Chicken and Rice Instant Pot Recipe
44 Comments
Posted: 03/08/21
Updated: 09/06/22
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If you need a quick and easy dinner the whole family will enjoy look no further than this Instant Pot Chicken and Rice! It’s creamy and cheesy with pieces of tender chicken, carrots and rice. A one-pot meal that will quickly become a staple dinner recipe at your house.
This Instant Pot chicken and rice is the ultimate one-pot dinner! It’s a cozy, comforting dinner that is perfect for weeknights.
I love easy pressure cooker recipes, and this one is a favorite – you can cook the chicken and rice at the same time. No extra pots and pans required! Add a vegetable like roasted veggies or glazed carrots on the side for a dinner your family will love.
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Why This Chicken and Rice Instant Pot Recipe Works
- I’m showing you how to make chicken and rice from scratch with simple ingredients.
- You can use boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs. The choice is yours!
- You can cook everything in the Instant Pot – you can sauté the veggies and chicken, and then pressure cook them with the rice. Add some grated Parmesan at the end to make it a cheesy, comforting meal!
This recipe is so easy and so good you’ll want to add it to your dinner rotation. My family loves it!
Chicken Rice Instant Pot Ingredients
Chicken: You will need to cut the boneless chicken breasts (or thighs) into 1” pieces
Vegetables: Onions, carrots, and garlic add so much flavor – just finely dice them!
The rest of the ingredients are simple pantry and fridge ingredients that only need to be measured.
How to Make Instant Pot Chicken and Rice
- Saute: Turn on the saute setting to high heat. Melt the butter with olive oil in the pot and then add the onion, carrots, and garlic. Cook them for about five minutes. Add the meat, salt, and pepper and cook it with the veggies for another five minutes. The chicken won’t be cooked through at this point.
- Deglaze: Add some of the broth. It will simmer, making it easy to scrape up the browned bits off the bottom of the pot. Add the rest of the broth and the rice. Stir to combine and then secure the lid.
- Pressure Cook: Once the lid is secured, close the steam vent. Turn off the saute feature and set the manual button for 10 minutes on high pressure. Once the time is up, do a quick release, so all of the steam is released.
- Garnish and Serve! Open the lid and add the Parmesan cheese. Stir until it’s combined and then garnish with chopped parsley.
Tips for Chicken Rice Instant Pot Leftovers
I think it tastes best served right away, but the leftovers will keep for a few days in the fridge. If it’s thickened or dry, just add a splash of broth when yo warm it up and it will be delicious!
FAQ for Chicken and Rice in Instant Pot
Can you cook rice and meat at the same time in Instant Pot?
Yes, you can cook both rice and meat at the same time the Instant Pot. The key to getting this to turn out perfectly is making sure they cook at similar lengths of time. If they don’t, you will end of with mushy rice or over cooked meat.
Sometimes it is necessary to precook one of the ingredients for a few minutes to avoid this happening.
What happens if you put raw chicken in the Instant Pot?
You can put any type of raw chicken in your Instant Pot and cook it. Usually, you place the chicken on the trivet, add water and cook the chicken.
Make Instant Pot Chicken Rice a Complete Meal!
This is a hearty meal on it’s on, but sometimes I add a side dish! Here are some ideas:
- Add some soft dinner rolls or a batch of my easy Breadsticks!
- Air Fryer Asparagus or Broccoli is a healthy and easy side dish that goes great with it.
- Use your crockpot to make Ranch Carrots!
- Don’t forget dessert – we love some Blonde Brownies or Monster Cookies for a special treat!
This is a creamy, cheesy, and satisfying dinner! It’s great for busy nights when you need something to fill up your hungry family! It’s just another reason to love your pressure cooker – want some more ideas? Be sure to check out some more favorite recipes!
More Instant Pot Chicken Recipes
Here are more chicken recipes you can make in your IP!
- Chicken Alfredo is another comforting dinner that is so easy to make!
- For taco Tuesday, you have to try my easy pressure cooker Chicken Tacos.
- Crack Chicken Sandwiches get their name for a reason – they are so good! Make the chicken in your IP for a quick and easy dinner.
Looking for even more ideas? Be sure to check out all of my Instant Pot Recipes!
MORE MUST-TRY RECIPES!
Have you tried this chicken and rice recipe? I’d love if you would rate it!! A five-star rating will make my day!
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Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!
Instant Pot Chicken and Rice
Cheesy, delicious chicken and rice with carrots that's a one pot meal in your Instant Pot!
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 1 medium onion finely diced
- 2 large carrots finely diced
- 2 tsp minced garlic
- 1 ½ boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs trimmed and cut into 1’’ pieces
- 2 tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- 4 c. low sodium chicken broth
- 2 c. white rice
- ½ c. shredded parmesan cheese plus more to serve if desired
- Finely chopped parsley for garnish if desired
Instructions
- Set a 6 quart Instant Pot to saute on high heat. Add the butter and oil and let the butter melt. Then add the chopped onion, carrots and garlic. Saute, stirring occasionally for about 5 minutes, or until the onions are soft and golden.
- Add the trimmed and cut chicken, salt and pepper to Instant Pot. Saute, stirring occasionally for about 5 minutes (chicken will not be cooked through).
- Add ¼ c. chicken broth and deglaze but scraping the bottom of the pan to loosen any burnt pieces.
- Add the rest of the chicken broth (3 ½ c.) to the pan along with rice and stir to combine.
- Put the lid on the Instant Pot making sure the steam release knob is in the sealing position. Cancel the saute setting and then press the Manual button setting it to 10 minutes on high pressure.
- When the cooking cycle is finished do a quick release of the pressure.
- Open the lid and stir in ½ c. grated Parmesan cheese.
- Serve immediately, garnished with parsley and more Parmesan cheese if desired.
Tips
I think it tastes best served right away, but the leftovers will keep for a few days in the fridge. If it’s thickened or dry, just add a splash of broth when yo warm it up and it will be delicious!
Video
Nutrition Information
Calories: 337kcal (17%), Carbohydrates: 29g (10%), Protein: 19g (38%), Fat: 16g (25%), Saturated Fat: 7g (44%), Cholesterol: 46mg (15%), Sodium: 1206mg (52%), Potassium: 384mg (11%), Fiber: 1g (4%), Sugar: 2g (2%), Vitamin A: 3694IU (74%), Vitamin C: 3mg (4%), Calcium: 245mg (25%), Iron: 1mg (6%)
Nichole says
I did use brown rice as that’s only rice I had, and did the same measurements for it and the liquid and ended up having to cook it for 22 mins for the rice to be cooked. After the first 10 mins the rice was still crunchy, so maybe next time I’ll let it soak for a bit beforehand. I do agree that this is bland, but I just added some herbs and spices and it was great! Most things need more herbs and spices anyways so I like this recipe and will be making it again! 🙂
Lacey says
We loved this. I read the other comments and adjusted the steps by increasing the seasoning. We seared the chicken ahead of time in a skillet and it worked great. I subbed out the carrots for a frozen veggie medley.
I think this recipe is a great base for improvisation and substitution. Perfect for using what’s on hand to make something wonderful.
Courtney says
Thank you, Lacey! It is so great to hear you were able to adjust as needed. Especially to use up the items you already had on hand!
Tami says
I really love this simple dinner! I add frozen peas to ours (at the same time as the Parmesan) for color and flavor.
Heather says
My whole family loved this!!
One thing I did do is have the rice soak while I prepared everything else. That way there was no fear of crunchy rice.
Kim says
My family really enjoyed it. We used lactose free cheese instead because of my daughter and it was yummy! Thanks for sharing
Courtney says
That’s great! So glad you gave this recipe a try.
Kelly says
Unfortunately, it was not very good. There was too much rice. The chicken shouldn’t have been sautéed. My entire family wouldn’t eat it.
Cassandra says
I subbed broccoli instead of carrots, and added two cans of cream of chicken. It was amazing. Sadly my daughter didnt want to try it cause shes an oddball lol but I’m making it again momentarily.
Julie Evink says
I’m glad you enjoyed it, but that’s to bad your daughter wouldn’t try it. Maybe next time!!
Liz says
Quite bland and kinda dry. Had to add lots of extra seasoning. It’s a fine base recipe.
Julie Evink says
I’m sorry to hear that Liz!