This Instant Pot chicken and rice is just absolutely dreamy. It’s rich and creamy but SO quick and easy to make. The whole family will love it, and it’s a true one-pot meal! With Parmesan cheese and a splash of lemon, this weeknight family dinner recipe is inspired by my favorite risotto recipe but with none of the hard work required!
Why This Chicken and Rice Is So Good
- Thick and creamy with melty Parmesan, a tang of lemon juice, and perfectly cooked chicken and rice, this recipe is the ultimate comfort food.
- This chicken and rice is so rich and delicious, but so easy to make! With just a few steps in the Instant Pot, this is the perfect easy but filling meal.
- This recipe only take a handful of ingredients that you may already have in your house! We love how simple the ingredients are but how amazingly rich and cheesy this chicken and rice is.
How To Make Chicken and Rice in the Instant Pot
- Set the Instant Pot to sauté mode. Add the butter and let it melt before adding onion and garlic. Sauté for 3-4 minutes.
- Add the chicken and stir. Cook until the chicken is no longer opaque. Add in the rice, broth, and lemon juice and stir well. Make sure nothing is sticking to the sides, and scoop the chicken pieces to the top.
- Close the lid and set valve to Sealing. Cook on high pressure for 10 minutes.
- After 10 minutes, let naturally release for 5 minutes, then Quick Release the rest of the pressure. Stir everything well and season with Parmesan, salt, and pepper to taste.
Top Tips For Making Instant Pot Chicken and Rice
- Parmesan cheese is optional for this recipe, but we definitely recommend it! Fresh Parm will make this taste more like risotto, but if you are out, you can use a shredded cheese, like cheddar.
- We used plain white rice for this recipe. Brown rice is not recommended since it would take about 10 minutes longer, which would overcook the chicken.
More Instant Pot Recipes
- Black Beans
- Frozen Chicken Breasts
- Baby Back Ribs
- BBQ Chicken
- Chicken and “Rice” Soup (Whole30, Low Carb)
- Sweet Potatoes
- Instant Pot Dal
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Dreamy Instant Pot Chicken and Rice
This creamy chicken and rice is a real one-pot meal! With Parmesan cheese and a splash of lemon, it's an easy and delicious dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds chicken breasts about 2-3 breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice from one lemon
- 1 1/2 cups white rice rinsed
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese optional but recommended
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt plus more or less to taste
- 1/4 teaspoons black pepper plus more or less to taste
Instructions
Set Instant Pot to sauté mode. Add butter and let melt, then add garlic and onion. Sauté for 3-4 minutes.
Add chicken and stir. Cook until no longer opaque, about 5 minutes. Add in rice, broth, and lemon juice. Stir well, bringing chicken pieces to top.
Close lid and set valve to Sealing. Cook on high pressure for 10 minutes.
After 10 minutes, let naturally release for 5 minutes, then Quick Release rest of pressure. Stir well and season with Parmesan, salt, and pepper to taste.
Recipe Notes
- Rice: Use white rice since brown rice takes longer to cook and will overcook the chicken.
- Cheese: Fresh Parmesan is ideal, but can sub shredded cheese.
Made this today with leftover homemade black beans. It was AMAZING!!!!
Sorry – that was meant for your refried black beans recipe. 🙂 🙂 🙂 Can’t wait to make this one!
Is there any way to translate this recipe into a crock pot recipe? It sounds amazing but I don’t have an Instant Pot. 🙁
Yes! I’m actually working on a post of a Crockpot version, which will be out in a few days!
Thank you so much!
Hi!
This recipe looks and sounds amazing! I do not have an instant pot, wondering if this recipe is adaptable for the crock pot?
Thank you!
Tracy
My Crockpot version will be posted in the next few days!
Do you recommend fresh shredded Parmesan or grated?
Either one, so long as it is fresh. Grated may help the cheese melt a little faster.
Would the cooking times be any different if you used brown rice in stead of the white rice?
Yes, brown rice would take about 10 extra minutes, which would overcook the chicken. I haven’t tried this with brown rice yet, but I may at some point!
Made this tonight, it was delicious, and so easy, as well. This will definitely be on our rotation of meals! Served it with oven roasted asparagus on the side.
That sounds delicious! I’m glad you liked it!
If I wanted to add mushrooms to this, when would be the best time to add them? Hoping to make this today!
I would saute them with the onions. I actually thought about adding them, too!
This looks so delicious! If I wanted to use cauliflower rice instead of white rice would I just stir that in at the end with parmesan cheese since it doesn’t need to cook? Thanks.
Would the cooking times be the same if I use boneless skinless chicken thighs instead?
Yes! Just make sure the chicken is cut into the same size pieces
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe, it was amazing! I already make many of your instant pot soup recipes on repeat in my house, and this recipe will definitely be added to the roster!
Aw YAY! I am so happy to hear that. I am THRILLED you liked this recipe! I’m kind of addicted to it already