Dive into the rich tapestry of Latin flavors with our Instant Pot Arroz con Pollo – where tradition meets modern convenience! Imagine tender chicken, aromatic spices, and perfectly seasoned rice, all coming together in a symphony of taste and texture. In the blink of an eye, your Instant Pot will transport you to the heart of a cozy Latin kitchen.
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The next time you don’t want to spend too much time cooking, but want a delicious meal, make this easy Arroz Con Pollo Instant Pot dish. This is one Instant pot meal you don’t want to miss out on.
Why This Recipe Works
- One-Pot Wonder: Arroz con pollo combines chicken and rice in one pot for easy cleanup.
- Flavorful and Hearty: The blend of spices creates a satisfying, comforting meal.
- Time-Saving: The Instant Pot significantly reduces the cooking time for this classic dish.
📋 Ingredients
Here are the ingredients for this Puerto Rican easy one pot meal.
- Boneless Chicken Tenders: Provide the protein base for the dish, adding a savory flavor.
- Paprika: Adds a warm, smoky note and a vibrant reddish color to the chicken.
- Salt and Pepper: Enhance the flavors of the dish and bring out the natural taste of the ingredients.
- Olive Oil: Adds a rich, fruity flavor to the dish.
- Onion, Green Pepper, and Red Bell Pepper: Add depth and sweetness to the dish, balancing the flavors.
- Minced Garlic: Provides a pungent, savory flavor that enhances the overall taste of the dish.
- Basmati Rice: Cooks up fluffy and absorbs all the flavorful juices.
- Chicken Broth or Chicken Stock: Provides a savory base for cooking the rice and infuses it with rich flavor.
- Saffron: Adds a distinct, aromatic flavor and a beautiful golden hue to the dish.
- Curry: Adds a complex blend of spices, bringing warmth and depth of flavor to the dish.
- Frozen Mixed Vegetables: Add color, texture, and a variety of nutrients to the dish.
- Green Onions: Used as a garnish, add a fresh, mild onion flavor and a pop of green color to the finished dish.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
- Protein: If you don’t have chicken on hand, feel free to use any protein that you have on hand. Shrimp, pork, or beef 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 dish.
- Vegetables: You can also add extra vegetables, such as zucchini, mushrooms, or tofu for added protein.
🔪How To Make Instant Pot Arroz Con Polo?
Step One: Turn on the Instant Pot on and select “sauté”. Add half the olive oil. Add the diced chicken and paprika to inner pot and cook for 5 – 8 minutes until lightly browned.
Step Two: Remove the chicken from the Instant Pot and set to the side. Add half of the olive oil, onions, peppers and garlic to the inner pot. Saute for 3-5 minutes, stirring often. Deglaze the pot.
Step Three: Next add the chicken broth, rice, saffron, frozen vegetables to the pot. Saute for 5 minutes. Secure the Instant Pot lid and cook for 10 minutes at high pressure. Naturally release pressure for 10 minutes.
Step Four: Release any remaining pressure. Remove the dish and serve. Garnish with diced onions and fresh cilantro. Chopped cilantro adds a nice freshness to the dish.
Hint: Use the correct liquid to rice ratio for perfectly cooked arroz con pollo. Follow the Instant Pot guidelines for rice, typically using a slightly reduced amount of liquid compared to traditional stovetop methods.
👩🍳 Expert Tips
- Sauté for a Flavorful Base: Use the sauté function to brown chicken pieces with spices like cumin, paprika, and garlic, then remove and set aside to layer flavors.
- Cook Rice with Broth: Add rice, diced tomatoes, bell peppers, and chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits to prevent a burn notice. Nestle the chicken back in for even cooking.
- Quick Pressure Cook & Steam Rest: Cook on high pressure for 8 minutes, then let it naturally release for 10 minutes to allow the rice to absorb all the flavors before fluffing and serving.
💭 FAQs
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!
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.
Arroz Con Pollo is pronounced as ah-rohs con poh-yo.
This arroz con pollo recipe uses chicken tenders, but you can swap them for skinless chicken thighs or breasts—just sauté them as directed. For rotisserie or pre-cooked chicken, skip the sauté step and add it after the veggies are cooked.
This Puerto Rican Arroz con Pollo uses basmati rice, but you can use jasmine, brown, or long-grain white rice. Adjust the cooking time: add a few minutes for long grain and 10 extra minutes with double the liquid for brown rice.
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.
Arroz Con Pollo leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days. Arroz Con Pollo can be frozen for up to 2 months in an airtight container.
Serving Suggestions
This Instant Pot Arroz Con Pollo dish is a complete meal on its own, but you can also serve it with a side salad or some plantains for added flavor.
- Black Beans: A classic and hearty side that complements the flavors of arroz con pollo.
- Fried Plantains: Sweet and savory, fried plantains with hot sauce add a delicious contrast to the dish.
- Simple Salad: A light salad with fresh greens, tomatoes, and a citrus vinaigrette provides a refreshing accompaniment.
- Avocado Fries: Creamy avocado fries add a creamy element and balance the warmth of the arroz con pollo.
- Cilantro-Lime Rice: Enhance the rice component with a side of cilantro-lime-infused rice for an extra burst of flavor.
- Grilled Vegetables: A medley of grilled vegetables, such as bell peppers and zucchini, offers a vibrant and nutritious addition to this delicious recipe.
🍜 Related Recipes
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Instant Pot Arroz Con Pollo
Ingredients
- 5-6 boneless chicken tenders
- 2 tsp. paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 4 tbsp. olive oil
- 1 cup onion chopped
- 1 cup green pepper diced
- 1 cup red pepper diced
- 1 tbsp. minced garlic
- 2 cups basmati rice
- 3 cups chicken broth
- ½ teaspoon saffron
- ½ tsp. Curry
- 1 bag of frozen mixed vegetables corn, carrots, peas and green beans
- Green onions
Instructions
- Turn on the Instant Pot ON and select “sauté”. Add half the olive oil. Add the diced chicken and cook for 5 – 8 minutes.
- Remove chicken from the Instant Pot and set to the side. Add half of the olive oil, onion, peppers, garlic. Sauté’ 3-5 minutes, stirring often.
- Add the chicken broth, rice, saffron, frozen vegetables, and cooked chicken. Mix to combine. Sauté for 5 minutes.
- Secure the lid to the Instant Pot. Select manual cooking time to 10 minutes. Pressure release on its own for 10 minutes.
- Turn the valve to Vent to release pressure. Then remove the lid. Press “cancel”. Garnish with diced onions.
Notes
Nutrition
Simple and Delicious Puerto Rican Rice and Chicken
So if you had one dish to make ever, this is the one – this delicious Arroz Con Pollo Instant Pot dish! Your family will be asking you for seconds and thirds and it’ll soon turn into a family favorite. Pressure cooking has never been easier!
Try These Versatile Instant Pot Recipes
- Instant Pot Chicken Wings
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- Instant Pot Cajun Jambalaya
- Instant Pot Potato Soup
- Instant Pot Coconut Curry Soup
Do you have a unique and creative spin for this Instant Pot Arroz Con Pollo Puerto Rican dish? Leave it in the comments!
Step 2: Add the olive oil
Step 5: Add half the olive oil
??? Which is it?
half the olive oil is used to saute the chicken and then half to saute the onions, peppers and garlic.
Never tried cooking this dish using my instant pot...I cooked it over the stovetop, Puerto Rican style, which I used sofrito, pimiento-stuffed olives, capers, lots of fresh cilantro and of course, saźon seasoning. It's amazing that your rice came out so fluffy. I tried cooking rice in my IP and the results was very disappointing...rice too mushy and end up using that rice for cooking chicken porridge. Will try your recipe with my IP. Thank you for sharing your recipes.