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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 Recipe 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. It’s absolutely one of my favorite Instant Pot chicken recipes!
- This recipe only takes 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.
Chef’s Tips
- 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.
- You must follow the directions exactly for releasing the pressure. Leaving it too long will result in overcooked rice and a potentially gluey texture. Make sure you manually release pressure after 2 minutes of natural pressure release!
- This recipe does not make a soupy or stewy chicken and rice, but a thick and creamy risotto-like recipe, along the lines of my best ever risotto recipe. If you’re looking for something that isn’t thick and creamy, this isn’t the recipe for you!
You’ll Love These Other Instant Pot Chicken Recipes, Too
- Instant Pot BBQ Chicken
- Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Breast
- The Best Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala
- Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Thighs
- Chicken Burrito Bowls in the Instant Pot
- Instant Pot Chicken and “Rice” Soup (Whole30, Low Carb)
- Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla-Less Soup (Paleo)
- Easy Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup (Gluten Free Option)
- Instant Pot Orange Chicken
More Instant Pot Recipes You Have to Try
- Instant Pot Black Beans
- Instant Pot Baby Back Ribs
- The Best EVER Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas
- Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
- Instant Pot Dal
- 50 Low Carb Instant Pot Recipes
- Instant Pot Whole30 Chili with Butternut Squash (Paleo, Low Carb)
- Instant Pot Stuffed Peppers
- Japanese Curry in the Instant Pot
- Instant Pot Lentil Soup
- Instant Pot Applesauce
- 45 Incredible Vegan Instant Pot Recipes
- Instant Pot Jambalaya
- Instant Pot Chicken Wings
Dreamy Instant Pot Chicken and Rice
Inspired by risotto (but without all the hard work), this rich, creamy, and totally dreamy chicken and rice one-pot meal is sure to be a family favorite.
servings
Equipment
- Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds chicken breasts about 2-3 breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 3-4 cups chicken broth see Notes
- 1 ½ tablespoons lemon juice juice from approximately 1 lemon
- 1 ½ cups long-grain white rice rinsed, see Notes
- 1 cup fresh parmesan cheese shredded or grated
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt more or less to taste
- ¼ teaspoons black pepper 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 translucent, about 5 minutes. Add in rice, broth, and lemon juice. Stir well, bringing chicken pieces to top.
- Secure lid on pot and set valve to Sealing. Set to Manual High Pressure for 8 minutes.
- When cook time is completed, let naturally release for 2 minutes, then carefully Quick Release remaining pressure. Stir well and season with parmesan, salt, and pepper to taste. Add a little more chicken broth, if desired, to reach desired consistency – optional.
- If you find liquid still remaining on the top of your Instant Pot chicken and rice after cooking, stir well and turn on Sauté mode to fully incorporate.
Video
- Chicken broth: Use 3 cups of chicken broth if you prefer a firmer rice with a more separate grain. Use 4 cups for a more risotto-inspired chicken and rice, with a soupier, more stew-like texture. The rice will still have a clear grain but will be nice and soft. My family and I prefer 4 cups; we like the risotto texture more than when made with 3 cups. However, if you want your version to have clear grains of rice and be less creamy, use 3 cups.
- Rice: Be sure to use white rice for this recipe! Brown rice is not recommended since it would take about 10 minutes longer, which would overcook the chicken. Do not use instant or minute rice.
- Cheese: Fresh Parmesan is ideal, but can sub shredded cheese.
- If you end up with a “gluey” texture to your chicken and rice, it’s likely you’ve overcooked the recipe by leaving it to release pressure naturally for too long. This part is important! Give it just 2 minutes after the Instant pot beeps, then manually release pressure.
- This recipe will be more like a risotto than a fried rice texture or rice pilaf.
- To Clean Instant Pot: If any rice sticks to your Instant Pot, use my easy trick to clean it. Fill the Instant Pot up ¼-⅓ of the way with water and dish soap. Set Instant Pot to Sauté mode on High/Extra High heat and let liquid simmer. After a few minutes, the rice will loosen and clean up easily.
Approximate Information for One Serving
Serving Size: 1servingCalories: 676calProtein: 54gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 156mgSodium: 1957mgPotassium: 912mgTotal Carbs: 61gFiber: 1gNet Carbs: 60gVitamin A: 598IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 347mgIron: 2mg
Nutrition Disclaimers
Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.
Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.
To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.
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as I’m sure you know rinsing is generally suggested in most recipes and it influences the water content of the cooked rice. so do you rinse the rice first?
Hi, John! We do, in fact, know that. That’s why we specify in the ingredients list that the rice should be rinsed first – “1 ½ cups long-grain white rice rinsed, see Notes”.
Happy cooking!
Delicious came out perfectly, husband and kid returned for seconds, the meat so juicy n tender. Simple ingredients you would easily have in your pantry or freezer.
So glad the whole family loved it- going back for seconds is a big win! Thanks for sharing!
Oh My Goodness! This is delicious! It will be added to our rotation. I added some diced carrots with onions and garlic. I wanted it risotto style, so I added the extra broth and I had to sear it for about 2 minutes before adding the cheese. I made servings for 4 and had way too much. I am going to make it for 2 servings for 3 people. I made broccoli on the side for those of us that like to mix it on our plate. I just read someone’s review about making some frozen peas on the side and adding them when you add the parmesan cheese, that is a great idea that I add.
So glad you loved it! Your additions sound delicious as well. Thanks for sharing!
Easily one of my favorite easy meals. I also love how warm and nourishing this is for pregnancy and postpartum. It’s my go to meal to give to new moms in my church. I’ve made it and given it to them at least 5 times. I’ve even got some frozen for myself for after I have baby #3
We’re so glad you love it, Cristina! That is such a perfect postpartum gift! Best wishes to you and baby #3!
This was so good! I used 3.5 cups of chicken broth and it came out prefect!
Yay, we’re so glad to hear that! Thanks for sharing, Sarah!
Love this it’s so good plus quick and easy too
Thanks for sharing, Teresa!
My insta pot still freaks me out, as I have had a few major flop recipes… but this one was easy and tasted amazing! I’ll be adding this to the menu in the future! All the kids and my husband approved!
So glad everyone loved it. It’s definitely a great one to keep in rotation! Thanks for sharing, Ruth!
What a find! This is so delish and easy. A real family favourite – who would want to slave over traditional risotto recipes when you have this set and forget meal. Microwaved some frozen peas and stirred them in with the Parmesan after it was cooked. Veggies too!! Thank you so much!
Thank you, Kate! I’m so happy you loved the dish!
A big Thank You for posting a recipe with ingredients I am already likely to have in my home! So many times I see recipes with unique ingredients when I am looking for something that requires a little less planning or an extra trip to the grocery store.
You’re so very welcome, Joy! Thank you for your review!
This is a regular meal in our rotation at my home. Like weekly. My 6 year old LOSES HER MIND when I cook it and she doesn’t like rice. On her Mother’s Day “about mom” paper she filled out at school, when it asked what the best meal mom cooks she wrote “creamy chicken and rice”. Now I make much more complicated, as my husband would say “gourmet” meals and my daughter only occasionally eats what I cook, she’s very picky. THANK YOU THANK YOU for giving me a recipe that’s not only incredibly easy but delicious and something my daughter will have as a core memory of her childhood
WOW wow wow!! This may be the greatest compliment we’ve ever received!! Thank you SO much for sharing this with us, Kylynn – I’m so thrilled you and your little one love this dish so much and we’re honored to be a part of your family meals!