When you’re a food lover on a budget, like me, you’re always on the lookout for delicious recipes that can be made without breaking the bank. And if your household loves curry as much as mine, this Budget Chicken Biryani is about to become a weekly favourite!
We’re big fans of curry nights—flavoursome, warming, and easy to adapt. I’ve been hunting for a family-friendly biryani that offers great taste without the need for a long shopping list or complicated steps. After a few disappointing attempts, I turned to Tom Kerridge’s Lose Weight for Good for inspiration (his Chinese meatballs are a must-try!). I adapted his biryani to suit our budget, pantry staples, and family tastes—and it did not disappoint.
What Makes This Chicken Biryani Budget-Friendly?
- Affordable ingredients: Uses basic store cupboard staples like rice, frozen veg, and tinned tomatoes.
- Bulked with veggies: Packed with vegetables for extra nutrition and texture without added cost.
- Flexible: Great for using up leftover chicken or veg in the fridge.
Why Your Family Will Love It
This dish is full of aromatic spices and tender chicken, with sweet, warming flavours that kids can enjoy and just enough heat to keep the grown-ups happy. It’s the kind of recipe that fills the house with irresistible smells and gathers everyone around the table.
Instead of the traditional fried onions, I kept it lighter with lots of colourful vegetables, which made it not just healthier but more vibrant too. And to give it that wow factor, we topped it with a drizzle of chilli coriander dressing—fresh, zesty, and totally optional (but highly recommended!).
Serving Suggestions
Serve this easy midweek dinner on its own or add:
- Homemade naan or fluffy chapati
- Crispy onion bhajis for a bit of crunch
- A dollop of natural yoghurt to cool things down for little ones
Whether you’re feeding a crowd or batch-cooking for the freezer, this easy chicken biryani is a low-cost, high-flavour winner. Simple ingredients, big flavours, and happy faces at the table—that’s
Budget Breakdown 🛒💷
Here’s how it cost per portion across UK supermarkets:
Aldi – £1.86 / Asda – £1.71 / Morrisons – £2.14 / Tesco – £2.04 / Sainsbury’s – £2.10
(Prices correct at the time of posting — always worth checking for offers!)
Nutrition 💪
Calories > 556 / Total Fat > 17.2g / Total Carbs > 58.2g / Protein > 40.6g
Will You Be Trying It?
Don’t forget to save this recipe for later and let me know in the comments — how did you serve yours? I love seeing your takes on family meals that don’t cost the earth!
Chicken Biriyani
Ingredients
- 600 g Chicken Thighs Skinned and Boned
- Sea Salt & Ground Black Pepper
- 2 White Onions Small Dice
- 4 Garlic Cloves Crushed
- 4 cm Fresh Ginger Finely Grated
- 1 Pinch Saffron Threads or 1 tsp turmeric
- 2 tbsp Medium Curry Powder
- 1 tbsp Garam Masala
- 200 g Plum Tomatoes diced
- 150 g Basmati Rice
- 200 g Carrots small dice
- 2 Chicken Stock Cubes mixed into 750 ml Chicken Stock
- 200 g Green Beans chopped
- 200 g Frozen Peas
- Coriander Leaves chopped to serve
Instructions
- Wash the rice several times in cold water to remove the starch. This should take maybe 2 or 3 passes until the water is clear.
- Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium to high heat.
- Fry the chicken on both sides until seared and season while they cook, about 10 minutes. Remove from the pan and place to the side.
- Reduce to a medium heat, add a touch more oil if needed then the onions and fry gently for about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and ginger and fry for another minute until fragrant.
- Now add the spices and cook for a further minute, then add the tomatoes and cook for a further 2 minutes until they start to break down.
- Add the rice, carrots stock and stir gently. Bring to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes.
- Add the green beans and peas, stir then add the chicken thigh pieces on top along with any juices. Place on the pan lid and simmer for another 10 to 15 minutes. All the liquid will have disappeared.
- Serve sprinkled with chopped coriander.
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