Cooking Frozen Chicken Breast and Rice in Instant Pot

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Craving a hearty meal with a ton of delicious flavor? It's time to make this Instant Pot Chicken Breast and Rice recipe. Tender chicken and just a few minutes of time make this one of the best Instant Pot recipes, ever.

When you're craving chicken and comfort food, add this one to your weekly meal planning menu. Each bite is crazy good and will have you coming back for more.

Don't just take my word for it. This chicken recipe is a hit with the kids, too. I'm never fearful of them not liking dinner when this is the option presented. In fact, most times they're coming back for seconds!

This simple Instant Pot chicken recipe is so easy to make, you're going to wonder what's taken you so long in the first place.

Instant Pot Chicken and Rice in white bowl

Instant Pot Chicken Breast and Rice
Tips for Cooking Instant Pot Chicken and Rice
What toppings go well with this easy chicken and rice in the Instant Pot recipe?
Instant Pot Supplies
SUPPLIES
What frozen veggies can you add to this Instant Pot Chicken and Rice recipe?
Can you freeze chicken and rice for later?
Can brown rice be used in this recipe instead of white rice?
Recipe
More Easy Instant Pot Recipes

Instant Pot Chicken Breast and Rice

You know that we're a big fan of chicken recipes around here. Here are some of our other favorite Instant Pot chicken dishes.

Instant Pot Chicken Breast Recipe
Instant Pot Chicken Wings with Sticky Sauce
Instant Pot Hawaiian Chicken Recipe
Instant Pot Butter Chicken
Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken Recipe
Instant Pot Chicken Enchilada Casserole with Rice
Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip
Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Leek Soup
more Chicken recipes

Tips for Cooking Instant Pot Chicken and Rice

You'll see that you can use frozen vegetables and even frozen chicken in this recipe as well. The Instant Pot does a great job of cooking food quickly, even when it's frozen.

If you're not wanting to add in the rice, you can omit that as well. It's a great texture addition to this recipe but you can easily add in more veggies instead.

Check out all our rice recipes.

What toppings go well with this easy chicken and rice in the Instant Pot recipe?

The flavor is already great with this recipe but there are a few items that you can easily add.

Topping this dish with fresh cilantro or chives is always a good addition. You can also add some salsa, too.

And if you're anything like me, shredded cheese can be a fun choice as well.

Instant Pot Supplies

Instant Pot Inner Pot - I like to have an extra inner pot available because of how much cooking I do in my Instant Pot. It comes in really handy when I want to put a lid on the inner pot and refrigerate the leftovers, or mix up ingredients the night before to save time at the end of the day.
Silicone Lid for Instant Pot- I'm not sure how I lived without this one. Having a silicone lid for my Instant Pot has made life so much easier. It is perfect for adding ingredients a day or two ahead of time.
101 Instant Pot Recipes for Beginners- If you are new to pressure cooking, this is a great ebook to get you started with basic recipes you will use over and over again.

SUPPLIES

Wooden spoons- A kitchen essential that you can use every day. Wooden spoons are also very durable and will last a long time.
Tongs- We use tongs for so many things: salads, meat, cooking out, and so much more.
Reusable chopsticks- We love using these chopsticks for all our rice and noodle recipes.

What frozen veggies can you add to this Instant Pot Chicken and Rice recipe?

Honestly, anything that you want. Broccoli, corn, and onions are always a big hit but you can add more!

Mushrooms, cauliflower, green beans, and even some frozen spinach can add a lot of great flavor and texture, too.

This chicken recipe gives you the option to get more veggies into your child's daily diet with ease.

Can you freeze chicken and rice for later?

This is a bit tricky. While you can easily freeze the chicken portion without worry, freezing rice isn't always the best plan. This is because there's a high probability that it's going to dry out and not taste the best once you try to reheat for later.

This doesn't mean that you can't do it but it does mean that you have to be aware that there's the possibility that when it's reheated, the rice is going to be a bit harder in texture.

Can brown rice be used in this recipe instead of white rice?

Yes, you can swap out for brown rice. Instant Pot Chicken with Brown Rice is a great recipe, too! And since you just have to swap out the types of rice and let the Instant Pot do the work, it's a simple way to create another tasty dish as well.

Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 16 minutes

Additional Time 10 minutes

Total Time 31 minutes

Instructions

Start by seasoning the chicken breasts on both sides using salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
Turn on the sauté mode and heat until "hot." Once that is done, it's time to add in the butter, chicken, and onion. You're going to want to cook until the onion until it is soft and the chicken is browned on both sides. This will take about 5-6 minutes.
Add in the chicken broth and scrape the bottom of the Instant Pot with a wooden spoon. This will remove any food that is stuck to the bottom. Cancel the sauté mode. Stir in the rest of the salt, mixed vegetables, and rice.
Put the lid back on the pressure cooker and set the valve to sealing. Put it on "manual" or "pressure cook" for a time of 10 minutes. Quick-release the pressure once the cycle is done cooking.
Take two forks and shred the chicken. Once done, add in the chicken with rice and fluff the rice with a fork.

Notes

Suggestions for making your Chicken Brest and Rice Casserole:

Take advantage of this recipe to use those vegetables and greens that are stored in the refrigerator, before they go bad.
You can even add a little soy sauce, which works very well, and if you're feeling more daring, a drizzle of honey.
Try different types of rice: brown, parboiled, or (why not?) wild rice.

FAQs:

Can my dog eat rice and vegetables? Chicken and rice are prime ingredients in many dog foods, and these mild foods sit well on upset canine stomachs. But oils, butter, and added seasonings can irritate your dog's stomach and make the problem worse, so stick with plain boiled chicken and rice and save the extra stuff for your own meal.
Can my cat eat rice and vegetables? While cats, unlike humans, don't require veggies in their diet, they can be a safe and healthy treat. Although not a necessary part of their diet, a little bit of white rice won't harm your cat. Just avoid giving onions or garlic, since these ingredients are toxic poisonous.