See my guide on how to use an Instant Pot.


Instant Pot Chicken and Rice is the best easy comfort food! Brown rice, chicken breasts and vegetables all cook together in your Instant Pot in this delicious chicken and rice recipe.

chicken and rice with carrots and peas in instant pot

When I’m not sure what to make for dinner, I often turn to my Instant Pot. This easy Instant Pot chicken and rice is one of my best Instant Pot recipes because it’s a one pot meal, like my Instant Pot Chicken and Mushrooms and Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings

Using your Instant Pot is an easy way to make a chicken and rice casserole. Once you get the ingredients prepped and into the pot, it’s mostly hands-off from there. While the Instant Pot cooks, you’ll be free to do whatever else you need to do… make a salad, fold a load of laundry, or just sit on the couch with your feet up!

This Instant Pot chicken and rice is comforting, family-friendly and healthy. All you need to round out the meal is a green salad and possibly some crusty bread. This is one easy dinner recipe that you’ll want to add to your rotation! Try all my delicious Instant Pot Recipes.

instant pot chicken and rice served in a bowl

Ingredients

  • Olive Oil: The olive oil is used for sautéing the vegetables.
  • Onion & Garlic: These provide a base layer of flavor to the dish.
  • Carrots: Carrots are the perfect vegetable to cook in the Instant Pot because they will soften without breaking down.
  • Brown Rice: Be sure to use long grain brown rice in this recipe. White rice cooks much faster in the Instant Pot and could burn with the cook time used in this recipe.
  • Dijon Mustard: Dijon enhances the flavor, but it does not make the finished dish taste like mustard.
  • Seasonings: Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper are used to season the chicken and rice.
  • Chicken Broth: The broth is the liquid that allows the Instant Pot to reach pressure, and it also absorbs into the rice as it cooks. I recommend using low sodium chicken broth so that you can control the amount of salt in the finished dish.
  • Chicken Breasts: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts provide lean protein. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs can be substituted, with no change in the recipe cook time.
  • Frozen Peas: To add more veggies and a pop of color.
  • Parmesan Cheese: This dish is extra delicious served with grated Parmesan cheese.

How to make Instant Pot Chicken and Rice

I recommend having all of your ingredients ready before you start cooking because the prep for this recipe moves quickly once you start sautéing the vegetables. To get ready, you can chop the onion and carrots, peel the garlic, and have your seasonings ready to go. Rinse the rice and set it aside to drain.

Here is an overview of the recipe steps. Find the full printable recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card below. If you are new to cooking with an Instant Pot, you might find my guide about how to use an Instant Pot helpful.

  1. Sauté the onion and carrots in the Instant Pot using the sauté function. Then turn the Instant Pot off.
  2. Stir in the garlic.
  3. Add the brown rice, Dijon, seasonings and chicken broth. Stir well and scrape up any bits of food that are stuck to the bottom of the pot.
  4. Put the chicken breasts on top of the rice mixture. boneless skinless chicken breasts on top of rice, broth and veggies in instant pot
  5. Close the lid and set the valve to the sealing position.
  6. Pressure cook on high pressure for 20 minutes.
  7. Let the pot naturally release for 10 minutes.
  8. Quick release any remaining pressure by carefully moving the valve to the venting position.
  9. Remove the chicken to a clean cutting board.
  10. Stir the peas into the Instant Pot. Put the lid back on the pot and let it rest for 5 minutes to heat the peas through.
  11. Chop the chicken into bite-size pieces and stir it back into the Instant Pot.

cooked chicken and rice in instant pot with peas and carrots

Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Recipe Tips

  • Be sure to rinse the rice well before cooking.
  • When you add the broth to the pot, be sure to scrape up any bits stuck to bottom of your Instant Pot with a spoon or spatula before adding the chicken. This will ensure that you don’t get the Instant Pot burn message during the pressure cooking time.
  • If you want more veggies, try adding a chopped bell pepper along with the carrots. To add broccoli, stir in some steamed broccoli after pressure cooking. The broccoli will get too mushy if you pressure cook it along with everything else. Or stir a few handfuls of chopped fresh spinach into the finished dish.
  • To learn more about cooking rice in the Instant Pot, see my recipes for Instant Pot Rice and Instant Pot Brown Rice.

What to Serve with Chicken and Rice

Since this chicken and rice contains whole grain brown rice, protein and vegetables, it can be a meal on its own. If you’d like to add in a side dish or two, try a Kale Salad, Fruit Salad or Roasted Broccoli. If you’d like bread with the meal, I recommend these easy Drop Biscuits or Dinner Rolls.

Storage & Reheating Tips

Leftover chicken and rice may be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Reheat leftovers in the microwave until steaming hot. If frozen, thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

bite of instant pot chicken and rice on a fork held over a bowl of chicken and rice

More Instant Pot Chicken Recipes

Instant Pot chicken recipes can be an easy option when you need new dinner ideas! Here are a few more of our favorites:

chicken and rice in an instant pot
4.87 from 45 ratings

Instant Pot Chicken and Rice

Servings: 6 servings
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Inactive Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Instant Pot Chicken and Rice is a family dinner favorite! Brown rice, chicken and veggies all cook together in your Instant Pot in this easy homemade chicken and rice recipe.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 cup chopped onion, 1 small onion
  • 4 medium carrots, cut lengthwise and then chopped into ½-inch pieces
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 ½ cups long grain brown rice, uncooked, rinsed well and drained, do not substitute other types of rice
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
  • 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 ½ cups low sodium chicken broth
  • 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese, for serving, optional

Instructions
 

  • Heat the olive oil in a 6 quart or larger Instant Pot using the saute setting. Add the onion and carrots. Saute, stirring, until the vegetables start to soften, about 3 minutes. Turn off the Instant Pot.
  • Stir in the garlic. Add the brown rice, Dijon mustard, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, pepper and chicken broth. Stir well, scraping up any bits that are stuck to the bottom of the pot.
  • Make sure that all of the rice and vegetables are in the liquid, not on the sides of the pot. Place the chicken breasts on top of the rice mixture.
  • Close the Instant Pot lid and set the pressure valve to sealing. Pressure cook on high pressure for 20 minutes. The Instant Pot will take about 15 minutes to come to pressure and then the cook time will begin counting down.
  • Allow the Instant Pot to naturally release for 10 minutes (by leaving it off after it finishes cooking).
  • Then, carefully do a quick pressure release by moving the steam release valve to the venting position. Once all of the steam has been released and the pin drops down, carefully open the Instant Pot lid.
  • Remove the chicken to a cutting board. Stir the peas into the Instant Pot, close the lid, and let sit for 5 minutes to heat the peas through.
  • Cut the chicken into bite-size pieces. Stir the chicken back into the rice mixture in the pot.
  • Serve with fresh parsley and grated Parmesan, if desired.

Notes

  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw (if frozen) and reheat to steaming hot before serving.
Calories: 378kcal, Carbohydrates: 47g, Protein: 30g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 64mg, Sodium: 394mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 5g
Nutrition information is an estimate.
Cuisine: American
Course: Main Course
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