Dreamy Instant Pot Chicken and Rice
40aprons.com/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.
Recipe Makes (Approximate): servings
Equipment
- 6-quart Instant Pot
- Large wooden spoon or silicone spatula
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (cut into small pieces)
- 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts (approximately 2-3 large chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces)
- 1 cup chopped white onion (approximately 1 medium onion)
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh garlic (approximately 4 large cloves)
- 1 ½ cups long-grain white rice (rinsed, see Notes)
- 3-4 cups chicken broth (see Notes)
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (juice from approximately 1 large lemon)
- 1 cup shredded fresh parmesan (or grated, at room temperature)
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt (more or less to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper (more or less to taste)
Instructions
- Set Instant Pot to Sauté mode. Add 4 tablespoons unsalted butter to Instant Pot insert and let butter melt completely.
- When butter has melted, add 1 cup chopped white onion and 2 tablespoons minced fresh garlic to insert. Stir to incorporate, then sauté aromatics approximately 5 minutes or until onions are soft and translucent.
- Add 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts to insert. Sauté chicken pieces, stirring occasionally, approximately 5 minutes or until chicken pieces are opaque on all sides.
- Add 1 ½ cups long-grain white rice, 3-4 cups chicken broth (3 cups for firmer rice; 4 cups for softer, soupier rice), and 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice to Instant Pot insert. Stir to fully incorporate ingredients, making sure to scrape bottom of insert to loosen any stuck bits of onion or garlic.
- Secure lid on Instant Pot with valve in Sealing position. Set Instant Pot to Manual High Pressure mode and set cook time to 8 minutes. Instant Pot will pressurize and then 8-minute cook time will begin.
- When 8-minute cook time ends, Natural Release internal pressure 2 minutes. Note: Do not release pressure longer than 2 minutes or rice can overcook.
- After 2-minute Natural Release, carefully Quick Release any remaining pressure and remove lid. Use caution as any escaping steam will be incredibly hot.
- Stir chicken and rice mixture well. Note: If mixture contains excess standing liquid after pressure cooking, set Instant Pot to Sauté mode and stir mixture until excess liquid has fully incorporated into rice.
- Taste mixture and add 1 cup shredded fresh parmesan, 1 ½ teaspoons salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Stir until additions are well incorporated, then taste mixture again and add more parmesan, salt, pepper, or lemon juice if desired.
- When satisfied with flavor of chicken and rice mixture, portion mixture into preferred servings. Garnish with additional parmesan cheese if desired and serve warm.
Recipe Notes
- Chicken Broth: For a firmer rice and more-dry/less-creamy consistency, use 3 cups of chicken broth. For a softer rice and soupier consistency, use 4 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.
- Regarding the Texture: This recipe will not give you rice with a texture like fried rice or rice pilaf. It will be more similar to a risotto.
- Overcooked Rice: If your rice has a sticky or "gluey" texture, you likely overcooked the rice, probably by letting the pressure Natural Release for more than 2 minutes.
Nutrition Information (Approximate)
Serving Size: 1servingCalories: 684calProtein: 54gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 156mgSodium: 1860mgPotassium: 940mgTotal Carbs: 63gFiber: 2gSugar: 2gNet Carbs: 61gVitamin A: 598IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 353mgIron: 2mg
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