Instant Pot Salsa Brown Rice and Chicken
I am always on the lookout for great Instant Pot recipes. As a busy mom, I need recipes I can throw together in the Instant Pot and walk away. That’s how I came up with this Instant Pot recipe! It’s the simplest of ingredients, and one of the quickest, easiest ways to cook nowadays. Here, you can put frozen chicken in the Instant Pot with brown rice and salsa to create the most delicious concoction. My pickiest eaters love it, and that’s why I like it! I hope your family will enjoy this recipe as much as my family has.
Be Sure To Try My Instant Pot Whole Chicken & Gravy Next!
Why The Instant Pot Is Better
I’ve said before, my Instant Pot is my secret weapon in the kitchen. Cooking meals from scratch is important to me, and the Instant Pot makes it possible! For my big family, I use an 8-quart Instant Pot. It’s the best size for all the meals I make throughout the week. The best thing about this recipe is that you literally throw in all the main ingredients, including frozen chicken, and let the machine do the hard work for you. The chicken will be removed once cooked and shredded, and then added back into the rice mixture. It’s minimal mess, for a maximum meal!
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Vegan Version & Swaps
For a vegan version, follow the recipe below, just omit the chicken and add 2 more cans of beans instead. Salsa can be homemade or from a jar. You can choose your bean variety; I recommend pinto, black, or kidney beans. Shredded cheese is optional anyway, but if vegan, opt for a dairy-free cheese and sour cream.
How To Serve
This recipe is very filling and versatile! You can eat it as is, as a sort of hearty chicken and rice dish. You can make it into a “bowl meal” and add any number of desired toppings like avocados, tomatoes, or olives. And my personal favorite, wrap it up in a tortilla and eat like a burrito. Your kids will love it that way, and they can even pack it in their lunchbox. Any way you serve it up, it will be delicious. Enjoy!
other recipes you might enjoy:
Instant Pot Salsa Brown Rice Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 frozen chicken breasts
- 2 cups brown rice
- 24 ounces jar salsa or homemade works well too
- 4 cups water
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 1 can beans, drained and rinsed pinto, black, or kidney
- 1/2 Tbsp cumin
- 1/2 Tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- shredded cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together in the instant pot, cook on Manual for 25 minutes.
- Allow to sit for 10 minutes after it’s done, then quick release.
- Shred the chicken, add back to the rice mixture, and enjoy! We like to top ours with shredded cheese and sour cream.
Notes
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Hello! What modifications would you suggest if using white rice instead of brown? Less water? Reduced cooking time?
I have never made this recipe with white rice, but if I did, this is what I would do. I would cut the water down by 1 cup, then I would adjust the cooking time to 18 minutes. Hope that works!
This was a huge hit!
I would like to make this without the chicken, just as a side dish. I currently have a recipe for salsa brown rice where I cook at high pressure for 22 minutes and then let sit for 10 minutes but the rice is never cooked enough. I put in 1 cup brown rice, 1-1/2 cups water, and 1/2 cup salsa. I’ve tried this twice now but the rice is never cooked enough. What am I doing wrong? I do not rinse the brown rice first either. I also put in some chicken boullion. Could the salt in this cause it to not cook enough?
Hi! I would say the brown rice needs to cook longer. Try 18 minutes. I’m sure it’ll work great 🙂
Made this tonight and it was so easy and good! Thanks! We have quite a bit of leftovers- have you frozen this successfully? Or made into burritos?
It makes amazing freezer burritos!
This was really good and so simple!
I made this and portioned it out for lunches. It was delicious! My son asked me to make it again.