Easy instant pot chicken and rice recipe that is flavorful, delicious, and ready in less than 25 minutes. This pressure cooker rice and chicken is a one-pot dish made with boneless, skinless chicken thighs but you can also use chicken breast. Let me show you the step-by-step on how to cook rice and chicken in instant pot.
It doesn't get any better than this delicious dish. I love rice and I love chicken so combining the two in one pot is just superb and less stressful than cooking separately. This dish is a favourite not only for family dinners but for school lunches as well. My children love it when it's rice and chicken day. who wouldn't?
This pressure cooker rice and chicken is packed full of flavour, the chicken is well seasoned and tender, and the rice is fluffy, firm, and simply delicious.
I love how easy it is to make plus you can use chicken thighs or breasts and cut them into bite size which makes it easier and cleaner to eat.
I've shared some of our favourite rice and chicken dishes like instant pot spanish rice , instant pot chicken breasts and jollof rice with you already so today let's do pressure cooker rice and chicken!
Why This Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Recipe Works
With this instant pot chicken and rice recipe, No watching over the pot till it's ready. You can go about doing something else while the food cooks and once ready, the IP beeps to alert you.
Easy and quick – Cooking in an instant pot is quicker than the stovetop and oven method of cooking this one pan meal.
Homemade, inexpensive, and delicious.
One pot recipe so few utensils to clean after cooking.
For this recipe, I used the instant pot duo 6 quarts. You can use other brands of pressure cookers like Pressure King Pro, ninja foodie, and others however cooking time may vary.
In this post, I have included tips, frequently asked questions and answers, how to store, and more. Do read this information before scrolling to the bottom of this post for the video and printable recipe card.
Related: One pot chicken and rice
Ingredients
For this Instant Pot chicken and rice recipe, you will need the below ingredients:
Chicken- For this recipe, you can use boneless, skinless chicken thighs or boneless skinless chicken breast. The rice cooks long enough for any of these to be cooked. For this post, I used skinless, boneless chicken thighs.
Rice- My favourites are long grain rice, golden sella basmati rice, and brown rice. I used easy cook long grain rice for this recipe. Golden sella basmati rice has a similar cooking time with long grain rice but for brown rice, the cooking time is longer.
Paprika
Onion
Garlic
Tomatoes
Tomato puree
Bell pepper
Coriander
Stock cubes
Dried thyme
Chicken Broth or Water
Salt
Full ingredients, directions, and video are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post).
How To Cook Chicken and Rice In Instant Pot
This pressure cooker chicken and rice is easy to make and with this recipe, you get flavourful, delicious rice and chicken. Let me show you how:
First, get all the ingredients ready. Chop the onion, mince garlic, chop tomatoes, and other preparation necessary as detailed in the recipe card below.
1) Season chicken with half of the spices
2) Switch on the instant pot and set it to saute then add oil to the pot. Once the oil is hot, add in chicken and brown the sides. When done, take the chicken out of the instant pot.
3) Add onions and garlic in the pot and saute for two minutes then add in the remaining half of the spices. Switch off the instant pot then add 1 cup chicken broth or water in the pot.
4) Deglaze the instant pot making sure no bits stick in the pot. This is very important so you don't end up getting a burn error.
5) Wash rice in warm water till water runs clear.
6) Add the remaining broth to the pot then add in washed rice.
7) Add the bell peppers, tomatoes, and the browned chicken to the rice. Don't stir!
8) Cover the instant pot, turn the vent to 'sealing' then set it to manual pressure and cook on high for 7 minutes. After 7 minutes of pressure cooking, do a 10-minute natural pressure release.
What is 10 minutes natural pressure release? This means you wait for ten minutes after pressure cooking is done before turning the vent into venting to release the remaining pressure. For more IP terminologies check How to use instant pot
Add in the chopped coriander and stir. Leave rice to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
CAN I USE FROZEN CHICKEN
No. Don't use frozen chicken for this recipe. completely thaw frozen chicken before use.
CAN I USE BROWN RICE
Yes. If using brown rice, the rice to water ratio is 1: 1 ¼. Manual pressure cook on high for 22 minutes followed by 10 minutes of natural pressure release.
How To Serve
You can serve it with salads
Vegetables like instant pot carrots, instant pot cabbage
Drinks such as instant pot sorrel drink or instant pot infused water.
Tips
- To avoid burn notice, make sure to deglaze the pot and that nothing is sticking to the bottom of the pot.
- Burn notice usually appears when there's bits stuck at the bottom or not enough liquid. The liquid specified in this recipe is adequate and you shouldn't get a burn notice if you follow the instructions. This recipe is based on using 6 quart instant pot. If using the 8qt you might want to add a bit more water.
- Wash rice till water runs clear to avoid sticky rice.
- Use good quality rice.
- Use chicken broth as stated but where that is not available, replace with stock cubes like knorr, maggi plus water. This ensures your rice is flavorful.
- Adjust cayenne or black pepper according to how spicy you want the chicken and rice.
- Yes, you can but don't use fast cooking vegetables like broccoli as it will get soggy and mushy. If using frozen vegetables, defrost them first before adding them.
How To Store
To store this delicious pressure cooker chicken and rice, leave it to cool completely (do this quickly), put it in an airtight container, label it, and store
In the fridge – It will last for up to 3 days.
In the freezer – For up to 6 months.
I like to portion per serving so when needed, I bring out and heat in the microwave from frozen.
More Chicken Recipes
Best instant pot whole chicken
More Instant Pot Rice Recipes
Perfect Instant pot basmati rice
Hope you love this instant pot chicken and rice recipe as much as I do. If you do make it, rate it and leave a comment below.
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Recipe
Instant Pot Chicken and Rice
Equipment
- Instant pot pressure cooker
Ingredients
- 500g (1lb) Chicken boneless skinless chicken thighs or chicken breasts
- 2 cups Rice Long grain rice
- 1 Onion chopped
- 3 cloves Garlic chopped
- 1 tablespoon Paprika
- 1 teaspoon Cayenne or black pepper
- 1 tablespoon Dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon Dried Parsley
- 2 Stock cubes if using water instead of chicken broth
- ¼ cup Fresh Coriander Optional chopped
- 1 medium Bell pepper chopped
- 1 Tomato chopped
- 1 tablespoon Tomato puree
- 2 tablespoon Oil Vegetable or Sunflower oil
- 3 cups Chicken broth or Water
- Salt to taste
To Season Chicken
- 1 teaspoon Parsley
- 1 Stock cube
- ½ teaspoon Black pepper
- Salt
Instructions
- Season chicken with salt and ingredients listed for seasoning chicken.
- Set instant pot to saute then add oil in the pot. Once the oil is hot, add in chicken and brown the sides. When done, take chicken out of the instant pot.
- Add onions and garlic in the pot and saute for two minutes then add in the remaining half of the spices.
- Switch off the instant pot then add 1 cup chicken broth or water in the pot. Deglaze the instant pot making sure no bits sticking in the pot. This is very important so you don't end up getting burn error.
- Add the remaining broth then add in washed rice. Add the bell peppers, tomatoes and the browned chicken on the rice. Don't stir!
- Cover the instant pot, turn the vent to 'sealing' then set to manual pressure cook on high for 7 minutes. After 7 minutes pressure cooking, do 10 minutes natural pressure release.
- Add in the chopped coriander and stir the rice.
- Serve and enjoy.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
If you make it, i’ll love to see it, Tag @recipevibes on instagram.
Looks so tasty! Can I ask how much salt you normally use in the dish as I never know what “to taste” means
Thank you. You can start with about 1 teaspoon and add more if needed.
Had I not become a vegetarian last week, I’d make this tomorrow as it looks really tasty
I love chicken and rice recipes. This sounds very tasty. I will try it.
It is super tasty. Do try it and don't forget to feedback 🙂
That looks so tasty, I do love using an instant pot, makes life so much easier
It is indeed.Thank you! me too..It's not called the magic pot for nothing..haha
I love using my pressure cooker to make meals like this and this rice and chicken looks so tasty and full of flavour!
Thank you Corina. It's indeed flavour packed and tasty.
Love your chicken and noodles!!! These I could eat every day. Received a a IP for Christmas and just now beginning cooking with it. Thank you for all your easy to follow instructions.
Thank you so much and congrats on your IP. Do subscribe to the blog if you haven't yet so you get notification of new recipes. I appreciate your feedback.