Chicken 65 dry is a popular appetizer served in Indian restaurants. There are many interesting and funny stories on how the dish got its name if you look it up on the internet. It certainly feels great making and recreating this restaurant style recipe at home. If you have not tried this recipe before, I would highly recommend it.
It is best to use boneless chicken thighs for this dish as it is tender and juicy even after it is deep-fried. But you are welcome to use chicken breast as well. For this recipe, the chicken is cut into small bite sizes and marinated for about half an hour. If it is marinated overnight it tastes even better. It is then deep-fried and mixed with sauces like soy, tomato, and chili garlic which gives it a very delicious taste. This best goes with fried rice, ghee rice, or just by itself as an appetizer. Vegetarians can substitute chicken with paneer (cottage cheese) or tofu as well. Now over to the recipe.

Bite sized boneless chicken marinated in spices deep fried and coated with a special sauce
- 15 oz boneless chicken cut into bite sized pieces
- ½ cup yogurt
- 1 ½ tbsp lemon juice
- ¼ cup chopped coriander leaves finely chopped
- ¼ cup curry leaves finely chopped
- 1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
- 1 tbsp coriander powder
- 3 - 4 tbsp corn flour
- 1 tsp rice powder
- ½ tsp pepper powder
- 1 drop red food coloring optional
- ½ tsp cumin powder
- ½ tsp garam masala
- 1 tsp Kashmiri red chilly powder as tolerated
- 1 tbsp tandoori masala optional
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp chili garlic sauce
- 1 cup green onions chopped
- 4 pods garlic chopped
- ½ cup coriander and curry leaves chopped
Wash the chicken and marinate with the ingredients mentioned in the marinade for frying chicken section for about 30 mins or even better if overnight.
Heat oil in a pan and deep fry the chicken till you get nice red crispy chicken pieces , alternatively you can also shallow fry with a little oil if you like.
Next heat up a little oil and add the bottom portion of chopped green onions .Save the top part for garnish.
Add garlic and sautee for a while
Add soy sauce , chili garlic sauce
Add a little red chilly powder and salt if required
Add the fried chicken pieces and coat it well with the sauce
Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and green onions.

Chicken 65 a delicious appetizer

Chicken 65 is a great combination with fried rice !

Fried rice and chicken 65

Oh Yumm !! Your pics got me drooling Nisha ! Presentation is just Wow 👌
Thank you so much Smitha for the lovely comment!
Wow.. This is awesome! Chicken 65 is one of favorites! ❤
Thank you so much , mine as well!
You really do inspire!!!!
Thank you so much for your kind comment, that makes my day!
I can see why this dish is so popular. It looks delicious! 🙂
Thank you so much Ronit! It is indeed very delicious .
This looks so yummy!
Thank you so much!
This is a favorite appetizer when we go to restaurant...this looks absolutely delicious dear
Same here Lathiya , it is usually chicken 65 or chili chicken 🙂 .Thank you so much for stopping by and the comments!
Mouthwatering....Someone please give me a bite....
LoL It is indeed really tempting and vanished in no time. Thank you for the lovely comment!
Thank you for the appetizing post! I should try to make it myself, I guess. 😉
I hope you do and would love to hear how it turns out 🙂
I will...Although my first try is always a disaster. Hahaha...
No worries on this one, am sure you will not be disappointed 🙂
Mouthwatering I am on my way out to buy chicken and prepare this yummy dish.
Oh! That's wonderful .I'm pretty sure you will love it .Enjoy 🙂 Thank you for stopping by!
Now that looks delicious. It is one of the most loved starter esp by non-veg eaters, for veg its replaced with cauliflower right? Great share.
Thank you Vidya! Yes dear one of the most loved starters .I've seen the vegetarian versions of this with paneer , tofu and sure cauliflower as well!
Super tempting treats Nisha💯
Thank you so much Jyo!
I justtt love Babycorn and paneer 65❤
Yes I agree vegetarian options using babycorn and paneer also tatses really good! Thanks dear.
Wow what a nice recipe! I love recipes like this!
Thank you so much Diane!
This looks delicious! What would you say is your favourite explanation for the name of the dish, if you have one? 🙂
Thank you so much! They are really many hilarious stories and I think using 65 chillies/ingredients in this dish was the funniest of all 🙂
Super delicious and appetizing it looks! I am loving baby corn in it.
Thank you so much Neha, appreciate it!
Super delicious and appetizing it looks! I am loving your special sauce in it.
Yes indeed the sauce enhances the flavors , Thank you!
This looks absolutely wonderful! 😀
Thank you so much , appreciate it!
What a mouthwatering post Nisha!
Thanks a lot !