Fast Creamy Chicken Rice: 30-Minute Comfort Recipe
This Fast Creamy Chicken Rice recipe is a comforting and hearty one-pot meal prepared in just 30 minutes using an Instant Pot. Tender chicken pieces are sautéed and then pressure-cooked with white rice, chicken broth, and milk to create a creamy, cheesy dish perfect for a quick weeknight dinner.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Instant Pot
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
Protein & Vegetables
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Liquids & Dairy
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Grains
- 1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice
Oils & Seasonings
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Sauté Chicken: Set the Instant Pot to ‘Sauté’ mode and heat olive oil. Add chicken pieces, salt, and pepper, cooking until browned on all sides. Remove the chicken and set aside.
- Sauté Aromatics: In the same pot, add chopped onion and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook another minute until fragrant.
- Add Rice and Liquids: Stir in the uncooked rice, chicken broth, and milk. Scrape the bottom of the pot to loosen any browned bits for extra flavor.
- Return Chicken: Place the browned chicken back into the pot with the rice mixture.
- Pressure Cook: Secure the lid, set the valve to ‘Sealing’, and select ‘Manual’ or ‘Pressure Cook’ mode on high pressure for 5 minutes.
- Pressure Release: When cooking is complete, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes. Then, perform a quick release for any remaining pressure.
- Add Cheese: Carefully open the lid and stir in shredded cheddar cheese until melted and creamy.
- Garnish and Serve: Stir in the fresh parsley for a burst of flavor and serve immediately.
Notes
- Use low-sodium chicken broth to better control the salt levels in the dish.
- Allowing the natural pressure release helps the rice finish cooking perfectly and keeps the chicken tender.
- For a creamier texture, you can add a splash more milk or a dollop of cream cheese at the end.
- Fresh parsley adds a nice fresh contrast but can be substituted with cilantro or basil if preferred.
- Make sure to scrape the bottom of the pot after adding the liquids to prevent the burn notice on the Instant Pot.
Keywords: Creamy chicken rice, Instant Pot chicken recipe, one pot chicken rice, quick chicken dinner, pressure cooker chicken
