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Instant Pot Chicken and Rice - Easy One-Pot Dinner Recipe

This Instant Pot chicken and rice recipe is a perfect weeknight dinner that's both delicious and incredibly easy to make. With tender chicken and fluffy rice cooked together in one pot, you'll have a comforting family meal on the table in under 30 minutes.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 420
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ingredients
  • 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
  • 2 cups long-grain white rice
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Fresh parsley for garnish

Method
 

Instructions
  1. Season the chicken generously with salt, pepper, paprika, and thyme. Set your Instant Pot to sauté mode and heat the olive oil. Brown the chicken for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown. Remove and set aside.
  2. Add the chopped onion to the Instant Pot and sauté for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
  3. Add the rice to the pot and stir to coat with the oil and aromatics. Pour in the chicken broth and scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
  4. Return the chicken to the pot, placing it on top of the rice. Close the lid, set the valve to sealing, and cook on high pressure for 8 minutes.
  5. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then perform a quick release for any remaining pressure. Open the lid carefully.
  6. Fluff the rice with a fork, garnish with fresh parsley, and serve hot.

Notes

Don't skip browning the chicken first for better flavor depth, use long-grain white rice for best results, and allow natural pressure release to prevent mushy rice. The recipe stores beautifully for up to 4 days and can be customized with vegetables like peas or carrots.