15 Chakhokhbili Recipes for Every Taste

Source: FomaA, AdobeStock

One of the best and most popular Georgian chicken dishes is rightfully chakhokhbili. It's a type of stew with vegetables and spices. Nowadays, chakhokhbili is increasingly made with turkey, duck, and other types of meat. We're sharing 15 easy recipes!

1. Classic Chicken Chakhokhbili

Source: Yulia Zubkova

A traditional Georgian chakhokhbili recipe with fresh tomatoes and aromatic spices.

Preparation time: 1 hour.
Servings: 4.

• 700 g chicken
• 2 onions
• 3 tomatoes
• 1 bell pepper
• 1 tbsp khmeli-suneli
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 tbsp butter
• 0.5 bunch herbs
• 1 pinch chili flakes
• 1 tsp spices to taste

1. Pour boiling water over the tomatoes, peel them, and dice them finely. Dice the bell pepper in the same way.

Source: Yulia Zubkova

2. Slice the onion into half-rings and sauté it in butter over low heat until translucent.

Source: Yulia Zubkova

3. Cut the chicken into roughly equal pieces. These can be any parts of the chicken – drumsticks, thighs, breast. Sear the chicken in a dry pan for about 1-2 minutes per side.

Source: Yulia Zubkova

4. Add the tomatoes, onions, bell pepper, and all spices over the chicken.

Source: Yulia Zubkova

5. Stir and simmer the chakhokhbili, covered, for 40-45 minutes over low heat.

Source: Yulia Zubkova

6. 5 minutes before the end, add chopped herbs and garlic.

Source: Yulia Zubkova

2. Chakhokhbili with Chicken Breast

Source: pigmine.ru

To prevent chicken fillet from being dry, it should be marinated first.

Preparation time: 1 hour 30 minutes.
Servings: 4.

• 2-3 chicken fillets
• 3 onions
• 3 tomatoes
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 bell pepper
• 1 chili pepper
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 tbsp khmeli-suneli
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 0.5 bunch herbs
• 1 tsp spices to taste
• 1 tsp wine vinegar
• 1 tbsp soy sauce

1. Dice the chicken and marinate it for half an hour in soy sauce, vinegar, oil, spices, crushed garlic, and chopped chili.
2. Sear the chicken for a couple of minutes, stirring, in a dry non-stick pan.
3. Finely chop the onion and bell pepper, and sauté them in oil until soft. Add chopped tomatoes, tomato paste, khmeli-suneli, and more spices to taste, then simmer for about 7 minutes.
4. Add the chicken to the tomato sauce and simmer the chakhokhbili, covered, for 35-40 minutes over minimal heat.
5. At the end, add chopped herbs.

3. Turkey Chakhokhbili

Source: gruziyagid.ru

This dish can be quite spicy, so adjust the amount of spices to your taste.

Preparation time: 1 hour.
Servings: 4.

• 800 g turkey
• 2 onions
• 4 tomatoes
• 100 ml water
• 20 g butter
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 bunch herbs
• 2 tsp Caucasian spices
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp khmeli-suneli

1. Cut the turkey into pieces and sear over high heat until browned on all sides.
2. Add olive and butter, and sliced onion (half-rings). Fry for another 10 minutes, stirring.
3. Blanch the tomatoes, dice them, and add them to the turkey.
4. Also add lemon juice, water, and all spices.
5. Simmer everything over low heat, covered, for 30 minutes, add chopped herbs, stir, and remove the chakhokhbili from the heat.

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4. Chicken Chakhokhbili with Mushrooms

Source: t.me

We recommend using chicken drumsticks or thighs – fattier parts of the bird.

Preparation time: 1 hour.
Servings: 4.

• 800 g chicken
• 2 onions
• 3 tomatoes
• 300 g mushrooms
• 1 tbsp khmeli-suneli
• 2 cloves garlic
• 0.5 bunch cilantro
• 1 tsp spices to taste

1. Sear the chicken in a dry pan for a minute on all sides.
2. Roughly chop the onion and mushrooms, and sauté them until cooked. Add to the chicken.
3. Peel the tomatoes after blanching them, and blend them with cilantro, garlic, and all spices.
4. Pour the tomato mixture over the chicken with mushrooms, and simmer everything, covered, over low heat for 40 minutes.

5. Duck Chakhokhbili

Source: yaplakal.com

For tender duck, it needs to simmer a bit longer. But it's worth it!

Preparation time: 1 hour 30 minutes.
Servings: 6.

• 1 medium duck
• 3 onions
• 2 bell peppers
• 2 carrots
• 700 g tomatoes
• 4 cloves garlic
• 1.5 cups water
• 0.5 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp khmeli-suneli
• 1 bunch cilantro

1. Cut the duck into pieces and sear in a cauldron over high heat without oil until browned.
2. Roughly chop all vegetables. Sauté the onion, carrots, and bell pepper until soft, now with oil.
3. Add the vegetables to the duck, top with tomatoes, pour in water, add sugar and all spices, and simmer the duck, covered, for 45-50 minutes.
4. Add chopped herbs and garlic, and simmer the chakhokhbili for another 5-7 minutes.

6. Chakhokhbili with Walnuts

Source: yantar-1.ru

The walnuts need to be toasted, so dry-roast them in a pan.

Preparation time: 1 hour.
Servings: 4.

• 6 chicken thighs
• 2 onions
• 1 carrot
• 1 bell pepper
• 3 tomatoes
• 0.5 cup walnuts
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp khmeli-suneli
• 1 tsp spices
• 1 bunch parsley

1. Sear the chicken thighs in a dry pan on all sides.
2. Roughly chop all vegetables and sauté the onion with carrots and bell pepper until soft.
3. Add tomatoes and spices, and simmer for 5 minutes.
4. Pour the vegetable sauce over the chicken, sprinkle with chopped walnuts and herbs, and stir.
5. Cook the chakhokhbili, covered, for 30-40 minutes over low heat.

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7. Chakhokhbili with Potatoes

Source: yaplakal.com

No separate side dish needed!

Preparation time: 1 hour 20 minutes.
Servings: 4.

• 700 g chicken
• 3 onions
• 2 tomatoes
• 4 potatoes
• 30 g butter
• 1 bunch cilantro
• 1 tsp fenugreek
• 1 tsp coriander
• 0.5 tsp hot red pepper
• 1 tsp spices

1. Dice the potatoes and par-boil them until almost done.
2. Blanch the tomatoes, peel them, and blend them.
3. Sear the chicken pieces on all sides.
4. Separately, sauté the onion in butter until golden and add all spices to it.
5. Add the tomatoes to the onion, stir, and simmer for 10-15 minutes.
6. Place the potatoes over the chicken, then pour the tomato sauce over. Simmer the chakhokhbili, covered, for another 30 minutes and sprinkle with chopped cilantro at the end.

8. Chakhokhbili with Eggplant

Source: pigmine.ru

Eggplant is one of the most harmonious additions to Georgian dishes.

Preparation time: 1 hour.
Servings: 6.

• 800 g chicken
• 1 kg tomatoes
• 4 onions
• 2 eggplants
• 2 bell peppers
• 1 bunch herbs
• 1 tsp red pepper
• 1 tsp coriander
• 1 tsp basil
• 1 tsp spices

1. Cut the chicken into pieces and sear for 7-10 minutes, stirring constantly.
2. Separately, sauté the sliced onion (half-rings) until translucent, and add to the chicken.
3. Peel the tomatoes and finely chop them. Blend the bell pepper with all spices. Peel and dice the eggplants. Add everything to the chicken with onions.
4. Simmer the chakhokhbili, covered, over low heat for about half an hour. A couple of minutes before the end, add chopped herbs.

9. Chakhokhbili with Plums

Source: genatsvale-vip.ru

Be sure to choose dark plums, like Italian prunes.

Preparation time: 1 hour 20 minutes.
Servings: 6.

• 1 kg chicken
• 5 cloves garlic
• 6 onions
• 6 tomatoes
• 100 ml dry red wine
• 300 g plums
• 30 g butter
• 50 ml vegetable oil
• 1 bunch cilantro
• 1 tbsp khmeli-suneli
• 1 tbsp spices

1. Cut the chicken into pieces and sear in vegetable oil until browned on all sides. Pour in the wine, and simmer the chicken for 20 minutes over low heat.
2. Peel the tomatoes, chop them, and add to the chicken. Simmer everything together for another 15 minutes, covered.
3. Blanch the plums, boil for 10-15 minutes, and strain through a sieve. Add to the chicken.
4. Slice the onion into half-rings and sauté for 10 minutes in the remaining oil. Add butter to it, and once melted – also add the onion to the chicken.
5. Season the chakhokhbili, stir, and simmer for another 15 minutes. At the end, season the dish with crushed garlic and chopped herbs, and let it steep, covered.

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10. Chakhokhbili with Tomatoes in Their Own Juice

Source: lb-s.ru

If fresh tomatoes are not available, a jar of canned tomatoes will work perfectly.

Preparation time: 1 hour.
Servings: 4.

• 800 g chicken
• 2 red onions
• 300-400 g tomatoes in their own juice
• 1 bell pepper
• 1 chili pepper
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 tbsp khmeli-suneli
• 1 bunch parsley
• 1 tsp spices to taste

1. Cut the chicken into equal pieces and sear on all sides in a dry pan.
2. Finely chop the onion and pepper, and sauté them in oil until soft. Add chopped tomatoes with their juice, and simmer for about 10 minutes.
3. Pour the tomato sauce over the chicken, and add chopped garlic, chili, parsley, and all spices.
4. Simmer the chakhokhbili over low heat, covered, for 30-40 minutes.

11. Chakhokhbili with Pomegranate Seeds

Source: pulse.mail.ru

Pomegranate is not only a beautiful garnish but also adds fresh flavor notes.

Preparation time: 1 hour.
Servings: 4.

• 8 chicken drumsticks
• 3 tomatoes
• 1 red onion
• 1 bell pepper
• 1 pomegranate
• 1 tsp khmeli-suneli
• 150 ml water
• 1 tbsp spices
• 1 bunch parsley

1. Slice the onion and bell pepper into strips, grate the carrot, and blanch, peel, and blend the tomatoes. Separate the pomegranate into seeds.
2. Sear the chicken drumsticks in a dry pan on all sides.
3. Pour in a little oil and add the onion.
4. Fry for another 5 minutes, then add the carrots and bell pepper. After another 5 minutes, pour in the tomatoes, water, and add herbs.
5. Season and simmer the chakhokhbili, covered, for 20 minutes.
6. Add chopped parsley and pomegranate seeds, gently stir, and heat for another couple of minutes.

12. Chakhokhbili with Beans

Source: youtube.com

We recommend soaking the beans overnight and boiling them until soft beforehand to save time later.

Preparation time: 1 hour 20 minutes.
Servings: 4.

• 1 kg chicken
• 200 g beans
• 2 bell peppers
• 2 onions
• 500 g tomatoes
• 1 tsp khmeli-suneli
• 1 tsp spices
• 1 bunch cilantro
• 3 cloves garlic

1. Cut the chicken into serving pieces, thinly slice the pepper and onion, blend the tomatoes, boil the beans, and finely chop the cilantro with garlic.
2. Sear the chicken in a minimal amount of oil for 10 minutes, stirring.
3. Add the onion, and fry for another 10 minutes.
4. Add the bell pepper, and after another 10 minutes – the tomatoes, herbs, garlic, and all spices.
5. Stir the chakhokhbili and simmer, covered, for 15 minutes. Add the beans, simmer for another 10 minutes, and remove from heat.

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13. Chakhokhbili with Zucchini

Source: pigmine.ru

A quite diet-friendly chakhokhbili if you're watching calories and eating healthy.

Preparation time: 1 hour.
Servings: 4.

• 800 g chicken breast
• 700 g tomatoes
• 2 onions
• 2 zucchinis
• 1 bell pepper
• 1 bunch herbs
• 1 tsp khmeli-suneli
• 1 tsp coriander
• 1 tsp basil
• 2 cloves garlic

1. Dice the chicken breast and sear until browned in a minimal amount of oil.
2. Add the onion half-rings and fry until translucent.
3. Dice all other vegetables and add them to the pan. Add spices and chopped garlic.
4. Simmer the chakhokhbili, covered, for about half an hour over low heat. If necessary, add a little water.
5. A couple of minutes before the end, add chopped herbs.

14. Chakhokhbili in the Oven

Source: vlars.ru

The cooking principle remains the same, only now you don't need to watch the stove.

Preparation time: 1 hour.
Servings: 4.

• 1 whole chicken
• 1 kg tomatoes
• 3 onions
• 2 bell peppers
• 1 bunch herbs
• 1 tsp khmeli-suneli
• 1 tsp spices
• 1 handful walnuts

1. Cut the chicken into pieces, sear until browned on all sides in a dry pan, and transfer to a cauldron or a lidded baking dish.
2. Slice the onion into rings, and the bell pepper into strips.
3. Dice some of the tomatoes, and blend the rest with herbs and spices. Optionally, add garlic and chili.
4. Add everything to the chicken in the dish and sprinkle with chopped walnuts.
5. Cook the chakhokhbili in the oven at 180 degrees Celsius for about 35-40 minutes.

15. Chakhokhbili in a Multicooker

Source: attuale.ru

Classic chakhokhbili is cooked in a cauldron or a deep cast-iron skillet, but nowadays there are many more options!

Preparation time: 1 hour.
Servings: 3.

• 500 g chicken
• 3 tomatoes
• 1 carrot
• 1 onion
• 1 bell pepper
• 2 cloves garlic
• 30 g cilantro
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 tbsp spices

1. Cut the chicken into pieces. Slice the onion into half-rings, grate the carrot, and thinly slice the pepper. Blanch, peel, and blend the tomatoes. Finely chop the garlic and cilantro.
2. Grease the multicooker bowl with oil and cook the chicken with the lid open, stirring, in "Fry" mode for 10 minutes.
3. After 5 minutes, add the onion, and after another 2 – the carrot and pepper.
4. After the program finishes, add the tomatoes and spices, and set to "Stew" program for 40 minutes.
5. 5 minutes before the end, add garlic and cilantro to the chakhokhbili.