When you think about meat consumption in India, the variety and cultural rules around what’s eaten across its 28 states, it’s not what you might expect. While global lists often highlight beef or pork, in India, the most eaten meat is chicken—simple, affordable, and widely accepted across religions and regions. It’s grilled on street corners in Delhi, simmered in coconut milk in Kerala, and slow-cooked in tandoors from Punjab to Bengal. You won’t find a single Indian city where chicken isn’t part of daily meals, whether it’s a family dinner or a roadside snack.
Right behind chicken comes goat meat, often called mutton in Indian markets, though it’s technically from young goats. This is the star of festive dishes like biryani in Hyderabad, curries in Uttar Pradesh, and stews in the Northeast. Unlike beef, which is avoided by Hindus due to religious beliefs, and pork, which many Muslims and Sikhs avoid, goat meat crosses cultural lines. It’s the one meat you’ll find in temples during festivals, in Muslim homes during Eid, and in Christian households in Goa. Even in vegetarian-heavy cities like Pune or Jaipur, goat meat dishes are common on non-veg menus.
Beef? Almost never. Cows are sacred to over 80% of Indians, and even in states where it’s legally allowed, you won’t find beef on most menus. Pork shows up in small pockets—Goa, Nagaland, and parts of Kerala—but it’s not a national staple. Lamb is popular in the North, especially during weddings, but it’s pricier and less common than goat. Fish is huge along the coasts, but it’s not classified as meat in most Indian contexts. So when someone asks what’s eaten most, the answer isn’t complicated: chicken, the most accessible, versatile, and universally accepted protein in India, followed closely by goat meat, shaped by tradition, cost, and taste.
What you’ll find in the posts below are real stories from travelers and locals who’ve tasted these meats in the wild—on jungle campfires near Bandhavgarh, in tribal villages of Odisha, and in hidden kitchens of Varanasi. No fluff. Just what people actually eat, where, and why. If you’re planning a trip and want to eat like a local without the stomach trouble, these guides show you exactly where to go and what to order.
