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.
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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
I was looking for something different when I came across this meal. I made it exactly as is, no subs and everyone loved it. Thx.
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Tee!
My new Comfort Food…awww. I. Love. This. Thank you Natasha!
You’re welcome! We all have our comfort food, glad to know this is yours.
Loved this and so did my family. I only had minced garlic, so I would love to try it with the head of garlic next time. I did add 2 cups broccoli florets after it cooked–mixed them in, reset the lid and stoppered the steam valve, and the broccoli was tender-crisp just like my husband likes it.
I am excited to make this as a once-a-month meal we can take in the RV with us.
Thank you for a healthy, quick, tasty dinner!
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Melanie!
I love this recipe. Make it for my family every so often. Super easy to throw together
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you so much for sharing that with me, K!
Hello! I plan on making this for my family tomorrow. I was wondering what the serving size is for the nutrition facts? Thanks!
Hi there, the serving size for this whole recipe is 8 people as a side dish.
Just curious…why don’t you rinse the jasmine rice? Every IP recipe I’ve seen with rice says to rinse it well.
I plan on making this recipe because it looks yummy but inquiring minds would like to know…
Hi Sue, it depends on the recipe. For this specific recipe, the result wouldn’t be the same consistency after rinsing. We do not rinse the rice so that extra starch helps with the creamier texture. I would have to run a test to tell you for sure, but I think you might add a couple of tablespoons less water if rinsing.
Thanks Natasha!
I have to make my reply longer because your site wants 50 characters so Lalalalala…..
This recipe is amazing. This is the 2nd recipe I’ve used in my instant pot and it couldn’t have been easier. I added 1 cup of frozen broccoli on top before closing the instant pot and it bulks up the meal. Thank you!
Sounds perfect! Thanks for sharing that with us, Wendy. I’m happy that you enjoyed this recipe. You’re most welcome.
My family and I love this recipe! Thanks for sharing!
Just curious, how big is one serving of this recipe? I’ve been tracking my calories and it would be nice to be able to accurately track my portions. Thanks!
Hi Josh, the serving size is about a cup. This recipe serves eight people.
I only have brown jasmine rice on hand. Do I need to increase liquid and/or cooking time?
Hi Eula, I haven’t tried that yet to advise. The best rice for this recipe is jasmine rice (white, long-grain 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 (Plov) recipe, would require a longer cooking time.
We all loved it! Thank you! If I double the recipie for a larger gathering, would it still be 10 minutes? You have a beautiful little taste tester! 🙂
Glad you all enjoyed this recipe, Lisa. I haven’t doubled it, but my readers have, here’s what they had to say: “my kids love it and it doubles easily if you have the bigger cooker. If you don’t have the cheese it still makes a tasty dish. It can also be easily modified. I substituted diced chuck roast, beef broth and upped the cooking time to 15 min. It came out tender and perfect, it is like a quick version of your beef plav.”
Can you add cream of chicken for a creamier version? Has anyone tried it?
Hi Marko, I haven’t tried that yet to advise. If you do an experiment, please share with us how it goes.
The Instant Pot Chicken Rice is a family favorite along with the Bake Ziti. I cook this about every other week just keep things fresh. If I could get away with it, I’d cook it twice a week. I just want to thank you Natasha, for making very easy and delicious meals, you make my meal planning that much easier 🙂
I’m so glad to hear you have this on regular rotation, Rosa! That’s just awesome!
Our family loves this recipe. We eat it as a meal not a side. How long should I pressure cook it if I am doubling it? Thanks!
Hi Nicole, I agree this is great as a meal! I haven’t doubled it,but my readers have, here’s what they had to say: “my kids love it and it doubles easily is you have the bigger cooker. If you don’t have the cheese it still makes tasty dish. It can also be easily modified. I substituted diced chuck roast, beef broth and upped the cook time to 15 min. It came out tender and perfect, it is like a quick version of your beef plav.”
This was very easy, and all 6 kids and wife LOVED it. Instead of parmesan cheese, we used mozzarella. still very good. I think i like this insta pot very much and will have to check your other recipes. thank you
That is the best when kids love what we parents make. That’s so great, Steven! Thank you for sharing your great review with me!
Hi,Natasha. Thanks for sharing this recipe with us, our family really liked this recipe. My family love jasmin rice and uncle bens rice,but lately I’ve been cooking jasmine rice. For Thanksgiving im going to be making pork plov but w/uncle bens rice. My question is how long do i cook the pork & rice for in the instant pot? Also thanks so much for your wonderful ideas for Thanksgiving im making your birds milk & jello on top & w/chocolate one too. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family, may God bless your family!!!😊🥖🍗🥗🥧🧁
Plov is the perfect addition to Thanksgiving! I have an Instant pot plov recipe HERE you can use as a guide and reference also! I hope this helps!
Great recipe, my kids love it and it doubles easily is you have the bigger cooker. If you don’t have the cheese it still makes tasty dish. It can also be easily modified. I substituted diced chuck roast, beef broth and upped the cook time to 15 min. It came out tender and perfect, it is like a quick version of your beef plav.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful review with me, Jerry! I’m so happy you enjoyed that!
Looking for garlic press, any recommendations . Enjoy your recipes and have made several. I passed this one along to my coworker, he loved it.
Hi Kenneth, you can find our favorite kitchen tools in our Amazon Affiliate Shop HERE.
I use basmati rice and throw in frozen peas at the end. Very, very good and comforting for a cold day.
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Julia!
Teenagers liked it but me not as much. It had a strong garlic flavor which I don’t mind but it just overpowered the dish. Overall, it felt like it was missing some background flavors. Additional spices might help with that and not leaving in the garlic. Ended up using a lot more salt to try and make it taste less like bland rice with garlic flavoring.
How do you keep the rice from burning, when you double the recipe? Somtimes it doesnt, and other times it does.
Hi Ryan, be sure you are using cold water in the recipe. I haven’t had a burn noticed personally to advise on what’s causing that to happen.