Gluten free Cheesy Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Casserole with Broccoli is so easy! A nutritious weeknight dinner the whole family will love!
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This post comes with a little preface.
Just like the paleo carrot cake where I told you its an impromptu gluten free carrot cake month, it’s also an impromptu month of INSTANT POT RECIPES.
Liiiiike, I might have an instant pot breakfast casserole AND Instant Pot Pasta Primavera on top of this Instant Pot casserole. But, like, when the Instant Pot makes cooking all kinds of food so fast and easy? WHY NOT UTILIZE IT EVERY DAY ALL DAY.
I’ll stop yelling at you and calm down for a second.
I’m one of those people that can eat a casserole any time of the year. Regardless of if it’s negative eleventy billion degrees outside or if it’s 110 degrees, casseroles are in style for me. There’s something so comforting about a mish mash of yummy ingredients that just makes my heart burst and my tummy so satisfied.
Especially when that mish mash involves tender-crisp bursts of bright-green broccoli, a THICK swirl of ooey-gooey, melty cheese and wholesome, chewy rice with tender, juicy chicken AND the creamy, rich taste of BUTTER in every bite.
Why this Recipe is SO Good
On those busy weeknights, a one-and-done meal is what I’m talking about! You know, the kind that doesn’t need side dishes because everything you need is built right in?! Today’s recipe is right on par with recipes like chicken mexican rice casserole and healthy broccoli casserole– enter in chicken and cheesy rice instant pot! This recipe has it all- delicious, perfectly cooked broccoli, tender rice, protein packed chicken, and the perfect amount of melty cheese to bring everything together. It is a great weeknight meal that is simple to put together, and also makes for fantastic leftovers! You are going to LOVE!
Ingredients Needed
This tasty cheesy chicken and rice recipe instant pot calls for simple, whole, healthy ingredients that combine to make the ultimate comfort food meal. Here is the full rundown on everything you will need to make this casserole:
- Unsalted Butter
- Onion
- Garlic
- Long Grain White Rice
- Water
- Seasoning Salt
- Onion Powder
- Pepper
- Broccoli
- Cooked Chicken Breast
- Mild Cheddar Cheese
How to make Instant Pot Cheesy Chicken and Rice
Soften
Melt a bit of the butter in your instant pot on sautee mode. Add in the onions and cook until they start to soften, then toss in the garlic. Cook, stirring, until it begins to brown a little bit.
Stir
Rinse the rice in a fine sieve and add it to the instant pot along with the water and spices.
Cook
Cover the instant pot, set it to manual high pressure, and let it cook for a bit. Once it is finished, let the steam release naturally.
Steam
Open up the instant pot and add the remaining butter, stirring it into the rice. Now, add in the broccoli and cover the pot. Let it sit until the broccoli is bright green and fork tender.
Serve
Now it’s time to stir in the chicken and the cheese until the cheese is nice and melted into everything. Serve it up on plates and DEVOUR!
Recipe Variations
There is SO much you can do to make this cheesy chicken and rice instant pot your own! For a bit of a kick, consider adding a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce once you’re mixing in the chicken and cheese. To add some more spice, you could add a sprinkle of garlic powder, paprika or cayenne pepper. Try some sharp cheddar if you want to up that cheesy goodness, or try a different type of cheese altogether. You could also add a different veggie- cauliflower or peas would be very tasty mixed into this casserole.
Top Tips for making Instant Pot Cheesy Chicken and Rice
- Saute the Onions well: The more you cook the onions and let them brown up a bit, the better flavor your casserole will have!
- Make sure the broccoli is fork tender: Let the broccoli sit long enough for it to steam, so that it has the perfect soft texture when you bite into it!
How to store this Instant Pot Casserole
This casserole is easy to store and makes great leftovers! Simply scoop the leftovers into an airtight container and place it in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Whether it’s broccoli cheese soup, a cheesy zucchini casserole with broccoli or this Instant pot casserole recipe, the combination of broccoli and cheese is always going to be a solid dinner plan. Vegetables are tasty on their own, but when you cover them in cheese and mix them with carbs? THAT is a dinner that is e’rybodies jam.
Other Recipes You Might Like:
One Pot Rice Casserole with Pumpkin
Chicken Mexican Rice Casserole
Cilantro Lime Instant Pot Rice
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp Unsalted butter, divided
- 1/2 Cup Onion, diced
- 1 Tbsp Garlic, minced
- 1 Cup Long grain white rice
- 1 Cup Water
- 1 1/2 tsp Seasoning salt
- 1/4 tsp Onion powder
- Pinch of pepper
- 2 Cups Broccoli, cut into tiny pieces
- 2 Cups Cooked Chicken breast, shredded (about 1 large breast)
- 1 Cup Mild cheddar cheese, grated and tightly packed (3oz)
Instructions
- Melt 1 Tbsp of the butter in your Instant Pot on sautee mode. Once melted, add in the onion and cook until it just begins to soften, about 2-3 minutes. Then, add in the garlic and cook an additional minute or two until they begin to brown.
- Place the rice in a fine sieve and wash with water until the water runs clear. Add it into the Instant Pot along with the water, salt, onion powder and pepper, stirring to combine.
- Cover the Instant Pot (make sure it’s set to sealing) and cook on manual high pressure for 4 minutes. Once cooked, let steam release naturally (about 16 minutes)
- Once the steam has released naturally, open the Instant Pot and fluff the rice with a fork, stirring in the last Tbsp of butter. Stir in the broccoli, cover and let sit 15-20 minutes until the broccoli is tender.
- Stir in the chicken and cheese until melty and combined.
- DEVOUR!
Nutrition Info:
Recipes written and produced on Food Faith Fitness are for informational purposes only.
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