One Pot Chicken and Rice

You catch the smell through the steam vent and suddenly you are starving. It kinda sneaks up on ya, that warm blend of chicken and herbs whirling in the air like a cozy promise. You spot the timer on your pressure cooker ticking down, and your mouth starts watering real fast.

Inside, there’s this rich broth depth that smells like comfort itself. You remember how last night you didn’t have to worry about a big mess or dishes piling up. This recipe? It’s that easy, the way it cooks all in one pot, no fuss, no extra pans.

Then you think about that tender pull of chicken, how it’s just right after the natural release doing its thing outside the sealing ring. This dinner’s got layers, from the scent to the texture, and you can’t wait to dig in. It’s gonna be a hit, a comfy food hug on a plate.

The Real Reasons You Will Love This Method

• You only need one pot so cleanup gets done fast, no running back and forth.
• The broth depth makes every bite super flavorful without extra work.
• Using a pressure cooker speeds up the pressure build and cooks rice perfectly. Also check pressure cooker rice techniques for tips.
• The sealing ring helps lock in moisture for juicy chicken every time.
• After a natural release, the chicken stays tender and soft to pull apart easily.

Your Simple Ingredient Checklist

Grab 4 to 6 tablespoons butter or vegan butter, split up for cooking different layers. Then take about a heaping cup of shredded or chopped carrots to add that sweet crunch. You gotta season with homemade seasoned salt and pepper, so it’s just how you like it.

For the rice, use 2 scant cups long grain white rice, Lundberg White Jasmine Rice works great here.

Add in 1 tablespoon dried minced onion and 1 teaspoon dried minced garlic for that nice boost of flavor. Don’t forget 2 tablespoons dried parsley flakes to sprinkle freshness all over.

Last but not least, 8 cups chicken stock brings it all together. Then you need about 1 pound of chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces, not big hunks, so they cook evenly and feel tender to the pull.

Your Complete Cooking Timeline

Step 1. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in your big pot on medium heat. When it’s melted and bubbly, toss in your chicken chunks and sprinkle with seasoned salt and pepper. Cook until no more pink, then scoop the chicken out and set it aside.

Step 2. In the same pot, melt the rest of your butter. Then add the shredded carrots, dried minced onion, and garlic. Stir and sauté for about 3 to 4 minutes till it smells fragrant and the carrots soften up a bit.

Step 3. Pour in the rice, stirring it around for 1 to 2 minutes to lightly toast those grains. It really helps with texture and flavor.

Step 4. Pour in your chicken stock, and throw in the parsley flakes. Crank the heat till it boils, then drop it down low and cover the pot.

Step 5. Let it simmer together for about 15 to 20 minutes or until rice is tender and most liquid is soaked up. That pressure build inside is working hard to get all flavors locked in tight.

Step 6. Put the chicken back in the pot, stir to mix everything. Keep it covered and let it sit for 5 minutes so flavors settle in nice before serving. Time to enjoy that tender pull.

Time Savers That Actually Work

Shortcut one: Use pre-chopped carrots if you don’t wanna mess with peeling and shredding. It works real good and saves you like 5 minutes.

Shortcut two: Have your chicken breasts cut ahead of time and maybe stored in the fridge ready to go. Makes the whole start-up way quicker.

Shortcut three: Use store-bought chicken stock instead of homemade. It’s okay to take this little shortcut when you’re pressed for time and still wanna tasty results.

Your First Taste After the Wait

You recall that first spoonful hitting your tongue, warm and comforting with the soft rice that’s soaked up all that broth depth. There’s this tender pull from chicken chunks that literally melt in your mouth.

The carrots add a nice subtle sweetness underneath those herbs and garlic, making every bite kinda sing. The whole dish feels like a cozy hug on a cold evening.

After all the pressure build and natural release, the texture’s spot on. The flavors have blended so well, it’s like each ingredient’s had its moment to shine but also meld together beautiful.

Smart Storage That Actually Works

Store leftovers in airtight containers right away to keep everything fresh and avoid any weird fridge smells. You can separate the chicken from rice if you want to reheat stuff easier later.

Freeze portions in freezer-friendly bags if you wanna keep meals ready for days when you’re super busy. Just thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

If you got a vacuum sealer, that works wonders for preserving the tender pull and broth taste longer. It keeps moisture locked under the sealing ring better than regular storage.

When reheating, add a splash of water or broth and cover to keep rice from drying out. Warm gently to get back that comforting texture and flavor.

What People Always Ask Me

• Q Does the chicken get tough in the pressure cooker?
  A Nope, the sealing ring holds moisture and the natural release lets it relax. You get tender pull chicken every time.
• Q Can I use brown rice instead of white?
  A Brown rice needs longer cook times so you gotta adjust the pressure cooker time or cook brown rice separately.
• Q Can I swap chicken stock for veggie broth?
  A You sure can, just know the flavor changes slightly but still tasty and works great for vegan versions.
• Q What if I don’t have dried minced garlic?
  A Fresh garlic works fine but add it after sauteing carrots so it doesn’t burn.
• Q Can I double this recipe?
  A You can but watch the pressure cooker max fill line and cooking times might change a bit due to broth depth.
• Q Why do you lightly toast the rice?
  A Toasting rice helps improve texture and gives a bit of nuttiness to the flavor profile.

For more cozy dinner inspiration, check out our Just a Great Chicken MarinadeNagi and Oven Baked Chicken BreastNagi recipes that also feature juicy chicken perfect for family meals.

Learn how to keep chicken juicy with pressure cooker chicken tips and explore more comforting one-pot meals in our collection.