This Instant Pot Cheesy Chicken & Rice uses ingredients like cream soup and cheese to make a simple, crowd-pleasing weeknight dinner that even kids love! This recipe can be prepped in an electric pressure cooker in just minutes.
Last week, I talked a little bit about one of my favorite money and resource-saving things to do in the kitchen: Chopped Challenge week.
One week a month (or whenever I finish up the last of my freezer meals), I plan 3-4 meals that are made with nothing but the things that we have in our kitchen. Sometimes it can be a little bit of a challenge, but it’s actually kind of fun! I’ve always secretly wanted to compete on Chopped, so this is kind of my way of living that dream out. 😉 Plus, this is a great way to save a little bit of money on a grocery bill and make sure you’re not wasting resources in your home.
Sometimes, I find a great recipe when doing our monthly Chopped Challenge – and this was one of them! One night a couple of weeks ago, I had about a pound of chicken and rice – and a whole bunch of randomness in my fridge and pantry. I whipped up this Easy Cheesy Chicken & Rice and everybody in our family (kids included) gobbled it up! It was really delicious, so I thought I’d share the recipe with you guys today.
- 1lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 2 cups white rice
- 2.5 cups chicken broth
- 1 can cream of chicken soup
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- Chop chicken into 1" pieces. Set your Instant Pot on the saute setting and add 2 tbsp butter; melt. Add chicken and brown for 5-8 minutes, seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Once chicken is browned, add onion and cook until soft and translucent. Add garlic and cook for about a minute.
- Add rice and stir until coated in butter. Cook rice for 2-3 minutes, until it starts to turn golden and smell fragrant. Add chicken broth.
- Lock lid on your Instant Pot and set for manual cooking, high pressure, for 8 minutes. Once cook cycle is over, quick release the pressure.
- Once cook cycle is over and lid is released, stir in soup and cheese until melted and creamy.
You could definitely sneak a few veggies into this one as well – carrots, peas, broccoli, or mushrooms would be wonderful, I just didn’t have anything like that on hand. This is a great recipe to make your own – add your favorite spices too!
Enjoy, friends! Check out the rest of my Instant Pot posts here or my other recipes here.
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Ashley says
October 17, 2018 at 9:30 amDo you think I could use chicken thighs instead of breasts? If so, and changes to cooking?
Leslie says
October 17, 2018 at 9:49 amSure…that would be delicious! It shouldn’t change the cooking time at all.
Janet says
October 17, 2018 at 2:13 pmThat sounds so good! Guess I need an Instant Pot!
Pam says
October 19, 2018 at 11:04 amJanet, EVERYONE needs an Instant Pot!
JANET says
October 19, 2018 at 2:28 pmGuess I need to put one on my Christmas list 🙂
Richelle says
December 6, 2018 at 4:11 pmMinute Rice or Long Grain please?
Leslie says
December 10, 2018 at 12:28 pmI typically use long grain.
Grace says
January 2, 2019 at 7:48 pmRice is uncooked when it goes in, right? New to the instant pot game!
Leslie says
January 2, 2019 at 8:25 pmYes!
Misty says
January 5, 2019 at 12:33 pmCan I use this recipe in my pressure cooker?
Leslie says
January 7, 2019 at 11:39 amAbsolutely – it works in any electric pressure cooker!
Tiffany says
January 12, 2019 at 7:42 amHi! My pressure cooker doesn’t have a manual setting. There is a rice setting. Could I use that setting instead? Thanks!
Leslie says
January 15, 2019 at 7:54 pmNever models have a “pressure cooker” setting – that’s the same as the manual setting on older models!
Pam Calhoun says
January 9, 2019 at 12:01 amWhat size pot are you using? I have a mini. Do I change the cook time with smaller amounts?
Leslie says
January 15, 2019 at 8:05 pmI have a 6 quart – no need to change cook time if you halve the recipe, but it will probably come to pressure a little quicker with less in the pot and with a smaller pot size.
Ashlee says
January 11, 2019 at 5:51 pmCan you use minute rice instead if that’s all you have or should you make before then add after everything is done cooking?
Leslie says
January 15, 2019 at 7:55 pmTotally up to you! I’d cook the minute rice a little bit less time though.
Cassie says
January 29, 2019 at 5:17 pmWhat size can of soup do you use?
Leslie says
January 31, 2019 at 10:45 amJust the standard 10.5oz can!
Shirley says
January 29, 2019 at 5:35 pmI tried this recipe in my 6 qt. Pot. It was delicious! My husband is not crazy about rice and he loves it! I will definitely make it again!
Leslie says
January 31, 2019 at 10:45 amI’m so glad you loved it, Shirley! 🙂
Tiffany says
February 1, 2019 at 1:28 pmWhat do you think about using cream of broccoli instead of cream of chicken?
Leslie says
February 1, 2019 at 9:42 pmYou could definitely do that! Maybe even throw in some frozen broccoli florets with it – that would be delicious (and a great way to sneak in some veggies).
Rylie says
February 11, 2019 at 4:13 pmI LOVE this recipe! Could I substitute brown rice? Would that effect the cooking time?
Leslie says
February 12, 2019 at 10:05 amYou absolutely can! Brown rice would need to cook longer – I’d go with 14-15 minutes.
JW says
February 24, 2019 at 2:18 pmDoes cooking time change if you double recipe? I have an 8qt Instapot and very hungry teenagers.
Leslie says
February 25, 2019 at 10:34 amNope! You should set the same time (even though you’ll probably notice it takes longer to come to pressure with more in the pot).
Carol Dziuba says
February 24, 2019 at 4:37 pmHi. Can I use a can of cheddar cheese soup in this recipe?
Leslie says
February 25, 2019 at 10:32 amAbsolutely! That would have great flavor.
Kelly says
May 7, 2019 at 6:54 pmWill this freeze well so I can make ahead for lunches?
Leslie says
May 14, 2019 at 8:57 amI wouldn’t freeze this one – rice and dairy usually doesn’t thaw well. It’s super quick to make though and could last in individual servings in the fridge for a few days.