> Skip to content

Recipe  •  25 February 2025

 

Chicken Tikka Rice

Feed a hungry crowd with this simple one-pot recipe for chicken tikka rice, packed with aromatic whole spices and tender chunks of chicken.

This is my go-to one-pot meal, ideal for those days when you are rushing around and have no time to spare. Everything cooks together in a single pot, saving you time and effort. This mouth-watering dish brings together tender pieces of chicken cooked with authentic Indian spices and aromatic basmati rice, making it a delicious homemade feast.

SERVES: 5-6
TOTAL TIME:
1hr 40min
PREP TIME: 40min
COOK TIME: 1 hr

INGREDIENTS

  • 350g basmati rice
  • 4 tbsp oil
  • 2 large onions, finely diced
  • 500g chicken breast, cut into bite-sized chunks
  • 1 tbsp ginger paste
  • 1 tbsp garlic paste
  • 2 tbsp chicken tikka masala paste
  • 1 tsp ground turmeric
  • 1 tbsp ground cumin
  • 1 tbsp ground coriander
  • 1 tsp chilli powder
  • 1 tsp Kashmiri chilli powder
  • 200g tomato passata
  • 700ml water
  • 5g fresh coriander, finely chopped
  • 1 fresh lemon, cut into wedges
  • salt, to taste

Whole spices:

  • ½ tsp cumin seeds
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 3 cardamom pods
  • 3 cloves
  • 3 black peppercorns
  • 2 star anise

 

METHOD

  1. Wash the rice in a sieve under cold running water until the water runs clear. Then soak in a bowl of cold water for 30 minutes. This will reduce the cooking time and help the rice cook evenly.

  2. Heat a large pot on medium heat and pour in the oil. Add all the whole spices and fry for 30–40 seconds until they start to sizzle. Add the onions and fry gently until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Add the chicken pieces, ginger and garlic paste, tikka masala paste, turmeric, cumin, coriander, the chilli powder and the Kashmiri chilli powder and cook for 20 minutes until no moisture is left from the chicken.

  3. Stir in the tomato passata and cook for 8–10 minutes, until the sauce is reduced. Add the rice, pour in the water, season with salt, and stir. Partially cover the pan with a lid (not completely or the water may boil over) and cook for 15 minutes until the water has been absorbed, then give it a stir once without disturbing the rice too much. Cover with the lid fully and cook for another 15 minutes on a low heat – the build-up of steam will cook and fluff up the rice.

  4. Serve on a large platter, garnished with chopped coriander and lemon wedges, with a glass of sweet yogurt lassi.

Feature Title

The Ramadan Family Cookbook
No-fuss, tasty meals for your family at Ramadan
Read more

More features

See all recipes
Recipe
Chilli Con Carne Meatballs

Take your meatball game to the next level.

Recipe
Love Monsters

These lovable monsters are perfect for Valentine's Day and can be made without the Oreo mouths, if preferred.

Recipe
Honey-Garlic Chicken

Sweet and savoury with a satisfying richness in every bite.

Recipe
Kimchi Stew (Kimchi Jjigae)

To me, kimchi jjigae is the ultimate comfort meal that reminds me of home.

Recipe
The Toll House Inn Chocolate Chip Cookies

There's no recipe more important to the baking legacy of the United States than the chocolate chip cookie.

Recipe
Skordalia (Bread & Walnut Garlic Dip)

In many parts of Greece, skordalia is known as a garlic and potato dip, but the combination of bread and walnuts, common in the north of the country, gives the condiment richness and body.

Recipe
Lobster Avocado Salad

This recipe is a celebration of summer.

Recipe
Aubergine Rolls with Walnut Filling

Georgia's rich culinary tradition is often overlooked.

Recipe
Crushed Olive Spread

I’ve converted countless olive haters to olive lovers with the introduction of my fave Castelvetrano, the meaty, mild Queen of Olives.

Recipe
Grated Tomato Linguine

A delicious pasta sauce made with the freshest in-season tomatoes.

Recipe
Khorashi with Buftek

Nadiya Hussain's stunning khoshari, a dish layered with different flavours and textures including rice, lentils, chickpeas and served with a side of marinated steak, has a real special occasion feel, perfect for Eid celebrations, dinner parties or whenever you want to impress.

Recipe
Dinner Rolls

The ultimate guide for making dinner rolls from scratch, from Dessert Course.

Looking for more recipes?

See all recipes
penguin pop image
penguin pop image