Instant Pot Chicken Recipe

Chicken and rice is a classic and it's never been as easy or delicious as this! Try this fresh take on Instant Pot Chicken for a perfect easy meal that has flavors for days!

Evenings are crazy enough as it is, why over-complicate things with stressful dinner preparation!? Instead, try this tasty and simple Instant Pot Chicken for a truly stress-free meal with plenty of flavors. This beautiful recipe allows you to whip up a beautiful meal in minutes so say goodbye to meal prep stress and say hello to this delicious Instant Pot Chicken Recipe.

Jump to:

• What You’ll Love About This Instant Pot Chicken
• Ingredients
• Special Equipment
• Expert Tips
• Delicious Variations
• Instant Pot Chicken Recipe

What You’ll Love About This Instant Pot Chicken

Instant Pot Ease

There are few kitchen appliances as noteworthy as the Instant Pot. This amazing countertop pressure cooker makes amazing meals at the press of a button without heating up the whole kitchen or wasting precious time.

Thanks to this handy tool you can prepare everything for a delicious meal of chicken and rice with one pot in a flash. The clean-up is simple and dishwasher-friendly making this meal the ultimate in quick convenience!

Simple but Satisfying

Few dishes are as simple or as satisfying as chicken and rice. It's the perfect combination of protein and grains to make a flavorful and filling meal. This recipe uses the classic flavors of buttery lemon and garlic to highlight the chicken.

This Chicken and Rice is an aromatic and delicious dish you’ll want to eat every night! All you will need is a nice green side dish for a perfectly balanced plate!

Economical Family Meal

Time is not the only thing in your busy life that needs to be budgeted and anyone on a financial budget knows the importance of a thrifty meal. This citrusy, savory meal makes enough food for a group and uses traditionally affordable ingredients.

This family-friendly meal is easy to customize and even batch for a big group. With enough flexibility in this recipe to fit into real life, you can get creative and make this flavor your own! Plus, the leftovers make great lunches, making this the ultimate in budget-friendly meals.

Ingredients

Chicken Breasts

For this recipe choose boneless skinless chicken breast. Cut them into bite-sized pieces.

Onion

Yellow or white onion are both great choices for this recipe.

Butter

Butter adds creamy fat to the recipe for cooking the veggies and chicken in. If you prefer, you can swap this ingredient with olive oil.

Garlic

Minced garlic adds a wonderfully savory and sweet flavor to the chicken and rice. Use fresh minced or try a jar of fresh minced.

Chicken Broth

Chicken broth is the cooking liquid for the rice. Choose low sodium for a less salty bite and more heart-healthy bite. You can also swap this ingredient with vegetable broth if desired.

Lemon Juice

The key to the tantalizing flavor in this simple chicken and rice dish is fresh lemon juice. It adds a great acidic bite to the dish. Juice one fresh lemon or use store-bought lemon juice.

Long-Grain White Rice

This ingredient is an easy and affordable grain for this meal. Always rinse your rice before cooking it. Place the rice in a strainer and rinse under cold water until the water runs clear.

Fresh Parmesan

Parmesan and lemon go together so well. The mild nuttiness of the cheese pairs perfectly with the citrus flavor of the lemon. For this dish choose either shredded or grated parmesan or grab a block and grate some fresh.

Salt

Salt makes the world go ‘round! To add salty savor to this dish choose your favorite type of salt. Kosher sea salt is an excellent natural form of salt to cook with.

Black Pepper

Black pepper gives this recipe a nice spicy bite. Use pepper from your shaker or make it a little extra fancy with fresh cracked black pepper.

Special Equipment

Instant Pot

The Instant Pot is an amazing countertop pressure cooker and so much more. In this recipe, it is used to sauté and as a rice cooker. For this recipe, a 6 or 8-quart model is a perfect size. You will need the Instant Pot lid and you may opt to use the inner pot lid as well during the cooking process.

How to Make Instant Pot Chicken

Sauté the Chicken:

• Set the Instant Pot to the ‘sauté’ setting.
• Add butter to the Instant Pot’s inner pot and allow it to melt. Add the garlic and onion and stir to coat.
• Sauté for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring often.
• Add the chicken and stir to cook it in butter.
• Sauté until no longer pink or about 5 minutes.
• Turn Off the Instant Pot and add the rice, broth, and lemon juice to the Instant Pot. Stir well, and make sure no chicken is stuck to the bottom of the pot.

Pressure Cook:

• Secure the lid on the Instant Pot and set the valve to the ‘sealed’ position.
• Set the Instant Pot to ‘Manual - Hi’ for 8 minutes.
• After the cooking time, allow the steam to naturally release for 2 minutes then ‘quick release’ the remaining steam.
• Open the lid and stir the chicken and rice.
• Add parmesan and salt and pepper to taste.

Expert Tips

• Stand back and/or wear an oven mitt when releasing the steam to avoid getting scalded.
• If there is extra liquid in the chicken and rice after cooking, stir the mixture well and turn the Instant Pot to ‘sauté’ on medium for a couple minutes or until fully absorbed.
• If the chicken and rice look too thick for your taste, stir in a little extra broth or water to thin it out.
• If it’s hard to reach your Instant Pot, pull the inner pot out after cooking and set it on a hot pad to make serving a little easier!

Delicious Variations

Crazy for Capers

Add some salty flavor to the dish by adding 1 to 2 tablespoons of capers to the pot before pressure cooking.

Very Veggie

Add some fresh flavor and color to the dish by adding some veggies! Sauté some colorful bell peppers with the onions or try adding a half cup of frozen corn into the pot with the rice before pressure cooking.

Extra Creamy

If you love everything with a little extra dairy, try stirring ¼ cup of heavy cream into the finished rice. Allow it to absorb and taste, add more parmesan or cream as needed.

Magic Mushroom

Mushrooms make every dish more interesting. Add some to this tasty Instant Pot meal for a savory umami flavor! Add the mushrooms with the onions and sauté as directed.

How to Serve Instant Pot Chicken

This Instant Pot chicken is perfect because everything you need for a well-rounded meal is already in this dish. It’s a one-stop-shop sort of meal so all you need to do is scoop and serve!

Pair this Chicken and Rice with green beans or peas and garlic bread. Optionally garnish each plate with a lemon wedge and fresh parsley.

How to Store Instant Pot Chicken

Allow the chicken to cool completely then transfer it to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

How to Reheat Instant Pot Chicken

The most reliable ways to reheat this Chicken and Rice are in the Microwave or back in the Instant Pot. Here how:

Microwave:

Transfer the chicken to a microwave-safe dish and microwave on standard setting for up to 2 minutes. Heat in 30-second intervals and stir at each stop to ensure the dish is heating evenly.

Instant Pot on ‘Sauté’ on Low/Stove Top:

Preheat the Instant Pot or place a saucepan over low heat, and add the desired amount of chicken. Heat for up to 5 minutes, stirring frequently to avoid burning.

Either way, when you warm it up you can optionally add a splash of stock or cream to the reheated chicken and rice if it seems too dry.

Can I Use Frozen Chicken For This Recipe?

Yes! You can use frozen chicken for this Instant Pot recipe. The chicken can go straight from the freezer to being cooked in this dish. However, it may help to allow the chicken to thaw for at least half an hour so it is easy enough to cut it into cubes.

Is This Instant Pot Chicken Healthy?

This meal is a very basic protein and grain dish. It has a lot to offer in terms of protein and dietary fiber and if you choose low-sodium broth this can be a light and heart-healthy meal. This tasty combination of chicken and rice can help you meet your daily iron and calcium needs.

The biggest drawback of this meal is the lack of green. There’s not really any fruit or veggies in this dish, so be sure to add something fresh to the plate to make a well-rounded and nutritious meal.

There is no added gluten and the dairy is easy to swap out for anyone with a limited diet. With all of these factors, this Chicken and Rice is a clear winner!

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