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    Popular » Recipes » Instant Pot

    Instant Pot Cheesy Chicken and Rice

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure for more information. Published: Feb 10, 2023 by Dee

    Instant Pot Cheesy Chicken and Rice is a complete meal with creamy chicken, rice, peas and cheese. A one-pot meal the whole family loves! This easy chicken dinner is perfect for busy weeknights!  via @meamel

    Instant Pot Cheesy Chicken and Rice is a complete meal with creamy chicken, rice, peas and cheese. A one-pot meal the whole family loves! This easy chicken dinner is perfect for busy weeknights!

    Jump to Recipe -
    instant pot cheesy chicken and rice with peas and parsley on the table
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • How to Make Cheesy Chicken and Rice in the Instant Pot
    • Cooking Time
    • How to Store and Reheat
    • Variations
    • Cooking Tips
    • Recipe
    • Reviews

    Easy chicken and rice is classic comfort food made even easier in the electric pressure cooker. This is one of my favorite Instant Pot recipes to make on busy days because it comes together fast.

    It's such an easy weeknight meal! Plus, even my picky eaters love it!

    We love my grandma's old fashioned chicken and rice recipe, but this easy Instant Pot chicken recipe is much faster. You can dig into this delicious chicken dinner in about 30 minutes!

    The first time I made chicken and rice in the Instant Pot, I kept it super plain. I just added Parmesan cheese.

    But the next time I made this easy Instant Pot recipe, I added cheddar cheese and cheddar blend. I also used cream of chicken soup to make super creamy chicken and rice. This is a very versatile recipe, and you can make Instant Pot chicken and rice without cream of chicken soup or with soup!

    Ingredients

    You only need a few simple ingredients for cheesy chicken and rice. You can find them in your grocery store if you don't have what you need at home.

    • Olive oil -- for sauteeing the chicken
    • Boneless skinless chicken breasts 
    • Seasoning -- Dried minced onions, garlic powder, sea salt, ground black pepper, herbes de Provence or Italian seasoning mix
    • Chicken broth -- I use low sodium chicken broth, or water
    • Jasmine rice -- white rice, either Basmati or long grain rice, not Minute rice or brown rice. Make sure it is uncooked rice.
    • Frozen peas -- or mixed vegetables
    • Shredded cheddar cheese or cheese blend
    • Cream of chicken soup-- optional

    How to Make Cheesy Chicken and Rice in the Instant Pot

    First, cut the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces, about 1 inch thick or so. Then, turn the Instant Pot to sauté mode.

    When the pot reads Hot, add the oil. Then, add the chicken pieces and seasonings, and cook on the sauté setting until no longer pink.

    You don't have to worry about cooking the chicken all the way through here since it will finish cooking under pressure.

    Be sure to deglaze the bottom of the pot with some chicken broth so that there are no bits of chicken stuck on the bottom.

    cut up cooked chicken breasts in the instant pot pressure cooker

    Add the rice over the chicken, and pour in your remaining cups chicken broth or water. Press the rice down so that it's covered with broth, but don't stir everything together.

    If you want to add cream of chicken soup or another cream soup, you can add it now. Just don't stir everything together.

    Place the lid on the pressure cooker, and make sure the valve is on sealing position. This will vary with different Instant Pot models.

    chicken with chicken broth and rice in the instant pot pressure cooker

    Cooking Time

    Pressure cook the chicken and rice for 4 minutes on high pressure with a 10 minute natural release. The natural pressure release is super important.

    If you skip this part, the rice will not be cooked.

    This is the same method I use for jasmine rice in the Instant Pot. It makes perfect rice every time!

    After 10 minutes is up, do a quick release to release the remaining pressure.

    shredded cheddar cheese and peas with chicken and rice in the pressure cooker

    Now, stir in the shredded cheese and some frozen peas or mixed veggies.

    You can also use thawed veggies, but the heat from the Instant Pot is enough to cook them right from frozen.

    As you stir the cheesy chicken and rice mixture, it will become thick, creamy and very cheesy. You can add more cheese on the side for the extreme cheese lovers!

    bowl of cheesy chicken and rice next to an instant pot

    How to Store and Reheat

    Store any leftover Instant Pot chicken and rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator, where it'll last for 3 to 4 days.

    For longer storage, store leftovers in a freezer safe container in the freezer.

    Reheat your chicken and rice in the microwave.

    pressure cooker chicken and rice with peas in a white bowl

    Variations

    There are a few easy ways to customize this cheesy chicken and rice Instant Pot recipe to your liking!

    First, as you might have guessed, is to switch up what type of cheese you add! Cheddar cheese is usually my go-to, but parmesan cheese, a Mexican shredded cheese blend, or sharp cheddar cheese will also go great with this.

    If you want super creamy chicken and rice, add 2 cups chicken broth. You can also add heavy cream or half and half instead of the cream soup.

    You can make Instant Pot chicken and rice with or without cream of chicken soup. With the cream soup, you'll get a far more creamy sauce. It's really just a matter of personal taste!

    If you do choose to add cream soup, you could also use cream of onion soup, cream of celery soup or cream of mushroom soup, instead of cream of chicken.

    Add your favorite veggies for a pop of green. Using frozen peas keeps this simple chicken and rice meal super easy, but fresh vegetables work just as well. When I have the time, I love adding in some fresh broccoli florets-- the combination of creamy rice and cheesy chicken broccoli is peak comfort food!

    Love Asian flavors? You might also like Instant Pot teriyaki chicken and rice. Or, try my Instant Pot Kielbasa and Rice!

    Cooking Tips

    Deglaze the bottom of the pot to remove any browned bits after cooking chicken. This helps prevent the burn notice.

    Remember to allow a 10 minute natural pressure release after 4 minutes cook time.

    Always rinse rice before cooking.

    Don't mix everything together until after pressure cooking.

    May contain affiliate links. See disclosure for more information.

    Recipe

    bowl of instant pot cheesy chicken and rice with peas on the table

    Instant Cheesy Pot Chicken and Rice

    Published by Dee
    Instant Pot Cheesy Chicken and Rice is a complete meal with creamy chicken, rice, peas and cheese. A one-pot meal the whole family loves! This easy chicken dinner is perfect for busy weeknights!
    5 from 18 votes
    Print Recipe Share by Email
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 8 mins
    pressure time 10 mins
    Total Time 23 mins
    Course Main
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8
    Calories 247 kcal

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot Pressure Cooker

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts cut up
    • 1 tablespoon dried minced onions
    • 1 ½ teaspoons sea salt
    • 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon herbes de Provence or Italian seasoning mix
    • 1 ½ cup chicken broth low sodium
    • 1 cup Jasmine rice rinsed well
    • 1 cup frozen peas
    • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese or cheese blend
    • 1 10 oz can cream of chicken soup optional

    Instructions
     

    • Hit SAUTE on the Instant Pot pressure cooker, and when it reads HOT, add olive oil and chicken
    • Stir in minced onions, salt, garlic powder, pepper and herbes de Provence, and cook until chicken is no longer pink
    • Deglaze pot to make sure no chicken is stuck to bottom. There should be plenty of juice from the chicken, but you can add some of the broth if necessary.
    • Hit CANCEL to turn pot off, then pour rice over the chicken
    • Pour chicken broth over rice, and press down to make sure it's covered with broth. Do not stir together. If you want to add cream of chicken soup, add it now, but do NOT stir everything together
    • Place lid on pressure cooker, make sure vent is set to Sealing, and press PRESSURE COOK for 4 minutes
    • Allow a 10 minute release, then turn vent to quick release remaining pressure
    • When pin drops, remove lid, and stir in peas. Stir in cheese until well blended, and serve

    Notes

    Recipe has been made in 6 quart Instant Pot pressure cooker and the 8 quart but can be made in any brand. 
    Be sure to rinse the rice well before adding for best results.
    If using regular broth or cream of chicken, you may want to cut down some of the salt.
    For creamier chicken and rice, add 1 can cream of chicken soup.

    Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 247kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 23gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 62mgSodium: 716mgPotassium: 439mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 235IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 72mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe? Please comment and rate it! Show me your dish on Instagram!Mention @meatloafandmelodrama or tag #meatloafandmelodrama!

    This flavorful cheesy chicken dinner is the ultimate comfort food, and truly one of my favorite recipes! I hope you enjoy it as much as we do in my home!

    Be sure to comment and leave a star rating if you try this Instant Pot cheesy chicken and rice dinner!

    For more easy recipes, Instant Pot chicken recipes, and family favorite meals for busy nights, be sure to subscribe to the newsletter and follow me on social media!

    bowl of chicken and rice with peas made in the instant pot pressure cooker

    Post first published in 2019 and updated in 2023

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Bret says

      March 11, 2023 at 11:15 pm

      Made this for dinner tonight and everyone loved it!5 stars

      Reply
    2. Soni says

      October 13, 2022 at 12:48 pm

      Tastes good and easy. Family enjoyed it.5 stars

      Reply
    3. Keta says

      March 31, 2020 at 2:35 pm

      I have a couple of kids that are picky eaters. I was nervous about making this, but wanted to try something different. As soon as they tried it, they immediately asked if they could have more. Thank you, thank you, for such a great and simple recipe! My kids want to put it on the weekly menu!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        April 01, 2020 at 11:16 am

        That's wonderful, Keta! Thank you for letting me know!

    4. Sarafae says

      March 10, 2020 at 3:43 pm

      So delicious and definitely comfort food! I followed the directions and then added some cream as she suggested if wanting it a bit creamy. I would definitely make this again.

      Reply
      • Dee says

        March 10, 2020 at 3:54 pm

        That's awesome! Thanks for writing in!

    5. Wendy says

      March 09, 2020 at 5:32 pm

      Made this in the Insta-pot tonight. I made the mistake of using regular broth (not low-sodium) & added the salt. I will make it with low-sodium broth & no added salt. Super easy & it cooked fast.5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        March 10, 2020 at 3:54 pm

        Thank you so much, Wendy. I'm happy you liked the recipe!

    6. Brooke says

      February 18, 2020 at 5:05 pm

      Tasty and easy but half the salt. You can always add more if needed. I found this extremely salty. I like that this can be used as a base for other flavors.

      Reply
      • Dee says

        March 10, 2020 at 3:52 pm

        Did you use the low sodium broth? That may have had something to do with it as it should not have been that salty.

    7. Beth says

      January 08, 2020 at 6:00 pm

      This is excellent! I added chopped celery and carrots and 3/4 cup more broth. This is a great weekday meal that is healthy and quick!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        January 09, 2020 at 7:22 am

        Thanks, Beth! I'm so happy to hear this!

    8. AnnP says

      October 13, 2019 at 1:29 pm

      Very easy and tasty! I’ve been looking for a basic recipe without canned soup. This is it! My husband is on a sodium restricted diet and I need adaptable recipes. I can add different seasonings or vegetables and make it with very low sodium broth. Percect!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        October 15, 2019 at 6:31 pm

        I'm so happy you enjoyed the recipe, Ann. And yes, it's easy to change it up! Thanks so much!

    9. James says

      September 10, 2019 at 7:02 am

      Wow, Yummy and super easy. Kids loved it too!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        September 10, 2019 at 7:06 am

        I'm so happy you all liked it, James. Thanks!

    10. Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says

      September 08, 2019 at 5:57 am

      This looks incredibly delicious!5 stars

      Reply
    11. Beth Pierce says

      September 07, 2019 at 5:04 pm

      Another great recipe for my Instant Pot! Adding this to my dinner line up for the week!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        September 08, 2019 at 10:47 am

        Thanks so much! Hope you enjoy the chicken and rice!

    12. Lora says

      September 07, 2019 at 4:25 am

      SO comforting and so easy to make. Everyone always love chicken and rice!!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        September 08, 2019 at 10:47 am

        Thanks, Lora! Comfort food season is the best!

    13. Taylor says

      September 06, 2019 at 7:27 am

      The perfect weeknight meal! My family loves this!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        September 08, 2019 at 10:45 am

        Thanks, Taylor! It's definitely a family favorite.

    14. Katerina @ diethood .com says

      September 06, 2019 at 6:49 am

      I LOVE how easy and delicious this is!! Perfect for weeknights!5 stars

      Reply
    15. Demeter says

      September 05, 2019 at 3:16 pm

      I love how budget-friendly this dinner is! So full of flavor and easy to make.5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        September 10, 2019 at 7:11 am

        It's very budget friendly! Thanks, Demeter!

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