Instant Pot Chicken and Rice is absolutely scrumptious one pot meal with chicken breasts or thighs, white or brown rice and veggies. It is ideal for busy weeknights!
It is one of our favorite dump-and-go dinners just like Instant Pot chicken and potatoes, Instant Pot chicken chili and Instant Pot rice and beans.
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OMG this ah-mazing Instant Pot chicken and rice is in one of our regular Instant Pot healthy recipes we make over and over again for dinner. And everyone who tried it has requested the recipe – which is perfect because I also recommend it to anyone beginning their Instant Pot cooking journey.
Why This Chicken and Rice Is So Good?
- Instant Pot brown rice is pure fluffy and each grain separate magic! Combined with tender chicken pieces, and fragrant spices, this recipe is the ultimate comfort food. I also included white rice option in the recipe card.
- Easy one pot meal: Paired with boneless chicken breasts or thighs, all ingredients cook in one pot without hovering over them on the stove.
- A version of Eastern European pilaf: If you are like me and are originally from former USSR, you know how time consuming “plov” is. So this Instant Pot chicken and rice is my version of it. The only difference is – everything cooks in one pot – Instant Pot.
- Simple fridge and pantry staples: This recipe uses only a handful of ingredients you more likely have in your house right now. We love the simplicity of the ingredients and yet how flavorful, comforting and healthy this chicken and rice recipe turns out!
If you love all things chicken and rice: Make sure to try my healthy chicken wild rice soup and one pan Mexican chicken and rice.
Ingredients for Instant Pot Chicken and Rice
- Fresh or frozen chicken: Boneless chicken breasts, thighs or cut up whole chicken will work.
- Rice: You can use white rice and cook for 10 minutes or brown rice and cook time is 22 minutes.
- Veggies: Onion, garlic and carrots.
- Broth or water: Low sodium chicken broth/stock from a carton, bouillon cube diluted in water or homemade chicken broth in Instant Pot. Or just cold water.
- Spices: Cumin, dried thyme and oregano, salt and pepper.
Frozen chicken tip: You can make Instant Pot chicken and rice with frozen chicken breasts or thighs, just a few things to keep in mind. Make sure chicken pieces are separated. No need to cut them up – after chicken and rice is cooked, just shred chicken right in the pot or remove and cube on a cutting board. Also Instant Pot will take 5-10 minutes longer to come to pressure with frozen chicken. Same cook time though.
How to Make Chicken and Rice in Instant Pot
There is detailed recipe card below.
- Saute onion and garlic first, just until fragrant. I like to do so under a hood fan with a stove off, of course.
- Press Cancel and add dried herbs: Thyme, oregano, cumin and cook another 30 seconds. This step will make them fragrant.
- Add remaining ingredients in the following order (!): Chicken, carrot, rice, water, salt, pepper and bay leaves. Do not stir to prevent Burn.
- Cook on high pressure: For 10 minutes with white rice, for 22 minutes with brown rice.
- Release pressure using Quick Release, so pretty much right away.
- Stir gently and discard bay leaves.
Tips for Absolutely Best Instant Pot Chicken and Rice
- If your rice comes out crunchy: Stir, close the lid and let it sit for 20 minutes. It will get there. Also try to add a few more minutes to cooking time next time. Unfortunately, you can’t re-close the lid, cook for extra 2 minutes and say that’ your new cooking time. You have to try recipe from scratch again to find your rice cooking time.
- If your rice comes out mushy: Cook a few minutes less next time. Easy-peasy.
- Less rice: I use 3 cups of rice per 2 lbs of chicken for a few reasons, to stretch the meal and to eat less meat. A few readers commented they would prefer less rice – no problem. Reduce rice to 2 cups, water to 2 1/2 cups and salt to 1 tsp.
- Add frozen vegetables: I know some like peas and corn in chicken and rice. Add them frozen and stir gently one more time. Sometimes I like to add broccoli, reminds me chicken and rice casserole.
- Use steam diverter: To prevent steam damage to your upper kitchen cabinets escaping from the pressure release valve during Venting, use a steam diverter.
Common FAQs
No. Instant rice I assume is pre-cooked white rice. Pressure cooker defeats the purpose of instant rice. Despite the similarity in names, instant rice will cook much faster than chicken resulting in mushy rice. Save instant rice for the stove or just switch to much healthier brown rice.
Unfortunately you can’t. Cauliflower rice is a veggie that will be ready in 30 secs and chicken won’t.
You can use long grain, short grain, basmati, jasmine etc. rice. Even sushi rice but dish will come out more mushy.
If cooking instructions on a package of your rice say to cook for longer than 30 minutes, then you can use it in this recipe following “brown rice” cook time. I have tried wild rice blend from Costco in this recipe and Instant Pot chicken wild rice soup recipe with great results.
No. I tried that and it didn’t go well. It is already quite large amount of ingredients.
If you stirred by accident, let it be. More likely it will not cause Burn. I used to stir.
When it comes to rice cooked in a pressure cooker, it can be a little bit of a trial and error. Sometimes different varieties of brown rice cook differently or rice could be old. I always use same brand long grain brown rice. One time my husband bought different brand and it needed maybe 1 extra minute. Once you find “your rice” you will know how long it cooks and you can add extra minutes.
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. That’s 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.
You Will Love These Other Instant Pot Chicken Recipes
- Instant Pot chicken and rice soup
- Instant Pot jambalaya
- Instant Pot chicken breast
- Instant Pot chicken thighs
- Instant Pot BBQ chicken
- Instant Pot butter chicken
- Instant Pot chicken tortilla soup
- Instant Pot fried rice
Browse all healthy Instant Pot recipes.
Quick, Easy Instant Pot Chicken and Rice
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken boneless & skinless chicken thighs or breasts cut into 1” pieces
- 1 large onion finely chopped
- 2 large garlic cloves minced
- 3 large carrots shredded
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tsp thyme dried
- 2 tsp oregano dried
- 2 tsp cumin
- 1 1/4 tsp salt
- Ground black pepper to taste
- 3 bay leaves
- 3 cups white or brown rice* rinsed & drained
- 3 3/4 cups water
- 3 tbsp fresh dill or parsley finely chopped (optional)
Instructions
- On Instant Pot, press Sauté and let appliance preheat a few minutes until display says Hot.
- Add olive oil, onion and garlic; sauté for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Press Cancel and add thyme, oregano and cumin; cook another 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
- Add remaining ingredients in the following order: chicken, carrots, brown rice, water, salt, pepper and bay leaves. Do not stir.
- Close the lid, set pressure vent to Sealing and press Pressure Cook on High or Manual: white rice – 10 minutes, brown rice – 22 minutes.
- Display will say ON, Instant Pot will take about 15-20 minutes to come to pressure, you will see a bit of steam coming out from a valve, then float valve will rise and countdown will begin.
- When display says OFF, release the pressure using Quick Release method by turning pressure valve to Venting position, which takes 2-3 minutes. I recommend doing so outside to avoid smell and mess in the house. Then open the lid.
- Add dill or parsley and stir. If you like corn and peas with your chicken and rice add frozen now and stir again. Serve hot!
Store: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Freeze: Fully cook, cool completely and freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
Reheat: You will notice chicken and rice will thicken in the fridge into a block. That’s 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.
Video
Notes
- *Less rice: I use 3 cups of rice per 2 lbs of chicken for a few reasons, to stretch the meal and to eat less meat. If you prefer less rice, reduce rice to 2 cups, water to 2 1/2 cups and salt to 1 tsp.
- Can I use red, yellow, black or wild rice? If cooking instructions on a package of your rice say to cook for longer than 30 minutes, then you can use it in this recipe following “brown rice” cook time. I have tried wild rice blend from Costco in this recipe and Instant Pot chicken wild rice soup recipe with great results.
- If using chicken thighs, add a bit less water ( 3 2/3 cups total) because thighs are fattier and add to the liquid content during cooking. You can also use cut up whole chicken with this amount of water.
- Frozen meat: Make sure pieces are separated. Instant Pot will take 5-10 minutes longer to come to pressure with frozen chicken but keep same cook time.
- If your rice comes out crunchy: Stir, close the lid and let it sit for 20 minutes. It will get there. Also try to add a few more minutes to cooking time next time.
- If your rice comes out mushy: Cook a few minutes less next time. Easy-peasy.
Nutrition
Recipes and images are a copyright of ifoodreal.com. It is against the law to republish recipes without permission. Nutritional info is approximate.
This is a great weeknight meal. I love how simple it is and if I end up with picky eaters for kids it will be a great way to get them to eat their carrots. ?
Yay! So true about carrots. I have a child that eats anything but cooked carrots and he doesn’t notice them in this Instant pot chicken and rice. Glad everyone enjoyed!
Perfect recipe, delicious, easy and a little life changing! I was dumping salsa (jar, not even homemade) into my IP with chicken and brown rice. NO MORE! Olena, this recipe is my new go-to chicken and brown rice. You’re right, it’s delicious as it is. Thanks and I can’t wait to try more of your recipes.
Happy to hear, Ailene. LOL salsa is fine, just fine. I tried it. So happy you enjoyed this Instant Pot chicken and rice.
This came out delicious! It is also the first Instant Pot meal with rice that didn’t register “Burn”! My only comment is about 7 minute prep time. That seems awfully optimistic, unless you used a food processor. However, still very pleased with the dinner and look forward to exploring more of your recipes. Thanks!
OK, agree. Changed prep time to 10.:) Is that enough? You know I cut chicken with scissors right in its tray, ha! No 2nd cutting board to wash. So happy to hear this was such a success!:) Please let me know what else you try. Love hearing from you, guys!
Thanks for this reliably delicious and satisfying recipe. It’s officially “on rotation” every few weeks in my household. I use whole chicken breasts and rather than cube in advance, I shred them with two forks after the dish is cooked. Also I add frozen peas and corn, and stir in after the dish is cooked per the instructions. For us, the quantity means we have easy leftovers for another meal (or two) later. Yay!
Yay! I love leftovers too. means there is lunch otherwise there is never enough food to feed my 3 men. You can also cube chicken breasts with kitchen scissors to save a board from washing (I hate doing it). So happy my pressure cooker chicken and rice took a spot in your dinner rotation.:) Honoured!
I saw in previous comments that you were using the 8qt Instant Pot. Would this same recipe fit in the 3qt? Wanna give the recipe a go, but want to make sure I’ll have enough room.
Cut all ingredients in half and same cooking time.:)
We loved this recipe. Easy and delicious. Next time I may buy shredded carrots just to make it even easier.
Yay. For sure!!!
Anxious to try this. If I cut the recipe in half, does that change the cooking time?
Yes you can cut recipe in half and same cooking time.:)
Great tasting and easy weeknight dinner. THANK YOU! Also I loved your comment to the guy who wanted to taste the pepper on the raw chicken, you’re my kind of lady.
You are very welcome, Bev. Well, life is too short to hang out with not your kind of ladies. 😉
Followed recipe and it cooked perfectly. Added a bunch of frozen peas at the end which was a great addition! My only minor issue is that the flavour was a bit lacking. It certainly wasn’t completely lacking in flavour but I had hoped for a bit more. I added a bit of hot sauce and it came to life.
Easy to make, common ingredients found in the kitchen, great instructions, what’s not to love about this easy and hearty meal. Comments regarding what ingredients to add in sequence were helpful.
I agree lol. Glad to hear!:)