Top 20 Indian Chicken Dishes

Probably the best known of all Indian dishes, murgh makhani, internationally referred to as butter chicken, is a staple dish at most Indian restaurants. The dish originated in Delhi during the 1950s, when a man named Kundan Lal Gujral opened his restaurant called Moti Mahal. The restaurant's cooks combined leftover marinade juices with tomatoes and butter, and then stewed the tandoor-cooked chicken in it, without even knowing that they have accidentally stumbled upon one of the most loved dishes ever and a future international delicacy. Moti Mahal became one of Delhi's attractions, and soon after, butter chicken spread throughout the world. With a combination of roasted meat, plenty of spices, a rich gravy made with cream, tomatoes, and butter, this dish is best accompanied by naan bread and garnished with even more butter, coriander, or green chilis.Expand

Tandoori chicken or tandoori murgh is one of the most popular dishes in Indian cuisine, its name derived from the Persian word tannur, meaning fire. The dish consists of chicken meat that is marinated in yogurt, seasoned with tandoori masala, nutmeg, and cumin, then placed on skewers. It is a unique dish because of the way it is prepared - traditionally, it is cooked at high temperatures in cylindrical clay ovens called tandoor, resulting in succulent meat with a smokey flavor. One popular theory suggests that it was invented by a man named Kundan Lal Gujral in his restaurant Moti Mahal (Palace of Pearls). He wanted to make a new dish, so he tried cooking the chicken in the tandoor, which was mostly used for baking the famous Indian bread called naan. The dish was an instant hit with the hungry customers, and the crispy, yet succulent chicken dish even caught the attention of Indian Prime Minister Jawaharial Nehru, who often ate at the restaurant and made it a regular dish at official banquets. The aforementioned theory belongs to the recent past, but historians claim that tandoor-cooked chicken actually dates back to the Mughal period, when the dish was merely a part of gigantic Indian feasts at the time. Tandoori chicken's fame led to many derivatives such as chicken tikka masala and butter chicken, both of them commonly found in restaurants across the country.Expand

Chicken 65 is a classic poultry dish with origins in Chennai, India. It consists of deep-fried chicken that is marinated in ginger, lemon, red chiles, and a variety of other spices. There are a few theories about the origin of chicken 65. The most popular theory says that it was created in Tamil Nadu by A. M. Buhari in 1965. Another one says that the original dish was made with 65 hot chili peppers, as a testament of manliness. There are also some unlikely theories, such as the one claiming that the chicken was cut into 65 pieces, or that the chicken was 65 days old when the dish was prepared. Due to the dish's popularity, there are numerous variations, and each South Indian state has its own version. In Karnataka, the dish is garnished with grated coconut, and in Andhra Pradesh, the chicken is cooked instead of fried. Chicken 65 is commonly served with hot, red chutneys.Expand

Murgh tikka is a popular Indian dish made from marinated chicken pieces that are grilled or roasted to perfection. The word "murgh" means chicken in Hindi and Urdu, and "tikka" refers to small, boneless pieces of meat that are marinated and cooked on skewers. The chicken is typically marinated in a mixture of yogurt, spices, lemon juice, and sometimes mustard oil, which tenderizes the meat and infuses it with a rich, tangy flavor. Common spices in the marinade include turmeric, cumin, coriander, garam masala, red chili powder, and paprika, which also give the dish its signature bright orange or red hue. Traditionally, murgh tikka is cooked in a tandoor (a clay oven), but it can also be prepared on a grill or in an oven. Murgh tikka is often served as an appetizer or snack, accompanied by mint chutney, lemon wedges, and thinly sliced onions. It can also be used as a base for other dishes, such as chicken tikka masala, where the grilled chicken pieces are simmered in a rich, creamy curry sauce.Expand

Chicken kathi roll is a variety of kathi roll prepared with chicken as the key ingredient. It's a typical street food originating from Kolkata, consisting of flatbreads such as roti or paratha that are filled with marinated and sautéed chicken pieces. Each flatbread is first lined with an egg that's cracked on top of it before it's spread and cooked. The chicken is marinated in spices such as turmeric, chili powder, cumin, coriander, lemon juice, salt, and mustard oil. Once prepared, the stuffing is mixed with sliced onions, cucumbers, grated carrots, hot chili peppers, and coriander. Sauces such as tomato sauce and green chili sauce are also added to the mix, which is wrapped with a flatbread and served hot. If desired, serve chicken kathi rolls with a green chutney on the side. There is also a very similar variety of kathi roll called chicken kathi roll with egg, and the name speaks for itself.Expand

Murgh rezala is a traditional curry originating from East India, and it’s especially popular in Bengal. This aromatic and rich curry is usually made with a combination of chicken, dahi, oil, ghee, cashews, poppy seeds, ginger-garlic paste, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, peppercorns, hot peppers, white pepper, salt, garam masala, milk, and saffron. The cashews and poppy seeds are soaked in water and ground into a paste. The chicken is marinated in a mixture of yogurt, ginger, and garlic. The cloves, peppercorns, cinnamon, cardamom, and dried hot peppers are fried in ghee and oil, and the marinated chicken pieces are then added to the pan and fried over high heat. The remaining ingredients are mixed into the curry with a bit of water and the dish is simmered for about an hour. Once done, the curry is garnished with saffron that’s been soaked in milk, and it’s then enjoyed with rice or roti on the side.Expand

Originating from the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu, Chettinad kozhi is a traditional curry dish prepared with chicken as the main ingredient. The meat is marinated in turmeric, yogurt, and a paste that's made with a combination of coconut, red chili peppers, cumin, coriander, poppy seeds, tomatoes, black pepper, fennel, onions, garlic, lemon juice, and oil. Once done, this spicy curry is served garnished with curry leaves or coriander leaves. It's usually accompanied by paratha or boiled rice on the side. Chettinad kozhi is often made for special occasions in the area.Expand

Malabar chicken biryani is a special style of biryani that originates from the Malabar region in India's state of Kerala, located along the country's southwestern coast. What's really special about it is the use of aromatic, short-grain rice kaima, which provides a distinctive texture and taste. The chicken in this biryani is marinated in spices and dahi, infusing it with a deep, succulent flavor. The blend of aromatic spices like star anise, cloves, cinnamon, and fennel seeds gives this biryani its unique, mildly sweet profile. Malabar chicken biryani is traditionally prepared "dum" style, which involves layering partially cooked rice and marinated chicken in a pot, sealing it, and then letting it slow-cook over a low flame. This method allows all the flavors to permeate the rice, resulting in an incredibly aromatic dish. The dish is served with raita or pickles.Expand

Kozhi curry is a traditional curry originating from Kerala. The stew is made with a combination of chicken pieces (marinated in chili powder and salt), onions, ginger-garlic paste, green chili peppers, coriander powder, chicken masala powder, curry leaves, coconut oil, coconut milk, and turmeric powder. The ingredients are slowly cooked in coconut milk until tender and the gravy develops a reddish color, and the curry is then served hot. It's recommended to accompany the dish with steamed rice, paratha, or roti on the side.Expand

Muradabadi biryani is a traditional biryani variety named after the city of Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh. However, it is believed that the dish originated in Lucknow. It's usually prepared with a combination of chicken pieces, rice, green chili peppers, garam masala, hung curd (thick yogurt), ginger-garlic paste, cloves, bay leaves, cinnamon, cardamom, mace, nutmeg, black pepper, coriander, fennel, cumin, caraway, salt, lemon juice, and a small amount of oil. Muradabadi biryani is typically prepared kacchi-style, in which raw chicken is cooked along with the rice and spices. Interestingly, food coloring is added near the end of cooking in order to make the dish more visually appealing. If desired, the biryani can be garnished with coriander leaves before serving.Expand