or could be eaten as a starter. The simple Indian recipe is the easiest to make when in need of a quick fix and can be the perfect accompaniment for your alcoholic beverages too.
6. Chicken 65
If you love South Indian spices, then you would love this chicken dish. Chicken 65 is a popular South Indian style chicken starter. Batter coated deep-fried pieces of boneless chicken, tossed in a curry leaf and mustard seed tempering. Serve with onion rings and squeeze some lemon on top for that extra zingy flavor. Make sure you keep the chicken marinated for at least an hour or two before deep frying.
7. Chicken Shami Kebab
Usually shami kebabs are made with minced mutton, but chicken is commonly used to make shami kebabs too. Chicken Shami Kebabs are succulent and packed with lots of flavors. Some onion rings and green chutney on the side makes them a brilliant option. These chicken kebabs are a dinner party favorite!
8. Chicken Kathi Rolls
Originating from Kolkata, the convenience of a kathi rolls makes them a brilliant street food. You can add chicken, mutton, paneer, or even soya according to your preferences. Succulent boneless chicken pieces cooked to perfection rolled up in flatbread with onion rings and chutney. There have been many different variations of kathi rolls throughout the country using khasta paranthas, roomali roti and even lachcha paranthas.
Best Indian Chicken Recipes – Curries
1. Butter Chicken
Inspired by Mughlai cuisine, butter chicken has become a staple in most North Indian restaurants. Delicious succulent pieces of chicken cooked in a rich tomato-based gravy flavored with a plethora of whole Indian spices. For the crowd-favorite butter chicken, all you need to do is to make a makhani gravy first. The Makhani gravy consists of tomatoes, khoya paste, cream, and whole spices like bay leaves and cinnamon. The chicken can also be roasted or cooked in the tandoor after being marinated overnight for an added punch of flavor.
Did you know butter chicken was invented in a restaurant called Moti Mahal in Delhi? Moti Mahal restaurant is still standing tall in Daryaganj, Delhi, and serving its famous butter chicken.
2. Chicken Xacutti
The traditional Goan curry of chicken xacutti is a bomb of flavor and spice. It consists of tender pieces of chicken or any other meat cooked and gravy that is a mix of two masalas made from poppy seeds, red chilies, mace, peppercorn, and coconut. This Goan style chicken dish is absolutely lip-smacking.
3. Salli Murgi
Parsi cuisine uses salli (potato straws or aloo lachchas) very generously in their dishes. Salli Murgi being one of them. Delicious Parsi chicken curry with a fine blend of Indian spices along with some apricot puree. It is topped off with some deep-fried potato straws (salli).
4. Kozhi Vartha Curry (Chettinad Chicken Curry)
Spicy chicken curry cooked with robust whole spices and tamarind. This recipe is from the Chettiyar community of Tamil Nadu. The recipe consists of dry red chilies, peppercorns, curry leaves, and garam masala. The dish represents the robust, strong, and unique flavors the South Indian region is known for.
5. Kori Rotti
Kori rotti is a Manglorean favorite. It is a combination of lip-smacking chicken cooked in freshly squeezed coconut milk along with a paste made of coconut, dry red chilies, peppercorns, cinnamon, etc, served with rice rotti which are paper-thin rice wafers. This traditional dish is a must-have in most Mangalorean celebrations and parties, especially in the Bunt community of Southern Karnataka.
6. Kolhapuri Chicken
A Marathi speciality, the Chicken Kolhapuri has delicate pieces of chicken cooked in a spicy red gravy that can entice all your senses. Enjoy with some rice or fluffy rotis. Chicken Kohlapuri is one of the most delicious Indian chicken recipes.
7. Kashmiri Style Chicken – Yakhni Chicken
Need something fancy yet easy-to-make for a dinner party? Here’s a simple solution. Kashmiri style yakhni chicken is made with lots of khada masalas (whole spices) like black peppercorns, green cardamom, cinnamon, bay leaves and moti elaichi (black cardamom). The base for this gravy is made with yogurt and tastes amazing with some steamed rice. The robust flavor of whole spices and the overall mild curry tastes absolutely deliocus. This is one of the easiest Indian chicken recipes to make.
8. Simple Home Style Chicken Curry
While there are many fancy chicken recipes from around the country, nothing beats a good old chicken curry with some simple home cooked flavors. Every family has perfected that one chicken curry recipe that is passed on through generations. Chicken pieces cooked in an onion and tomato tadka with some home spices. This chicken tastes great with boiled rice or chapatis. You can cook the chicken in this tadka on slow flame, and add some malai for a rich flavor. Some fresh coriander leaves in top and your meal will be complete.
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9. Chicken Korma or Chicken Qorma
A chicken korma is a rich curry based dish made with braised vegetables, meat and yogurt. Kormas can be made with the meat of your preference like mutton or chicken. Kormas are extremely rich and taste great with naan or a thick tandoori roti. A few korma recipes also require adding coconut cream to increase the depth of flavor.
10. Dahi Chicken
As the name suggests, this chicken recipe has two core ingredients – Curd and chicken. Dahi chicken is a low fat chicken recipe that can be easily made at home. Just because we said it’s low fat doesn’t mean it tastes awful. Dahi chicken is a tangy chicken dish made by marinating pieces of chicken in a mix of curd, red chilli powder, ginger garlic paste, ground cinnamon and ground pepper. Marinate this for 2-4 hours and cook in a wok till the chicken is tender and cooked.
11. Kadhai Chicken
Kadhai chicken is very popular in the Northern belt of the country. Filled with diced bell peppers, onions and tangy masalas. This sweet, sour chicken sometimes has a hint of jaggery and tamarind. Tastes great with a butter naan and some lachcha onions.
12. Nimbu Dhaniya Murgh
Subtle flavors of coriander and lemon come together to make a beautiful chicken dish. This dish is very light and perfect for a summer time dinner. The flavors of the nimbu dhaniya murgh are very fresh and do not feel heavy on the stomach at all.
13. Kerala Chicken Stew
Kerala chicken stew has a handful of ingredients but the flavor is so deep, that you just cannot stop eating. With the beautiful flavors of coconut and curry leaves, a Kerala chicken stew pairs well with rice and appams.
Indian Chicken Recipes – Rice And Breads
1. Chicken Biryani
Lots of restaurants and food joints claim to sell authentic dum biryani, but is the claim true? What exactly goes in the making of a deliocus biryani? Layers of complex flavors that combine together to make a delectable dish. Chicken dum biryani is cooked on an extremely low flame, filled with whole spices, spiced chicken and long grain rice. The long grain rice parboiled with khada masala, saffron and ghee is the key to that distinct aroma. The flavor of a well cooked dum biryani paired with a cool raita remains unparalleled.
2. Chicken Keema Parantha
Minced chicken cooked in a variety of masalas and stuffed inside a parantha. The parantha is then cooked on a tawa and smeared with generous amounts of ghee. You really need nothing as an accompaniment with this chicken keema parantha.
Best Exotic Chicken Recipes – Easy Chicken Recipes From Around The World
1. Stir Fried Chicken
Cooking a stir fried at home needs one essential thing – A wok with a thin base. Small sized cubes of chicken stir fried in oils and then cooked for a couple of minutes in oyster sauce, chicken stock, chopped garlic and seasoning. This chicken dish is quick and easy to make and takes very less time to prepare. The beauty of stir fries is that you can use different sauces like a hot garlic sauce, schezwan sauce, black bean sauce, oyster sauce according to your liking.
2. Kaeng Khiao Wan Kai (Thai Green Curry with Chicken)
Chicken cooked with coconut milk flavored with Thai green curry paste. This paste is made with lemongrass, basil, coriander leaves, galangal, green chilies and spices. This curry tastes best served with simple long grain rice or sticky coconut rice. Cooking thai curry at home has been made extremely easy, thanks to the various readymade Thai curry pastes available in the market. Choose Thai curry pastes with care, especially if you are a vegetarian, as most of them contain shrimp paste.
3. Sliced Chicken in Hot Garlic Sauce
Sliced chicken deep fried after a simple flour batter coating cooked in hot and spicy garlic sauce made with minced garlic, tomato paste and red chilli paste along with seasoning. You can adjust the spice levels according to your tolerance.
4. Chicken Kiev
Chicken bread stuffed with herbed butter and then deep fried after a bread crumb coating. The butter can be mixed with herbs like parsley, tarragon and oregano before being frozen and placed in the chicken.
5. Fried Chicken
Look, don’t expect a KFC quality fried chicken at home, but what you can expect is a flavorful delicious dish. Add lost of herbs and spices according to your tolerance level to the batter. Dip chicken pieces in the batter, then coat them evenly in a crumb/breaded mixture. Deep fry the chicken pieces till golden and crisp. Serve with mayonnaise, ketchup, a spicy dip, or mustard.
FAQ’s
Chicken plays a key role in a protein rich diet. It is a very good source of protein and energy. This list of the many Indian chicken dishes you can try at home will hopefully help you try out something new right at home.
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