Chicken biryani recipe with video & step-by-step photos. Biryani is one of the most amazing royal delicacies introduced to Indians by the Persians. Since then it has been much popular and is considered to be a luxurious treat to enjoy on special occasions. Making a chicken biryani in authentic dum style does take some time and needs little expertise.
Traditional chicken biryani is made by layering marinated chicken and then layered with parboiled rice, herbs,saffron milk & then ghee. I have shared that traditional hyderabadi biryani here.
The recipe shared here in this post details a short cut method to make a simple one pot delicious chicken biryani in a pressure cooker or a pot.
So what I have shared in this post is not a dum style biriyani yet it will surprise you with a good aroma and taste.
This recipe yields a chicken biryani that isn’t too oily, spicy, hot or pungent as it looks to be in the pictures. However you can reduce the amount of red chili powder if you do not prefer the heat. This is best served with a Raita, Shorba, lassi and papads.
More Chicken biryani recipes
Hyderabadi biryani
Chicken dum biryani
Chettinad biryani
You can also find the older version of this chicken biryani recipe towards the end of this post as recipe 2.
Preparation for chicken biryani recipe
1. This recipe needs half kg chicken (1.1 lbs.). Make few slits on all the chicken pieces and add to a large bowl. Then add
- 3 tablespoons plain yogurt (Indian curd)
- 1¼ tablespoons ginger garlic paste
- ½ to 1 tablespoon garam masala (or biriyani masala)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ to 1 teaspoon red chili powder (reduce for kids)
- ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional)
2. Mix everything well and marinate the chicken. Cover and set this aside for 1 hour. You can also rest it overnight in the fridge.
3. Meanwhile add 2 cups basmati rice to a large pot and rinse it at least thrice. Drain and soak in fresh water for 30 mins. Drain to a colander after 30 mins. Optional – Soak a pinch of saffron strands in 2 tablespoons hot milk.
Cooking chicken
4. Heat ghee or oil in a heavy bottom pot or pressure cooker. Make sure you use a large one for this. Using whole spices is optional but recommended. Use whatever you have. I use
- 1 bay leaf
- 4 green cardamoms
- 6 cloves
- 1 inch cinnamon piece
- 1 star anise
- ¾ teaspoon shahi jeera (caraway seeds)
- 1 strand mace
5. Add thinly sliced onions. On a medium heat, fry them stirring often until uniformly light brown.
6. This is the correct color of the onions. Do not burn them as they leave a bitter taste. (check video)
7. Add marinated chicken & saute until it becomes pale for 5 minutes.
8. Lower the flame completely. Cover and cook until the chicken is soft, tender and completely cooked.
9. Check if the chicken is cooked by pricking with a fork or knife. It has to be just cooked and not overdone. Evaporate any excess moisture left in the pot by cooking further without the lid.
10. Taste test and add more salt if needed. I added ¼ more salt here. Add
- ¼ cup plain yogurt (Indian curd)
- 1 teaspoon garam masala (or biryani masala)
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon red chili powder (optional)
- 1 slit green chili pepper (optional)
- 2 tablespoons chopped mint leaves (pudina)
How to make chicken biryani
11. Mix everything well. Spread it evenly in a single layer.
12. Layer drained rice all over the chicken. To a separate bowl, pour 3 cups water and add ¼ to ½ teaspoon salt. If cooking in a pot, start with 3 cups water at this stage.
Stir and taste the water. It must be slightly salty. Pour 2 cups of this across the sides of the cooker or pot. Pour rest of the water over the rice gently. (check video)
13. Level the rice gently on top. Add 2 tablespoons more mint leaves.Do not mix up everything, the taste of the biryani cooked in the shown method is good. Optionally you can sprinkle 2 tablespoons fried onions & saffron soaked milk.
14. Finally cover the pot or cooker.
If cooking in a pot, cook on a medium heat until the rice is done completely. If the rice is undercooked pour ¼ to ½ cup boiling water at this stage. How much to add depends on the quality of basmati rice. Cook covered until the biryani rice is perfectly done, grainy and fully cooked. Rest it covered for 15 mins.
If cooking in a cooker, cook for 1 whistle. Later remove the cooker from the hot burner to stop cooking further.
15. When the pressure releases naturally, open the lid. Gently fluff up with a fork.
Serve chicken biryani in layers – top layer with rice and bottom layer with chicken. Enjoy with raita or shorba.
Troubleshooting
Towards the end if the rice is under cooked, you can sprinkle little hot water & cook covered further.
What you need for a good biryani?
To make a good biryani, always use best quality ingredients. The choice of good quality basmati rice, whole spices, spice powders, chicken & ghee all contribute to the flavors of chicken biryani.
1.Basmati rice: There are so many kinds of basmati rice available in the market. For best results choose premium quality basmati rice that is labelled as AGED. This kind of rice is more firm & fluffs up well in chicken biryani without turning mushy. Aged rice is also more fragrant.
Though this biryani is made in a pressure cooker or pot, the texture of rice grains will come out right without getting mushy if made with aged rice.
2.Biryani masala (spices): Good quality whole spices & spice powders elevate the flavor of chicken biryani. So choose a good quality ready made garam masala powder or biryani masala.
I am also sharing the ingredients for an instant biriyani masala powder. If you do not have a ready made or store bought masala, you can make it in just few minutes.
3.Chicken: We usually use up the cut whole chicken to make the chicken biryani. However I always find chicken breast pieces dry out if not marinated well with yogurt. If you prefer soft, tender & succulent pieces of chicken in your biryani, then just use chicken thighs & drumsticks.
Always use bone-in chicken as it helps the dish to turn out more flavorful.
4.Ghee : Traditionally chicken biryani was made using ghee. Since this recipe does not follow the traditional method, you can also make it using oil. But ghee adds a unique aroma to the dish.
How to make the best chicken biryani?
- Marination: Marinating chicken with yogurt & spices is the first key step to make the best chicken biryani. Yogurt tenderizes the chicken & the spices enhance the flavors. Marinating and resting chicken makes it soft & succulent, so do not skip that. If you do not eat curd then can substitute it with coconut milk.
- Preparing rice : Basmati rice has to be rinsed very well a few times in ample amount of water to get rid of the starch. This prevents the rice grains from turning mushy. Soaking the rice helps to cook the rice grains to fluffy & long. So do not skip rinsing & soaking the rice well before using.
- Water : This recipe uses plain water to cook the chicken biryani. However it can be replaced with coconut milk or chicken stock. The quantity of water I have mentioned in the recipe card works well for me with Lalquilla old malai basmati rice. This ratio works pretty well with any aged basmati rice.
- Please do adjust the amount of heat in the recipe. My recipes are usually low on heat for the Indian taste buds. Since I have young kids at home., these levels work well for us.
Related Recipes
Recipe card
Chicken biryani recipe
For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card
Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )
Marinade for chicken biryani
- ½ kg chicken (1.l lbs)
- 3 tablespoons plain yogurt (curd or dahi)
- 1¼ tablespoons ginger garlic paste (1 inch ginger & 4 garlic cloves crushed)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric
- ½ to 1 teaspoon red chilli powder (or paprika) (use less spicy variety)
- ½ to 1 tablespoon garam masala (or biryani masala) (Refer notes)
- 1 tablespoon Lemon juice (optional)
Whole spices (skip if you don’t have any)
- 1 bay leaf (tej patta)
- 4 green cardamoms (choti elaichi)
- 6 cloves (lavang)
- 1 inch cinnamon (dalchini)
- 1 star anise (chakri phool )
- ¾ teaspoon shahi jeera (caraway seeds) (substitute with cumin)
- 1 strand mace (javitri)
Other ingredients for chicken biryani
- 2 cups basmati rice (aged rice only)
- 2 tablespoon ghee or Oil
- 1 large onion sliced thinly
- ¼ to ½ cup mint leaves chopped fine (about 15 leaves)
- 1 green chili (slit or chopped)
- ¼ cup plain yogurt (Indian curd)
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon red chili powder (optional, for heat)
- 1 teaspoon garam masala (or biryani masala)
- 3 cups water (or coconut milk) (refer notes more if needed )
- ¾ teaspoon salt (to stir in water)
- 2 tablespoon fried onions (optional)
- 1 pinch saffron (optional)(soaked in 2 tbsps hot milk)
Instructions
Preparation
- To a bowl, add yogurt, ginger garlic paste, ½ tsp salt, garam masala, turmeric, lemon juice & red chili powder.
- Mix up well and taste the marinade. Add more salt and spice if needed.
- Make slits on the chicken pieces. Add it to the marinade &mix well. Cover and set aside for 1 hour to overnight.
- Rinse basmati rice thrice and soak for 30 mins. Drain to a colander after 30 mins.
How to make chicken biryani
- Heat ghee or oil in a pot or pressure cooker.
- Add whole spices – bay leaf, cardamoms, cloves, cinnamon, star anise, shahi jeera & mace. Skip them if you do not have.
- When the spices begin to sizzle, add onions & fry them evenly stirring often until uniformly light brown but not burnt.
- Add chicken & saute until pale for 5 mins on a medium heat.
- Cover & cook on a low flame until the chicken is soft cooked or tender. Saute to evaporate any excess moisture in the pot.
- Taste test and add more salt if needed. I add about ¼ teaspoon salt. Add ¼ cup yogurt (curd), 2 tablespoons chopped mint leaves, 1 slit green chili, ½ to 1 teaspoon red chili powder & 1 teaspoon garam masala.
Layering
- Mix everything well and layer chicken evenly at the bottom. (check video)
- Spread drained rice in a layer over the chicken.
- To a separate bowl, pour 3 cups water. If cooking in a pot use 3 ½ cups water.
- Add ½ to ¾ tsp salt and mix. Taste the water. It must be slightly salty.
- Pour 2 cups of this water across the sides of the cooker or pot. Gently pour the rest on top of the rice. (check video)
- Level the rice if needed. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons mint leaves. Optionally add 2 tablespoons fried onions & saffron soaked milk if using.
- Pot method – If cooking in a pot, cover and cook on a low flame until the chicken biryani is done to your liking. If the rice is still under cooked or hard, pour ¼ to ½ cup boiling water and cook further. When done it has to be fully cooked, yet remain grainy.
- Cooker method – Set the flame to medium high. Cover & place the whistle. Cook for 1 whistle. Move the cooker away from the burner to stop cooking further.
- Rest until the pressure settles. Fluff up the chicken biryani with a fork.
- Serve from top to the bottom layer. Each serving gets biryani rice from top and chicken from the bottom layer.
- Enjoy chicken biryani with raita and sliced veggies, papad and shorba (biryani gravy).
Notes
- Water: The amount of water to use depends on the brand of basmati rice. Not all basmati rice need the same amount of water. So for pot method, start with 3 cups water. Towards the end if the rice is undercooked, pour ¼ to ½ cup boiling water and cook further. You will need to experiment a bit with the right amount here.
- Tomatoes: An authentic biryani never uses tomatoes, so I have not used in the recipe. It does not add any taste infact alters the flavor. If you still want to use you an follow the second recipe I have posted below.
- To make biryani masala or garam masala – Powder together very small piece of nutmeg, 5 cardamoms, ½ tsp pepper, 5 cloves, 1 to 2 inch cinnamon, ½ tsp fennel seeds, ½ tsp stone flower.
- Yogurt or curd: Do not use sour curd. If the curd is slightly sour then skip using lemon juice.
- Rice: I have used lalquilla basmati rice, old malai. Any other basmati rice may need less or more water. Make sure to use as needed.
Alternative quantities provided in the recipe card are for 1x only, original recipe.
For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips above the recipe card.
Video
NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)
© Swasthi’s Recipes
Recipe 2
This is the older version of the same chicken biryani many readers have been following since 2012. Upon getting several requests I have updated it here.
Ingredients (1 cup = 240ml)
Whole spices to Temper
1 bay leaf / tej patta
3 green cardamoms / choti elaichi
4 to 6 cloves / lavang
1 Cinnamon stick / dalchini, Small
1 Star anise / chakri phool
½ tsp shahi jeera / caraway seeds
Marination
1 ½ tbsp curd / yogurt
1 tsp ginger garlic paste
Salt as needed
¼ tsp turmeric / haldi
¼ tsp red chilli powder / lal mirch powder
½ to ¾ tsp biryani masala or garam masala powder
Other ingredients
½ kg chicken
2 cups basmati rice / chawal , aged
3 ¼ cups water or thin coconut milk(if using normal rice use little more water)
2 tbsp Oil
Salt as needed
1 tomato medium , (about half cup)
1 ½ tbsp curd / yogurt / dahi
12 mint leaves / pudina finely chopped
12 stems coriander leaves finely chopped
1 ½ tsp ginger garlic paste
2 green chilies / hari mirch sliced or chopped
1 onion large , sliced thinly
¼ tsp red chili powder
To powder
(or use 2 tsps readymade biryani masala or garam masala )
1 nutmeg / jaiphal piece , Very small
4 green cardamoms / choti elaichi
¼ to ½ tsp Pepper corn / kali mirch
5 cloves / lavang
1 cinnamon stick / dalchini, Small
½ tsp fennel seeds / saunf
½ tsp stone flower / dagad phool/ kalapasi (optional)
Preparation for the recipe
- Soak rice for at least 20 to 30 minutes. If using normal rice (not basmati) soak it for 30 minutes.
- Marinate chicken using ingredients under marination. Set this aside.
Making chicken biryani
- Add oil to a pot or pressure cooker and heat it. Next add the dry spices and saute till they begin to sizzle.
- Add onions and fry till they turn golden. Fry ginger garlic paste till the raw smell goes off.
- Next add chicken and fry till the color slightly changes to pale.
- Add chopped tomatoes, yogurt, red chili powder, corinader leaves and mint.
- Cook till the mixture turns thick and dry. By now the chicken should be almost cooked soft.
- Add the rest of the masala powder and fry till you get a nice smell.
- Mix together water or thin coconut milk and salt in a separate bowl. Check the salt , it must be slightly salty. Since salt is already added to marination, use little only. Pour this to a the chicken pot, bring it to a boil.
Adding rice
- Drain off the rice completely and add it to the pot or cooker.
- Cook till the water very little is left. Cover the pot or pressure cooker with a lid. Turn on the flame to very low. If using basmati rice, cook it for about 3 to 5 minutes, do not let it whistle. Or If using normal rice that is slightly on the harder side to cook allow it to whistle once. If cooking in pot, cook until the rice is done. Next if rice is under cooked, you can also sprinkle little water and cook further.
- Let the pressure go down. Fluff up the rice with a fork. Or transfer it immediately to a wide utensil to prevent turning mushy.
- If desired you can drizzle one spoon of ghee, coriander leaves and roasted boiled eggs.
- Serve pressure cooker chicken biryani with onion raita or biryani shorba or sherva.
Notes
Do not use thick coconut milk, it will split . You can dilute thick coconut milk and use it.
Followed the recipe and the biryani turned out brilliant. Thank you. Am hooked to your page.
Thank you so much Sanjay
Hope you enjoy more recipes
I loved this recipe. I used fennel seeds instead of caraway seeds and used cardamom powder instead of fresh. I also used Greek plain yogurt instead of curd. This made the initial chicken watery so I removed a cup of the broth and set it aside for cooking the rice. The result was fluffy, flavorful rice. Thank you for sharing!
Hi Swasthi
I would like to try this recipe but have a couple of questions.
1. When I cook plain basmati rice in the cooker for 1 cup rice I use 11/4 cups of water, so for ur biryani recipe should I use 2.5 cups water instead of 3 as I am worried the rice will turn mushy.
2. In the recipe u have not mentioned the temperature of water which would be assumed as cold, however in some comments you have mentioned to use hot or boiling water. Would you kindly clarify.
Thank you
Hi Love,
I guess I am too late. yes use 2.5 cups if your rice needs only 1 1/4 cups water. The temperature of water can be cold but it takes a lot of time if you live in a cold region. So it is good to use hot water to quicken the cooking process. Hope these help
Hello, can you please let me know where your pressure cooker is from if there is a link to purchase it on Amazon.com. Because my pressure cooked it too small for this cooking. Please email me. Thank you.
Hi Nikolai
Here is the link to the cooker I used in this post – cooker on amazon. If you are living outside India it is hard to find the silicon ring used in these Indian cookers. These rings will last only an year or 2. Later the cooker becomes unusable due to that. I suggest you look for 6 qt Instant pot.
Dear Swasthi
Thank you very much for this delicious recipe. I am an in England but found a shop that sold all the whole spices you listed. Last week I made it and enjoyed it so much that I tried it again today, using diced lamb instead of chicken. I added more chilli powder (for personal taste) and it was even better. Perhaps the lamb was a little dry, so in future I may use lamb on the bone.
My Persian friend rated it 10/10, so I congratulate you on an authentic recipe.
I’m excited to now try more of your recipes.
Thank you for sharing them!
Hello Joanne
So good to hear that! Thank you so much for sharing how it turned out.
I have a separate post using lamb. You may want to check it here – mutton biryani
Very tasty!
Hi Swasthi! How would I use this recipe if what I am used to for the rice is cooking it separately to 75 percent then putting it on top of the meat to dum ?
Hi Gul,
I have 2 other recipes made that way. You can check them here
Hyderabadi biryani
Chicken dum biryani
Hi,
May I know what’s a good substitute for Indian curd if I can’t find it in my area? Thank you.
Hi,
You should be able to get Nestle Asli in the nearest FairPrice.
If not then stir together 2 tbsps greek yogurt with 1 tbsp milk for marinade.
2½ tbsps yogurt with 1½ tbsps milk to use later in the recipe. Hope this helps
Thank you!! 🙂
Loved it. Simple and elegant recipe. Passed this on to many people and all have the same opinion.
Thanks Reshma
Very happy to know that!
Hi Swasthi,
How much meat and rice should i take for 4 ppl if biryani is the only dish being served? No breads or veggies. Also what is the best proportion of rice to meat in a biryani regardless of servings? I ask because i noticed that your biryani recipes have different proportions from 1.5 times to almost 2.5 times meat. Thanks.
Hello Sonia ji,
To make 4 large servings, 1.5 X this recipe. It will come up to 750 grams chicken and 3 cups rice. Yes every recipe uses different proportions and it depends on the spices, yogurt and other ingredients. Altering the proportion of these 2 ingredients most times alters the results as well. Hope this helps
We made the chicken Biryani tonight after loving your fish curry recipe. We followed your cooking times for the Instapot at it was amazing. The balance of flavours was perfect (we used half stock/half coconut milk powder and I recommend this to everyone!
Glad to know! Thank you!
this recipe is awesome I have tried it at my kitchen and it came out as you describe in your recipe. thank you.
Great to hear that Shaswati
Thanks for leaving a comment
I love all your recipes…It’s awesome and the outcome of the dishes are awesome 😘
Thank you so much 💗
Glad to know Janet
Thank you!
🙂
I tried the recipe you shared and it turned awesome my son loved it
Thank you Rashmi
Glad to know
Making this for my family, can’t wait to taste it.
Mam i didn’t get any spices in my briyani .. Is pouring water in between the recipe due to insufficient cooking of rice may cause the briyani tasteless?
Hello Murali,
Yes it can become tasteless if cold water is poured. Very hot boiling water is just good to use. It may be the garam masala or biryani masala not being flavorful. Try with a good aromatic spice powder.
Can this recipe be made in instant pot and if so for how long?
5 mins high pressure. Manual pressure release after 5 to 6 mins.
I just realised that Dum does not mean potato, please ignore my lack of knowledge. 😅😅
Hey! I have tried your recipe thrice! And I loved it! Though I skipped Garam or Biryani masala and Shahi Jeera because it becomes too much spices for my family members lol
I have a question. If I want to add potatoes, can you suggest how can I do it? I am learning cooking so I don’t know how will I add potatoes like add it with onion, boil it before adding or should I add more spices for potato. Or will I follow the recipe of Chicken Dum biryani?
Anyways, loved the recipe! Thank you!
Hi Fayzeen,
Glad to know! You can add quartered potatoes after the chicken is cooked, just before layering. Hope this helps
This is a seriously good biryani, absolutely wonderful, Thanks!
Welcome Laurence
Thank you!
Was absolutely amazing, thanks for the step by step instructions!
Welcome Carol
Glad to know! Thank you