How to Make a Slimming World Biriyani tips and chicken biryani recipe

Do you follow Slimming World and want to make a Slimming World biryani but worry you will do it wrong? This recipe for an unofficial Slimming World chicken biryani is really easy and I am sure you will enjoy it.

You can’t beat a biryani and this one is super tasty and easy to make. A rice dish that is flavoured with spice and subtle heat this chicken biryani will soon become a family favourite.

So delicious, packed full of flavour, and everything can be served at the table in one pot. Perfect to scoop out a portion at meal times. 

Why choose a biryani?

Have you tried the Slimming World Quorn biryani bowl available from Iceland? I love it but I do find it expensive so prefer to make my own Quorn biryani using this recipe and substituting Quorn for the chicken.

If, on the other hand, chicken biryani is your top choice when enjoying an Indian meal out or a takeaway, then why not give it a go at home?

This recipe is simple to make and recreate at home and packed with delicious flavours.

The trick is that it is all in the preparation. Preparing your ingredients for the biryani mix is crucial and having a few pots ready to go.

Once you have made all the elements, they can be cooked together in one pot and served in the same one, allowing everyone to help themselves. 

Chicken is a versatile meat for mealtimes that most people enjoy eating.

It really takes on all the flavours of spice and herbs used in the mix and cooking, and the rice soaks up all the sauce and liquid. It is a bit of a crowd-pleaser and one you will love. 

Ingredients needed to make the Chicken Biryani

First, it is a good idea to ensure you can get all the ingredients together. Focusing on this first means that the cooking process will be simple. You will need the following:

Ingredients for the rice

• 3 cups of basmati rice (soaked)
• 6 cups of water
• 3 cloves
• 2 green and black cardamoms
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 tsp of salt

Ingredients for the biryani mix

• 900g of chicken breast or drumsticks
• 2 onions, sliced
• 2 tomatoes, diced
• 1 lemon, sliced
• A handful of fresh coriander, chopped
• A handful of fresh mint leaves chopped
• Spray oil
• ½ cup of water
• 130g of fat-free yoghurt
• Small onion diced and fried

Split the spices into three pots as follows to make it easier.

• 5-6 cloves
• 3 Green chillies
• 3 pieces of green cardamom
• 2 pieces of black cardamom
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 2 bay leaves
• ½ tsp of black peppercorns

In the second pot:

• 1.5 tbsp of garam masala
• 2 tsp of red chilli powder
• 1.5 tsp of ground coriander
• 1 tsp of black pepper

and in the third pot:

• 1 tbsp of garlic paste
• 1 tbsp of ginger paste
• ½ tsp of turmeric
• ½ tsp of salt
• ½ tsp of cumin seeds

How to make the Chicken Biryani step by step

Now that you have all your ingredients to hand it is time to make the. 

Get a big pot and boil the water. Add the rice, salt and spices. Cook until they are boiled. You only want them to be 80% cooked. Strain the water from the rice and set aside. 

In another pot, add some water, and everything from pot 3 which should be turmeric powder, salt, cumin seed, ginger, and garlic paste. Give everything a good mix until well combined. 

Add sliced onion (the diced onion is for later!), and chicken and mix until well combined.

Cover with a lid and cook on low heat for about 5-6 minutes. Then, increase the temperature to medium-high heat and cook for 2-3 minutes. Then, set aside. 

Use the same pot that has been cleaned or another and spray well with cooking oil and add everything from pot 1; this should be green cardamom, black cardamom, black peppercorns, cloves, cinnamon sticks, and bay leaves and mix.

Then add the contents of pot 2, which consists of coriander powder, red chilli powder, garam masala powder, and black pepper powder, mix well and cook for 2 minutes.

Add tomatoes and the yoghurt and mix until well combined. Then add the cooked chicken mixture and cook for another 4-5 minutes.

Once done, add the chopped fresh coriander, mint leaves, and green chillies, mix well and cook on high heat.

Take out half of the chicken mixture in a bowl and set aside.

Now it is time to layer the biryani. Add boiled rice, half of the fried diced onion, lemon slices, remaining chicken with its liquid and the remaining boiled rice.

On top of the rice, add the remaining fried onion and cook on low heat for 10-12 minutes or until fully cooked. Serve and enjoy. 

Recipe notes and tips

When it comes to any recipe, it is always a good idea to understand what notes and tips you can use to help you fully utilise the recipe and have success every time.

If you want to make the most out of this recipe, then here are some notes and tips to help.

Preparation is key for this recipe, so ensure you have all the ingredients measured out to ensure you can cook things as and when needed. It also means less stress in the kitchen. 

You can use the same pots if needed. Just give them a clean before heading on to the next element.

Have bowls to hand so you can set the different ingredients aside once you have finished cooking them. 

Variations to try

Like with many recipes, once you have tried them out a few times you can look to make some changes and vary the recipe to suit your tastes and preferences.

So I wanted to share with you some of them that you might want to try. 

You could make this a veggie dish by cooking different vegetables in the biryani mix or using Quorn or tofu to soak up all the flavours. 

You could use flavoured microwave rice instead of boiling your own to speed up the process. Heat up for only half the time and finish cooking in the pot when you have assembled the biryani. 

Serve with a soft-boiled or fried egg to add an extra element. 

Make it spicier by adding chilli flakes or chilli powder to mix. Or sprinkle some chilli flakes as a garnish before serving. 

FAQs

Like with any recipe, there are often questions that need answering. I thought I would share some of the common questions here.

If you have any comments or questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly.

How should I serve the Chicken Biryani?

Chicken Biryani is a complete dish with meat and rice, but you could serve it with a side of vegetables or fried potatoes. Chips will also be a great addition. 

How do I store the Chicken Biryani?

If you have any leftovers of the biryani, make sure they have cooled completely and then transfer them to an airtight container.

Store in the fridge for up to three days.

To reheat, you could add it to a pan and use the stove or pop it in the microwave. 

Can you make this into a Vegan biryani?

You could make this vegan. Simply use vegetables instead of chicken, and then use coconut or dairy-free yoghurt instead. 

I hope you enjoy making and eating your chicken biryani.

Other recipes you might like

If you have enjoyed this recipe, here are some other recipes I have picked that I think you would enjoy.

Vegetable Biryani

“Unofficial” Slimming World onion bhajis made in the air fryer

Aloo Gobi

Alternatively, check out my curry recipe guide full of tips and tricks to make a great recipe and all the recipes my readers love.

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