Hungry Boys Casserole–yellow rice with chicken, tomatoes, peppers and peas made in your Instant Pot or Crockpot.
Hungry Boys Casserole
This is an easy chicken and rice recipe that’s amped up to a one pot meal with some peppers, tomatoes and peas. These days I have some hungry boys that are looking to eat the moment they get home from school and work. I like to cook “dinner” at 3 pm and keep the dish on the keep warm setting so it is ready to go when the boys get home and they can immediately consume it. This one pot meal was bright and colorful and tasty that they loved.
This recipe is adapted from Three Hungry Boys.
Ingredients/Substitution Ideas
- Olive oil
- Onion–yellow, white or shallot
- Bell pepper–red or green
- Chicken broth–or water and Better than Bouillon chicken base
- Bay leaf
- Zatarain’s yellow rice–or another brand
- Chicken tenderloins–frozen is fine. Or 1 pound chicken thighs or breasts cut into 1 inch cubes
- Smoked paprika
- Turmeric
- Garlic powder
- Cumin
- Black pepper
- Petite diced tomatoes
- Frozen peas
Steps
Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. When display says HOT add in the oil and swirl around. Add in the onion and saute for 3 minutes. Add in the bell pepper and saute for 2 more minutes.
Pour in the broth and scrape bottom of pot so that nothing is sticking. Turn off Instant Pot.
Add in the bay leaf. Sprinkle in the Zatarain’s rice and seasoning.
Place the chicken tenderloins evenly into the pot. Sprinkle the chicken with the paprika, turmeric, garlic powder, cumin and pepper. Dump the tomatoes on top.
Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 4 minutes. When time is up let pot sit for 10 minutes and then move valve to venting. Remove the lid.
Discard the bay leaf. Stir in the peas. Let sit for 5 minutes on the keep warm setting. Serve and enjoy!
Notes/Tips
- Serve with red beans, green salad, roasted vegetables, corn on the cob or coleslaw.
- This recipe is gluten-free.
- I used my 3 quart Instant Pot*. You can also make this in a 6 or 8 quart pot.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container* in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Other recipes you can make with frozen peas are Carolina Casserole and Brown Rice Pilaf With Chicken Sausage.
Did you know you can filter the recipes on my website to search by meat type, IP or Crockpot, low carb, gluten free, etc.? Use the filter to find exactly what you are looking for.
Hungry Boys Casserole
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 minutes (plus 10 minute NPR)
- Total Time: 24 minutes
- Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
Description
Yellow rice with chicken, tomatoes, peppers and peas made in your Instant Pot or Crockpot.
Ingredients
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 1/2 cup diced bell pepper
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 (6.9 oz) box Zatarain’s yellow rice
- 6 chicken tenderloins (or 1 pound chicken thighs or breasts cut into 1 inch cubes)
- 1/8 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/8 tsp turmeric
- 1/8 tsp garlic powder
- 1/8 tsp cumin
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
- 1 (14.5 oz) can petite diced tomatoes
- 1/2 cup frozen peas
Instructions
Instant Pot Instructions:
- Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. When display says HOT add in the oil and swirl around. Add in the onion and saute for 3 minutes. Add in the bell pepper and saute for 2 more minutes.
- Pour in the broth and scrape bottom of pot so that nothing is sticking. Turn off Instant Pot.
- Add in the bay leaf. Sprinkle in the Zatarain’s rice and seasoning. Place the chicken tenderloins evenly into the pot. Sprinkle the chicken with the paprika, turmeric, garlic powder, cumin and pepper. Dump the tomatoes on top.
- Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 4 minutes. When time is up let pot sit for 10 minutes and then move valve to venting. Remove the lid.
- Discard the bay leaf. Stir in the peas. Let sit for 5 minutes on the keep warm setting. Serve and enjoy!
Slow Cooker Instructions:
- Heat a pan over medium high heat. Add in the oil and swirl around. Add in the onion and saute for 3 minutes. Add in the bell pepper and saute for 2 more minutes. Transfer to the slow cooker.
- Stir in the broth, bay leaf, Zatarain’s rice and seasoning, chicken tenderloins, paprika, turmeric, garlic powder, cumin, pepper and tomatoes.
- Cover and cook on high for 2 hours or on low for 4 hours.
- Discard the bay leaf. Stir in the peas. Let sit for 5 minutes on the warm setting. Serve and enjoy!
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Instant Pot
More Instant Pot chicken and rice recipes…
New Mexico Casserole
Green chile chicken and rice casserole with melty cheese and a creamy sauce. Made with the help of your Instant Pot!
Busy Wife Delight
Instant Pot cilantro lime rice with chicken and sweet corn. An easy dump and go recipe.
Karen’s Casserole
Chicken, ham and rice with mushrooms, celery, carrots and spinach in a creamy flavorful sauce made fast in the Instant Pot.
D’Iberville Casserole
Saucy rice with mushrooms and tender bites of chicken topped with crispy fried onions made fast in your Instant Pot.
*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
Hi. My name is Victoria and I am wondering what other brands of rice that I can use instead of the one that you listed. Here in Granby Québec Canada I can’t find that particular brand that you’ve posted but would love to try this recipe. Thanks for your time.
you can just use long grain white rice
Karen, Could people use smoked sausage for this recipe instead of chicken if they wanted too.
yes I think that would be really good!
I made the D’liberville Cassarole on 5/19/2024. My Son’s, church group said it was ABSOLUTELY AWESOME. I will be making it again.
So happy to hear it! Thanks Veronica!