• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Simply Low Cal
  • Low Calorie Recipes
    • Air Fryer
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Dessert
    • Main Dish
    • Dips, Dressings & Sauces
    • Drinks
    • Instant Pot
    • Recipe Roundups & Downloads
    • Salads
    • Side Dish
    • Slow Cooker
    • Soup
    • Snack
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes +
  • Easy Main Dishes
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes +
    • Easy Main Dishes
    • About
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Instant Pot

    Low Calorie Instant Pot Chicken And Rice

    Published: May 26, 2023 · Modified: September 25, 2023 by Kate · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    146 shares
    • Share
    • Yum
    • Email
    Jump to Recipe
    Pinterest pin of low calorie chicken and rice.

    Low Calorie Instant Pot Chicken and Rice is a fast and healthy 30 minute meal made right in the Instant Pot. This is a dinner recipe you'll definitely want in your dinner rotation! Stovetop instructions included!

    Rice and chicken in a white bowl.
    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • Ingredients You'll Need
    • Step-By-Step Instructions
    • Expert Tips
    • Variations
    • Stovetop Chicken And Rice
    • Storing & Freezing
    • Recipe FAQ's
    • More Dinner Recipes You'll Love
    • Low Calorie Instant Pot Chicken And Rice
    • #respond

    Check out my Instant Pot Beef and Noodles and my Instant Pot Chicken Burrito Bowls for more Instant Pot dinner ideas!

    This low calorie Instant Pot chicken and rice recipe is hearty comfort food.

    This recipe only takes a handful of ingredients that you may already have in your house!

    Rice and chicken in a bowl with a gold spoon.

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    • It's made with simple ingredients you can find at any grocery store.
    • Made all in one pot so clean up is easy peasy!
    • With just a few steps in the Instant Pot, this is the perfect easy but filling meal.

    Ingredients You'll Need

    Labeled ingredients for the chicken and rice.
    • Chicken Breasts: Use all white meat.
    • Butter: Gives the chicken and rice warmth and richness.
    • Minced Garlic: Adds a subtle nutty kick of flavor.
    • Chicken Broth: The rice absorbs all the broth making it flavorful and fluffy.
    • Lemon Juice: Brightens up the flavor of this dish.
    • White Rice: Preferably white, but brown rice will work as well. You just have to adds more broth and cook it longer.
    • Parmesan Cheese: Gives a mild nutty, cheesy flavor.
    • Salt & Ground Black Pepper: A simple seasoning blend.

    Step-By-Step Instructions

    Steps to make the chicken and rice.

    Step 1: Turn the Instant Pot on to sauté mode and add the garlic and butter.

    Step 2: Once the butter melts, add the chicken, stirring occasionally until the chicken is browned.

    Step 3: Add the lemon juice, chicken broth, and white rice. Stir well to make sure everything is incorporated

    Step 4: Cancel the sauté mode. Secure the lid on the Instant Pot and cook on high pressure for 10 minutes. It will take about 10 minutes for the pot to come to pressure.

    Step 5: After the timer is done, allow the pot to release naturally for 5 minutes, then manually release the remaining steam.

    Step 6: Remove the lid and add the parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. Mix well. Enjoy!

    NOTE: You can print the FULL recipe with all ingredients & detailed instructions below!

    Two bowls of chicken and rice next to a jar of parmesan cheese.

    Expert Tips

    • Sautéing the garlic and chicken before pressure cooking helps to develop deeper flavors and gives the chicken a nice browned exterior.
    • Long grain white rice works best in this recipe as it cooks evenly and has a firmer texture that holds up well in the Instant Pot.
    • Feel free to add your favorite herbs and spices to this recipe to customize it to your liking. Fresh herbs like thyme, parsley, or cilantro can add an extra layer of flavor, while spices like cumin or smoked paprika can give it a smoky kick.

    Variations

    • Vegetables: Add diced vegetables such as onions, carrots, peas, or bell peppers to the recipe to make it more nutritious and colorful.
    • Meat: Swap chicken with beef, pork, or shrimp to create a different protein source for the dish.
    • Spicy: Add hot sauce or red pepper flakes to the recipe to give it a spicy kick.

    Stovetop Chicken And Rice

    1. In a large, deep skillet or a Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium-high heat.
    2. Add the minced garlic to the melted butter and sauté for about 1 minute until it becomes fragrant.
    3. Add the diced chicken breasts to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3-5 minutes or until the chicken is browned.
    4. Pour in the lemon juice, chicken broth, and white rice. Stir well to combine all the ingredients.
    5. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the skillet with a lid and let it simmer for about 15-20 minutes, or until the rice is cooked and the liquid is absorbed. Be sure to check and stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
    6. Once the rice is cooked and the liquid is absorbed, remove the skillet from the heat.
    7. Stir in the parmesan cheese, salt, and ground black pepper until the cheese is melted, and the seasonings are well mixed into the dish.

    Storing & Freezing

    Storing: Place leftovers in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

    Freezing: Place in a freezer safe zip top bag or container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating and serving. You may need to add in a little extra broth when you reheat as the rice will have absorbed the liquid.

    Recipe FAQ's

    Can I use chicken stock instead of chicken broth?

    Absolutely! Chicken stock will give you a rich taste.

    Can I use water in place of chicken broth?

    If you don't have chicken broth, you can use a bouillon chicken cube and water to make it from scratch. Plain water is okay, but chicken broth will give you a better result.

    What type of rice should I use?

    Jasmine rice or basmati rice are my go to! I would steer clear of instant rice.

    What do I serve with chicken and rice?

    It can easily be served by itself as a filling meal, but it would also be great served with a side of veggies!

    Can I use frozen chicken?

    I don’t recommend using frozen chicken in this recipe. It would change the cook time, so the chicken and rice wouldn’t be done cooking at the same time.

    More Dinner Recipes You'll Love

    • Thumbnail of low calorie stuffed pepper soup.
      Low Calorie Instant Pot Stuffed Pepper Soup
    • Thumbnail of Instant Pot bbq pork chops.
      Instant Pot BBQ Pork Chops
    • Thumbnail of Instant Pot bbq chicken wings.
      Instant Pot BBQ Chicken Wings
    • Thumbnail of low calorie shrimp tacos.
      Low Calorie Shrimp Tacos

    If you love this recipe, please leave a comment with a five-star rating — or simply hit the five-star button in the recipe card. Don't forget to signup for my newsletter!

    Thumbnail of low calorie chicken and rice.

    Low Calorie Instant Pot Chicken And Rice

    5 from 1 vote
    By Kate
    Low calorie Instant Pot chicken and rice is a fast and healthy 30 minute meal made right in the Instant Pot. This is a dinner recipe you'll definitely want in your dinner rotation!
    Pin Recipe Print Recipe Save RecipeSaved!
    Prep 5 minutes mins
    Cook 25 minutes mins
    Total 30 minutes mins
    Servings 8
    Calories 351kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Special Equipment

    • Instant Pot Pressure Cooker
    • Measuring Spoons and Cups

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 4 tablespoons butter
    • 3 tablespoons minced garlic
    • 1 ½ pounds diced boneless, skinless chicken breasts
    • 1 ½ tablespoons lemon juice
    • 32 ounces chicken broth
    • 1 ½ cups white rice
    • 1 cup parmesan cheese
    • 1 ½ teaspoons salt
    • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

    Instructions
     

    • Turn the Instant Pot on to sauté mode and add the butter and garlic.
    • Once the butter melts, add the chicken, stirring occasionally for 3-5 minutes, or until the chicken is browned.
    • Add the lemon juice, chicken broth, and white rice. Stir well to make sure everything is incorporated.
    • Cancel the sauté mode. Secure the lid on the Instant Pot and cook on high pressure for 10 minutes. It will take about 10 minutes for the pot to come to pressure.
    • After the timer is done, allow the pot to release naturally for 5 minutes, then manually release the remaining steam.
    • Remove the lid and add the parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. Mix well. Enjoy!

    Notes

    • Sautéing the garlic and chicken before pressure cooking helps to develop deeper flavors and gives the chicken a nice browned exterior.
    • Long grain white rice works best in this recipe as it cooks evenly and has a firmer texture that holds up well in the Instant Pot.
    • Feel free to add your favorite herbs and spices to this recipe to customize it to your liking. Fresh herbs like thyme, parsley, or cilantro can add an extra layer of flavor, while spices like cumin or smoked paprika can give it a smoky kick.
    • Storing: Place leftovers in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
    • Freezing: Place in a freezer safe zip top bag or container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating and serving. You may need to add in a little extra broth when you reheat as the rice will have absorbed the liquid.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 351kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 26gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 80mgSodium: 840mgPotassium: 70mg

    All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.

    Tried this recipe?Give it a star rating and leave a comment below!

    More Instant Pot

    • Thumbnail of low calorie chicken pot pie soup.
      Low Calorie Instant Pot Chicken Pot Pie Soup
    • Thumbnail of low calorie buffalo chicken dip.
      Low Calorie Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip
    • Thumbnail of Instant Pot ramen stir fry.
      Instant Pot Ramen Noodles
    • Thumbnail of Instant Pot pork loin roast.
      Instant Pot Pork Loin With Apples And Onions
    146 shares
    • Share
    • Yum
    • Email

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    No Comments

    5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Pinterest pin of low calorie chicken and rice.
    Headshot of Kate the blog owner

    Hi and welcome! Simply Low Cal is the blog about DELICIOUS low calorie recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, and snacks that anyone can make. You will find plenty of healthy recipes for anyone. About Me

    POPULAR RECIPES

    • Thumbnail of low calorie banana bread.
      Low Calorie Banana Bread
    • Thumbnail of low calorie chicken noodle soup.
      Low Calorie Chicken Noodle Soup
    • Thumbnail of healthy snow cone syrup.
      Healthy Snow Cone Syrup
    • Thumbnail of 100 calorie blueberry muffins.
      100 Calorie Blueberry Muffins
    • Thumbnail of low calorie protein shake.
      Low Calorie Protein Shake
    • Thumbnail of PBfit soft gluten free cookies.
      PBfit Soft Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies

    THE BEST OF WINTER

    • Thumbnail of low calorie hot chocolate.
      Low Calorie Instant Pot Hot Chocolate
    • Thumbnail of low calorie pecan pie.
      Low Calorie Pecan Pie
    • Thumbnail of low calorie gingerbread latte.
      Low Calorie Gingerbread Latte
    • Thumbnail of low calorie mashed cauliflower.
      Low Calorie Mashed Cauliflower
    • Thumbnail of low calorie snickerdoodle latte.
      Low Calorie Snickerdoodle Latte
    • Thumbnail of low calorie broccoli cheddar soup.
      Low Calorie Broccoli Cheddar Soup

    FEATURED IN

    as seen in.

    Footer

    Pinterest pin of low calorie chicken and rice.

    ↑ back to top

    Featured In

    as seen in banner.

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Work With Me
    • Accessibility

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! For emails and updates

    Contact

    • [email protected]

    AS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES.

    © 2025 SIMPLY LOW CAL | MAMA IS WORKING LLC

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.