Chicken manchurian recipe
Chicken manchurian
Learn to make chicken manchurian recipe with step by step instructions and video.
Chicken manchurian is a popular snacks recipe which is everyone's favourite. Crisp fried chicken pieces are stir fried with a yummy manchurian sauce.
Chicken manchurian is versatile, yummy and extremely easy to make. And the best part is that you can easily make this manchurian like a restaurant style. If you have been looking for such a chicken manchurian recipe, you have come to the right place. Here I bring you the step by step guide on how to make chicken manchurian recipe at home.
What is chicken manchurian ?
Chicken manchurian is a popular chicken snacks recipe of desi Chinese cuisine where batter coated chicken are deep fried and then stir fried with soya chilly sauce, herbs and seasonings in high flame heat.
You can make this recipe using either boneless chicken or chicken mince (keema).
Manchurian is a popular sauce and used to make some dishes like veg manchurian, gobi manchurian and paneer manchurian.
In restaurants Chicken manchurian are usually made by using bite size chicken pieces. However in certain restaurant mince chicken is also used to make small round shape balls called manchurian balls to make it. Today we will also learn to make manchurian sauce along with this recipe. This will help you to make other manchurian recipes easily at home.
Chicken manchurian is believed to have been invented in 1975 by Nelson Wang in Mumbai.
Ingredients required
Chicken : Boneless chicken breasts or legs are suitable for this recipe. Cut them into small bite size pieces. Or use mince chicken.
Sauce : Soya sauce and red chilly sauce
Herbs : Garlic, ginger, green chili and spring onion
Vegetable : Capsicum and onion
Spice powder : Pepper powder and salt
Vinegar : Prefer rice vinegar
Other ingredients : Corn flour and cooking oil
Variations
The popular variation for this recipe is chicken manchurian dry which is used as an appetizer or snacks.
Another variation for this is Chicken manchurian gravy which is used as a side dish.
In some restaurants, Chicken manchurian is made with ground chicken. Spiced ground chicken are made into small round shape balls like dumping and deep fried. Then these are stir fried with the sauce and herbs.
Serving
Chicken manchurian is generally served as a snacks and it goes well like as it is. You can serve some red chilly sauce and soya sauce along with it while serving.
You can serve it as a side dish along with chicken fried rice , Veg hakka noodles and Chicken hakka noodles..
Time taken
Total time taken to make chicken manchurian take about just 15 minutes. This includes 10 minutes of preparation time and 5 minutes of cooking time. You may want to marinate the chicken for about 10 minutes, but that is optional.
Make ahead option
You can refrigerated the fried chicken pieces for upto 2 days in a air tight container. Similarly you can make the manchurian sauce in advance and keep refrigerated after cooling completely.
Before your dinner or any events, fry the chicken for one minute and then stir fry in the manchurian sauce as required.
Steps to make the recipe
1. Coating the chicken
Trim and cut the chicken pieces into small bite sizes. In a mixing bowl mix the chicken with salt, pepper powder and a beaten egg.
Add two tablespoon corn flour and mix nicely so that the chicken pieces get nicely coated from all sides. Cover and keep aside for 10 minutes to marinate and absorb all the flavour.
For mince chicken, mix them with chopped ginger, garlic, pepper powder, 2 tablespoon corn flour, 1 tablespoon maida, one beaten egg whites, salt and some chopped coriander leaves.
Keep them aside for 5 to 10 minutes to absorb the flavours.
2. Cutting the vegetables
Finely chopped garlic, ginger and green chili. Cut capsicum and onion into dice or cube size. Chopped green spring onions and roughly slice the white part of the spring onions.
3. Frying the chicken
Heat oil in a deep vessel pan or kadai over medium high heat flame. When the oil become hot lower the flame to low and add the batter coated chicken one by one carefully.
Fry them for 4 to 6 minutes or till they become crisp golden. Remove them on a kitchen towel or napkin to absorb any excess oil.
You can shallow fry the chicken pieces as well but deep frying is recommended for best result.
Similarly make small round shape balls with the marinated chicken mince and fry them till crisp golden.
Remove them in a absorbent paper to absorb any excess oil.
Apply little water on the palm of hands while making balls with the mince chicken. This will help to prevent the chicken mince to stick on the palm.
4. Making manchurian sauce
Now heat oil in a pan or Chinese wok over high heat flame and add chopped garlic, ginger and green chili. Fry them for a while then add chopped onions. Fry till the onion become soft and translucent.
Then add white part of the spring onion, capsicum and onion cubes. Stir them in high heat flame for a while..
Then pour half cup of water and simmer for a while.
Next add soya sauce, red chilly sauce, pepper powder and salt.
Simmer the sauce for one more minute further. Make a slurry by mixing one tablespoon corn flour with 1/3 cup of water and pour half the slurry into the sauce and cook. When the sauce start to thicken sprinkle some chopped green spring onions
This is how you can make a manchurian sauce. And this sauce is used to make popular recipes like gobi manchurian and veg manchurian.
5. Stir frying the chicken
Now add the fried chicken into the above prepared manchurian sauce.
And start to stir fry everything over high heat flame for one minute or till the sauce become thick and well coated with the chicken.
Taste the seasoning and color of the dish. If required then add some more soya sauce to adjust the color and spice powder.
Switch off the gas flame and sprinkle some chopped spring onion over the chicken. Remove the chicken to serve hot. This is how you can make chicken manchurian.
Chicken manchurian balls
Similarly add the fried chicken balls into the manchurian sauce and stir fry till the sauce nicely coated. Taste and remove to serve.
Chicken manchurian gravy
To make chicken manchurian gravy use one cup water in place of half cup and increase little bit more soya sauce, red chilli sauce and corn flour slurry.
Then add the fried chicken balls and cook for another one minute or till the gravy become thick.
Taste the seasoning and if required add some more salt and pepper powder.
You can even add Schezwan sauce to this manchurian sauce to make Schezwan manchurian. To make it spicy use green chili paste.
If you love chicken manchurian then you might like the following recipes as well
If you love chicken manchurian then you might like the following recipes as well
Chicken Manchurian Restaurant Style
Chicken manchurian is a popular Indo Chinese snacks recipe where deep fried crisp chicken pieces are stir fried with herbs, soya chilly sauce and seasonings.
Ingredients
- 200 gm chicken breast or leg ( boneless)
- 3 - 4 tablespoon corn flour
- 1 beaten egg
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper powder
- 1 tablespoon salt or as per taste
- 2 teaspoon chopped garlic
- 1 teaspoon chopped ginger
- 2 green chili finely chopped
- 1 medium size onion finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon red chilly sauce
- 1 tablespoon soya sauce
- 1 teaspoon vinegar ( optional)
- 1 teaspoon white pepper powder
- 1/2 of capsicum cut into cube or dice
- 1/2 of a onion cut into dice shape
- Small handful of chopped green spring onion
- Some white spring onions roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon oil for stir frying and some for deep frying
Instructions
- Cut the chicken pieces into small bite size and add in a mixing bowl. Add the black pepper powder, salt and beaten egg and mix well. Then add 2 tablespoon corn flour and give a good mix so that the chicken pieces get nicely coated from all sides. Keep them aside for 10 minutes to absorb the flavours.
- Heat some cooking oil in a kadai or pan over medium heat flame. When the oil become hot lower the flame to low and add the batter coated chicken one by one carefully.
- Fry them for 4 to 5 minutes or till they become crisp golden. Remove them on a kitchen towel or napkin to absorb any excess oil.
- Now heat 1 tablespoon oil in a Chinese wok or pan and fry the chopped garlic, ginger and green chili for a while. Add chopped onions, cubes of capsicum, onion and white part of spring onions.
- Pour half cup water and simmer for 30 seconds. Then add soya sauce, red chilly sauce, pepper powder and salt. Simmer further to cook the sauce. Pour some vinegar.
- Make a slurry by mixing one tablespoon corn flour with some water and pour into the sauce and cook further till the sauce become thick. Spring some chopped green spring onions. This is how you can make manchurian sauce.
- Now add the fried chicken and give them a good mix and stir fry over high heat flame till the sauce become thick and nicely coated with the chicken pieces.
- Taste the seasoning and color if the chicken and if required add some more salt, pepper and soya sauce.
- Sprinkle some chopped green spring onions and remove the chicken to serve hot.
Chef's Notes
-
Use soy sauce, red chili sauce, and ketchup in balanced proportions.
Too much soy sauce makes it salty and dark; too much ketchup makes it too sweet.
A good ratio is 1 tbsp soy sauce : 1½ tbsp chili sauce : 1 tbsp ketchup, then adjust to taste. - Always toss the fried chicken in the sauce on high heat for a short time (1–2 minutes).
This quick toss gives that signature smoky “wok flavor” and keeps the chicken crisp while coating it evenly with the glossy Manchurian sauce.
📊 Nutritional Value (Per Serving)
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 566 kcal |
| Protein | 35 g |
| Fat | 34 g |
| Carbohydrates | 27 g |
ℹ️ Additional Info
Course: Appetizer | Cuisine: Indo Chinese | Method: Stir Fry
Chicken manchurian recipe video
- Chicken manchurian has a intense flavor of soya sauce compare to chilli chicken.
- Chicken manchurian is more dark in color and spicy in taste compare to chilli chicken.
- Red chilly paste is used to make chilli chicken more glossy in color but not in manchurian.
- Chopped green chili is used in manchurian whereas slits green chili is used in chilli chicken.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Chicken Manchurian?
Chicken Manchurian is an Indo-Chinese dish made with fried chicken pieces tossed in a tangy, spicy, and slightly sweet sauce made of soy sauce, chili sauce, garlic, and ginger. It can be served dry (as an appetizer) or with gravy (as a main course).
2. What type of chicken is best for Chicken Manchurian?
Boneless chicken breast or thigh pieces work best. Thigh meat stays more tender and juicy, while breast meat is leaner.
3. How do I make Chicken Manchurian crispy?
Coat the chicken pieces with a batter made of cornflour and all-purpose flour, and deep-fry or air-fry until golden and crisp. Ensure the oil is hot before frying to prevent sogginess.
4. What sauces are used in Chicken Manchurian?
Common sauces include soy sauce, red chili sauce, tomato ketchup, and sometimes vinegar. You can adjust the ratio to suit your taste for spice and tanginess.
5. Can I make Chicken Manchurian without frying?
Yes, you can bake or air-fry the chicken pieces instead of deep-frying. The texture may differ slightly but will still be delicious.
6. How do I make Chicken Manchurian gravy?
To make a gravy version, increase the amount of sauce and add a slurry (cornflour mixed with water) to thicken it. Adjust the consistency as desired with water or chicken broth.
7. Is Chicken Manchurian spicy?
It can be medium to spicy depending on the amount of chili sauce and green chilies used. You can reduce the spice level for a milder version.
8. What can I serve Chicken Manchurian with?
It pairs perfectly with fried rice, schezwan rice, plain steamed rice, or noodles. The dry version can also be served as a starter or side dish.
9. Can I make Chicken Manchurian ahead of time?
You can fry the chicken and prepare the sauce separately in advance. Combine them just before serving to maintain crispiness and freshness.
10. How do I store and reheat Chicken Manchurian?
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat in a pan over medium heat, adding a splash of water to loosen the sauce. Avoid microwaving for too long as it can make the chicken chewy.
Read more popular Indo Chinese recipes
NICE TO MEET YOU!
I’m Mobasir Hassan, Executive Sous Chef with the Radisson Hotel Group. After years in hotel kitchens, I now share chef-tested recipes, step-by-step cooking techniques, and restaurant-style dishes that home cooks can recreate with confidence. I’m glad you’re here!


















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