Description
This Easy Instant Pot Chicken and Rice recipe combines tender chicken breasts with fragrant Basmati rice and a medley of vegetables, all cooked together with warm spices for a flavorful, comforting one-pot meal ready in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Spices
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp coriander
- 1/2 tsp allspice
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Main Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 cup white button mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
- 1 carrot, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 cup frozen peas
- 1 1/2 cup Basmati rice
- 2 cups water
Instructions
- Mix spices: In a small bowl, combine cumin, coriander, allspice, cinnamon, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Divide this mixture in half for use in seasoning and cooking.
- Season chicken: Rub the first half of the spice mix evenly on both sides of the chicken breasts. Let them sit while preparing the other ingredients to allow flavors to penetrate.
- Saute vegetables: Turn the Instant Pot onto the 'saute' mode and heat the olive oil. Add chopped onion and minced garlic and cook until golden and fragrant. Then add sliced mushrooms and saute for an additional minute. Next, stir in diced carrot and frozen peas, mixing them well with the sautéed vegetables.
- Add rice and spices: To the vegetables in the pot, add Basmati rice and the remaining half of the spice mix. Stir everything together thoroughly. Pour in the water and scrape the bottom of the pot to ensure nothing is sticking.
- Place chicken: Lay the seasoned chicken breasts on top of the rice and vegetable mixture without stirring. Securely close the Instant Pot lid and set the valve to the 'sealing' position.
- Pressure cook: Press the 'cancel' button to stop saute mode, then select 'pressure cook' and ensure the setting is on high pressure. Cook for 8 minutes.
- Release pressure: When the cooking cycle finishes, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes. Afterward, carefully perform a quick release to release any remaining pressure. Open the lid and serve the chicken and rice hot.
Notes
- For best results, use fresh spices to maximize flavor.
- Do not stir after placing the chicken on top to prevent rice from sticking or burning.
- If Basmati rice is unavailable, long-grain white rice can be a substitute but cooking times may vary slightly.
- Natural pressure release is important for tender chicken; avoid doing a full quick release immediately.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently in the microwave.
