Chicken Bhuna

  • 10MINS
  • 30MINS
  • Serves 4
  • 221KCAL

Our homely Chicken Bhuna is sure to warm you right up. A Pinch of Nom twist on a curry menu classic, we’ve paired succulent diced chicken chunks with an oniony, tomato-based sauce. Thanks to a thrifty blend of store cupboard herbs and spices, every forkful is rich with takeaway-style flavour for far fewer calories.

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  • Everyday Light pinchofnom.com
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Easy Peasy Chicken Bhuna pinchofnom.com
4

NutritionPer Serving

  • Calories221
  • Carbs15g
  • Protein32g
  • Fat2.3g
  • Saturates0.4g
  • Sugars12g

Chicken Bhuna - Pinch of Nom Slimming Recipes

For the full list of ingredients and comprehensive instructions, please see the recipe card below. Before you scroll, there’s important stuff in the blurb!

When you can make a curry as delicious as our Chicken Bhuna at home, there’s no need to order from the takeaway. Our recipe recreates a familiar curry house favourite for a fraction of the calories; you’d never be able to tell we’ve made a swap or two from how rich and thick our sauce is.

To keep every forkful as flavoursome as possible, our chicken chunks are coated in a homemade spice rub before cooking. We give the flavours plenty of time to mingle by leaving the chicken chunks marinating overnight.

By using a simple combination of store cupboard herbs and spices, as well as easy-to-find ingredients, our mildly spicy sauce is super tasty and budget-friendly. An oniony, tomatoey dish, this crowd-pleasing taste bud warmer is sure to go down a treat – even with the fussiest eaters at the table. 

Serve it with an accompaniment of your choice (we think Pilau Rice works best!), or turn it into an Indian-inspired feast by adding Onion Bhajis and Samosas to your spread.

What diets is this Chicken Bhuna suitable for?

Chicken Bhuna can be enjoyed on dairy-free diets, as long as you substitute fat-free Greek yoghurt for a suitable alternative.

If you’re cooking for people with allergies, be extra careful when checking ingredients and preparing food!

Do you need any special ingredients to make Chicken Bhuna?

You don’t need anything special to make this Chicken Bhuna curry. We’ve used a simple combination of store cupboard staples and easy-to-find ingredients.

Hints & Tips

Below we added some of our communities most common hints and tips. We hope you find them useful.

Bit warmer
We added half medium and half hot curry powder and extra hot chilli powder as we like some heat and it was amazing
I added a diced green pepper also.
Marinade overnight to let flavours develop
Marinated it for over 12 hours and the flavours really developed. It was a lovely curry enjoyed in New Years Eve, better than a takeaway. Served with PON naan too.
I cooked the onion, garlic, ginger & spices separately from the chicken. Once the chicken was browned I mixed them together with the tomatoes. Served it with pilau rice.
Perfect recipe for leftovers
I used cooked turkey instead of chicken and added a little veg (carrot & mushroom) so it wasn’t wasted - delicious
May leave the lemon juice out next time, a little too sharp for my liking but lovely spicy heat and juicy chicken
Easy to follow recipe
Easy to follow recipe, real depth of flavour. We added some minced chilli for some extra heat.
What I added
I added some chopped potatoes which were airfryed to the curry to bulk it up a bit as I only used 1 chicken breast

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‘Very easy to make, very very tasty, I served it with my take on pilau rice with Chickpeas peas’

Pamela Symonds

How many calories are in this Chicken Bhuna?

There are 221 calories per portion in this Chicken Bhuna, which means it falls into our Everyday Light category. 

To cut down the amount of calories even more, you can simply halve the portion size and serve with a healthy accompaniment!

This Chicken Bhuna is perfect if you’re following a calorie-controlled diet, and fits well with any one of the major diet plans such as Weight Watchers. 

As a guide, an average man needs around 2,500kcal (10,500kJ) a day to maintain a healthy body weight. For an average woman, that figure is around 2,000kcal (8,400kJ) a day. Obviously, if your goal is to lose weight then you might want to adjust these slightly! You can read more about these recommendations on the NHS website.

Step 1

Add the chicken to a non-reactive bowl and add the yoghurt, chilli powder, cumin, coriander and turmeric. Mix well to coat the chicken. Cover the bowl and leave to marinate overnight.

Step 1 pinchofnom.com Step 1 pinchofnom.com

Step 2

Spray a frying pan with low-calorie cooking spray and set on a medium heat. Add the onion, garlic and ginger to the pan and fry for 10 minutes.

Step 2 pinchofnom.com

Step 3

Add the curry powder, garam masala and chilli powder and fry for a minute.

Step 3 pinchofnom.com

Step 4

Add the chicken and brown on all sides to seal.

Step 4 pinchofnom.com

Step 5

Add the chopped tomatoes, tomato puree, and lemon juice. Lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce is rich and thickened.

Step 5 pinchofnom.com

Step 6

Stir through the yoghurt and sprinkle over the coriander. Serve with your choice of accompaniment.

Step 6 pinchofnom.com Step 6 pinchofnom.com

Chicken Bhuna - Pinch of Nom Slimming Recipes

What could I serve with this Chicken Bhuna?

This Chicken Bhuna is perfect served with fluffy boiled rice, or you can serve it alongside a selection of slimming-friendly side dishes for an Indian-inspired Fakeaway night:

Pilau Rice pinchofnom.com
Easy Peasy
  • 25MINS
  • 153KCal
Onion Bhajis pinchofnom.com
Easy Peasy
  • 35MINS
  • 59KCal
Samosas pinchofnom.com
Cookbook Pinch of Nom Cookbook pinchofnom.com
  • 45MINS
  • 147KCal
Sweet Potato Pakoras pinchofnom.com
Easy Peasy
  • 40MINS
  • 50KCal

How do you know when Chicken Bhuna is cooked?

Chicken Bhuna is ready to serve when the chicken is cooked through and the sauce is rich and thickened. The chicken chunks will need roughly 15 minutes to cook thoroughly.

Standard advice here in the UK is to cook food until it has reached 70°C and stayed at that temperature for 2 minutes. This is to keep your family safe. 

How long can you keep Chicken Bhuna in the fridge?

Once you’ve put Chicken Bhuna out, ideally you should eat it within 4 hours.

If you allow any leftovers of Chicken Bhuna to cool, make sure to refrigerate in a container with a lid and chill.  You can keep leftovers in the fridge for approximately 3 days or so. 

Can I freeze Chicken Bhuna?

Yes, you can! Chicken Bhuna can be frozen, but please remember to do the following;

  • Freeze it as soon as it is cold enough.
  • Use a container or bag that is suitable for freezing.

Don’t forget to add a label with what it is, and on what date you put it in the freezer! 

How do I reheat Chicken Bhuna?

From chilled: Place in a microwave-proof container with loosely-fitting lid and heat for 4-7 minutes, until piping hot.

From frozen: Allow to defrost, and heat covered in the microwave for 3-5 minutes then stir. Cook for a further 5-7 minutes until piping hot.

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Chicken Bhuna

Forget about ordering from a takeaway! Our slimming-friendly Chicken Bhuna is just as delicious for fewer calories.
  • Prep Time
    10 MINS
  • Cook Time
    30 MINS
  • KCals 221
  • Carbs 15G

Ingredients

For the marinade

  • 400 g diced chicken breast
  • 2 tbsp fat-free Greek yoghurt
  • 1 tsp mild chilli powder
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • ½ tsp turmeric

For the curry

  • 2 medium onions peeled and diced
  • 4 garlic cloves peeled and crushed
  • 2 cm ginger peeled and finely grated
  • 400 g chopped tomatoes
  • 1 tbsp tomato puree
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 tsp curry powder
  • 1 tsp garam masala
  • 1 tsp mild chilli powder
  • 2 tbsp fat-free Greek yoghurt
  • 10 g fresh coriander chopped
  • low-calorie cooking spray

Frying pan

We use a fan assisted oven for all of our recipes. Check out our oven temperature conversion guide.

Please do not screenshot this. Recipes are updated often

Instructions

  1. Add the chicken to a non-reactive bowl and add the yoghurt, chilli powder, cumin, coriander and turmeric. Mix well to coat the chicken. Cover the bowl and leave to marinate overnight.
  2. Spray a frying pan with low-calorie cooking spray and set on a medium heat. Add the onion, garlic and ginger to the pan and fry for 10 minutes.
  3. Add the curry powder, garam masala and chilli powder and fry for a minute.
  4. Add the chicken and brown on all sides to seal.
  5. Add the chopped tomatoes, tomato puree, and lemon juice. Lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce is rich and thickened.
  6. Stir through the yoghurt and sprinkle over the coriander. Serve with your choice of accompaniment.

Looking for Slimming World Syns or Weight Watchers (WW) Points?

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22 comments

See what others have to say

AngelaThursday 2nd May 2024

What would you suggest for making this one a bit more spicier?

Reply

    HollyFriday 10th May 2024

    Hey Angela, we have used mild chilli powder so you could swap for a hotter version or add a little extra or a fresh chilli, hope that helps!

    Reply

AdeleWednesday 17th May 2023

Would it work if I cook it in the slow cooker for a few hours?

Reply

    SharonWednesday 17th May 2023

    Hi Adele, we haven’t tested this recipe in a slow cooker so can’t guarantee a good result.If you’d like to try it, make sure to stir in the yoghurt after cooking. We have a handy article that you may find useful: How to Convert Recipes to a Slow Cooker Hope this helps.

    Reply

LinsMonday 8th May 2023

I made this Chicken Bhuna tonight, I didn’t have time to marinade the chicken over night so i just left it a couple of hours, it was lovely, and so easy to make. Thank you for yet another brilliant recipe .

Reply

    SharonTuesday 9th May 2023

    Hi Lins, we’re so pleased you enjoyed our Chicken Bhuna! Thanks for letting us know.

    Reply

MattThursday 27th April 2023

Is it very spicy? I like a curry, but a balti is more my level of heat.

Reply

    SharonTuesday 16th May 2023

    Hi Matt, we would say our Chicken Bhuna is mildly spiced. Hope this helps.

    Reply

MarieFriday 13th January 2023

I didn’t have great hope for this after my 3 year old looked at it pulling her face and said eurgh! However she then proceeded to have not one but THREE helpings! I got the thumbs up from her & her sister so I think we can say it was a resounding success! Daddy liked it too! Thanks PON will definitely be making again.

Reply

    HollyMonday 16th January 2023

    Hi Marie, thanks so much for your message so glad to hear you and your family enjoyed the Chicken Bhuna!

    Reply

UrsulaFriday 6th January 2023

Which recipe book is this in? I can’t find it in the three I have 🥲

Reply

    HollyMonday 9th January 2023

    Hey Ursula, this recipe is exclusive to our website so doesn’t currently appear in any of our books, hope that helps!

    Reply

GemmaTuesday 3rd January 2023

Hubby allergic to onions and leeks anything else you think I could use instead or would it be OK just to leave this out

Reply

    HollyThursday 5th January 2023

    Hey Gemma, you can leave the onions out but this will alter the overall finished flavour of the curry, hope that helps!

    Reply

    LisaTuesday 9th May 2023

    I always thought it would not be a decent curry without onion but I made one not long ago without and it was equally as good 😊

    Reply

      SharonFriday 12th May 2023

      Hi Lisa, thanks for helping out with this question!

SusanTuesday 3rd January 2023

What fantastic curry recipe,I used left over cooked chicken from yesterday’s roast ,I did marinate the chicken over night . So quick and easy ,I know plan on making the sauce in bulk and freezing it
I’ve taken great photos to share with family x.

Reply

    HollyThursday 5th January 2023

    Hey Susa, thanks so much for your message we are so glad to hear you enjoyed the Chicken Bhuna!

    Reply

RebeccaThursday 29th December 2022

This sounds delicious! Is there any other way of doing this recipe other than adding yogurt at the end? No matter how much I cool down a dish the yogurt will split!

Thanks

Reply

    HollyThursday 5th January 2023

    Hi Rebecca, you could try removing some of the sauce and mixing in with the yoghurt to bring it up to temperature a little so that it’s not as cold when adding to the curry, hope that helps!

    Reply

Mike JonesTuesday 27th December 2022

Can this be done in my Instant pot?

Reply

    HollyThursday 5th January 2023

    Hi Mike, we haven’t tested this reicpe in the Instant Pot but it should work fine, we have a conversion guide HERE to help!

    Reply

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