Ingredients For Chicken And Rice:
You can use any kind of chicken here: chicken breast, thigh meat or chicken tenders. We prefer chicken tenders because they require very little prep , and reheat really well. They are also the most tender. We often use the chicken we have on hand.
The best rice for this recipe is jasmine rice . You could also use Basmati or Texmati without adjusting the cooking time. Brown rice like we used in our Instant Pot Rice with Beef recipe, would require a longer cooking time.
How To Make Instant Pot Chicken Thighs And Rice
Step 1: season and sear chicken thighs
To make this instant pot seasoned chicken and rice start by combining paprika, salt, pepper, oregano, and cumin in a small bowl. Season chicken thighs on all sides with this seasoning mixture.
Turn instant pot on to sauté and pour in the avocado oil. When the oil is hot add the chicken thighs to the instant pot and brown them for 3 minutes on each side.
While the chicken is cooking rinse your rice until the water runs clean. It is important to make sure the rice is thoroughly rinsed. Remove the browned chicken from the instant pot and add the diced onion.
Step 2: sauté onions and rinse rice
Sauté onions in the instant pot until soft and fragrant. This will take about 3 minutes.
While you sauté the onions scrape up the flavor bits left over from the chicken.
Next, turn the instant pot off and pour in water and chicken broth to deglaze the pan. Then, add the rice.
Make sure rice lays in an even layer along the bottom of the instant pot. Arrange chicken thighs on top of rice with the skin side up.
Step 3: cook under high pressure
Close the lid and set instant pot vent to sealing. Then, set it to manual high pressure for 3 minutes.
How To Make Chicken And Rice In The Instant Pot
Not only does cooking this casserole in my Instant Pot require fewer dishes, but it gets dinner on the table in under an hour. I also love that you can just “set it and forget it” in the pressure cooker.
This adaptation keeps the same flavors of Elise’s original recipe, but I made a few little changes to make sure it turned out beautifully in the pressure cooker.
Specifically, Ive found that casseroles do much better in my Instant Pot when the meat is on the bottom and the rice is layered on top. This way, the rice doesnt burn before the chicken is cooked through .
I know it sounds opposite of how youd make a casserole in the oven, but it is foolproof. I also reduced the amount of liquid a bit, since theres less evaporation with pressure cooking.
- New to the Instant Pot? Check out our post How To Use an Instant Pot: A First-Timers Guide.
Also Check: How To Reheat Food In Instant Pot
How To Cook Chicken And Rice In An Instant Pot:
We used a 6 Quart Instant Pot to make chicken and rice. This recipe moves fast so have all of your ingredients prepped and ready before you turn on your instant pot. Chop your onion, grate or your carrots , half your garlic head.
Chicken And Rice Faqs
What rice should you use for chicken and rice?
I recommend using long-grain white rice for this recipe. It holds up nicely in the instant pot and doesnt become too mushy.
Can you use brown rice in this recipe?
Absolutely! If youd prefer to use brown rice, you totally can, it will just take longer to cook. Instead of setting the timer for 3 minutes, set it for 22 minutes! If using long grain brown rice, leave the chicken breasts whole and uncooked, adding them on top of the rice.
Can you cook rice and meat at the same time in the instant pot?
Yes! This instant pot chicken and rice recipe allows you to cook the rice and the chicken at the same time for a super easy, one pot meal.
Can you put raw chicken in the instant pot?
You can, but I like to brown the chicken on the SAUTE setting before I add in the other ingredients. This gives the exterior of the chicken pieces that delicious browned color and gives it a head start so it is cooked in the same time as the rice.
Can you put frozen chicken in the instant pot?
Although you can put frozen chicken in the instant pot, I dont recommend it for this recipe. Since the chicken and rice are cooked at the same time, the cook time is designed for them to be done at the same time. Frozen chicken will take much longer to cook. If all you have is frozen, you should thaw it first.
How to store leftovers:
Read Also: How To Make Steel Cut Oats In Instant Pot
Optional: Brown Chicken In Instant Pot
First, press Saute button to Sauté More function to heat up Instant Pot.
Itll switch to ON on the screen.
Wait until it says HOT on the screen .
Amy + Jackys Tips!
Pat dry the chicken with a paper towel. Then, season one side of the chicken generously with salt and black pepper.
Add 1 tbsp olive oil in Instant Pot. Swirl the inner pot to ensure the oil covers the whole bottom of the inner pot .
Add the chicken in Instant Pot , then brown this side for 5 minutes.
Lightly season the other side of the chicken with salt and black pepper. Then, flip and brown this side of chicken for another 5 minutes.
Finally, set aside the chicken thighs.
*Note: If youre skipping this browning chicken step, add the chicken in Step 4.
Add in sliced onions and 1 tsp tomato paste, then saute for two minutes.
Add in a pinch of dried oregano and dried basil, then saute for another minute.
Add in minced garlic cloves, then saute for another 30 seconds.
Tips For Using An Instant Pot:
First-time users: always read the users manual for your specific instant pot prior to starting since your machine may not operate or look exactly like ours.
- Make sure the rim and rubber seal on your instant pot are clean for the seal to form properly.
- Stir the rice together before turning on to avoid the burn notice.
- Remember to set your lever to the stealing position for pressure to build.
- When manually releasing pressure, wear an oven mitt and keep your face away from the hot steam vent.
- I keep a paper towel ready to shield the vent in case it sputters liquid while venting/releasing pressure.
- Always check the pressure indicator on your machine to ensure that the pressure has fully released prior to opening the lid.
- Follow timing instructions precisely and set timers. With pressure cooking it easy to over-cook something if you forget about your pot.
You May Like: Instant Pot 6 Qt Duo Gourmet Multi-use Pressure Cooker
Serving And Making In Advance Recommendations
Serving: We serve as is. Some readers said they prefer more flavor and have added chopped cilantro and green onion. I guess it all comes down to individual taste buds.
Storing in the fridge: Leftover chicken and rice can be refrigerated right in inner pot with silicone or glass lid for up to 5 days. Or in airtight container, try leftovers in teriyaki chicken meal prep, easy lunch!
To reheat: You will notice chicken and rice will thicken in the fridge into a block. Thats because fat. Reheat with a splash of water or broth breaking into pieces and stirring in a pot. Use lid to steam it through. Always reheat only desired amount to keep leftovers fresh.
Freezing: I understand some of you do not feed a small army like me. Yes, you can freeze leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and then follow reheating instructions above.
Instant Pot Chicken And Rice Casserole Recipe
What should I make for dinner tonight? This might just be the number one question that we ask ourselves almost daily over here.
Then you have come to the right place, we have rounded up 21 instant pot chicken and rice casserole recipe that we have shared over the years.
Plus, there is such a variety of flavours in these recipes, so you are sure to find something for you. Most of these recipes are quick and easy ones made especially for busy weeknights.
Don’t Miss: How To Cook Dal In Instant Pot
A Versatile Burrito Bowl In 20 Minutes
Just as with a traditional burrito, this recipe is super versatile. Dont skip making it because you dont have one of the ingredients on the list. Besides the salsa, theres a good chance anything on the ingredient list can be omitted or swapped for something else.
Vegetable broth or even water can be used in place of chicken broth, while pinto, white, or kidney beans can easily be used in place of black beans. Have a pack of boneless, skinless breasts already in the fridge? Go ahead and use that in place of chicken thighs. None of these swaps will affect the cook time or finished burrito bowls.
For a Faster Dinner, Embrace the Meanwhile
My go-to tactic for making dinner prep as efficient and speedy as possible is to embrace the meanwhile. This means that instead of prepping all the ingredients at the onset , you should work as you go. This is largely a dump-and-go recipe, but theres still some room to embrace the meanwhile for more efficient and faster prep. Get started by prepping the onion and garlic, and having the spices and broth ready. While the onion sautés and simmers, cut up the chicken and rinse and drain the black beans.
More kitchen shortcuts: Sara Moultons Kitchen Shortcuts
What To Do With Instant Pot Chicken And Rice Leftovers:
If you have a smaller family, you can turn this into a soup to have on another night, or freeze it for later.
Also Check: How Long To Cook Carrots In Instant Pot
How To Make Instant Pot Orange Chicken
To make this orange chicken Instant Pot recipe, start by mixing 2 tablespoons of the cornstarch, garlic powder, and ground ginger together in a small bowl. Toss the chicken in the cornstarch mixture until the chicken pieces are evenly coated.
Select the Sauté function on your Instant Pot, and heat the vegetable oil in the pot. Add the chicken and sauté for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove the chicken from the pot to a plate and set aside. Press Cancel to end the Sauté function.
Pour 1/2 cup of the orange juice, chicken stock, brown sugar, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and orange zest into the pot and stir with a wooden spoon, scraping the bottom of the pot to loosen any browned bits. Add the browned chicken pieces back to the pot and stir. Close the lid and set the cooking time to 6 minutes at high/normal pressure. It will take about 8 minutes for the pot to reach pressure before that 6 minutes of cooking time begins.
Store leftovers of your Instant Pot orange chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Heres the complete Instant Pot Orange Chicken recipe! Enjoy, and be sure to order 30-Minute Instant Pot Cookbook on Amazon here for more delicious and easy 30 minute Instant Pot recipes like this.
Faqs For Instant Pot Chicken And Rice
Can I use frozen chicken thighs?
I would not recommend it. Some people have had good luck with this, but I have had mixed results. For best results, I recommend fully thawed chicken.
Can I use another type of rice?
Yes, as long as it has a similar cook time to jasmine rice. For example, white basmati rice should work well in this recipe. Brown rice may not work as well since it typically has a longer cook time.
Can I use chicken breasts in this recipe?
I probably would not recommend it. Why? Chicken breasts have a significantly lesser cook time, and they would likely dry out.
Can you put raw chicken in the Instant Pot?
Yes! I have many recipes that do this. For this particular recipe, I recommend the sauté as written in the recipe instructions. This will give you best results.
Can I add parmesan cheese?
Of course! The dish is already delicious as is, so dont worry if you do not have any. But if you want to add some, it will be delicious.
Read Also: How To Make Bone Broth For Dogs In Instant Pot
Why This Recipe Is So Good
- Thick and creamy with melty Parmesan, a tang of lemon juice, and perfectly cooked chicken and rice, this recipe is the ultimate comfort food.
- This chicken and rice is so rich and delicious, but so easy to make! With just a few steps in the Instant Pot, this is the perfect easy but filling meal. Its absolutely one of my favorite Instant Pot chicken recipes!
- This recipe only takes a handful of ingredients that you may already have in your house! We love how simple the ingredients are but how amazingly rich and cheesy this chicken and rice is.
How To Make It
Read Also: Why Is My Instant Pot Lid Not Closing
How We Made This Recipe Better
To our readers whove had issues with this recipe: We apologize and we hear you! After learning about some of the recipes difficulties, we headed back into the kitchen to ensure it would be successful for everyone. After retesting weve identified scorched to be the issue.
When added to the bottom of the pot, the rice browns too quickly, signaling to the pressure cooker theres stuck-on food. The degree to which this happens differs from machine to machine. We didnt get a BURN error, but did experience significant scorching. After a few more rounds of testing weve come up with this solution: Layer the dry rice on top of the chicken-salsa mixture before adding the lid and setting the pressure cooker to HIGH pressure. This keeps the rice from burning and helps it cook to its fluffy, tender best.
How To Store And Reheat
Store any leftover Instant Pot chicken and rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator, where it’ll last for 3 to 4 days.
For longer storage, store leftovers in a freezer safe container in the freezer.
Reheat your chicken and rice in the microwave.
May contain affiliate links. See disclosure for more information.
Don’t Miss: How To Cook Whole Potatoes In Instant Pot
Instant Pot Chicken And Rice Recipe Tips
- Be sure to rinse the rice well before cooking.
- When you add the broth to the pot, be sure to scrape up any bits stuck to bottom of your Instant Pot with a spoon or spatula before adding the chicken. This will ensure that you dont get the Instant Pot burn message during the pressure cooking time.
- If you want more veggies, try adding a chopped bell pepper along with the carrots. To add broccoli, stir in some steamed broccoli after pressure cooking. The broccoli will get too mushy if you pressure cook it along with everything else. Or stir a few handfuls of chopped fresh spinach into the finished dish.
- To learn more about cooking rice in the Instant Pot, see my recipes for Instant Pot Rice and Instant Pot Brown Rice.
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!
Also Check: How To Use Sous Vide Instant Pot
How To Make Instant Pot Chicken And Rice:
2. Add remaining ingredients. Add white wine to the pot to deglaze the pan, and cook for about 1 minute until most of the wine has evaporated. Add rice, chicken broth, and bay leaf and stir to combine. Place chicken thighs on top of the rice mixture and turn your instant pot off.
3. Cook. Set the Instant Pot to cook on manual, high pressure, for 15 minutes. When the timer beeps allow the pressure to naturally release for 15 minutes before removing the lid.
4. Add Peas. Remove the instant pot lid and pour the frozen peas on top of the mixture. Return lid and allow to rest for a few minutes.
5. Serve. Remove the chicken to a plate. Gently fluff rice with a fork, and serve garnished with chopped cilantro or parsley.
I doubt youll have leftovers of this tasty dinner, but if you do, store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. You can also freeze leftovers for up to 2 months.
My family loves this meal served with warm cooked tortilla on the side, and I always add a drizzle of hot sauce over my rice. Yum!
I have lots of awesome Instant Pot Recipes. Some of the most popular include:
