Instant Pot Chicken Yellow Rice

Name: Instant Pot Chicken Yellow Rice
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoon olive oil; 1/2 cup diced onion; 1 tablespoon minced garlic; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon pepper; 3 large bay leaves; 10 oz. Vigo Saffron yellow rice; 2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken (cut into thin strips); 2 1/2 cups chicken broth

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Are you in search of a tasty, easy-to-make meal that can be assembled in an instant? Look no further because this Instant Pot Chicken and Yellow Rice recipe is here to save the day.

Tender chicken cooked with saffron Spanish rice makes this Instant Pot recipe a nutritious option for busy families or home cooks alike!

We’re confident that by utilizing your Instant Pot you will not only serve up delicious meals quickly but also free up time in the kitchen; leaving more time for family fun. So let's turn those boring midweek meals into something special - bon appétit everyone!

Long vertical image of Instant Pot Chicken and yellow rice in a brown stoneware serving bowl.

Making Instant Pot Chicken and Yellow Rice for dinner this week is a great idea because this one-pot meal requires minimal prep time and clean-up.

The chicken becomes perfectly cooked and infused with the flavors of the saffron rice seasonings, resulting in a deliciously hearty and satisfying dinner that is sure to please everyone at the table.

Recipe Prep

dice the onion
mince the garlic
slice the boneless skinless chicken into thin bite size strips

Chicken & Vigo Yellow Rice Ingredients

Below is a quick look at the ingredients and directions. You can find the entire ingredient amounts and step by step directions in the recipe card below. P. S. You can also save your favorite recipes to your personal recipe box! ⬇️

Instant Pot Chicken and Yellow Rice premeasured ingredients.

👇See the step by step directions below!

aromatics: olive oil, diced onion and minced garlic
seasonings: salt, ground black pepper, bay leaves
seasoned yellow rice: Vigo Saffron yellow rice is the brand I love.
chicken: dark or white boneless skinless chicken
cooking liquid: chicken broth

Step by Step Directions

Step 1: Plug the Instant Pot in and turn the sauté setting on to heat the inner pot. Add the olive oil and the diced onion.

Step 2: Sauté the diced onion until the onion is translucent.

Step 3: Add the minced garlic to the pot and sauté 2 minutes. Hit the cancel button to turn the sauté setting off.

Sauteed onion and garlic in the Instant Pot.

Step 4: Open the package of Vigo yellow rice and dump it into the inner pot. Use a large wooden spoon to break up any clumps from the saffron rice seasoning.

📌Pro Instant Pot Tip

📌 Avoid the dreaded Instant Pot Burn warning by making sure nothing is sticking to the bottom of the inner pot.

Step 5: Add the bay leaves, and ground black pepper. Stir to combine.

Adding the package of Vigo yellow rice to the inner pot with the sautéed onion and garlic.

Step 6: Pour the chicken broth in over the rice.

Adding chicken broth to the inner pot and stirring with a wooden spoon.

Step 7: Add the sliced chicken pieces and stir to combine and mix the seasonings into the broth. Stirring will also help dissolve any clumps of rice seasoning.

Adding sliced chicken pieces to the ingredients in the pot.

Step 8: Twist the lid on. Turn the pressure valve to the sealing postilion.

Step 9: Press the manual button and set the timer to 5 minutes. It will take about 15 minutes for the pressure cooker to reach full pressure before it starts to cook.

Step 10: Once the cooking time has ended press the cancel button and push the pressure valve to the open position to do a quick pressure release. Do not open the lid after the steam has released.

Step 11: Set an alarm for 15 minutes. During this time the yellow rice will continue to cook slowly and absorb any remaining chicken broth.

Step 12: Open the lid when the 15 minutes are up and check on the rice. If you followed the recipe the rice should be perfectly cooked. It will be tender and cooked all the way through the center.

Cooked yellow rice and chicken in the inner pot of the Instant Pot.

Step 13: Immediately transfer the chicken and yellow rice to a serving bowl. Removing it from the hot Instant Pot base and inner pot will prevent the rice from continuing to cook and keep it from getting mushy.

Instant Pot Chicken and yellow rice in a stoneware serving bowl.

If for some reason the rice is not done place the lid back on but do not recook. The heat from the pot will continue to cook the rice. Check after five minutes and serve.

My favorite recipes

➡️Instant Pot Great Northern Beans
➡️Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Soup
➡️Instant Pot Creamy Chicken & Vegetable Soup

Recipe FAQS

What size Instant Pot do I need to make the chicken and yellow rice recipe?

This chicken and yellow rice recipe works in a 6 quart or larger Instant Pot.

Can I use any kind of chicken for this recipe?

Skinless boneless dark or white chicken can be used for this recipe.

How long does it take to cook the chicken and yellow rice in the Instant Pot?

Chicken and yellow rice only takes 5 minutes of pressure cooking time but it takes 15 minutes for it to come to full pressure and another 15 minutes for the rice to complexly soften up. From start to finish it will take about 35 minutes to make.

📌Pro Instant Pot Cooking Tips

slicing or cutting the chicken into bite size pieces allows the chicken to cook in the same amount of time as the rice.
stirring the rice breaks clumps up which helps keep the rice from sticking to the bottom of the pot which might cause the burn setting to go off.
break up and dissolve any lumps from the yellow rice seasoning or it may stick to the bottom of the inner pot and trigger the burn warning.
do not overcook or the rice will be mushy.
Transfer the rice to a serving bowl immediately or the heat from the aluminum pot will continue to cook the rice.

Make It!

Summing up, the Instant Pot Chicken and Yellow Rice recipe is easy to make and absolutely delicious.

The chicken is tender, juicy, full of flavor and compliments the yellow rice perfectly.

Not only that but it is also a great healthy meal for busy families because it requires little work and minimal clean up. This is why this recipe has earned 5 stars from all who have tried it.

So if you’re looking for a perfect weeknight meal, then try this Instant Pot Chicken and Yellow Rice recipe and you won’t be disappointed!

Don't just take my word for it - get out there and try the recipe yourself!

More Instant Pot Chicken Recipes

Making chicken Instant Pot recipes for dinner is an excellent idea as it not only saves time and effort but also ensures that the chicken is perfectly tender and moist.

As the chicken pressure cooks it will absorb the flavors and spices of the recipe due to the pressure cooking method.