Everyone has a family recipe they hold close to their heart, one that instantly brings back memories of home. For us, it’s chicken pulao – a beloved dish across South Asia. This light, fragrant, and mildly spiced recipe stands out for its unique aroma.
As a child, I didn’t particularly enjoy chicken pulao, often favouring biryani instead. But as a teenager, my taste buds began to crave its comforting flavours. Over the years, I’ve come across countless variations of this dish, but the classic recipe remains timeless.

This easy, one-pot chicken pulao recipe can be made in under an hour and is perfect when paired with some refreshing cilantro raita.
Chicken Pulao
Ingredients
- Rice: 3 cups
- Chicken: 1 kg
- Tomatoes: 5 (pureed)
- Onions: 2 (sliced)
- Green Chilies: 5
- Garam Masala: ½ tsp
- Yogurt: ½ cup
- Ginger Garlic Paste: 2 tbsp
- Salt to taste
- Water: 3 cups
Method:
- In a deep pan, heat oil. Once the oil is hot, add the sliced onions and sauté until golden brown.
- Stir in the garam masala and green chilies. Add the chicken and cook until it changes color.
- Mix in the yogurt, tomato purée, and ginger garlic paste. Cook for 7-8 minutes until the mixture thickens into a gravy.
- Add the water, rice, and salt. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Once the water has mostly evaporated, reduce the heat to low, cover the pan with a lid, and let it simmer for 10-15 minutes or until the rice is fully cooked.
- Serve hot with a side of cilantro raita for the perfect pairing.
Watch this recipe here – Chicken Pulao

Fizza Naqvi began her journey as a business student, aiming for a conventional 9-to-5 career. However, in 2020, she took a leap of faith and shifted paths, realizing she could channel her skills into creative outlets such as crafting, content creation, and product photography.
A lifelong foodie, Fizza transformed her love for food into a passionate career. She began creating food-related content, discovering the potential of her professional camera along the way. Currently, Fizza is dedicated to her passion project, where she continues to showcase her creativity and love for food.
Translations and detailed descriptions are provided to give a better understanding of the story to people from different cultural backgrounds across the globe.