This Easy Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Casserole is a complete meal for the whole family in under 30 minutes. And the best part, no canned soup is needed to make this ultimate comfort food!
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, at no cost to you. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my full disclosure policy and privacy policy.
I don’t know about you, but pressure cooking has always been scary to me. However, I’ve found that the more I use it, the more comfortable I become using it. I’ve actually grown to get excited about using my Instant Pot now! Especially on busy weeknights where I haven’t done the best job of meal planning for the week. I’m sure you all have felt this way at one time.
Using these simple ingredients that are staples in my pantry and refrigerator, I was able to come up with this Instant Pot chicken broccoli dinner in minutes. Juicy chicken, fluffy rice, fresh broccoli, and grated cheese, gives you the best chicken casserole ever. I always keep Italian Dressing Seasoning Packets in my pantry so that I can make my Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken Dinner which has been one of my family’s favorite meals. You can buy a 4-pack at your local grocery store which will be great to always have on hand. But this cheesy Instant Pot chicken dinner will be a family favorite in no time!
The Players for this Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Casserole
- Olive Oil – I like to use Extra Virgin Olive Oil that I get from my Costco Hauls.
- Onion – Brown, yellow, or sweet onions will be great for this easy chicken dinner.
- Garlic – I like to use freshly minced garlic, but if you’re in a hurry, you can use garlic powder.
- Chicken Breasts – Boneless and skinless chicken breasts are what I use, but you can also use chicken thighs.
- Italian Dressing Packet – I use the entire packet for this Instant Pot chicken and rice casserole recipe.
- White Rice- Make sure when you use white rice, that you always give it a good rinse. You can also use jasmine rice as a substitute for white rice.
- Chicken Broth – Chicken Stock will also work great in this recipe if you have it. You can also substitute the broth for 2 cups of water if you prefer.
- Cheddar Cheese – I like to grate my own cheese since the pre-shredded cheese from the grocery store is hard to melt. You can use any cheese you have in your fridge including Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, or Parmesan Cheese.
- Broccoli – I like to use fresh broccoli florets for this Instant Pot cheesy chicken dish.
- Black Pepper – You really don’t need salt since the seasoning packet is plenty salty, but don’t skip the pepper.
How to make Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Casserole
Turn your Instant Pot onto the sauté setting and add the olive oil to the inner pot. Once the olive oil is warm, add in your diced onion and saute with a wooden spoon for a minute or two. Now’s the time to add in your garlic, but don’t saute for too long, You don’t want the garlic to burn, so saute for about 30 seconds.
With the saute function still on, add in your bite-sized pieces of chicken and saute for a few minutes to get the chicken pieces browned. Your chicken won’t be fully cooked at this time, so no worries if the chicken is still pink.
To the bottom of the pot, sprinkle in your Italian Seasoning Packet and stir well until the chicken pieces are well coated in the seasonings. Add in your white rice and your 2 cups of chicken broth and stir well. Ensure that all of the rice is submerged in the chicken broth or chicken stock so that the rice cooks properly.
Place your Instant Pot lid on top of your pressure cooker and make sure the steam valve is set on, “Sealing”. Having it on the “Sealing” setting is what brings the electric pressure cooker to the cooking process. Pressure cook your Instant Pot chicken and rice on high pressure for 9 minutes. I decided to time how long it took to pressurize, and it took my Instant Pot between 5-6 minutes.
Once your 9 minutes is up, allow the Instant Pot to naturally release for 5 minutes. Carefully, take a spatula or wooden spoon, and push open the steam valve to quick release the rest of the way. Once your pin drops, you can take the lid off your Instant Pot.
Add your shredded cheese to the Instant Pot along with your broccoli florets and stir well. Place the lid back on the Instant Pot and allow the residual heat to ‘steam’ your broccoli and melt your cheese for 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired, and serve immediately.
Watch my make this Instant Pot Chicken & Rice Casserole!
Instant Pot Tips
If you’re new to the Instant Pot world, I implore you to give that guide a quick read-through. I know, who reads those nowadays right? Just a 10-minute sit down is all you’ll need to have some knowledge about this very useful kitchen tool.
Did you know that pressure cookers can reduce cooking time by up to 70%? That’s major! But always remember, you have to count the time that it takes to pressurize. Just because you put the lid on, the cooking time doesn’t start counting down. In some cases, it can take upwards of 25 minutes for it to pressurize, then to start the cooking process.
To ensure that your Instant Pot pressurizes correctly, make sure the lid is properly sealed and the pressure release valve is set to the “sealing” position. Once the Instant Pot has reached full pressure, the cooking time will begin, and the display will show the countdown.
Can I use Brown Rice in this Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Casserole?
You can definitely use brown rice in this simple recipe, however, the cooking time would be about twice as long. For best results and to keep this recipe quick, I would stay with white, jasmine, or basmati rice.
Storage Instructions
This Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Casserole will keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Make sure to wrap any leftovers well with plastic wrap or in an airtight container.
What to Serve with this Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Casserole?
Because this is a one-pot meal, you really don’t need any other sides! Additionally, a simple green salad is the perfect side dish, especially for busy nights. If you’re wanting to add a more substantial side, you’ll love this 5-Ingredient Cheesy Garlic Bread! You can also add more vegetables as a side dish like roasted asparagus or Brussels sprouts.
Pin it for Later!
I really hope you try one of my favorite Instant Pot recipes! And if you do, leave me a comment down below, I’d love to chat with you!
Looking for other easy dinner ideas? Check these recipes out next!
- Easy Oven-Fried Italian Chicken Drumsticks
- The Best Baked Fish Tacos
- Classic Meatloaf with Ground Beef
- Easy Sticky Honey Chicken
- Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken
- Albondigas Mexican Meatball Soup
Easy Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 1/2 lbs chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 packet Italian Salad Dressing Mix (0.7 oz packet)
- 1 cup white rice, rinsed
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 cups broccoli florets
Instructions
- Turn Instant Pot on to the. "Saute" function and add in your olive oil. Once warm, add in your diced onion and saute for 1 minute. Add in your garlic and saute for 30 seconds.
- Add in your cubed chicken pieces to the Instant Pot and allow to brown for 5 minutes.
- Sprinkle over the entire Italian Dressing Seasoning Packet over the chicken and stir. Add in your rice and carefully pour in your chicken broth.
- Put your lid on the Instant Pot and Pressure Cook on High for 9 minutes. Make sure your steam valve is on, "Sealing". (My Instant Pot took about 5-6 minutes to pressurize before the cooking began).
- Allow to naturally release for 5 minutes once done cooking, then carefully, release the steam out from the steam valve, and lift the lid.
- Add in your cheese and broccoli florets and stir well. Place the lid back on the Instant Pot, and allow the cheese to melt and the broccoli to steam for 5 minutes. Serve and enjoy!
This looks so good! I love an instant pot recipe! I’ll definitely have to try this out
Thank you so much Anna! Let me know if you ever end up trying it! 🙂
Adding this to my rotation. It sounds so good!
Aw thanks so much Julia, I appreciate it! 🙂
Yum! This looks so delish. I am ashamed to say that we usually east mostly red meat and pork but this inspired me to make more chicken!
No shame in that game, Brittany! Thank you so much for your comment! 🙂
I really need to use my Instapot. I bought it for yogurt… this looks amazing!!
I’ve really been into using my Instant Pot more often, it used to scare me so much with all the stories haha! But now I’m finding it sooo helpful, especially on busy school/activities/church days! Thanks for being here Barbra-Sue!