Instant Pot Mexican Rice
User Reviews
5
36 reviews
Excellent
-
Total Time
55 mins
-
Servings
4 - 6
-
Calories
539 kcal
-
Course
Side Dish, Main Course
Instant Pot Mexican Rice
Report
Instant Pot Mexican Rice is a one-pot dish combining chicken thighs, white rice, tomato paste, and spices like smoked paprika, cumin, oregano, and basil. The chicken is browned before mixing with sautéed onions, garlic, rice, and seasonings, then pressure cooked with chicken stock to infuse the rice with savory, smoky flavors. The result is a hearty, tender rice dish with integrated meat and an aromatic seasoning profile.
Description
This recipe begins by rinsing rice to reduce starch, preventing burning in the Instant Pot. Chicken thighs are patted dry, seasoned, and browned using the sauté function, adding depth and richness. Onions and spices including smoked paprika, cumin, oregano, and basil are sautéed to release their aromas. Tomato paste and garlic are added for sweetness and pungency.
Rice and chicken stock then go into the pot with the other ingredients, and the dish is pressure cooked until rice is tender and the chicken is cooked through. The combined cooking allows the rice to take on the savory, smoky flavor of the browned chicken and spices.
This method offers a convenient way to create a satisfying main or side rice dish with layered flavors. The chicken can be shredded or sliced, and the rice served alongside beans or vegetables to complete the meal.
The original notes mention experimenting with methods to avoid burn errors and the benefit of adding chicken for flavor. Users are encouraged to rinse rice well and rate the recipe after trying it.
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Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds (680g) chicken thighs
- 2 cups (400g) long grain white rice
- 2 cups (500ml) chicken stock unsalted
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) olive oil
- ½ (40g) onion diced (or ½ tablespoon (5g) onion powder, small
- 4 cloves (14g) garlic , crushed (or ½ teaspoon (2.4g) garlic powder)
- 1 teaspoon (3g) smoked paprika
- A pinch (0.1g) basil dried
- A pinch (0.1g) oregano dried
- ½ teaspoon (1.5g) cumin ground
- ½ teaspoon (3.8g) table salt
- 2 tablespoons (30g) tomato paste
- salt
- black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Mince half of a small onion & 4 cloves of garlic. Rinse rice 2 - 3 times under cold water to remove some extra starch. (Note: This helps prevent the "Burn Error"). Be sure to drain the rice well.
- Brown Chicken in Instant Pot: Press “Saute” button to “Sauté More” function to heat up Instant Pot. Wait until it says “HOT” on the screen. Add 2 tbsp (30ml) olive oil in Instant Pot. Pat dry chicken with a paper towel, then lightly season one side of the chicken with kosher salt and black pepper. Place 1½ lb (680g) chicken thighs in Instant Pot (seasoned side face down), then brown for 3.5 minutes. Lightly season the other side of chicken with salt and black pepper. Flip the chicken, and brown this side for another 3.5 minutes. Set aside the browned chicken thighs.
- Saute Onions & Spices: Add diced onions, then saute for 3 minutes. *Note: If you're using onion powder & garlic powder, saute them together with all the other spices for a minute instead. Add in minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp (3g) smoked paprika, a pinch of dried basil, a pinch of dried oregano, and ½ tsp (1.5g) ground cumin, then saute for another minute.
- Deglaze Instant Pot: Pour 1 cup (250ml) unsalted chicken stock in Instant Pot, then deglaze by scrubbing all the flavorful brown bits off the bottom of the pot. *Note: Make sure to deglaze really well for this Mexican Rice recipe! Add in another cup (250ml) of unsalted chicken stock.
- Pressure Cook Mexican Rice: If you used minced onion and garlic, blend the liquid mixture with an immersion blender. *Note: If you’re substituting them with ½ tbsp (5g) onion powder & ½ tsp (2.4g) garlic powder, skip this blending step. Add in ½ tsp (3.8g) table salt, then mix well. Add browned chicken thighs in Instant Pot. Add in 2 cups (400g) well-drained white rice. *Pro Tip: Make sure to add the chicken in Instant Pot first, and then the rice on top to avoid the "Burn" error. Ensure all the rice is fully submerged in the stock. Layer 2 tbsp (30g) tomato paste on the very top. Do not mix. With Venting Knob in Venting Position, close the lid, then turn Venting Knob to Sealing Position. Pressure Cook at High Pressure 8 minutes + Natural Release 10 minutes. Open the lid carefully.
- Mix & Season: It’ll look a bit too watery at first, that's normal! Once you start mixing all the ingredients, it'll all come together nicely. You can serve the chicken as is or shred them up. Make sure to taste the chicken and rice, then adjust the seasoning accordingly (for reference, we added roughly 2 - 3 pinches of salt to open up the flavors).
- Serve: Garnish the Mexican rice with freshly chopped parsley, then serve.
Equipments used:
Notes
- Rinse the rice 2-3 times under cold water to reduce excess starch and help prevent Instant Pot burn errors.
- Adding browned chicken thighs enhances flavor and helps avoid the "Burn" error common in pressure cooking rice alone.
- For seasoning, sautéing fresh onions and spices is preferred, but onion and garlic powders can be used with spices if needed.
- After cooking, allow the dish to rest covered to let flavors meld before serving.
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Calories
539kcal
(27%)
Carbohydrates
53g
(18%)
Protein
25g
(50%)
Fat
25g
(38%)
Saturated Fat
6g
(30%)
Cholesterol
111mg
(37%)
Sodium
351mg
(15%)
Potassium
452mg
(10%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
1g
(2%)
Vitamin A
334IU
(7%)
Vitamin C
2mg
(2%)
Calcium
36mg
(4%)
Iron
2mg
(11%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4- 6
Amount Per Serving
Calories 539 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 539kcal | 27% |
| Carbohydrates | 53g | 18% |
| Protein | 25g | 50% |
| Fat | 25g | 38% |
| Saturated Fat | 6g | 30% |
| Cholesterol | 111mg | 37% |
| Sodium | 351mg | 15% |
| Potassium | 452mg | 10% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 1g | 2% |
| Vitamin A | 334IU | 7% |
| Vitamin C | 2mg | 2% |
| Calcium | 36mg | 4% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
36 reviews
Excellent
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