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Easy Creamy Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Recipe for Perfect Weeknight Dinners

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A quick and comforting Instant Pot recipe combining tender chicken breasts and fluffy rice in a creamy sauce, perfect for busy weeknights.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 pound / 450 g)
  • 1 cup long-grain white rice (190 g), rinsed
  • 2 cups chicken broth (480 ml)
  • 4 oz cream cheese (115 g), softened
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • Salt to taste (start with 1/2 teaspoon)
  • Black pepper to taste (start with 1/4 teaspoon)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter
  • A handful fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

Instructions

  1. Pat the chicken breasts dry and season both sides with salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika (approx. 5 minutes).
  2. Press the ‘Sauté’ button on the Instant Pot, add olive oil or butter, and heat until shimmering. Brown chicken breasts on each side for about 2 minutes. Remove and set aside (approx. 5 minutes).
  3. Add rinsed rice to the pot and stir to coat with oil and browned bits. Pour in chicken broth and deglaze by scraping the bottom with a wooden spoon (approx. 2 minutes).
  4. Nestle the browned chicken breasts on top of the rice and broth (approx. 1 minute).
  5. Close the lid, set the valve to sealing, and cook on high pressure for 10 minutes (cooking time: 10 minutes).
  6. Allow natural pressure release for 10 minutes, then carefully switch the valve to venting to release remaining pressure (approx. 10-12 minutes).
  7. Open the lid and stir in softened cream cheese until fully melted and creamy. Optionally add a splash of milk or broth for extra richness (approx. 3 minutes).
  8. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley (approx. 1 minute).
  9. Serve warm immediately, optionally paired with a crisp green salad or steamed vegetables.

Notes

Rinse rice well to prevent stickiness and avoid burn warnings. Use natural pressure release to ensure rice cooks gently. Let cream cheese soften before adding for smooth texture. Adjust seasoning after cooking as pressure cooking can mute flavors. If rice is too wet, leave lid off for a few minutes to evaporate excess moisture; if too dry, add a splash of broth.

Nutrition

Keywords: Instant Pot, chicken and rice, creamy chicken recipe, quick dinner, weeknight meal, comfort food, easy recipe

Find it online: https://lyrafeast.com/easy-creamy-instant-pot-chicken-and-rice-recipe-for-perfect-weeknight-dinners/