Instant Pot Chicken Thighs and Rice
Instant pot chicken thighs and rice is such a simple, delicious dinner recipe that is perfect for weeknight meals with family!
This easy recipe is just 6 ingredients and it cooks in the pressure cooker in 30 minutes start to finish! You are going to love how hands off this recipe is!
Ingredients
- Chicken thighs – boneless, skinless chicken thighs are perfect for this instant pot recipe. They are packed with flavor and budget friendly. You can also use chicken breast but it can have a tendency to get dry, so chicken thighs are best.
- Brown jasmine or basmati rice – Jasmine rice or basmati rice are the best for recipes where you may have leftovers the next day. Unlike other types of rice, they typically do not get rock hard when refrigerated. You can also use white jasmine rice or white basmati rice, but you will need less water.
- Olive oil (optional) – olive oil helps keep the rice from sticking to itself but may not be needed if your chicken thighs have some fat on them.
- Coconut aminos – this is a soy free, gluten free alternative to soy sauce. It helps to add a depth of flavor to the dish. You can also use tamari (gluten free soy sauce) or soy sauce if you can tolerate it.
How to make instant pot chicken thighs and rice
Start by rinsing the rice under hot water in a mesh strainer. You do not need to soak the rice in water, just simply rinse off some of the excess starch. Rinsing the rice will help make sure you don’t get a burn error when cooking in your instant pot.
Add the rice to the pressure cooker.
Cut up the chicken thighs using sharp kitchen shears (or a sharp knife). You want to cut the chicken thighs into bite size pieces. I like to cut the chicken right over the instant pot and just add it in as I go.
Add the seasoning (coconut aminos, olive oil, garlic powder, salt, thyme) and the water to the rice and chicken in the pressure cooker insert and stir well.
Add the lid to the instant pot. Make sure the vent is moved to sealing and cook for 7 minutes at high pressure.
Manually release the pressure after the chicken and rice have cooked for the full 7 minutes. Fluff the rice and chicken and add veggies to steam (if you want to include them).
Top tips
- Always make sure the rubber seal is clean and there is nothing in the rim that could get in the way of the pressure cooker sealing all the way. If you notice steam coming from anything other than the release valve area, the pressure cooker is not fully sealed.
- Change up the flavors based on the spices you add. You can make this instant pot chicken thighs and rice have a Cajun, Mexican, Italian or Greek flavor by adding a few spices.
- If you are using an 8 quart Instant Pot you need to add at least 2 cups of water to ensure that it gets up to pressure correctly. You should not have any issues with this recipe since it uses 2 cups of water but may have trouble if you cut this recipe in half.
- For more flavor swap the water (some or all of it) for low sodium chicken broth or chicken stock.
Instant Pot Chicken Thighs and Rice
Guided Recipe Video
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups brown jasmine rice, dry
- 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 2 cups water
- 1.5 tbsp coconut aminos
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
Instructions
- Rinse the brown jasmine rice in a mesh strainer under hot water.1.5 cups brown jasmine rice, dry
- Add rinsed rice to the insert of the Instant Pot.
- Cut up the boneless, skinless chicken thighs into bite size pieces with scissors or a sharp knife. Add the chicken thighs directly to the rice. Do not stir.1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- Add water, coconut aminos, olive oil, garlic powder, dried thyme and salt to the rice and chicken thighs.2 cups water, 1.5 tbsp coconut aminos, 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp. garlic powder, 1 tsp dried thyme, 1/2 tsp sea salt
- Add the lid to the Instant Pot and move the valve to sealing.
- Turn the instant pot on, high pressure for 7 minutes.
- Once it's done, you can manually release the pressure. Stir well once the pressure cooker is open and add any veggies you might want to quickly steam.
Equipment
- Instant Pot
Recipe Notes
- Be sure to cut the chicken into bite size pieces. This allows the chicken to cook quickly, and also helps make this recipe super simple to serve (no shredding needed).
- Always add the rice first, then put the chicken on top. This ensures that the rice will be submerged in water as it cooks. This helps you get fluffy, perfectly cooked rice every time.
- To use white jasmine rice or white basmati rice, reduce the water from 2 cups to 1 3/4 cups + 2 tablespoons. Reduce the cooking time from 7 minutes, to 3 minutes.
- Frozen peas
- Frozen green beans
- Fresh shredded carrots
- Shredded kale or baby spinach
- Frozen cauliflower rice or frozen broccoli rice
Nutrition Information
What other spices can you use
This instant pot rice and chicken thighs recipe is the ultimate comfort food recipe. You can modify it based on whatever you are craving!
Some other great seasonings include:
- Rosemary and Sage (add ½ tsp. dried chopped rosemary and ¼ tsp sage)
- Rosemary and Lemon Juice (add ½ tsp dried chopped rosemary and the juice of 1 lemon)
- Cajun (omit the thyme and add about 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning)
- Italian (omit the thyme and about 1 tablespoon of italian seasoning)
- Greek (omit the thyme and add 2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning + ½ tsp of dried oregano)
- Mexican (omit the thyme and add 1 tablespoon taco seasoning + 1 tbsp. tomato paste)
What to serve on the side
- Lemon Tahini Broccoli
- Air Fryer Tomatoes
- Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts
- Shredded brussel sprouts salad
- Air Fryer Frozen Cauliflower
Hello, I love your recipes. Can you please let me know how to modify it without using instant pot.
Thank You
Hey Lena! I have yet to make this without the Instant Pot but I’m guessing you could follow the exact same instructions on the stove. Typically I allow the rice to come up to a boil then add a lid and turn the head down to a simmer for 15 minutes. However you will want to watch the pot because it can boil over quickly. Hope this helps!