Instant Pot Chicken and Rice is a great dinner to make when you need a little comfort food. The bonus is that this is basically a one pot meal. You have your starch, protein, veggie, and dairy all in one! What is really great is this chicken and rice recipe is done in about 30 minutes in your electric pressure cooker!
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This recipe for cheesy chicken and rice in the instant pot is a little healthier than traditional chicken & rice casserole. This dish is made without canned soup or butter. Instead it is made creamy with the help of plain Greek yogurt.
For a little crunch I add chopped water chestnuts. I also add frozen broccoli and canned mushrooms for an extra layer of veggies and flavor.
Instant Pot
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If you do not have an Instant Pot but are interested in buying one, I would highly recommend the 6 qt Duo Plus 9-in-1 or the 6 qt Duo Plus 7-in-1.
The main reason that I recommend these two Instant Pots is the size, 6 quarts. This gives you the space you need inside the pot to make just about any recipe, for two people or ten people! But it is small enough to store in the cabinets.
Did you know that your Instant Pot can also double as a Slow Cooker!!! I plan to take advantage of that feature more this winter.
How to Make Instant Pot Cheesy Chicken and Rice
Turn the Instant Pot onto saute mode and add the oil. Saute the onions and celery for about 5 minutes. Add the chicken base and let it melt into the veggies. Pour in the water.
Turn the saute mode off.
Add the next 4 ingredients to the instant pot in this order:
- rice
- chicken pieces
- 1 teaspoon salt & ½ teaspoon black pepper sprinkled over top
- can drained mushrooms
Make sure all the rice is covered by liquid so it cooks properly.
Pop the lid on the Instant Pot and lock it into place, turn the top pressure valve to “seal”, turn the pot on to Rice mode for 12 minutes (auto rice mode – 12 minutes is normal heat/low pressure).
At the end of 12 minutes do a quick release of pressure by turning the pressure valve to “vent”.
Add the frozen broccoli florets and give the pot a stir. Sprinkle the water chestnuts over top. Pop the lid back on so the residual heat in the pot can thaw the broccoli for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile make the cream/cheese sauce by whisking together ½ cup milk, ⅓ cup mayo, ⅓ cup plain greek yogurt (non-fat), 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1 cup shredded cheese.
When the broccoli is warmed through pour the sauce over the chicken, broccoli and rice and give it a stir to coat.
Give it a little taste to see if you want additional salt & pepper.
Serve immediately!
Fresh Broccoli vs Frozen Broccoli
This recipe calls for frozen broccoli because I find that it cooks perfectly in the hot rice, yet still has a little crunch and isn’t mushy.
I have also tried this recipe with fresh broccoli. It is still good, of course, but the broccoli doesn’t cook down quite enough for my taste. But if you love a super crunchy veggie in your chicken and rice definitely give fresh broccoli a try.
If you use fresh broccoli make sure you cut it into small bite size florets and increase the time it sits in the hot rice pot to 8-10 minutes.
Variations on IP Chicken & Rice
This can be a pretty flexible recipe, depending on what you have in your kitchen. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Make this without the chicken for a vegetarian entree, or an excellent cheesy rice side dish.
- If you do not have broccoli, try making it with canned green beans (drained).
- To add more veggies add a ½ cup of frozen peas with the frozen broccoli.
- Use sour cream instead of plain greek yogurt.
- When asparagus is in season and inexpensive (spring), try subbing it for the broccoli, or add it for an extra veggie.
Instant Pot Cheesy Chicken & Rice Recipe
Instant Pot Cheesy Chicken, Broccoli, and Rice
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 cup yellow onion, chopped - (about 1 small-medium onion)
- 1 cup celery, chopped - (about 2 stalks)
- 2 teaspoon chicken base - (see notes below)
- 2 cups water
- 1 ½ cups rice - long grain white rice
- 2 fresh boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch cubes
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 6.5 oz canned chopped mushrooms, drained
- 2 cups (heaping) frozen broccoli florets
- 8 oz canned sliced water chestnuts, drained and chopped
Cheese Sauce
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup milk
- ⅓ cup non-fat plain greek yogurt
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Turn the Instant Pot on to saute mode and add the oil. Saute the onions and celery for about 5 minutes.Add the 2 teaspoon chicken base, stir to melt the chicken base into the veggies. Pour in 2 cups water.
- Turn saute mode off
- Add the next 4 ingredients in this order: rice, raw chicken breast cubes, mushrooms.Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon kosher salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper.
- Put the lid on the pot and lock it into place. Turn the top pressure vent to "seal". Set to cook on Rice mode for 12 minutes.
- When the Instant Pot beeps do a quick release by turning the top pressure valve to “vent”.
- Add the 2 heaping cups of frozen broccoli florets and stir into the rice (I find using a fork for this works best because it "fluffs" the rice)Sprinkle the drained chopped water chestnuts over top. Close the lid of the pot and let the residual heat in the pot thaw the broccoli.
- Whisk together the cream/cheese sauce ingredients: 1 cup shredded cheese, ½ cups milk, ⅓ cup mayonnaise, ⅓ cup non-fat plain greek yogurt, ½ teaspoon garlic powder.
- Pour the cheese sauce over the chicken and rice and stir to coat.
- Serve immediately!
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Recipe Tips and Notes:
Additional Instant Pot Recipes
If you are looking for other ways to use your Instant Pot here are some great IP recipe from Mom’s Dinner:
- Sausage Rigatoni with Tomato Cream Sauce
- Steak Soup
- Sausage & Kale Potato Soup
- Cajun Rice with Chicken & Sausage
- Shredded Chicken Tacos
- Instant Pot Chili
- Instant Pot Rotisserie Chicken
Originally posted August 2018 – Recipe, Copy, and Photos Updated January 2020
Kristen R
Very good! Classic comfort food
Leanne
I made this tonight and really enjoyed it! Reminded me of a dish my mom used to make years ago. Love that I had almost all of the ingredients on hand (no cream of mushroom soup necessary!) and the ease of the instant pot. I left out the chicken and stirred in walnuts at the end to keep it veg. Also used fresh mushrooms and topped with everything bagel seasoning and sriracha and it was magical! Thanks!
Susie
Ohhhhh, I love that you added walnuts. What a great sub!
JOHN
Had no idea there was Greek yogurt in there. Delicious recipe and great pics too!!
Susie
HAHA – I slipped it in on you : ) and you loved it
Danielle
What a great easy weeknight meal! I do love my instant pot – it’s one of the few things I kept unpacked! Great tip on the stems – I usually toss them but good to know the instant pot makes them edible!! I love one pot dishes like this.
Susie
I always threw the broccoli stems away too! But I had to use them when I was short on broccoli and I LOVED THEM…even more than the florets.
Thank you for rating my recipe : )