Best Meat Cuts for Biryani: Goat, Lamb, Beef or Chicken?
A great biryani starts with the right meat. The cut decides how tender the meat gets, how long it takes to cook, and how much flavour ends up in the rice. Here is a simple guide.
Quick guide
| Meat | Best cuts | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Goat (mutton) | Goat Mix Plate (With Bone), Goat Stew Meat, Goat Shoulder | Bone-in pieces stay juicy and add deep flavour to the rice. |
| Lamb | Lamb Mix Plate (With Bone), Lamb Shoulder, Lamb Stew Meat | Milder than goat and cooks a little faster. |
| Beef | Beef Stew Meat, Beef Mix Plate (With Bone) | Budget friendly. Needs longer cooking until tender. |
| Chicken | Skinless Cut-Up Chicken, Chicken Thighs | Quickest option. Thighs stay moist. |
Bone-in or boneless?
For biryani, bone-in is usually better. The bones release flavour into the meat stock, and that stock is what makes the rice taste rich. Boneless works well if you want easy eating for kids or guests.
How much meat do I need?
A good rule is about the same weight of meat as uncooked rice. For 1 kg of rice, buy about 1 kg of meat. That serves around 6 to 8 people.
Pick the right rice
Use long-grain basmati or sella basmati, which stays separate and fluffy. Popular choices include Falak Sella Extra Long Basmati, Guard Ultimate Longest Basmati and Shan Sella Basmati. See all in Rice, Grains & Pasta.
Pick the right masala
- Goat or lamb: National Mutton Biryani or Shan Memoni Mutton Biryani
- Beef: Shan Karachi Beef Biryani or Jazaa Deghi Beef Biryani
- Chicken: National Chicken Biryani or Shan Malay Chicken Biryani
- All-rounders: Shan Biryani Masala, Shan Bombay Biryani, Sindhi Biryani
Finish with a handful of crispy fried onions on top.
Order everything you need from WeDoHalal. We bring fresh halal meat from trusted Edmonton butchers plus the spices and pantry items you need, with same-day or next-day delivery across Edmonton and nearby towns. Delivery is free on orders over $100. See our delivery areas.
Cooking, storage and thawing tips are general guidance only and some content is written with the help of AI, so please use your own judgement. Always follow safe food handling and cook meat to a safe internal temperature. See our Terms and Conditions.