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Spicy Cajun Instant Pot Chicken and Rice

Spicy Cajun instant pot chicken and rice is PACKED with flavors and cooked in one-pot (instant pot). This chicken and rice instant pot recipe is one of the simplest weeknight dinner recipe you can think of. Made using homemade Cajun seasoning, this chicken and rice dinner fits well under your budget.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
14 mins
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 601 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 4 chicken thighs boneless
  • 3 tablespoons Cajun Seasoning
  • 1 ¼ cup white Basmati rice long grain rice
  • 1 ½ cups water or chicken stock
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 onion finely chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • ½ red bell peppers chopped
  • ½ yellow bell peppers chopped
  • ¼ cup frozen sweet corn
For garnish
  • fresh parsley chopped

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Season chicken thighs with Cajun seasoning. Cajun spice mix had salt in it, so I did not add extra salt. If you’re using store bought Cajun seasoning, make sure to taste spice mix to check for salt.
  2. Select SAUTE option on instant pot. Allow the pot to turn hot. Sear or brown chicken thighs in hot olive oil. Add chicken in one layer and brown on each side for not more than 2-3 minutes. Flip and brown on other side. Remove browned chicken onto a plate.
  3. Add more oil into pot. Cook garlic and onions.
  4. Note: Chicken bits and pieces were stuck to the instant pot. To avoid anything burning or BURN warning I removed the pot, clean and used to saute vegetables and rice.
  5. Pro-Tip – If using the pot as it is, with bits and brown pieces stuck to pot, be absolutely sure to deglaze the bottom of the inner liner of your instant pot. BURN error is dreadfully scary :D
  6. Saute garlic, onions in olive oil. Add chopped bell peppers.
  7. Stir in rinsed and soaked basmati (long grain) rice. Add salt to taste.
  8. Be sure to use correct amount of liquids.
  9. Place back browned chicken pieces.
  10. Close lid and cook for 8 minutes using PRESSURE COOK option.
  11. Once cooking time is done, allow natural pressure release for 5 minutes and then manual release pressure by turning pressure knob to RELEASE position.
  12. Open lid, stir gently
  13. Serve rice and chicken on top.
  14. Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley for garnish.

Notes

  •  
  • Nutritional Info – Please keep in mind that nutritional information provided is only a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used.
  • While browning chicken, if chicken bits are stuck to the pot, you can remove it completely before continuing with cooking rice to avoid BURN warnings.  I removed the pot, cleaned and used to saute vegetables and rice. Or simply deglaze the pan well with few tablespoon of liquid.
  • Want to flavor the rice? Add cajun seasoning to rice as well. This might make the dish as a whole a bit spicy. 
  • Make sure water to rice ratio is correct to get perfectly cooked rice. 

Nutrition Information

Serving 0g Calories 601kcal (30%) Carbohydrates 60g (20%) Protein 27g (54%) Fat 28g (43%) Saturated Fat 7g (35%) Cholesterol 113mg (38%) Sodium 225mg (9%) Potassium 648mg (19%) Fiber 4g (16%) Sugar 4g (8%) Vitamin A 3195IU (64%) Vitamin C 50mg (56%) Calcium 52mg (5%) Iron 3mg (17%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4people

Amount Per Serving

Calories 601

% Daily Value*

Serving 0g
Calories 601kcal 30%
Carbohydrates 60g 20%
Protein 27g 54%
Fat 28g 43%
Saturated Fat 7g 35%
Cholesterol 113mg 38%
Sodium 225mg 9%
Potassium 648mg 14%
Fiber 4g 16%
Sugar 4g 8%
Vitamin A 3195IU 64%
Vitamin C 50mg 56%
Calcium 52mg 5%
Iron 3mg 17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.