Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Recipe

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 11/21/22
Tested by
Danielle Centoni
Danielle Centoni
Tested by Danielle Centoni

Danielle is a James Beard Award-winning food writer and editor based in Portland, Oregon.

Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Instant pot chicken and rice with serving spoon
Diana Rattray
Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 13 mins
Pressure Build/Release: 16 mins
Total: 49 mins
Servings: 4 to 6 servings
Yield: 4 bowls

Chicken with rice has long been a favorite comfort food and this Instant Pot recipe makes it easier than ever to prepare and cook. A blend of Italian herbs adds flavor to the rice mixture, but feel free to use another savory herb blend. Fines herbes or a poultry blend would be excellent choices, as well.

This recipe cooks quickly with long-grain white rice and chicken breasts, but with a few time adjustments, it can be made with brown rice and chicken thighs. Just follow the instructions, but use brown rice and boneless chicken thighs and increase the pressure cooking time to 22 minutes. This is one of the many chicken recipes you can make in your Instant Pot.

Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Tester Image

"This is a simple, comforting recipe that's great for a weeknight. It's a good vehicle for flavorful condiments and hot sauces and serving it with buttermilk biscuits makes it similar in flavor to chicken and dumplings. If your chicken breasts are ice-cold from the fridge, maybe add another minute or two to the cook time." —Danielle Centoni

A Note From Our Recipe Tester
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Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

  • 1 medium onion, coarsely chopped

  • 2 carrots, diced

  • 2 stalks celery, diced

  • 3 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1/2 red bell pepper, diced

  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning

  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 2 cups low-sodium chicken stock

  • 1 cup long-grain raw white rice, rinsed and drained

  • 1 pound boneless chicken breasts

  • 1 cup frozen peas, thawed

  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    ingredients for instant pot chicken and rice
    Diana Rattray

  2. Select the sauté function on the Instant Pot. Add the olive oil and butter. When the butter has melted, add the onion and sauté, stirring frequently, until translucent, about 2 minutes.

    saute the onions
    Diana Rattray

  3. Add the carrots, celery, and garlic and cook, stirring frequently until the vegetables begin to soften and the garlic becomes fragrant, about 2 minutes.

    add the carrots, celery, and garlic
    Diana Rattray

  4. Add the bell pepper, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and chicken stock. Stir, scraping the bottom of the pot to loosen any browned bits.

    add the stock to the instant pot
    Diana Rattray

  5. Stir in the rice. Place the chicken pieces on top. Secure the lid, making sure the steam release knob or is in the sealing position. Choose the pressure cook function, high pressure, and set the timer for 8 minutes.

    place the chicken breasts on the rice
    Diana Rattray

  6. When the time is up, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then release the remaining pressure with quick release.

    chicken and rice in the instant pot, cooked
    Diana Rattray

  7. Remove the chicken breasts to a plate. Chop or shred with 2 forks.

    shred the chicken breasts
    Diana Rattray

  8. Stir in the peas and half the parsley.

    add the peas to the instant pot
    Diana Rattray

  9. Add the chicken back to the pot and stir to combine. Taste and adjust the seasonings.

    season the instant pot chicken and rice
    Diana Rattray

  10. Spoon the chicken and rice into a serving bowl and garnish with the remaining 1 tablespoon parsley. Serve with favorite hot sauces and condiments, crusty bread or biscuits and a green salad.

    instant pot chicken and rice in serving bowl
    Diana Rattray

Tips

  • Rinsing rice cleans it and removes surface starch. To rinse rice, put it in a mesh strainer and run cool water over it for 2 to 3 minutes. Or put the rice in a bowl of cool water. Change the water 3 to 4 times, or until the water is clear enough to see the individual grains.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
334 Calories
7g Fat
37g Carbs
29g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 334
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 7g 9%
Saturated Fat 2g 12%
Cholesterol 69mg 23%
Sodium 497mg 22%
Total Carbohydrate 37g 13%
Dietary Fiber 3g 10%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 29g
Vitamin C 40mg 201%
Calcium 54mg 4%
Iron 2mg 12%
Potassium 487mg 10%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)