• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Explore Cook Eat

  • Recipes Home
  • 1,000 Foods to Eat Project
  • MUST Try Korean Dishes!
  • About Me
  • Recipes
    • USA
    • Asia
    • Salads
    • Soups
    • Europe
  • Travel
    • USA
      • New Mexico
      • Texas
      • Utah
      • North Carolina
    • Japan
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

Home » 1,000 Foods To Eat Project

Chicken Biryani Made Simple!

Mar 31, 2020Last Modified: July 22, 2022

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about how to make an Easy Chicken Biryani!

Chicken biryani with chicken pieces, rice, onions, cilantro and tomatoes on a silver plate with a second plate of the same in the background
My incredible biryani masterpiece!
Jump to:
  • What Is Biryani?
  • Biryani Made Simple Using Shan Biryani Mix and Shan Biryani Recipe
  • What Ingredients Will I Need For This Dish?
  • Instructions
  • 1,000 Foods to Eat Before You Die
  • Some Other Indian Dishes That You May Enjoy!
  • 1,000 Foods to Eat Project
  • Chicken Biryani

What Is Biryani?

I LOVE rice. So it should not come as a surprise that Biryani, an Indian mixed rice dish usually made with basmati rice, is one of my absolute favorite foods!

I first discovered biryani while living in England. First bite was love at first taste! Biryani is a very special dish, and my understanding is that it is worthy of and often served at weddings and celebrations in India.

Biryani is highly flavorful and contains seasoned rice, vegetables, and very often meats such as lamb, chicken, or beef which are cooked to tender perfection.

Both the Indian spices that are used and the basmati rice are extremely aromatic, and the resulting dish is an absolute feast for your senses!

Biryani Made Simple Using Shan Biryani Mix and Shan Biryani Recipe

Traditional biryani can be considered a fairly complex dish to make.

I have made biryani from scratch before, grinding my own spices, etc. However this time I "cheated" and used a spice mix by Shan Foods that I bought from my local Indian-Pakistani grocer. You can also order this classic blend of traditional spices through Amazon by clicking here.

It's so convenient and a real time saver to have this perfect blend of seasonings ready to use to make a delicious biryani!

This seasoning mix includes salt, red chili, ginger, garlic, dehydrated onion, cumin, nigella, turmeric, coriander, green cardamom, clove, and black pepper. The mix offers a perfect balance of aromatic spices for this fantastic rice dish!

Other ingredients include maltodextrin, hydrolyzed soy protein, sugar, citric acid, canola oil, and silicon dioxide.

There are no preservatives or artificial food colors in the Shan Biryani masala, which is a blend of Indian spices.

Shan biryani seasoning in a white bowl

The Shan Biryani Recipe that's on the back of the box is also easy and straightforward to follow. So, the combination of the ready to use seasoning mix and the recipe is truly biryani made simple!

Now, the recipe you will find here is not the Shan biryani recipe, but is based on their recipe. Honestly I think my version is even easier! You can follow the Shan recipe on the back of the box, or use the Shan mix in my recipe found in the recipe card below. Either way, you will enjoy a delicious and easy to make biryani with an authentic taste!

What Ingredients Will I Need For This Dish?

Basmati rice, chicken broth, 2 onions, 1 large tomato, glass bowl with yogurt, ghee, white bowl with cilantro, Shan biryani mix, white bowl with chicken pieces.

My biryani recipe will include chicken as the meat.

You will need the following ingredients for this fantastic dish:

  • Shan Biryani Spice Mix
  • Onions
  • Ghee (can sub olive oil or canola oil)
  • Chicken (you can use pieces of chicken with the meat on the bones, or use chicken breasts cut into small portions; if possible buy a whole chicken that has been cut up for use in this recipe)
  • Tomatoes
  • Fresh coriander
  • Plain natural yogurt
  • Chicken broth
  • Basmati rice
  • Water (for cooking the rice)
  • Olive oil
  • Pinch of yellow food color (totally optional to sprinkle on the rice if you fancy!)
  • Salt (optional add to taste)
  • Mint leaves (optional garnish)

The Shan recipe does not call for ghee, which is clarified butter. Ghee is used extensively in Indian cooking, and it gives a much richer flavor than cooking with olive or canola oil. Therefore I recommend using ghee!

My version of this biryani does not include adding salt, but does indicate that it is an option to add it to taste if you like. The Shan recipe calls for adding 3 tablespoons of Shan salt when preparing the rice. This salt is a Himalayan Pink Salt, so if you find you would like to include salt, the perfect salt to add would be Shan salt!

Instructions

Making the Chicken Curry

Begin by heating 4 tablespoon of ghee in a very large skillet (one that you can cover with a lid) or large pot on medium high heat. Fry onions approximately 10-15 minutes or until softened and golden brown stirring every so often. Be careful not to let the onions burn when you stir fry the onions.

Sliced onions which have been cooked to golden brown color.

Remove the onions and place on a plate. Then add the remaining tablespoon of ghee, and then the chicken and the Shan Biryani Spice Mix, and cook for around 5 - 10 minutes. Leave undisturbed for a bit and turn every so often to ensure all sides of the chicken are browned.

Chicken pieces coated with spices in a pot

Return the onions to the skillet. Add 1 cup natural yogurt and 1 cup chicken broth. Stir and reduce heat to to a simmer, and then cover and continue to cook until the meat is tender. Because the chicken should be cut up into small portions, it should only take around 10 min or so for the meat to be cooked to tender. AT THIS TIME YOU CAN START PREPARING YOUR BASMATI RICE 🙂

Chicken pieces with sliced cooked onions chicken broth and yogurt

Making The Rice

Meanwhile prepare your basmati rice. Heat your stove to medium and add olive oil to a medium sized saucepan. Once the oil is hot, add the rice, and stir for around 1 minute, being sure to coat each grain of rice with the oil.

Grains of basmati rice in a pot that have been coated in oil

Add the water, and bring to the boil. Boil rice for a few seconds, then turn your heat down to the low to medium low setting on your stove, cover, and cook for around 10-15 minutes or until all the water is absorbed and the rice is tender. Check every so often to make sure the rice is still moist and not sticking to the bottom of the saucepan. After the rice is cooked and the water is absorbed, remove from the heat, and allow to rest (covered) for about 10 minutes. You can sprinkle a pinch of yellow food color at this point if you like!

Basmati rice which has been cooked in a pot.

While you are cooking your rice, let's turn back to the chicken curry. Return the heat to medium high, and add the tomatoes. Heat on med high for around 5 min or so. Once done you can leave this covered on a very low heat setting until your basmati rice is ready.

Chicken pieces in broth with onions, diced tomatoes and yogurt

Now it's time to mix! Lay your rice out and pour meat curry over the rice and mix gently. Add salt to taste if you like. Sprinkle chopped coriander leaves on top to garnish!

The Shan Biryani recipe recommends adding mint leaves together with fresh coriander to the dish. Mint would add a lovely flavor if you have it available!

Get your taste buds ready for an amazing and delicious chicken biryani!

Chicken biryani with chicken pieces, rice, onions, cilantro and tomatoes on a gold rimmed plate

1,000 Foods to Eat Before You Die

Biryani is one of the foods listed in the book 1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die, by Mimi Sheraton. This Indian rice dish is an ultimate food experience, and it is #30 in my quest to try each and every one of the foods in the book. 🙂 More about this later!

Cover of the book 1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die

Chicken biryani with chicken pieces, rice, onions, cilantro and tomatoes on a silver plate with a second plate of the same in the background

By the way, basmati rice is also on my 1,000 Foods to Eat Project list, based on the book 1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die, by Mimi Sheraton. I'm working my way through these 1,000 Foods and posted about basmati rice here.

Even if this was a "cheat" biryani, I'm totally elated with it and happy to dine on the leftovers for days. YES! This is a very economical dish as you will make enough to feed an army!

I hope that you might give this a try...I believe you will love it too!

Some Other Indian Dishes That You May Enjoy!

Indian Spiced Green Lentils

Indian Spiced Lentils With Onion Salad and rice in a bowl

Spicy Eggplant Chutney

Spicy Eggplant Chutney

Keema do Pyaza

Keema do pyaza

1,000 Foods to Eat Project

Please follow along with me on this quest to try the 1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die, from the book by Mimi Sheraton! Join me in this journey and discover new foods, experiences, and cuisines which I hope will add inspiration, fun, and joy to your life! For a list of the foods tried so far visit the 1,000 Foods to Eat Project page.

If you'd like to follow along and be a part of the 1,000 Foods Project, please sign up to get the latest recipes and inspiration for you to expand your food comfort zone! It's an incredible journey, please join me by signing up here. 🙂

Cheers! Grace

Chicken biryani with chicken pieces, rice, onions, cilantro and tomatoes on a silver plate

Chicken Biryani

Grace based on the Shan Biryani recipe
Chicken Biryani made simple! Using Shan Biryani Spice Mix, you'll create the most delicious of chicken and rice dishes in no time!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 12 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Total Time 42 mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine Indian
Servings 8 people

Equipment

  • large skillet or pot to cook the chicken and curry sauce
  • large pot to cook the rice

Ingredients
  

  • 1 bx Shan Biryani Spice Mix
  • 2 onions large and very thinly sliced
  • 5 tablespoon ghee split; can sub olive oil or canola oil
  • 2.5 lbs Chicken (meat on bones) - cut into small portions if possible buy a whole cut up chicken for use in this recipe
  • 3 tomatoes medium sized diced
  • 1 cup cilantro chopped
  • 1 cup plain and natural yogurt
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • salt optional add to taste
  • mint leaves chopped; optional garnish

Basmati Rice

  • 2 cups Basmati Rice
  • 3.5 cups water to cook the basmati rice
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • yellow food coloring optional but fun!

Instructions
 

  • Heat 4 tablespoon of ghee in a very large skillet (one that you can cover with a lid) or large pot on medium high heat. Fry the onions approximately 10-15 minutes or until softened and golden brown stirring every so often. Be careful not to let the onions burn.
    Onions
  • Remove the onions and place on a plate. Then add the remaining tablespoon of ghee, and then the chicken and the Shan Biryani Spice Mix, and cook for around 5 - 10 minutes. Leave undisturbed for a bit and turn every so often to ensure all sides of the chicken are browned.
    Chicken pieces coated with spices in a pot
  • Return the onions to the skillet. Add 1 cup natural yogurt and 1 cup chicken broth. Stir and reduce heat to to a simmer, and then cover and continue to cook until the meat is tender. Because the chicken should be cut up into small portions, it should only take around 10 min or so for the meat to be cooked to tender. AT THIS TIME REFER TO STEP 5 SO THAT YOU CAN START PREPARING YOUR BASMATI RICE 🙂
    Chicken pieces with sliced cooked onions chicken broth and yogurt
  • Return the heat to medium high, and add the tomatoes. Heat on med high for around 5 min or so. Once done you can leave this covered on a very low heat setting until your basmati rice is ready.
    Chicken pieces in broth with onions, diced tomatoes and yogurt
  • Meanwhile prepare your basmati rice. Heat your stove to medium and add olive oil to a medium sized saucepan. Once the oil is hot, add the rice, and stir for around 1 minute, being sure to coat each grain of rice with the oil.
    Basmati Rice
  • Add the water, and bring to the boil. Boil rice for a few seconds, then turn your heat down to the low to medium low setting on your stove, cover, and cook for around 10-15 minutes or until all the water is absorbed and the rice is tender. Check every so often to make sure the rice is still moist and not sticking to the bottom of the saucepan. After the rice is cooked and the water is absorbed, remove from the heat, and allow to rest (covered) for about 10 minutes. You can sprinkle a pinch of yellow food color at this point if you like!
    basmati rice in a pot
  • Now it's time to mix! Lay your rice out and gently mix together the chicken and curry sauce with the rice. Add salt to taste if you like. Sprinkle chopped cilantro on top to garnish and mint leaves as well as an optional and delish garnish!
    Chicken biryani with chicken pieces, rice, onions, cilantro and tomatoes on a silver plate with a second plate of the same in the background

Notes

Basmati rice is the king of rices, and biryani is the king of rice dishes!  Serve this during a special occasion or anytime you want to treat yourself!  If you are a fan of mint, you can also add mint as a garnish.  Bring a taste of India home to your table tonight!
Keyword Chicken, Rice
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
« Japanese Kit Kats
Super Simple Korean Spinach Side Dish »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Sign up so that you never miss the greatest recipes!

About Me

Hi I’m Grace! I'm married and a mom to my fur baby, Toby, and food and travel are two of my greatest passions! Since our bank account does not allow us to travel or eat out as much as we'd like, I decided I would cook delicious meals that could give us a taste of all the places we'd like to go. My goal is to get you in the kitchen, and inspire you to cook and taste delightful meals that will transport you too. Let’s throw some actual travel in from time to time, all with an emphasis on keeping your wallet full and happy as well. Let’s get cooking and let’s start exploring!! I'm excited to be on this journey with you!!

By the way most of these recipes are Toby taste tested and Toby approved!!

Chief Taste Tester Toby

Toby Chief Taste Tester

Recent Posts

  • Crispy Garlicky Roast Chicken Recipe
  • DELISH South Carolina Benne Wafers Recipe
  • Middle Eastern Style Cabbage Salad Recipe
  • Roasted Carrots With Berbere Spice Recipe
  • Perfectly Pan Fried Rainbow Trout Recipe

Recent Comments

  • Grace on All About Samyang 2x Spicy Buldak Ramen!
  • Alexis on All About Samyang 2x Spicy Buldak Ramen!
  • Grace on Easy and Delicious Connecticut Steamed Cheeseburgers!
  • Grace L Henrie on Easy and Delicious Connecticut Steamed Cheeseburgers!
  • Grace on How To Cook Korean Short Ribs In The Oven

Archives

Categories

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Footer

Amazon Associates Disclosure

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2023 Explore Cook Eat on the Foodie Pro Theme