INSTANT POT CAJUN CHICKEN AND RICE

This One Pot Cajun Chicken and Rice is a super easy and quick way to prepare an Instant Pot chicken and rice recipe with veggies. Perfect for busy weeknights and leftovers make amazing lunches.

I already shared with you here that I didn’t know about anything Cajun and definitely not Cajun cuisine until I moved from Germany to Canada as a young adult.

Instant Pot Cajun Chicken and Rice
This One Pot Cajun Chicken and Rice is a super easy and quick way to prepare a full Instant Pot chicken recipe with rice and veggies. Perfect for weeknights and leftovers make amazing lunches.
 Course Main Course
 Cuisine Cajun
 Prep Time 10 minutes
 Cook Time 20 minutes
 Total Time 30 minutes
 Servings 4 -5 servings
 Calories 473 kcal

Ingredients

1 lb. chicken breast
1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning divided
1 tablespoon oil olive or avocado
1 small onion diced
3 garlic cloves minced
1.5 cups white rice (I have used regular white, Jasmine and parboiled rice with success) well rinsed
1 bell pepper, diced (I've also used 1-2 cups of frozen peas, carrots and corn instead)
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1.75 cups chicken or vegetable broth

Instructions

Rinse the rice until the water runs clear. This helps remove starches that may otherwise scorch at the bottom of your Instant Pot.
Cut the chicken breasts in half lengthwise to make then thinner. Season well from both sides with Cajun seasoning (about 2 teaspoons).
Optional step: Soften first the onion and then garlic with the oil using the sauté function. Deglaze with a couple tablespoons of water and scrape up any brown bits. There should be NOTHING left stuck to the bottom, otherwise the Instant Pot will not be able to pressurize properly.
Then add rice, bell peppers, tomato paste and 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning (or more to taste and more heat). Stir until well combined.
Pour the broth over the rice mixture and carefully arrange the chicken breast halves over top.
Close the lid and turn the valve to ‘Sealing’. Cook on ‘Manual’ high pressure for 7-8 minutes (the latter at high altitude).
Letthe pressure release naturally (NPR) for 5 minutes, then release remaining pressure by turning the valve to ‘Venting’.
Once the pin drops, carefully open the lid. Shred the chicken with two forks, then stir to combine the Cajun chicken with the rice. You can adjust the seasoning to taste at this point.
Serve with chopped cilantro and a squeeze of lime juice.

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