5 Minute Instant Pot Chicken & Rice (Instant Pot)

Oh, you know those evenings, right? The kids melt down five minutes after walking in the door, dinner needs to be on the table in thirty minutes flat, and suddenly that beautiful clean-eating plan feels like a pipe dream. Seriously, I rely on my pressure cooker more than I rely on my morning coffee sometimes! That’s why I am bursting to share this perfect, hands-off solution: my **Instant Pot Chicken & Rice (Instant Pot)** recipe.

This isn’t just quick; it’s genuinely family-friendly comfort food that handles the whole meal in one single pot—which means cleanup is a dream. We are talking tender chicken, savory rice, and veggies all cooked together beautifully without hovering over the stove. Trust me, this formula has saved my sanity more times than I can count when life gets totally hectic.

Why This Instant Pot Chicken & Rice (Instant Pot) is a Weeknight Hero

If you are looking for a truly Quick dinner that doesn’t sacrifice flavor just because it’s fast, this is it. The beauty of using the pressure cooker for this Chicken and Rice is that you get a huge flavor return for very little hands-on time. It practically shouts, “I’m an Easy Meal!”

Speed and Simplicity of the Instant Pot Chicken & Rice (Instant Pot)

Honestly, thirty minutes total time? That’s faster than ordering takeout! Because everything cooks under pressure, the rice gets perfectly tender and the chicken steams beautifully all at once. You just spend a tiny bit of time chopping your veggies, hitting the button, and walking away. This specific Instant Pot Chicken & Rice (Instant Pot) recipe means you only dirty one pot for the entire main course. That’s the ultimate weeknight win.

Building Comfort Food Flavor

Don’t mistake speedy for bland! The Sauté function is your best friend here because we briefly sear the chicken and soften the aromatics first. That little bit of browning on the onion, carrot, and bell pepper builds such a deep foundation. When it all seals up under pressure, all those savory notes—plus the oregano—meld into the broth and soak right into the rice. It’s pure, hearty Comfort Food, ready before you can even set the table properly!

Gathering Ingredients for Instant Pot Chicken & Rice (Instant Pot)

Okay, gathering the ingredients is where you set yourself up for success here. Since this is a one-pot situation, every component matters! I always lay everything out first because once the Sauté button starts, things move fast. You need that olive oil, of course, and our little spice rub: paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Then the main players: two boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Don’t skimp on the veggies, either—a small yellow onion, one carrot, and a red bell pepper, all finely chopped. Finally, grab those three garlic cloves and the oregano!

The liquid is critical: we use 1 and 1/2 cups of broth or water total, but we add it in stages. And please, make sure you rinse that cup of Basmati or white rice really well before it goes in. That rinsing step is non-negotiable for a great texture!

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

First thing—the rice. Rinsing it removes all that dusty starch so your final Chicken and Rice isn’t gummy. Basmati is my favorite because it comes out fluffy, but regular white rice works great too. I usually stick to low-sodium broth so I can control the saltiness later, but if you only have water, go ahead and use water—it will still taste wonderful!

Now, about the chicken breasts. If you prefer chicken thighs—and honestly, sometimes I do for extra juiciness—they work perfectly fine. If you swap them in, just know that thighs are forgiving, but you might add two extra minutes to the pressure cooking time just to be safe. You really can’t mess this up, though, because the pressure does all the heavy lifting!

Step-by-Step Instructions for Your Instant Pot Chicken & Rice (Instant Pot)

This is where the magic happens, and honestly, it feels like cheating because the process is so streamlined and hands-off. Remember, for this Chicken and Rice to shine, we have to build flavor first before we seal it up in the cooker. Don’t rush the initial steps!

Sautéing Aromatics and Searing the Chicken

First, you set your pot to ‘Sauté’ and get that drizzle of olive oil working. While that heats up, I rub the chicken breasts all over with my simple mix—paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. You want them to get just a little kiss of color in the hot pot, about three minutes per side. They won’t be cooked through, and that’s perfect! Pull those beauties out and set them on a plate.

Next, toss in your chopped onion, carrot, and pepper. Season them lightly and let them soften for about four minutes. Then add your garlic and oregano—just a minute until you can really smell them! Now, this is vital: pour in 1/4 cup of that chicken broth and take your wooden spoon and scrape up every single browned bit stuck to the bottom. That step is what screams “No Burn Notice!”

Pressure Cooking: Timing the Instant Pot Chicken & Rice (Instant Pot)

Time to build the body of the dish! Stir in the rinsed rice and the rest of the broth—that’s 1 and 1/4 cups remaining. Give it a stir to make sure everything is mixed in, and then place the seared chicken right back on top. Do not stir it after the rice layer goes in, or you risk the seal.

Cover it up, seal the vent, and set it to High Pressure for exactly four minutes. Once that time is up, you walk away and let it do a Natural Release for ten full minutes. Trust me, those ten minutes are important for the rice to finish absorbing the liquid gently. After ten minutes, you can quick-release any remaining steam. Transfer the chicken to a board to chop, fluff that rice, and dinner is done!

Tips for Perfect Instant Pot Chicken & Rice (Instant Pot)

Even a recipe this simple has little secrets that take it from good to absolutely crave-worthy. Since mastering this Instant Pot Chicken & Rice (Instant Pot) means you can have it on rotation almost every week, let me share the few things I always double-check.

First, we already talked about it, but it bears repeating because it’s so key: **rinse your rice!** I mean, really rinse it until the water runs mostly clear. If you skip this step, that extra starch turns into goo, and you end up with sticky, gummy rice instead of the nice fluffy texture we are aiming for in this Chicken and Rice dish.

Second is the deglazing step. If you see those lovely brown bits—called fond—stuck to the bottom after you sauté the veggies, you absolutely must scrape them up with a little bit of broth before you layer everything else in. If you miss that step, the Instant Pot gets super grumpy and throws up that dreaded ‘Burn’ notice, usually right when you wanted to walk away. It’s those little details that keep your Instant Pot Chicken & Rice (Instant Pot) cooking smoothly.

My last tip is about the release. Don’t rush that 10-minute Natural Release! When you pull the pin immediately (Quick Release), the sudden drop in pressure can make the rice seize up or even cause the liquid to sputter out of the valve dangerously. Those ten minutes let the steam settle and finish cooking the rice evenly. It’s worth the wait for a perfect pot of Chicken and Rice!

Serving Suggestions for This Easy Meal

When I make this Easy Meal, the beauty is that the Instant Pot does all the heavy lifting for the main course. Since it’s already a balanced meal with protein, carbs, and veggies cooked right in, you only need something light and fresh on the side to round everything out. I find that keeping the sides simple prevents me from feeling like I’m cooking two separate dinners!

My absolute favorite pairing is a simple, bright salad. Something with crisp lettuce, maybe some sliced cucumbers, and a light vinaigrette is perfect. That fresh crunch contrasts so nicely with the warm, soft rice and tender chicken. I have a few super quick salad recipes on the site that take seriously five minutes to throw together.

If you feel like you need more cooked veggies, don’t go heavy! Frozen green beans tossed in a pan with a little garlic powder until they are bright green and just tender-crisp are ideal. You don’t want anything that requires long simmering time, because seriously, you just finished fighting the dinner rush. A little squeeze of fresh lemon all over the finished chicken and rice also brightens the whole plate up wonderfully. Keep it light, keep it fresh!

Storage and Reheating Your Instant Pot Chicken & Rice (Instant Pot)

Okay, leftovers! This is where the Instant Pot Chicken & Rice (Instant Pot) really proves itself as a fantastic meal prep option. We make a big batch, and honestly, it tastes just as good the next day, maybe even better because the flavors have time to hang out together overnight.

When the pot cools down a bit, I scoop everything into airtight containers. Make sure you don’t leave it sitting out too long once it’s done cooking—you want it stored in the fridge within about two hours max. It stays perfectly great for about three to four days in the refrigerator. I use these containers so I can grab a serving for lunch or an emergency super-quick dinner later in the week.

Now, reheating is key. Rice always tends to look a little dry after chilling, right? So when you transfer a portion of your leftover Instant Pot Chicken & Rice (Instant Pot) into a microwave-safe bowl, always add just a tiny splash of extra chicken broth or even plain water right on top of the rice mixture before you nuke it. Just a teaspoon or two is usually plenty!

Microwave it in short bursts, stirring halfway through. That little bit of added liquid creates steam in the microwave, and it absolutely revives the rice and chicken so they aren’t hard or chewy. It brings back that incredibly moist texture we worked so hard to achieve when we first cooked the Instant Pot Chicken & Rice (Instant Pot)! Trust me, never reheat rice dry; it’s just sad.

Frequently Asked Questions About Instant Pot Chicken & Rice (Instant Pot)

I always get a ton of questions after people try a new pressure cooker recipe, and that’s wonderful! It means you’re ready to make this your new go-to Easy Meal. Here are the ones I hear the most often about our Chicken and Rice recipe.

Can I use brown rice in this Instant Pot Chicken & Rice (Instant Pot)?

Oh absolutely! Brown rice is fantastic, though remember it needs more time to absorb water than white rice does. If you swap in brown rice, you need to bump that cook time up significantly. I suggest setting the pressure cook time to ten or even twelve minutes on High Pressure, and you want a longer Natural Release—aim for a full 15 minutes before you manually release any extra pressure. It still results in wonderful Comfort Food!

How do I prevent the ‘Burn’ notice when making this Chicken and Rice?

This is the classic Instant Pot headache, isn’t it? The answer is deglazing! After you sauté your onions, peppers, and carrots and the heat is off, you absolutely must add that small amount of broth right away and aggressively scrape up every single little browned speck stuck to the bottom of that metal pot. If you leave any stuck bits, the sensor thinks the food is burning during the pressurization cycle. Scrape well, and your Chicken and Rice should cook through without any trouble.

Is this recipe suitable for meal prepping?

It’s beyond suitable; it’s practically *made* for meal prepping! Because this Chicken and Rice involves cooking everything together, the flavors actually deepen overnight. It stores beautifully in the fridge for a few days, making it a wonderful Quick lunch or dinner solution later in the week. Just remember the reheating tip about adding a little splash of water or broth!

Nutritional Snapshot of Instant Pot Chicken & Rice (Instant Pot)

I know many of you are focused on supporting your body with the right fuel, so I wanted to quickly break down the estimated nutrition for this simple meal. This Chicken and Rice dish is fantastic because it’s protein-packed and relatively light on fat while still being incredibly satisfying. It genuinely supports clean-living habits without feeling restrictive!

Here are the estimates per serving, based on the ingredients list:

• Calories: 350
• Protein: 34g
• Fat: 8g (with only 1.5g saturated)
• Carbohydrates: 35g
• Fiber: 2g
• Sugar: 4g
• Sodium: 450mg

Now, please know these are just estimates! Your actual numbers will fluctuate a bit depending on the sodium content of your broth or exactly how much oil absorbs into your rice. For example, if you swap chicken breasts for thighs, the fat content will increase slightly, as will the cholesterol. But overall, for a filling, Calorie-Smart dinner that comes together in half an hour, this is a nutritional winner that keeps you energized without the heavy crash later in the evening.

Share Your Family’s Experience

I truly hope making this Instant Pot Chicken & Rice (Instant Pot) brings you back to the kitchen table with your family, feeling calm instead of stressed. I can’t wait to hear what you think!

Did this recipe save you on a particularly chaotic Tuesday night? Did your kids actually eat all the little bits of carrot and pepper? You know I want the details!

Please, please leave a comment down below right after you try it out and tell me how it went. A quick star rating lets me know if this recipe is living up to its promise as a fantastic, quick dinner go-to. If you loved ditching the dishes, share this with a friend who is also trying to keep weeknight meals simple and clean!

[Author Bio Sign-off]

Hi, I’m EMILIA, the founder of MeltItClean.com – your digital space for natural weight loss, real wellness habits, and clean-living inspiration that actually fits your life.

For years, I struggled with the ups and downs of dieting. I tried everything — juice cleanses, low-carb crazes, fitness challenges — but I always ended up back where I started: tired, bloated, and frustrated. I didn’t just want to “lose weight” — I wanted energy, mental clarity, glowing skin, and confidence without sacrificing my joy or sanity.

After years of experimenting, learning, and unlearning, I discovered a simple truth: your body is already powerful — it just needs support, not restriction. That’s when I created Melt It Clean — a site dedicated to real transformation through clean, intentional, and nourishing daily habits that anyone can follow.

My goal was simple: build a place where people could feel informed, supported, and empowered without being overwhelmed by wellness fads.

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