Short answer: one plate of chicken karahi (about 350 g) has roughly 450–700 calories, depending almost entirely on how much oil or ghee went into the karahi. A lighter homemade version lands near the bottom of that range; a dhaba or restaurant karahi swimming in oil lands near the top. Per 100 g, expect roughly 150–200 kcal.
Why the range is so wide
Chicken karahi is a simple dish — chicken, tomatoes, ginger, green chilies, spices — so the chicken itself is fairly consistent. What varies wildly:
- Oil/ghee quantity. This is 80% of the variance. A home cook might use 1 tablespoon for the whole karahi; a restaurant can use 3–4× that. Each extra tablespoon of oil adds ~120 calories to the dish.
- Chicken cut. Boneless breast is leanest; bone-in mixed pieces (the traditional way) include skin and fattier cuts.
- Restaurant vs homemade. Restaurant karahis are consistently richer — more oil, sometimes added butter or cream at the end.
- Serving size. A "plate" at a restaurant is often 350–400 g; at home you might serve yourself 200–250 g.
Anyone giving you a single exact number for chicken karahi is guessing. Ranges are the honest answer.
Chicken karahi calories & macros
Estimates for karahi as served (with masala, bone-in pieces). Boneless versions run slightly higher in protein per 100 g.
| Portion | Calories | Protein | Carbs | Fat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 g, homemade (light oil) | 150–190 | 14–17 g | 3–5 g | 9–12 g |
| 100 g, restaurant/dhaba | 200–250 | 13–16 g | 3–6 g | 14–19 g |
| 1 cup, homemade (~250 g) | 375–475 | 35–42 g | 8–12 g | 22–30 g |
| 1 plate, restaurant (~350 g) | 550–750 | 45–55 g | 10–20 g | 40–60 g |
The good news: karahi is a genuinely high-protein dish. A restaurant plate can deliver 45–55 g of protein — more than half a day's target for many people (see how much protein you need per day). The problem was never the chicken; it's the oil it swims in.
Is chicken karahi good for weight loss?
It can be — with two adjustments:
- Control the oil, not the chicken. Ask for (or cook with) less oil and you cut 200+ calories without losing any protein.
- Watch what goes with it. The karahi itself is fine; the 3 naans alongside it add another 600–900 calories. Swap to 1–2 rotis and the meal stays reasonable.
This is the pattern across desi food: the dish is rarely the problem, the cooking fat and the bread basket are. Our Pakistani food calorie guide covers this across the full menu.
How to track chicken karahi without guessing
Here's where it gets practical. In CalsFlow, you'd type:
"1 plate restaurant chicken karahi + 2 rotis"
CalsFlow estimates the calories and macros, and — this is the important part — shows its assumptions: the portion size it guessed, how much oil it allowed for. Eating a homemade version with light oil? Dial the oil assumption down and watch the estimate drop by 150–200 calories. That editable-assumption step is what turns a guess into a usable number.
Two weeks of logging karahi nights this way, and you'll know your usual plate's numbers by heart.
FAQs
How many calories are in 1 plate of chicken karahi? About 450–700 kcal for a ~350 g restaurant plate, depending on oil. Homemade with light oil: closer to 350–450 for the same weight.
Does restaurant chicken karahi have more calories than homemade? Almost always — typically 30–50% more, driven by extra oil and ghee. If you're tracking, always log restaurant karahi as the higher-oil version.
How much protein is in chicken karahi? Roughly 14–16 g per 100 g as served. A full restaurant plate gives you 45–55 g — excellent for hitting a daily protein target.
Chicken karahi vs chicken tikka — which is lighter? Tikka (grilled, minimal oil) is lighter per 100 g — around 130–160 kcal. Karahi's extra calories come from the cooking oil, not the chicken.
The bottom line
Chicken karahi: 150–200 kcal per 100 g, 450–700 per restaurant plate, with excellent protein. The oil is the variable — control that and it's one of the most diet-friendly dishes in Pakistani cuisine. Eating karahi tonight? Describe it in CalsFlow, adjust the oil assumption to match your plate, and get your real number in seconds.
CalsFlow provides nutrition estimates, not medical advice.