Instant Pot Arroz Con Pollo

Arroz Con Pollo translates to rice and chicken. It’s a very traditional dish in Latin American countries and Spain, but each country has their own variation. This dish includes chicken breast, rice and veggies!
The flavor is also pretty awesome and it’s definitely different from your traditional chicken and rice dish.
In Puerto Rico, it’s very common to see this dish prepared with a sofrito base (an aromatic mixture of diced onions, peppers, and garlic) and tomato sauce or tomato paste. The traditional Puerto Rican Arroz Con Pollo also includes olives, capers, and cilantro.
Like most traditional dishes, each family has their own variation and secret ingredients that they add to make it their own.
This Instant Pot Arroz Con Pollo recipe is my version – but feel free to add whatever veggies or protein you want to make it your own!

This Instant Pot Arroz Con Pollo has chicken breast, veggies and rice. It’s a well-balanced meal that’s perfect for any night of the week. Chicken is a great source of lean protein and veggies add in a good amount of fiber.

Arroz Con Pollo is pronounced as ah-rohs con poh-yo

I love using my Instant Pot for this dish because it cooks the chicken breast and rice perfectly, without drying them out. Plus, it’s pretty hands-off cooking as well! The Instant Pot does all the work for you.

Yes, whilst this particular arroz con pollo recipe uses chicken tenders you can easily switch these out for skinless chicken thighs or even boneless skinless chicken breasts.
Chicken thighs or breasts would need to be cooked the same way the tenders are cooked in this recipe – sauteed at the start.
You could choose to use rotisserie chicken or seasoned chicken which has been cooked if you prefer – simply skip the saute step and transfer chicken once the veggies are cooked.

Whilst this Instant Pot Arroz Con Pollo recipe calls for boneless chicken, you can also use bone-in chicken thighs or breasts.
Just note that cooking time may vary slightly as the Instant Pot will take longer to come to pressure with the added weight of the bones.
You may also want to increase cook time by a couple of minutes to ensure the chicken is cooked through.

This Puerto Rican Arroz Con Pollo uses basmati rice , but feel free to use any type of rice that you have on hand. Just make sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly. Jasmine, brown rice or long-grain white rice will work well in this dish.
Long grain rice may require a couple extra minutes of cook time, whilst brown rice will need about 10 additional minutes of cook time.
You may also want to increase the amount of chicken broth used if using a different type of rice as they may have varying absorption rates.

You’ll find yellow rice in this dish because we are using saffron. Saffron adds a beautiful yellow color as well as depth of flavor.

If you don’t have chicken on hand, feel free to use any protein that you have on hand. Shrimp, pork, or beef would all work well in this Instant Pot Arroz Con Pollo dish.
Be sure to add bite-sized pieces of meat when adding extra protein to this satisfying meal in one pot.

To make Instant Pot Arroz Con Pollo vegetarian, simply omit the chicken and replace the chicken broth with vegetable broth.
You can also add extra vegetables, such as zucchini, mushrooms, or tofu for added protein.

Yes, Instant Pot Arroz Con Pollo can be frozen for up to 2 months in an airtight container. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Some rice dishes may have a slightly different texture after being frozen, but the flavors will still be just as delicious.

To make Instant Pot Arroz Con Pollo in the slow cooker, follow all of the same steps as the Instant Pot version.
Transfer to the slow cooker and cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours. Make sure that the chicken is cooked through before serving.
If using frozen chicken, you may need to cook for an additional hour.

Yes, this Instant Pot Arroz Con Pollo recipe can easily be doubled or even tripled. Just make sure to not exceed the maximum fill line on your Instant Pot and adjust cooking time accordingly when you pressure cook.
You may also need to add a few extra minutes of natural release time before quick releasing any remaining pressure.

To make Instant Pot Arroz Con Pollo gluten-free, use a gluten-free broth and check the labels on any other ingredients used to ensure they are also gluten-free.

There are lots of versions of Arroz con pollo depending on which country you are from. Some use beer or white wine, and others add olives or green peas.
Despite the small differences, all Arroz con pollo dishes have chicken and rice and you can find difference versions below:
Arroz Con Pollo Puerto Rico
Arroz Con Pollo Colombiano
Arroz Con Pollo Cubano
Arroz Con Polli Peruano
Mexican Arroz Con Pollo

Some countries, such as Mexico, may add diced tomatoes to their Instant Pot Arroz Con Pollo dish for a slight acidity and added flavor.
Feel free to add canned diced tomatoes or fresh diced tomatoes to your Instant Pot Arroz Con Pollo dish if desired.

Yes, feel free to add different colored bell peppers or other vegetables, such as diced zucchini or carrots, to this delicious recipe for added flavor and texture.

Yes, hot sauce or red pepper flakes can be added to Instant Pot Arroz Con Pollo for a spicy kick. You could also add white pepper, black pepper or cayenne pepper depending on your preference.