Instant Pot Chicken Biryani
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Instant pot chicken biryani is a super easy way to get a ton of flavor in a fast and easy recipe. Make this recipe any time you are craving a classic Indian dish without needing the take out menu.
This Chicken Biryani recipe makes use of the Instant Pot to produce a flavorful meal super-fast for those busy nights where you need dinner fast. Using Minute Rice makes the dish ready even more quickly so you can sit down for family time faster.
What is Biryani?
Biryani is a classic mixed rice dish that originates in India. It includes many Indian spices, rice, meat, vegetables and/or eggs.
We always get Biryani when we order Indian takeout, but it is also a great dish to try making at home because it is so easy and versatile. This Instant Pot Chicken Biryani combines many of the classic flavors with a modern cooking convenience to make it perfect for a quick weeknight meal.
Instant Pot Chicken Biryani Ingredients
- Spices and Seasonings – Garam Masala, Chili Powder, Turmeric, Salt, Bay Leaves, Cinnamon Sticks
- Aromatics – Fresh Ginger, Fresh Garlic, Onion
- Lemon Juice
- Greek Yogurt
- Boneless Chicken Thighs – When creating this recipe, I chose boneless chicken thighs that get cut into smaller pieces. You can replace this with boneless, skinless chicken breasts if you prefer.
- Ghee
- Quick Cooking Jasmine Rice
- Water
- Cashew Halves
- Fresh Herbs – Mint and Cilantro
Using quick cooking jasmine rice in this recipe makes the recipe come together even faster thanks to the rice taking only 5 minutes to cook. This type of rice is precooked and then dried to make it ready faster. However, nothing additional is added but convenience.
In a traditional Biryani recipe, you would use whole spices in addition to ground spices. Since this recipe focuses on convenience, I’ve swapped out those whole spices for a marinade that really infuses the meat and dish with the flavors without a lot of extra work.
Of course, being a rice dish, the type and quality of rice is key. Minute Instant Jasmine Rice is absolutely perfect for this recipe because it is an aromatic rice that provides the same soft and fluffy texture you want with any rice, without the extended cooking time of traditional Jasmine rice.
More Recipes to Enjoy with Jasmine Rice
- Easy Coconut Curry Chicken
- Greek Chicken and Rice Casserole
- Thai Green Curry Shrimp
- Crispy Chicken and AsparagusÂ
Instant Pot Chicken Biryani
Ingredients
Marinade
- 2 teaspoons garam masala
- 1 Tablespoon fresh grated ginger
- 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
- 1/2 Tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 3/4 cup greek yogurt
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 boneless chicken thighs cut into 2-inch pieces
Remaining Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons ghee
- 1 large onion sliced
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 cup quick cooking jasmine rice
- 1 cup water
- 1/3 cup cashew halves
- 1/2 cup chopped mint
- 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine all ingreients for the marinade. Stir well to combine. Add chicken thighs and marinate for 15 minutes.2 teaspoons garam masala, 1 Tablespoon fresh, 1 Tablespoon minced garlic, 1/2 Tablespoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon turmeric, 2 Tablespoons lemon juice, 3/4 cup greek yogurt, 1 teaspoon salt, 3 boneless chicken thighs
- Turn instant pot to saute mode and add 2 Tbsp ghee. Once melted, added chicken thighs and saute for 3-5 minutes. Remove from pot.3 Tablespoons ghee
- Add remaining 1Tbsp ghee and, once melted, add onions. Cook for 1-2 minutes.1 large onion
- Return chicken to pot and add bay leaves, cinnamon stick, rice, and water. Close pot and secure lid. Cook on high for 4 minutes. Let naturally release for 10 minutes and then manually release pressure.2 bay leaves, 1 cinnamon stick, 1 cup quick cooking jasmine rice, 1 cup water
- Stir well and remove from pot. Top with cilantro, mint, cashews before serving.1/3 cup cashew halves, 1/2 cup chopped mint, 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
Nutrition
