Instant Pot Frozen Chicken and Rice is a perfect dinner when you are short on time. A meal made in less than 30 minutes and packed with flavor!

Instant Pot Frozen Chicken and Rice

I'm all about finding a recipe that is fast and simple. The easier the cooking is, the better. This doesn't make me lazy, this makes me efficient...right?

And knowing that I can cook frozen chicken in my Instant Pot when I "might" have forgotten to thaw it ahead of time makes me feel as though I'm still on top of the game. (Because let's be honest, we've all messed up on forgetting to thaw the meat, right?!)

I'm also pretty happy that this chicken recipe is hearty, delicious and full of flavor. I love that I can add as many vegetables as I like. This recipe makes it easy to fuel my body with healthy foods.

What Type of Chicken Cooks Best in the Instant Pot?

This really comes down to personal preference. However, I recommend that you choose the type of chicken that everyone in the family likes. Why cook something no one is going to eat? If you like dark meat, cook dark meat. If you like white meat, cook white meat. Both are going to end up delicious with tons of flavor.

Ingredients needed to make Instant Pot Chicken and Rice

As you can see, you only need a handful of ingredients to make this simple chicken recipe!

• frozen chicken thighs
• Jasmine rice
• chicken broth
• salt
• pepper
• garlic powder
• onion powder
• parsley flakes
• carrots

How To Make Frozen Chicken Thighs with Rice in the Instant Pot

The following steps are literally all you have to do to make this delicious chicken recipe. It couldn't be simpler!

In the bottom of the pressure pot, put rice, chicken broth, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp pepper.

Stir well.

Place chicken thighs on top of the rice.

Rub chicken thighs with 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and parsley flakes.

Place chopped carrots around the chicken thighs.

PRESSURE on HIGH for 10 minutes. Allow pressure to naturally release for 5 minutes and then quick release.

Can You Add Extra Veggies to this Recipe?

You can. Adding additional vegetables to this frozen chicken and rice recipe gives you a lot of flexibility in making this dish. I LOVE carrots so that is always a no-brainer for me, but feel free to add in celery, beans or even onions. This is especially a good idea if you have kids that you're trying to find creative ways to add more vegetables to their diets.

Tips for Storing Instant Pot Chicken and Rice

The great part about this simple recipe is it feeds a crowd. I love making a big pot of this chicken dinner because I know it means delicious leftovers for days.

The biggest thing to remember when storing this simple rice and chicken recipe is that you need to keep it in the fridge, in a container with a lid. Don't forget it HAS to cool down first before putting it in the fridge, or the rice is going to become a mushy mess.

I always make sure that I let this recipe cool down completely and then I add it to the container and put on the lid. If the steam gets trapped on the inside, it produces condensation and that creates a "soggy" texture that no one likes.

Can You Freeze Chicken and Rice?

You can. It can be hard to unthaw the rice and have it have that fluffy and moist texture that we love, so keep that in mind as you're freezing it. You can always add in a little bit of butter or water to help bring it back to that soft and fluffy texture.

Just like when you're storing it in the fridge, you want to be certain that you're keeping the air out of the container. This can become freezer-burnt really fast so it's important to use a container or a bag with a good seal.

What Side Dishes Go Well with Chicken and Rice?

This is actually a really hearty meal all on its own. The chicken provides the protein and the rice is the starchy substance. Your appetite is going to be satisfied. But if you want to add in something else, a nice side salad or a cup of soup are always a good choice. You can even toast a slice of bread.

Can You Cook this Recipe with Thawed Chicken Instead?

Absolutely! If you're on top of your dinner-prep game and you have the meat thawed and ready to go, you rock and someday I really hope to be like you! I find that it takes a lot of the pressure off knowing that if I forget to thaw the chicken, I can still make a healthy meal quickly.

I think that once you get into the swing of making this delicious recipe, it's going to become one of your favorite go-to chicken meals. It takes minimal time on your part and is really forgiving if you're forgetful like me!

Have fun creating this hearty chicken and rice meal. It's one that you need to add to your meal-planning rotation for sure!

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