Chicken pulao recipe – One pot flavored chicken pilaf cooked with mild Indian spices. Pulao is a delicious dish made of basmati rice, meat or veggies, spices & herbs. This chicken pulao is super easy to make for a weeknight dinner. It is mildly spiced and not heavy like the Chicken biryani.
Traditionally a Biryani is made by layering marinated meat and partially cooked rice. The pot is then sealed and dum cooked to trap the flavors. Making a good chicken biryani takes a considerable amount of time to plan & cook.
This chicken pulao comes to my rescue most often when we crave for a flavorful chicken & rice dish. It is not only super quick to make but very flavorful and tastes delicious.
There are so many ways of making a chicken pulao. Some people use stock to cook the dish while in the south many people use coconut milk. But most times I make it with water alone.
This is a kids’ friendly recipe too as it requires only a few spices. Chicken pulao is best served with a yogurt Raita or a simple salan.
Methods of making chicken pulao
Chicken pulao can be made in a regular pot, traditional pressure cooker or instant pot. You can find all the 3 methods in this post.
More Chicken recipes,
Easy Chicken curry
Chicken korma
Easy Chicken fried rice
Chicken noodles
How to make chicken pulao
1. Wash and soak rice for about 20 minutes, if using normal rice soak for 30 minutes. Drain off the water and set aside.
2. Marinate chicken with turmeric, chili powder, salt, ginger garlic paste, 1 tsp oil and then yogurt. You can also add a tsp of good garam masala powder. This is optional. Yogurt makes the chicken tender. If using coconut milk for the recipe, skip using yogurt for marination.
3. Set this aside till we need.
4. Pour oil to a pressure cooker or pot. When it turns hot, add dry spices including fennel powder. Saute till the spices begin to sizzle.
5. Add onions and fry until lightly golden. You can lightly brown them as well.
6. Saute chicken on a medium flame.
7. Chicken should turn white in color and partially soft cooked for about 3 to 4 minutes. Otherwise chicken may turn hard after adding tomatoes.
8. Next add chopped tomatoes. Fry till the tomatoes turn mushy, soft and completely cooked.
9. Add chopped coriander and mint leaves. Stir and fry until the mixture begins to smell good.
10. Continue to cook till the moisture from tomatoes evaporate.
Water, stock or coconut milk to make chicken pulao
11. Add stock or water or thin coconut milk. Also add salt. We have already added salt to marinate, take care not to add too much.
12. When it comes to a boil, add drained rice.
13. Stir well. If cooking in a pot, then cover and cook on a low heat until the rice is done.
14. If cooking in a pressure cooker, cover the lid and cook for 1 whistle on a medium heat.
15. When the pressure releases, remove the lid and leave it for about 5 minutes. Fluff up gently.
Serve chicken pulao with onion raita.
Tips to make the best chicken pulao
1. Always wash rice at least thrice. This prevents the rice grains in the chicken pulao from turning mushy & sticky.
2. Next soak basmati rice for at least 20 mins. This helps the rice grains to expand well while cooking. So you can soak the rice and set aside until you are done with the other preparations.
3. Using whole spices is the key to this chicken pulao. However if you do not have then just replace them with any store bought chicken masala powder or garam masala. Follow the instructions on the pack for the quantity to use.
4. I prefer to use 1 to 2 tbsps of yogurt to marinate the chicken. This enhances the dish a lot and the chicken comes out very juicy & succulent without drying out. However you can skip this.
5. Mint leaves are a not to miss herb while making a chicken pulao as it takes the entire dish to a new level. if you do not have it then replace with cilantro or coriander leaves.
Related Recipes
Chicken pulao recipe (Instant Pot & Stovetop)
For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card
Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )
To Marinate (for tenderizing)
- 250 grams chicken (about half pound) cubed
- 1 tablespoon ginger garlic paste or crushed or grated
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon red chili powder or smoked paprika
- ⅛ teaspoon turmeric
- ⅛ teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- 1 ½ to 2 tablespoons yogurt or curd
Whole spices (skip whatever you don’t have)
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 star anise
- ½ teaspoon cumin (or shahi jeera)
- 6 cloves or laung
- 2 inch cinnamon or dalchini
- 4 green cardamoms or choti elaichi
- ¾ teaspoon saunf powder (fennel powder) optional
- 1 black cardamom (optional)
- 1 strand mace optional
other ingredients for chicken rice
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1 medium onion ( thinly sliced)
- 1 medium tomato (optional, chopped )
- ½ to ¾ teaspoon Salt (adjust to taste)
- 2 tablespoons mint or pudina (chopped finely)
- 2 tablespoons coriander leaves or cilantro (chopped finely)
- 1 ½ cups basmati rice (I use lalquilla old malai)
- 2 ½ cups water (1¾ cups for instant pot) or stock or coconut milk
Instructions
Preparation to make chicken pulao
- Wash basmati rice a few times to get rid of starch.
- Then soak it for 20 minutes. This helps to cook the rice grains fluffy. Drain and set aside.
- Marinate the chicken with ginger garlic paste, salt, turmeric, red chilli powder, garam masala, & yogurt. This helps to tenderize. Set this aside till we use it.
How to make chicken pulao (stovetop)
- Heat a pot or cooker with oil. Add whole spices – bay leaf, star anise, cumin, cloves, cinnamon, mace, cardamoms and fennel powder.
- Saute till the spices begin to smell nice.
- Add onions & green chili. Fry stirring often until the onions turn lightly golden.
- Transfer marinated chicken and fry until it turns pale and white.
- This takes around 3 to 4 minutes. Next add tomatoes.
- Fry until the tomatoes turn mushy, pulp and looks completely cooked through.
- Add mint and coriander leaves and fry until it smells good for a minute or two.
- Make sure tomatoes are cooked, blended well with the mixture, then pour stock or water or thin coconut milk.
- If your coconut milk is creamy or thick, dilute it with water and measure.
- When it comes to a boil, add salt and drained rice. Mix well
- If cooking in a normal pot, cover and cook on a low heat until the chicken rice is done completely.
- If cooking in a whistling pressure cooker, cover & cook for 1 whistle on a medium heat.
- When the pressure releases, fluff up the chicken pulao & serve with raita or plain yogurt.
Instant pot Chicken pulao
- Press SAUTE button. Pour oil to the inner pot of the Instant pot.
- Add all the whole spices & saute for 30 to 60 seconds. Then add the onions and chilli. Saute until transparent or golden.
- Next add then chicken and saute for 3 to 4 mins until chicken turns pale.
- Add tomatoes, mint, coriander leaves and saute the tomatoes turn mushy. Ensure the moisture dries up at this stage.
- Then drain the water from the rice completely and add it to the pot.
- Also pour 1¾ cups water and add in little more salt. Mix everything well.
- Press CANCEL button. Scrape off the bottom of the pot with a spatula to release any bits of spices stuck in there.
- Secure the Instant pot with the lid. Position the steam release handle to sealing.
- Press the PRESSURE COOK button (high pressure) for 5 mins.
- When the IP finishes, it will beep. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 2 to 3 mins.
- Then release the rest of the pressure manually with the help of a spoon by moving the steam vent from sealing to venting.
- Gently fluff up with a fork. Do not stir the chicken pulao a lot when it is too hot. Just allow to cool down a bit.
Notes
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.
NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)
© Swasthi’s Recipes
Georgie D'Costa says
Tried your chicken pulao turned out excellent. Thanks and God Bless.
swasthi says
Welcome Georgie D’Costa
Glad your chicken pulao turned out good. Thank you so much.
Kaiser shaikh says
Hi made chicken pulav as per ur receipe and it was yummmmm. Thanks for such a delicious n simple chicken pulav receipe.
swasthi says
Hi Kaiser Shaikh
You are welcome. thank you so much for the comment. Glad your chicken pulao turned out delicious.
Aparna says
Hi Mam, Made it Yesterday.It was delicious.Kids Loved a lot.
Thank you…
Keep it up…..
-Aparna
swasthi says
Hi Aparna,
You are welcome. Glad your chicken pulao came out delicious. Thanks for trying.
🙂
Batool says
Thanks alot! Was looking for a perfect pulao recipe since she’s. It was amazing!!!
swasthi says
Hi Batool,
You are welcome. Glad your chicken pulao turned out good.
Thank you.
sara says
This recipe is awesome,my family liked it a lot,i did not add garam masala powder to the marinated chicken,but if i add it,would it become more spicy and hot for the children to eat?
swasthi says
Hi Sara,
Thank you so much! So glad to know your liked the chicken pulao. Since I have kids at home I usually skip the chilli powder and just use garam masala for the marination. This flavors up the chicken without making it hot & spicy. You can make a hot chilli raita & serve with it for those preferring hot foods. Hope this helps.
saira says
This recipe is awesome,my family liked it a lot,i did not add garam masala powder to the marinated chicken,but if i add it,would it become more spicy and hot for the children to eat?
Vaishali says
This recipe is a breather for beginners like me … It’s easy and highly delectable… A must try for all.
swasthi says
Hi Vaishali
Thank you so much!
Arpa Jadhav says
Nice recipe my family like it a lot
???
Soma Basu says
Excellent.. thanks for wonderful recipes.
swasthi says
You are welcome Soma. Thank you so much.
Ra. says
“Keeping it light” that is the key.
I always go overboard and that makes mine a mush.
Rizna says
Turned out absolutely perfect!
swasthi says
Hi Rizna
Thanks for the comment. Glad to know it came out good.
Sana says
Very nice and easy recipe ! Attempted my 1st chicken pulao and the result was perfect ! Everyone loved it 🙂 thank you
swasthi says
Welcome Sana
So glad to know it turned out good. thanks for the comment
Rexvyn says
WoW I am a masterChef now .
Excellent recipe . Handi licking good
swasthi says
Hi Rexvyn,
Glad to know you made it so good. Thanks for the comment.
🙂
Ajit Kumar says
Really we enjoyed this delicious food. Made my day, Thanks
swasthi says
Welcome and thank you so much for rating the recipe.
sharon fernandes says
Super recipe smells and tastes delicious !!
swasthi says
Thanks for trying
Fatema hussain says
It is a grt recipe… Guys u shud gv a try…. I really luvd it… N so did my frndz n family…..thanku mam fr sharing luvly receipe wid us…
swasthi says
Welcome Fatema,
Thanks for trying. Glad to know you liked it.
Sandhya says
Hi, I have been craving for a chicken pulao ever since I had the best one, once in goa.. I tried my best to replicate it.. Never worked out for me, until I came accross ur recipe and followed the instructions to the T. It was awesome. I totally loved it and yes it has definitely entered my list of things to be frequently made! Thanks alot. Would love to try ur other recipes soon.
Rama Shetty says
I prefer your recipe almost everything I do at kitchen on weekends. Super results. Thanks so much.
swasthi says
Welcome Rama shetty
Thanks for trying
Lalitha says
Tried the Andhra chicken pulao came out very well ! Added a few extra green chilled yum !!!
swasthi says
Thanks Lalitha
Raveena says
Amazing recipe, the photos are just apt and had the most incredible time eating the pulao! The chicken turned out juicy and soft too!
swasthi says
Thanks Raveena. Glad it turned out good!!
Uthra Arunkumar says
Hi mam the recipe turned to be really good.but. I get good result for normal rice but for basmathi rice it turns to be fluffy.can you plz suggest for boiling plain basmathi rice?
swasthi says
Thanks for trying Uthra
You can check this post on how to cook basmathi rice