Are you tired of bland, time-consuming dinner recipes that leave you exhausted and uninspired? Get ready to revolutionize your weeknight cooking with this incredibly delicious Instant Pot Garlic Parmesan Chicken and Rice! In just 35 minutes, you'll create a restaurant-quality meal that's bursting with flavor, perfectly tender chicken, and creamy, cheesy rice that will have your family begging for seconds. This one-pot wonder combines the rich, savory notes of garlic and parmesan with juicy chicken breasts, making it the ultimate comfort food that's both easy to prepare and impressive enough to serve to guests.
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 25 mins
Total Time: 35 mins
Cuisine: Italian
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breasts
- 1 cup rice
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare ingredients by cutting chicken breasts into even-sized pieces, approximately 1-inch thick to ensure uniform cooking.
- Season chicken breasts generously with salt and pepper on both sides, ensuring even coverage for maximum flavor.
- Set Instant Pot to "Sauté" mode and heat olive oil until shimmering, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add minced garlic to hot oil and sauté for 30-45 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn.
- Place seasoned chicken breasts into the Instant Pot and brown each side for 2-3 minutes to develop a golden crust.
- Remove browned chicken and set aside on a clean plate temporarily.
- Add uncooked rice to the Instant Pot and stir to coat with remaining oil and garlic.
- Pour chicken broth over rice, stirring gently to distribute liquid evenly.
- Return chicken breasts to the Instant Pot, placing them on top of the rice mixture.
- Close Instant Pot lid, set valve to sealing position, and cook on high pressure for 12 minutes.
- Allow natural pressure release for 5 minutes, then carefully do a quick release.
- Open lid and sprinkle freshly grated parmesan cheese over chicken and rice.
- Let dish rest for 3-5 minutes to allow cheese to melt and flavors to meld.
- Serve hot, optionally garnishing with fresh parsley or additional parmesan cheese.
Tips
- Cut chicken breasts uniformly to ensure even cooking and prevent dry or undercooked sections.
- Don't skip browning the chicken - this step builds deep, rich flavor that elevates the entire dish.
- Use freshly grated parmesan cheese for the best melting and most intense flavor.
- Be careful not to burn the garlic when sautéing - it can turn bitter quickly.
- Allow natural pressure release for 5 minutes to help the rice absorb liquid perfectly and prevent overcooking.
- For extra flavor, consider adding dried herbs like thyme or oregano when seasoning the chicken.
- If you prefer a creamier texture, stir in a splash of heavy cream after cooking.
- Let the dish rest for a few minutes after cooking to allow flavors to meld and sauce to thicken.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 454kcal
Carbohydrates: g
Protein: 44g
Fat: g
Saturated Fat: g
Cholesterol: 108mg
