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Want a savory dinner recipe the family can enjoy? These Easy Indian Dinner Recipes are second to naan. Perfect your favorite and the most popular Indian foods in your kitchen. Tested, tried and true!

Easy Indian Dinner Recipes

If you follow me on Instagram, you know that the country of India is apart of both my husband’s and my heart. It’s kind of shocking if you look at both of us. My husband has no idea how many generations back his American family goes and I am a first generation American with a Cuban born father. Why India?

Well my husband spent almost a year living in India. Once, with Campus Crusade for Christ another time with work. The people became a part of his heart and before we got married, I promised him I would take a trip over there. It took our 5th wedding anniversary for me to finally got there but instantly our hearts had another thing in common, our love for India and it’s people.

Because of that love, a common Google search for our family (okay really me, because I am the cook) …

What should I eat for dinner tonight Indian?

If you want to take your taste buds on a trip across the world, enjoy  some of the most popular Indian recipes. I’ve gathered some of our family’s favorite easy Indian dinner recipes so you too can enjoy flavorful Indian spices of cumin, clove, cinnamon, turmeric, coriander, and cayenne. Use these fun recipes for your family or at your next dinner party.

Indian Spices Tip: a few things you should know about Indian spices 1.) Indian dishes use a lot of spices, so buy in bulk or large quantities. 2.) Quality Indian spices on line are not cheap. Look around, but don’t be intimated by the sticker price. Trust me, the flavor is worth it! I personally like the Rani Brand Spices.

What is the most popular food in India?

One important fact about India is there is a northern and southern region and Indian cuisine can vary by locations. The difference between southern and northern Indian food? North Indian food get’s it’s influence from countries it borders and includes thick curries, kebobs including chicken and lamb as common meats. Southern Indian food is vegetarian-focused with lentils, beans, vegetables, and rice. Southern Indian recipes have coastal influences like fish and shrimp as well as touches of coconut milk thinning out curries.

Best Indian food for dinner

Common Indian foods for dinner include…

• Butter Chicken

• Naan Bread

• Biryani

• Tandoori Chicken

• Tikka Masala

• Aloo Gobi

• Chicken Korma

• Lamb Curry

• Red Lentil Dal

• Chivda

• Besan Ladoo

Let’s get started with these easy dinner recipes for families. Don’t worry, we will find things that aren’t too spicy but are spicy enough. These are Indian dishes are second to naan (insert pun). We have used in our home with our kids from as little as 9 months. They will be loved by kids and adults, for your immediate family and guests.

Easy Indian Recipes with Chicken

I really appreciate crock-pot Indian dinner recipes. It allows time for the Indian spices to simmer in the meats. This flavorful Slow Cooker Butter Chicken recipes is made with cauliflower. It is delicious, low carb, and a keto-friendly recipe. | Well Plated

Part of eating a northern Indian recipe includes chicken on a stick. Tandoori chicken originated in the northern Indian city of Delhi, the national capital of India. This Tandoori Indian Chicken Kebab Recipe is flavorful and pairs well with a homemade tzatziki sauce (Indian yogurt sauce with cucumbers, garlic, salt, olive oil, and herbs.) | Whole and Heavenly Oven

Bamboo Skewer Tip: Always soak bamboo skewers in water before grilling.

Fun fact, some say Chicken Tikka Masala originated in Scotland. Whether you agree with this tale or not, we can all agree today Chicken Tikka Masala is known as a classic Indian dinner recipe. This slow cooker chicken tikka masala is the homemade version you’ve been dreaming of… Let it simmer all day in the Crock-pot for a bold, richly flavored Indian dish. | The Chunky Chef

One of the most popular southern Indian dishes is Biryani.  While I will be truthful in saying nothing Biryani is easy, this is the easiest Biryani recipe we have been able to find that tastes most like our favorite Hyderabad restaurant, Paradise Biryani! Because of it’s multi steps, make this rice dish on a weekend  – wink! | The Delicious Crescent

Honorable mention: My Gorgeous Recipes has a really easy chicken biryani recipe but not as close as the famous Paradise Biryani.

Chicken korma can vary by color, a rich yellow to a deep orange. I find the yellow chicken korma to be closest to the right flavor. This Easy Indian Chicken Korma is 25 minutes from prep to cook. Serve over basmati rice. | Easy Peasy Foodie

Easy Indian Recipes Vegetarian

Don’t let this beautiful vegetarian Indian recipe intimated you. this Instant Pot Aloo Gobi has 5 minutes of prep time and only 20 mintues to cook. | My Ginger Garlic Kitchen

One of my favorite dishes served over long grain rice is Indian Red Lentil Dal. So tasty and vegan friendly. This is the perfect plant-based Quick Red Lentil Dahl is rich, fragrant, and packed with protein. | The Wanderlust Kitchen

What makes this Easy Samosas Recipe, easy is the refrigerated piecrusts and refrigerated mashed potatoes. It saves you the steps of mashing your own potatoes and making your own dough. Tip: Instead of frying the oil, prepare and make in the air fryer. | Real Simple

This Easy Chickpea Curry is the perfect weeknight dinner: it’s quick and easy to make chickpeas, it comes together in one pot, and it uses staple pantry ingredients. | Host the Toast

Guess what an Indian salad is made of… cucumber, tomatoes and onions and it’s amazing. Create this homemade Kachumber Salad Recipe, perfect for summer! | Sprinkles & Sprouts

More Easy Indian Recipes for Beginners

You can’t eat an Indian dinner without Naan.  Often Naan is used as the utensil and in many restaurants if you want a fork, you have to ask. If you lack a tandoor oven (I am sure you do), use a cast-iron skillet to create soft Indian Naan – Puffy and with beautiful brown blisters just like Indian restaurants. Add butter and garlic, or keep plain and let the spices from your dish do the flavor popping. | Rasa Malaysia

Do you love cottage cheese? Paneer is a homemade soft cheese made by curdling milk with lemon juice. You can serve this cheese curd over many Indian dishes. | Recipe Tin Eats

Similar to a pancake in America or a Tortilla in Mexico, Dosa is a thin batter-based dish. it is excellent at a side or appetizer. Simply dip in Chutney or spiced curries. | Veg Recipes of India

Northern India is known for Lamb Curry. This Indian Lamb Curry from prep to finish within hour with and easy homemade curry spice mix and creamy tomato sauce. Fall apart tender and yum! | Dinner then Dessert

Bengali Shrimp and Cauliflower with Peas is super fast, easy and delicious–the perfect healthy weeknight dinner. | The Spiced Life

Besan Ladoo is one of the most popular Indian sweets. Made with flour, sugar and butter (ghee), this Indian dessert requires only a handful of ingredients but tastes amazing! | Cook with Manali

You won’t find this Indian snack mix on a restaurant menu, but we are quite obsessed. Using corn flakes cereal, make this super savory trail mix called Chivda. Good enough to eat for a meal! | Madhu’s Everyday Indian

Vegetarian Dinner Ideas

You can turn any Indian dish with meat into an Indian vegetarian dish and visa versa. Just swap chicken/lamb with cauliflower and visa versa. If looking for more vegetarian dinner ideas, enjoy these Meatless Monday Recipes. Over one year of vegetarian cuisines. Pin to Pinterest.

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