Instant Pot Chicken and Rice is delicious one pot meal with chicken breasts or chicken thighs, white rice or brown rice, and vegetables. It is ideal for busy weeknights!
It is one of our favorite dump-and-go dinners just like Instant Pot chicken fried rice and Instant Pot chicken and potatoes.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Rice comes out fluffy and each grain separate: Combined with tender chicken pieces and fragrant spices, this Instant Pot chicken and rice recipe is the ultimate comfort food.
- Easy one pot meal: Paired with boneless skinless 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 recipe is my version of it. The only difference is that everything cooks in one pot, Instant Pot.
- Simple fridge and pantry staples: We love the simplicity of the ingredients and yet how flavorful, comforting and healthy this dinner turns out!
Ingredients for Instant Pot Chicken and Rice
This recipe uses only a handful of simple ingredients you more likely have in your house right now.
- Chicken: Boneless chicken breasts, boneless chicken thighs or cut up whole chicken (here is a quick tutorial how to cut a whole chicken) will work in this recipe. Just add a bit different amount of water or chicken broth. Please see recipe notes.
- Rice: You can use white rice or brown rice, just cook times will be different. The best brown rice to use is long grain or basmati. Short grain will result in more mushy but still tasty dish. As for white rice, best rice to use is jasmine rice but long grain white rice or basmati rice will be great too. In a pinch, you can use even sushi rice but dish will come out more mushy.
- Vegetables: Onion, garlic and carrots.
- Broth or water: Low sodium chicken stock from a carton, bouillon cube diluted in water, chicken broth or chicken broth made in Instant Pot will work. Or just use cold water but this dish will be less flavorful.
- Spices: Ground cumin, dried thyme, dried oregano, salt and pepper. You can also add any of your favorite spices like garlic powder, onion powder or Italian seasoning to taste.
- Fresh herbs: While an optional ingredient, fresh herbs like parsley, dill, cilantro or green onion always add lovely flavor at the end.
How to Make Instant Pot Chicken and Rice
Here is quick overview how to make chicken and rice in Instant Pot step-by-step. There is detailed recipe card below. If you would rather make it in a Crock Pot, check out my slow cooker chicken and rice recipe.
- Saute onion and garlic with spices: To the bottom of the pot, add oil and onion, then saute just until fragrant. I like to do so under a hood fan with a stove off, of course. Press Cancel and add dried thyme, dried oregano and ground cumin, and cook another 30 seconds. This step will make spices and dried herbs fragrant.
- Add remaining ingredients in the following order: Add the chicken, carrots, rice, water, salt, pepper and bay leaves. It is best to add ingredients in this order and not to stir the rice mixture afterwards in order to prevent Burn notice.
- Cook on high pressure: Turn valve to Sealing position and pressure cook for 10 minutes if using white rice, and for 22 minutes if using brown rice.
- Release pressure: Then release pressure right away by turning pressure release valve to Venting. It is called Quick Release. I do not recommend to do Natural Pressure Release because rice will over cook. Then stir gently with a wooden spoon and discard bay leaves.
Recipe Tip
If using chicken thighs, add a bit less water, 3 2/3 cups total. That’s because thighs are fattier and naturally release more liquid during cooking. You can also use cut up whole chicken with this amount of water.
How Long to Cook Chicken and Rice in Instant Pot?
Cooking time will mostly depend on the type of rice you use. It does not matter if you use chicken breasts or chicken thighs, pressure cooking time will remain the same.
Here is a timetable for your quick reference and perfect results every time:
- With white rice: Pressure cook for 10 minutes with Quick Release.
- With brown rice: Pressure cook for 22 minutes with Quick Release.
- With red rice, yellow rice, purple rice: Pressure cook for 22 minutes with Quick Release.
Tips for Best Results
- If your rice comes out undercooked: Stir, close the lid and let it sit for 20 more minutes. It will get there. Also try to add a few more minutes to cook time next time. Unfortunately, you can’t re-close the lid, cook for extra 2 minutes and say that’s your new cooking time. When it comes to rice cooked in an Instant Pot, it can be a little bit of a trial and error. Sometimes different varieties of rice cook differently or it could be old.
- If your rice comes out mushy: Cook it a few minutes less next time. Easy-peasy.
- If you stirred by accident, let it be: More likely it will not cause Burn warning.
- Using less rice: I use 3 cups of rice per 2 pounds of chicken for a few reasons, to stretch the meal and to eat less meat. A few readers commented they would prefer less rice. In this case, reduce rice to 2 cups, water or broth to 2 1/2 cups, and salt to 1 teaspoon.
- Add frozen vegetables: I know some people like peas and corn in chicken and rice. Add them unthawed and stir gently one more time. Sometimes I like to add broccoli, reminds me chicken and rice casserole.
Serving Suggestions
We serve Instant Pot chicken and rice as is as it is a complete meal with juicy chicken and fluffy rice.
Some readers said they prefer more flavor and have added chopped fresh cilantro and green onion. I guess it all comes down to individual taste buds and what you have on hand.
Also fresh parsley or fresh dill would go so well with it! Add a squirt of fresh lemon juice or a sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Delicious!
How to Store
Store: Leftovers can be refrigerated right in the inner pot with silicone or glass lid for up to 5 days. Or transfer cooked and cooled food to an airtight container.
To reheat: You will notice chicken and rice will thicken in the fridge into a block. That’s because there is fat, especially if you use chicken thighs. Reheat in a medium pot with a splash of water or chicken broth while breaking gently into pieces and stirring, on low heat for 10 minutes or so. Use a lid to steam it through.
Always reheat only desired amount to keep leftovers fresh.
Freeze: 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.
FAQs
No. Instant rice is pre-cooked white rice. Electric 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.
Unfortunately you can’t. Cauliflower rice is a vegetable that will be ready in 30 seconds and chicken will not.
You can make Instant Pot chicken and rice with frozen chicken breasts or chicken thighs, just a few things to keep in mind. Make sure chicken pieces are separated. And use it only with brown rice because cook time is 22 minutes. If you use white rice, 10 minutes will not be enough to cook the meat. Also Instant Pot will take 5-10 minutes longer to come to pressure.
No. I tried to use double amount of ingredients and even in my 8 quart Instant Pot and it didn’t go well. It is already quite large amount of ingredients in the recipe as is.
Other Chicken and Rice Recipes
- Crock Pot chicken and rice
- Healthy chicken and rice casserole
- Chicken wild rice soup
- Mexican chicken and rice
More Instant Pot Chicken Recipes
- Instant Pot chicken and rice soup
- Instant Pot whole frozen chicken
- Instant Pot chicken stew
- Instant Pot jambalaya
- Instant Pot chicken breast
- Instant Pot chicken wild rice soup
Browse all healthy Instant Pot recipes.
Easy Instant Pot Chicken and Rice
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs or chicken breasts* cut into 1” pieces
- 1 large onion finely chopped
- 2 large garlic cloves minced
- 3 large carrots shredded
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons thyme dried
- 2 teaspoons oregano dried
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
- Ground black pepper to taste
- 3 bay leaves
- 3 cups white rice or brown rice** rinsed & drained
- 3 3/4 cups water
- 3 tablespoons 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, 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. Then open the lid.
- Add dill or parsley, gently stir and serve hot.
Video
Notes
- Store: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Reheat with a splash of water or broth breaking into pieces and stirring in a pot. Use lid to steam it through.
- Freeze: Fully cook, cool completely and freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
- *If using chicken thighs or cut up chicken pieces, add a bit less water ( 3 2/3 cups total) because thighs are fattier and add to the liquid content during cooking.
- **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 teaspoon.
- Frozen chicken: Use only with brown rice because of longer cook time. Make sure pieces are separated. Instant Pot will take 5-10 minutes longer to come to pressure with 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.
Olena, this sounds like a marvelous recipe. But if I were to use white (not brown) Jasmine rice, what would be the changes in settings? (if you tried it that way…). I wanted to start with white rice and later try the brown too. Thanks!
Sorry I have never cooked white rice in IP. It would be a different time and water #.
Made this recipe four times already and I love it. It’s so easy and doesn’t require a million ingredients like a lot of other recipes out there, and it’s specifically for brown rice! It’s such a struggle to find instant pot recipes that don’t ask for white rice so thank you for having one that is specifically for brown rice. Like other posters however, I also had the issue of rice still being crunchy even though it’s a ten min brown rice. I left it in for a bit and stirred and all was well. It definitely needs more than 1/4 tsp of salt though as the flavour lacked a bit. But adding some hot sauce helps. Using chicken thighs over chicken breasts made this recipe so much better. Overall I love this recipe and will continue to make it!
Yay! So happy to hear! Thanks for taking time from your busy schedule to let me know you enjoyed my recipe. It’s 1+1/4 tsp salt. Cook rice 24-25 mins next time. Try my IP red beans and rice with brown rice too.:)
Can I just cook the chicken and add the cauliflower rice once it’s done?
You can try that with only 1 cup water. Recipe is tested to season chicken and 3 cups of dried rice. I would add as much cooked cauliflower rice until it all tastes well seasoned to you.
Can I use cauliflower rice instead of regular rice. If so, would I need to leave out the water and have less cooking time?
Unfortunately you can’t. Cauliflower rice is a veggie that will be ready in 30 secs and chicken won’t.
Hello,
Would this recipe work with a 6qt instant pot? I don’t have an 8qt.
Thank you in advance!
Yes, it would. I usually specify in all my healthy Instant Pot recipes amount of ingredients if you need to use different size Instant Pot. Otherwise, a recipe works in 6 or 8 quart.
Can you use leftover rotisserie chicken instead of raw chicken?
Unfortunately not.
This is the first time I have ever tried to do rice in my pot and it turned out wonderful! I think reading all the Q & A’s helped the most as I was never sure what type of rice to use and was always worried about the burn issue. Rice was perfect, chicken perfect. I thought I had all the spices when I started but was out of bay leaves and thyme. I subbed some poultry seasoning which I shouldn’t have! But over all it was a success. I will do it again!
Could you use white rice instead of the brown?
Unfortunately not sorry. Different liquid and cooking time.
What about frozen thighs? How would you change the recipe?
Have to be boneless and as long as they are separated from each other. Don’t change the recipe at all. Throw them in there.
Can you cook a whole chicken in this recipe vs cut up pieces?
No. You can cut up whole chicken though and use the pieces. You can see how I do it in this recipe.