24 Indian Recipes (+ Easy Dinner Ideas)

Looking for some easy Indian dinner recipes to bring some excitement to your table?

From curry to butter chicken to tandoori, these dishes make for a tasty, exotic meal.

Indian cuisine is all about bright colors, creamy sauces, and a wide variety of spices.

They may seem impossible to make at home, but these recipes prove otherwise.

These Indian dinners are both jam-packed with flavor and easy to make. Trust me, you need not be a master chef to nail these recipes.

With these scrumptious dinners, you can bring the flavors of the fantastic cuisine to your home.

1. Chicken Biryani 

Chicken biryani is one of the most popular dishes in Indian cuisine, and for good reason.

Aromatic basmati rice is mixed with tender and juicy chicken and a rich, buttery, and spicy sauce. 

What makes this dish extra special is the herbs, spices, and seasonings.

The combination of cinnamon, cilantro, curry, onion, garlic, and ginger creates a wonderful warming sauce that’s sure to make your mouth water.

Best of all, this chicken biryani recipe comes together in just 30 minutes. Even newbie home cooks won’t have a hard time whipping this dish up at all.

2. Palak Paneer

Palak Paneer is cottage cheese and spinach swimming in a thick and spicy sauce.

It’s rich, creamy, and downright delicious. The combo of cream and chilies give its sauce a perfect mix of rich and spicy.

You can serve it for dinner with rice or as a snack with naan bread.

The rice and bread dial down the spiciness of the dish, giving you a beautiful balance of flavors. 

Plus, this recipe is also super easy to make. It’s ready to devour in just 45 minutes!

3. Butter Chicken

Called Murgh Makhani, butter chicken is an addictive Indian dinner made with juicy chicken and a delectable sauce. 

If you think there’s no way you can pull this dish off, think again! This recipe takes 30 minutes to make. Plus, it’s so good, it can rival any Indian restaurant.

What sets this dish apart is its insanely rich sauce. Made with cream, butter, tomatoes, garlic, and ginger, it’s impossible to resist.

Pour that lovely sauce over a bed of steaming basmati rice and eat to your heart’s content! 

4. Mango Chicken Curry

Chicken curry is already epic as it is. Adding sweet mangoes makes it even more spectacular.

Just imagine the combination of rich, savory, spicy curry, and ripe mangoes! Man, just the thought of it is already making me hungry.

If you think this requires a lot of effort in the kitchen, you’re mistaken, my friend. This dish only calls for 30 minutes! It couldn’t get any easier than that.

5. Dal  

Dal is a staple in the Indian cuisine. It’s a very simple recipe of lentils mixed with various spices.

Every region in India has its own version of dal, but this recipe, called dal tadka, is one of my favorites.

The word “tadka” refers to a combination of spices cooked in hot oil. It’s then drizzled over lentils to add more flavor to the dish. 

Best eaten with basmati rice, dal can be served as a main dish for dinner. 

6. Lamb Vindaloo

Indian cuisine makes use of lamb a lot, which makes me love it even more.

Interestingly, however, this next dish, called lamb vindaloo, actually has Portuguese instead of Indian origins.

The word vindaloo came from the Portuguese term “vinho e alhos,” which means meat with wine and garlic.

The Indian adaptation added potatoes (“aloo”), curry, and chilies to the dish, giving it more texture, spice, and flavor. 

The original Portuguese dish also traditionally used pork, but since religion prohibits most Indians from it, they made use of lamb instead. 

7. Lamb Rogan Josh 

Rogan Josh or lamb curry is a rich, creamy, and spicy dish with tender lamb. When I say tender, I mean fall-apart tender.  

I love lamb. Did I say that already? It has that distinct gamey flavor that I can’t get enough of.

Slow-cooked for two hours; it becomes so soft, it melts in your mouth.

Paired with rice, it’s one of the most delectable dinners ever.

This dish is loaded with Indian spices, but don’t worry, you’ll find all of them in your local grocery store. 

8. Goan Fish 

Goan fish curry is well… fish in curry sauce. Its name is pretty straightforward, but the flavors are so delightful.

The combination of creamy, salty, savory, and spicy makes the sauce 100% addictive.

Seriously, it’s so good I can eat it on its own. Or with a piece or two of naan or roti.

Oh, and did I mention that it only takes 30 minutes to cook? You can whip this up even on busy evenings!

9. Tandoori Chicken 

This next dish is made with roasted chicken marinated in a mixture of yogurt, cayenne pepper, and garam masala.

No wonder tandoori chicken is a well-loved favorite all over the world.

Not familiar with garam masala? Well, it’s only a combination of cinnamon, pepper, coriander, cumin, and cardamom.

In short, it’s a mind-blowing mixture of spices! A teaspoon of this spice blend will knock your socks off.

The dish got its name from the Indian word “tandoor,” which is a cylindrical oven made with clay.

But don’t worry, you’ll still get those amazing flavors even if you use a regular oven.

10. Malai Kofta 

Malai Kofta is a vegetarian dish loaded with bite-sized balls made with potato and paneer (cottage cheese).

Just like other Indian dishes, it has a rich, creamy, and spicy curry sauce.

Don’t be fooled by this dish. Just because it’s vegetarian doesn’t mean it’s bland and boring.

In fact, the term “malai kofta” actually means “buttery spiced balls.” I won’t be surprised if you pop one ball after another in your mouth!

11. Chickpea Curry 

Chana Masala is a savory dish made with chickpeas and curry.

The combination of curry powder, coconut milk, tomatoes, and spices is lip-smackingly delicious!

It makes the humble chickpea dish just as scrumptious as any meat-based dish.

One spoonful of this thick stew will warm your tummy, heart, and soul. It’s Indian comfort food at its best.

It’s also a breeze to make, so you can whip it up whenever!

12. Chicken Madras

Chicken Madras is another popular curry based dish from India. This classic dish has wonderful bold flavors from curry, coconut milk, and spices. 

Most curries are yellow, but since this one has paprika and red chili, it boasts a lovely red hue. It’s spicier than most curries, too, so eat at your own risk.

It’s rich, spicy, and absolutely amazing. Especially when eaten with fragrant basmati rice! Together, they make such a hearty and satisfying meal.

It’s also a cinch to make and is done in less than an hour. It will make your kitchen smell like heaven, to boot.

13. Vegetable Jalfrezi 

This all-veggie dish is evidence that food doesn’t have to be fatty to be tasty. 

Vegetable jalfrezi is a medley of carrots, green beans, bell pepper, corn, green peas, onions, and tomatoes.

Seasoned with ginger, garlic, turmeric, cumin, coriander, chili pepper, sunflower oil, garam masala, and Fenugreek leaves, it gives you a stunning symphony of flavors. 

Jalfrezi is not only beloved in India, but the rest of the world as well.

Apart from the dynamic flavors, it’s also easy to prepare! It’s similar to a stir-fry, but loaded with spices.

14. Chili Chicken

Love spicy food? This chili chicken is a must-try. Fried chicken coated in a decadent gravy.

It’s an Indochinese dish famous all over the world for its special combination of sweet, spicy, savory, and sour sauce.

It’s crispy fried chicken and crunchy bell peppers in chili and soy sauce.

The medley of textures and flavors will blow you away. Whether you serve it as an appetizer or a main dish with rice, it will be an instant hit.

15. Aloo Chaat 

Aloo chaat is a popular Indian street food snack full of fantastic flavors and textures.

Potatoes are fried, then roasted in ghee or clarified butter and seasoned with spices and tamarind chutney. 

Sorry French fries, but you are no match to this dish. No wonder it’s highly addictive.

Seriously guys, potatoes have never tasted this good! They’re golden crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside.

The butter, spice blend, and tamarind chutney create a harmony of flavors. 

16. Indian Beef Kebab 

Melt-in-your-mouth beef cubes swim in a sauce of yogurt, ginger, and spices. This skewer is the epitome of kebabs.

The yogurt doesn’t only make the beef super rich and tasty, but incredibly tender and juicy as well!

The curry powder, garam masala, ginger, garlic, and smoked paprika take its flavor to a completely new level of excellence.

So if you’re looking for a new way to amp up your next grilling party, look no further. This Indian beef kebab is all you need.

17. Jeera Aloo 

Jeera aloo is an easy yet fantastic vegan dish made with spiced potatoes. 

It’s such a simple concept: soft potatoes sauteed in Indian spices. But boy, the flavors are so wonderfully intense. 

If you’re tired of roasted potatoes, give this side dish a try! It’s a fabulous way to breathe new life to your dinners.

18. Okra Masala 

Want a healthy addition to your dinner? Bhindi, or okra masala, is another simple veggie dish that’s packed with flavor.

It’s delicious and nutritious, so you can enjoy as much as you want.

Fun fact: bhindi is one of the most common veggie staples in India. That said, there are tons of ways to cook the veggie. But masala is one of my favorites.

It’s okra, tomatoes, and onions in a rich curry sauce. It’s a tad spicy, which is why it’s perfect with either rice, roti, or naan. 

19. Lamb Bhuna

Lamb bhuna or lamb curry is a popular Indian comfort food. 

What makes it different from other curries, you ask?

Well, this one makes use of a “bhooning” (hence the name, bhuna) or browning process, where its spices are cooked over high heat in oil. 

This method brings out the maximum flavor and aroma of the spices, which makes it taste heavenly.

The meat is also cooked in the spices, giving it such bold flavors.

20. Prawn Malai Curry 

This next dish is also cooked using the famous bhooning process, but this time, you’ll use prawns instead of lamb.

If you’re a seafood lover, this unique curry dish is a must-try.

This dish is impossible to resist. First, the prawns are marinated in turmeric and salt.

After that, a blend of ginger, garam masala, onions, turmeric, chili powder, and cumin powder is cooked on high heat.

Then, coconut milk and yogurt are added to create a thick and luscious sauce. 

It doesn’t end there! Ghee is added to the sauce to make it more extra. 

Finally, the shrimp is added and cooked in the sauce, giving you the most epic shrimp dish you will taste.

21. Kadai Chicken 

This next dish is chicken flavored with tomatoes, onions, ginger, garlic, and Indian spices and cooked to red hot perfection.

“Kadai” refers to an Indian wok which is used to cook the chicken in. It’s okay if you don’t have one, though. Any wok or deep frying pan will do for this recipe.

Spiced with garam masala, coriander, red chillies, and fennel seed, kadai chicken is packed with heat and flavor.

22. Matar Paneer 

Matar, or mutter paneer, is a dish made with peas and paneer or cottage cheese. It’s an unlikely combination, but it works.

What gives these elements flavor is a rich gravy flavored with onions and tomatoes. It creates a thick stew that pairs beautifully with naan or rice. 

23. Fish Tikka 

Fish tikka is salmon flavored with yogurt and spices and baked to perfection. It’s nutritious, delicious, and easy to make!

“Tikka” refers to meat marinated in yogurt and spices. This recipe adds a fresh riff on a classic by adding chickpea flour. 

24. Dal Tadka

This dal tadka is another version of lentil soup that’s simple yet sublime. This side dish can transform any meal into a fantastic feast.

I mean, just picture this: split pigeon peas and split chickpeas cooked until ultra-tender, rich, and creamy.

They are then seasoned with tomatoes, turmeric, and ginger, and cooked once again in ghee over high heat to release even more flavor.

It’s the ultimate Indian side dish!