My Instant Pot Chicken and Rice is creamy and cheesy with tender morsels of juicy chicken in less time than the classic dish. You will fall in love with the flavors, especially with my secret tip for adding garlic. This is a fan-favorite recipe, so watch the video tutorial below to see how easy this is.
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
Helpful Reader Review
“Follow the recipe exactly and Comes out perfect every time! Amazing flavor.” – Amber ★★★★★
Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Video
This Instant Pot chicken and rice recipe will transform dinner for you. It’s one of the easiest and tastiest dinners you’ll make, and there’s minimal cleanup because it all comes together in the Instant Pot!
Easy Instant Pot Chicken and Rice
The texture of this Instant Pot Chicken and Rice is almost like a Risotto, but it doesn’t require the tedious stirring for 30 minutes. The flavor is truly memorable, and yet this recipe calls for simple ingredients.
The secret to great Chicken and Rice in the Instant Pot is in infusing the rice with an entire head of garlic. I add the whole head while cooking, so then the garlic will melt in your mouth. (We used the same trick to make Instant Pot Beef and Rice (Plov).)
We love our Instant Pot because it produces the same great results in a fraction of the time, so you can enjoy dinner fast! Some of our favorites include Instant Pot White Chicken Chili, Bone Broth, Corn on the Cob, and Tender Ribs.
Ingredients for Instant Pot Chicken and Rice
Simple ingredients really shine in this Instant Pot Chicken and Rice recipe! Grab a pack of chicken and a few pantry staples.
- Vegetables – onion, grated/julienned carrots, and parsley
- Garlic – I use a whole head of garlic, halved lengthwise and leave this unpeeled.
- Chicken – boneless breasts, thighs, or tenders cut into bite-sized pieces (1″). *We prefer chicken tenders because they require less prep and reheat well. They are also the most tender.
- Chicken broth – use Homemade Chicken Stock or a low-sodium version from the grocery store
- Jasmine rice – unrinsed. You could also use Basmati or Texmati without adjusting the cooking time. Brown rice would require a longer cooking time.
- Parmesan cheese – Salty and nutty flavor that permeates the whole dish
How to Make Chicken and Rice in the 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.
- Set your Instant Pot to sautee on high heat, add oil, butter, onion, carrots, and 1 tsp salt, cooking for 5 minutes.
- Add chicken and salt, and saute for another 5 min.
- Add in broth and rice and stir. Place the halved garlic head cut-side-down on top. Cook for 1 minute on manual high pressure, and then quick release.
- Open the lid to add the Parmesan cheese and parsley. Stir and serve with more cheese to sprinkle over the top.
Tips for Using an Instant Pot to Make Chicken and Rice
Always read the user’s manual for your specific machine because it may operate differently.
- 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 the heat to avoid the burn notice.
- For safety, wear an oven mitt when manually releasing pressure, and keep your face away from the hot steam vent. Also, keep a paper towel ready to shield the vent while venting/releasing pressure.
- Check the pressure indicator to ensure that the pressure has fully released prior to opening the lid.
- Follow timing instructions precisely and set timers. With pressure cooking, it’s easy to overcook something if you forget about your pot.
Helpful Reader Review
“Delicious and so easy. I used long-grain white rice and added about a cup of frozen spinach. Came out like a risotto and everyone loved it!” – Snk ★★★★★
Easy Instant Pot Chicken and Rice makes for the perfect go-to or first Instant Pot recipe! It’s simple and will impress you right out of the pot! It’s freezer-friendly and keeps in the fridge, so you can easily use this recipe for meal planning for the week. Let me know how you love it in the comments!
PS. If you don’t have a pressure cooker, you can still enjoy this recipe, because it is the quicker and easier version of our wildly popular Stovetop Chicken and Rice Recipe.
Instant Pot Chicken and Rice
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 large carrots, thickly grated or julienned
- 1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast, or thighs, or tenders (trimmed and cut into 1" pieces)
- 2 tsp sea salt, divided
- 1/4 tsp black pepper, ground
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 cups Jasmine rice, un-rinsed
- 1 head garlic, unpeeled, cut in half crosswise
- 1/3 cup parsley, finely chopped, plus more to garnish
- 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese, plus more to serve
Instructions
- Set a 6 Qt Instant Pot to saute on high heat and add butter, oil, chopped onion, grated or julienned carrots, and 1 tsp salt. Sauté, stirring occasionally for 5 minutes or until soft and golden.
- Add trimmed, chopped chicken, another 1 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp pepper. Sauté, stirring occasionally for 5 minutes.
- Add 4 cups of chicken broth and 2 cups of rice and stir to combine. Cut the whole garlic head in half through the cloves and parallel to the base. Place garlic halves on top, cut-side down. Cover and cook on manual high pressure for 10 minutes, then quick-release remaining pressure.
- Open the lid and stir in 1/2 cup parmesan with 1/3 cup chopped parsley. Serve with more cheese and garnish with parsley if desired.
Notes
- To refrigerate – pack in an airtight container and place in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- To freeze – place airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
- To reheat – place leftovers in a casserole dish covered in a 350°F oven or in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring occasionally until heated through to 165°F.
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
Easy 30-Minute Meals You Will Love
Just like Instant Pot Chicken and Rice, these are go-to 30-minute meals that our family loves (our kids go back for seconds), and they require minimal prep. Perfect for a weeknight!
- Chicken Pesto Pasta
- Beef and Broccoli
- Baked Chicken Tacos
- Philly Cheesesteak
- Chicken Fried Rice
- Zuppa Toscana
- Lettuce Wraps
This was awesome! I can’t stop eating it lol!
Great to hear that you loved it, Karen. Thank you for your good comments and feedback!
My family LOVES this recipe! Thanks Natasha! Put my own spin on it by using tricolored quinoa instead of rice and it was AMAZING too! If trying it with quinoa instead, reduce broth to 3 cups and add 2 min slow release time before quick release 😉
So nice to know that you were able to use quinoa and loved it! Thanks for sharing that with us, Amanda. I’m sure others would like to try it this way too.
Thanks for your comment. I was wondering how to do it with quinoa. Did you use the same amount of quinoa as you would the rice?
I added some dried truffle and it was a nice touch in my opinion. Thank you for the recipe. It’s a keeper.
Thanks for sharing that with us, Alesia. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Made this recipe in my Ninja Foodi, added some thawed frozen peas, and it is now a favorite for us. Excellent flavor, thank you!
That is fantastic, Dani! Glad the recipe was a hit.
Love this recipe! So delicious and easy! Thank you!
You’re welcome, Heather! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
I made this for lunch today & it was a big hit! Followed the recipe as written & it turned out great. I shared the recipe with several people. I’m sure they will enjoy it as well. A real crowd please.
Wow, great to hear that it was a hit! Thanks for sharing that with us, Sarah.
Thank you for a wonderful recipe that will be a permanent part of my family’s meal rotation as many others have said; kids aside, I tire of the usual recipes and am the biggest critic in the house. I will be following you closely. This was easy, delicious and a complete quick meal. Appreciate you and your daughter is gorgeous too. xoxo
Hello Radhika, thank you for your good comments and feedback. I hope you and your family will enjoy all the recipes that you will try. Thank you too for your kind words for my daughter, I appreciate it!
This is my go-to recipe on a rough night…
I have a bigger family, so I usually 1.5x this recipe …have NEVER had a problem with the rice burning….so easy! so delicious!
I don’t add the parm. cheese, but do add some more spices to make it more “plov-like”…ground coriander, paprika..a little cumin. YUM! YUM! YUM! Thanks for sharing for the instant pot way.
This is the perfect meal for a big family! I’m so glad you all enjoyed it!
super delicious!! Pro tip – dont mix rice otherwise it will burn!!
Thank you for your good feedback and tip, Arya!
I just made it and it’s surprisingly so so sooo delicious !!!! Thank you for this recipe Natasha ! Definitely will make this again !
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Lydia!
This is an excellent recipe. I rinse the rice because I find it to get a bit gummy if I don’t. I also have started adding the juice of half a lemon at the end of cook time and garnishing with lemon zest. Thank you for this awesome recipe! My 5 year old twin picky eaters love it!
Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
Hi Natasha, love your recipes! I would like to try this one with Orzo instead of rice, will this require any amendments to the recipe?
Hi Jane, I haven’t tested that with orzo but I think it could work with a few adjustments. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe.
We literally make this meal once a week! We LOVE it and the level of flavor and creaminess is just so delicious!!! Thank you for creating this recipe and adapting it for the Instant Pot!
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Michelle! It sounds like you have a new favorite!
Yum!! I made this for dinner last night. It was super delicious and really easy. I will be making this again.
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!
Hi Natasha!
Look forward to trying is out. If I want to reduce recipe by half or third, does the cooking time change?
Thanks!
Hi Bina, several of our readers have halved the recipe and kept the time the same. I hope you love this recipe.
I made it last night. Used 3 cups of broth, 1.5 c rice and 1 lb chicken. Did not have whole garlic so used chopped and skipped the cheese-personal preference. So yummy! Easy and quick. Look forward to eating the leftovers 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Bina! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe!
I make this recipe at least twice a month and love left overs. I use lots of garlic when I cook. So with your recipe, I had 3 cloves of minced garlic with the chopped onion and shredded carrots and sauté that all together. Love your recipes!
Thank you, Irene! I’m glad you are loving this recipe, thank you for dropping by and leaving a great review.
Hi Natasha!
Thank you for wonderful easy recipe! I’ve tried this and my rice got stuck to the bottom of instapot. Have any idea why? It wouldn’t proceed because it alarm as “burn” I had to restart it again. Thanks again!
Hi Julz, there is enough liquid in the recipe where it shouldn’t normally give a burn notice. Make sure to stir to combine after adding the broth. I do have a stovetop version of this chicken and rice recipe as well
I was hoping to make this for dinner tonight, but my chicken tenders are frozen. I don’t normally have an issue with cooking frozen chicken in the IP, but was curious what your thoughts are.
Hi Michele, I haven’t tested this with frozen chicken tenders but you would be missing some flavor by not doing the sauteeing part of the recipe. I recommend thawing and proceeding as instructed above. I hope you love the recipe.
This has been tasting soooo good the last two days. I did not have carrots so I added broccoli and kale in with the cheese and it cooked to perfection with the leftover heat in the pot once the chicken and rice mix was done. Also added greek yogurt at this time to give it a creamier taste and extra parm + sharp cheddar cheese. Also added a squeeze of half a lemon. Perfection. A great recipe that can be easily modified to to your liking if you have different veggies or spices you wanna use
Thank you so much for sharing that with me. I’m happy you enjoyed this recipe, Natalie!
I was trying to make this recipe tonight, but I forgot to pickup some chicken broth at the store. Can I use water instead?
Hi Josie, that would work but you might want to add some seasoning to add more taste.
Holy Cow! I know what I’m making for dinner tomorrow! Thank you Natasha!
Perfect! Please share with us how it goes, enjoy!