Chicken Biryani is a one-pot meal made of rice, chicken, and aromatic spices. It is rich in flavor, grand in tradition, and elaborate enough to take center stage at holidays and celebrations.

Traditional Chicken Biryani is made with layering marinated chicken, parboiled rice, spices, herbs, saffron, milk and ghee in a sealed wide mouthed vessel over burning coal( dum Biryani method).In this Chicken Biryani recipe of mine, I have used a much shorter time and procedure to cook, by the use of a pressure cooker.
Chicken Biryani, did you say? I am hungry! Are you a curry loving carb monster? Then, this chicken biryani of mine is a must try! What’s more, it is quick and easy to make at home.
For the uninitiated, let me tell you what Biryani is all about.
Biryani is a celebration of all that is great about Indian food. Be it the vibrant colors, its heady aroma that lures you to the kitchen instantly, the soft fluffy rice, or if you are like me, the addictive flavors of what the spices can bring to a dish– Biryani is the answer!
You can make it with any protein of your choice, be it chicken, meat or vegetable, it is guaranteed to make you heart happy!
Table of Contents
What is Biryani?
The word ‘biryani’ is derived from a Persian word, birian, which means ‘fried before cooking’.
Biryani is a mixed rice dish with its origins among the Muslims of India. It can be compared to mixing a curry, later combining it with semi-cooked rice separately. This dish is especially popular throughout the Indian subcontinent, as well as among its diaspora.
It is also prepared in other regions such as Iraqi Kurdistan. It is made with Indian spices, rice, and meat (chicken, beef, goat, pork, lamb, prawn, or fish), and sometimes, in addition, eggs and/or potatoes in certain regional varieties. There are variations of the same using vegetables, mushrooms etc
It is a popular dish that has acquired a niche for itself in South Asian cuisine.
For more biryani recipes, click on the image below

What does biryani taste like?
Chicken biryani is moist, robust, and spicy, and the rice and meat are infused with a heady blend of aromas of cardamom, clove, cinnamon.

Which is the tastiest biryani?
The Hyderabadi Biryani from the kitchens of the Nizam is a clear winner when it comes to taste and is loved by locals and tourists alike. Close on its heels is Chennai favorite, Dindigul Biryani, which originated in the small town of Dindigul, Tamil Nadu followed by the Ambur Biryani in South India.
Which city of India is famous for biryani?
Hyderabad is famous for several things: its pearls, its skilled craftsmanship, its Nizams, its mosques and palaces, but most importantly, its biryani.
History of Biryani
The word Biryani is derived from the Persian word Birian, which means ‘fried before cooking’ and Birinj, the Persian word for rice.
There are many legends associated with the evolution of Biryani. One of the popular being the story related to Mumtaz Mahal, wife of Shah Jahan. It is believed that when Mumtaz visited the army barracks, she found that the Mughal soldiers looked undernourished. In order to provide a balanced diet to the soldiers, she asked the chefs to prepare dish with meat and rice. The dish was whipped up with spices and saffron and cooked over wood fire.
Another legend states that Biryani was brought to India by the Turk-Mongol conqueror, Taimur, in the year 1398. Even, Nizams of Hyderabad and Nawabs of Lucknow were known for their appreciation of this delicacy.
Traditionally, biryani was cooked over charcoal in earthen pots.Since this is an elaborate process, many now take the easier route to feeling satiated.
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Which is best biryani rice?
The Basmati rice is your choice when it comes to cooking flavorful biryani. The rice itself carries. a very unique taste and its long grained nature makes it all the more enticing to be served in festive rice preparations.
What does dum biryani mean?
Dum Biryani is a favorite, which is a one-pot dish of aromatic spices and delightful flavors – a result from slow cooking the ingredients in a sealed, heavy bottomed vessel for hours or even overnight in certain cases and is mostly cooked on burning firewood stoves.
How to make Chicken Biryani in a pressure cooker?
Unlike the dum biryani, here I have shared an equally delicious quick and easy Chicken Biryani recipe, you can make at your home with a pressure cooker.
Chicken Biryani recipe
Nutrition Facts
- Amount Per ServingCalories1815
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 32g 50%
- Saturated Fat 25g 125%
- Sodium 3325mg 139%
- Potassium 1463mg 42%
- Total Carbohydrate 346g 116%
- Dietary Fiber 24g 96%
- Sugars 23g
- Protein 32g 64%
- Vitamin A 88%
- Vitamin C 103%
- Calcium 22%
- Iron 33%
* The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
What is the ideal rice to water ratio?
In this recipe, I use 1 cup rice to 1 1/2 cup water. This allows the rice grains to be separate and soft preventing them from sticking to each other. I also add a tsp of oil while cooking, to prevent rice from sticking to each other.
What is the best rice to chicken ratio?
Rule of thumb is to use equal amounts of rice and chicken by weight, which is 1:1 ( 1 cup of rice to 1 pound of chicken) Depending on how you enjoy your biryani , you can use more chicken ( In this recipe I have used 1 cup rice to to 1 1/2 pound chicken)
What do you eat with Chicken Biryani?
Biryani is typically served at festive occasions and considered a complete meal.It is served along with a saucy side dish such as baghare baingan (eggplants in rich sauce) .I like to serve my Chicken Biryani with cooling raita made with yogurt, mint, cilantro, and a pinch of salt.
What is the difference between biryani and pulao?
Biryani is prepared by layering parboiled basmati rice, marinated or cooked meat/chicken/vegetables/fish, fried onions, fresh herbs, lemon juice, saffron water, etc., and then steaming it together. The final dish will have fluffy rice grains in a variety of colors from the absorption of spices, juices and saffron.
Indian pulao (pilaf) is prepared as a one pot dish. Sauteed onions, spices, meat or chicken or vegetables, herbs and measured amount of water or stock are all cooked together until well done. The rice grains will have a uniform color from the mixture of spices and juices.
Links to some of my other blogposts on Biryani recipes
- Hyderabadi Dum Chicken Biryani
- Dindigul Thalapakattu Biryani
- Ambur Biryani
- Pressure cooker Chicken Biryani
- Shrimp/Jinga Biryani
- Mushroom Biryani
The Bottom Line
This Pressure cooker Chicken Biryani recipe in a pressure cooker is the easiest and quickest recipe you will ever try out in your own kitchen.What are you waiting for? Make it happen , now that the colder months are starting to set in. You can thank me later for the deliciousness it rendered on a cold sleepy weekend!
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I’d have to just do Biryani…no meat for me.
You can skip the meat & try it with vegetables like mushroom for the same recipe. You definitely don’t need the pressure cooker for the veggies, but the other ingredients stay the same .Enjoy!
I’ve always wondered how food comes out when using a pressure cooker (never used one). Looks delicious!
Thank you. The rice is soft and moist & well cooked in minutes in a pressure cooker, so it is with any meat , vegetables or lentils which is used quite a lot in Indian cooking. Glad my post helped you in clearing that question in your mind. Enjoy!
This looks so wonderful! Thanks for sharing!
You are most welcome!
Wow! This sounds delicious. I will have to try it sometime.
Thank you. Would love to gear your feedback when you get a chance to try my recipe.It is delicious 🙂
I have never used a pressure cooker. This dish looks so good.
Thank you, for your kind words. With a pressure cooker, rice is cooked in minutes & stays moist & soft.Biryani tastes wonderful and is so easy to cook when made using a pressure cooker!
My son and I have been experimenting with cooking rice in the Instant Pot. I think we need to make this Biryani recipe next – it looks so good.
Thank you, you definitely can try cooking biryani with an Instant Pot too & I am sure you both will enjoy it. Have fun trying out new Indian recipes 🙂
Sounds delicious… now I just need a pressure cooker! LOL
LOL! Way to go! That’s so encouraging to hear.Would love to hear your feedback when you try. Thank you 🙂
Looks pretty easy to make.
It is & you will find it delicious too! Enjoy!
One of my favorites!
So happy to hear that. Thank you!
So many different dishes with so many intense flavors. Thank you for sharing the rich heritage that goes along with them.
Thank you, so appreciate your kind words 🙂
One pot recipes are my favorites!
Totally with you on that, especially when the weather turns cold, and you have all you need in one dish 😉 Enjoy!
That looks and sounds amazing! (And I’m a picky eater)
Thank you. No worries, take your time, once you taste it, I’m sure you will like it 🙂
This looks absolutely delicious! Thanks for sharing, I can’t wait to try!
Thank you. I feel the happiest when I hear from my readers that they tried one of my recipes and it turned out delicious for them. Here’s to more awesome cooking & trying new dishes! Have fun.
Haven’t cooked in a pressure cooker but it looks good.
Thank you, there’s always a first time to try & I promise you, this dish won’t disappoint you!
What a great guide to making chicken Biryani! Looks delicious!
Thank you, so appreciate your kind words.Please, give it a try & let us know how it turned out for you 🙂
A pressure cooker is high on my list of things to get for the kitchen once we get moved. I’m saving this recipe for when I get it.
Thank you.Using a pressure cooker is one of the easiest and fastest ways to cook rice. Enjoy my recipe, it’s delicious and you can always adjust the spice levels to suit your taste 🙂
Okay, definitely trying this. Indian food + pressure cooker? I’m sold!
LOL ! You sure are going to enjoy it.Thank you, for your kind words 🙂
Oh yum! Love East Indian food! And, it’s 4:30 pm, I’m starving, your photos are fabulous. I’m going to go find supper at the Taj Mahal – best E. Indian restaurant in Albuquerque.
OMG ! I’ve been there when we lived around that area & it was one of my favorite restaurants, the Chicken biryani & the gulab jamoons for dessert is awesome there.What a small world we live in, just the mere mention of the restaurant brought back fond memories.Thank you, for sharing & enjoy your dinner!
Looks like a winning dish to me! You make it look very easy, and I believe it would be following these detailed instructions. Thank you!
Thank you, how very kind of you to say that! Please, do give it a try sometime & let us know how it turns out for you 🙂
Looks delicious. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
Thank you, so appreciate your kind words.