Instant Pot Chicken and Rice (Print version)

A comforting one-pot meal with tender chicken, fluffy rice, and vegetables cooked in the Instant Pot for easy weeknight dinners.

# What you'll need:

→ Meats

01 - 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium onion, diced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 cup carrots, diced
05 - 1 cup frozen peas

→ Grains

06 - 1 1/2 cups long grain white rice, rinsed

→ Liquids

07 - 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth

→ Spices & Seasonings

08 - 1 tsp salt
09 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
10 - 1/2 tsp paprika
11 - 1/2 tsp dried thyme
12 - 1 bay leaf

→ Optional Garnish

13 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

# Method:

01 - Set the Instant Pot to Sauté mode. Add a splash of oil and sauté the onion and garlic until translucent, about 2 minutes.
02 - Add the chicken pieces and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned.
03 - Stir in carrots, rice, salt, pepper, paprika, and thyme. Pour in chicken broth and mix well. Add bay leaf.
04 - Cancel Sauté. Close the lid, set valve to sealing, and cook on Manual or Pressure Cook mode for 10 minutes.
05 - Once cooking is complete, allow a natural pressure release for 10 minutes, then release any remaining pressure manually.
06 - Open the lid, remove the bay leaf, and stir in peas. Close the lid for 2 minutes to heat the peas through.
07 - Fluff the rice, garnish with chopped parsley, and serve warm.

# Expert advice:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one pot so cleanup is practically nonexistent
  • The rice absorbs all those savory chicken flavors while staying perfectly fluffy
  • Its ready in 35 minutes start to finish, even faster than takeout
02 -
  • Rinsing the rice until the water runs clear is the step most people skip that leads to gummy results
  • Natural release for the full 10 minutes is crucial, rushing this step leaves the rice undercooked in spots
  • The 2 minute pea step uses residual heat so you dont lose the bright green color that quick cooking destroys
03 -
  • A squeeze of fresh lemon juice right before serving brightens everything and cuts through the richness
  • Stir in 1/4 cup grated Parmesan at the end for a creamy, savory finish without heavy cream

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