Instant Pot Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole is like chicken wild rice soup, but in casserole form. Plus it’s made in your Instant Pot so there is only one dirty pot to clean and it takes less time to cook.

Instant Pot Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole
Last week I announced that each week I will post a recipe inspired by a state. That way by the end of the year all 50 states will be covered and have a recipe to go with them. I started the project with Alabama Camp Stew and it was so tasty, I can’t wait to make it again.
Today’s recipe is inspired by the Land of 10,000 Lakes–the state of Minnesota. For many years, nearly all the wild rice produced in the world came from Minnesota, and most still does. Wild rice is Minnesota’s official state grain (fun fact!). According to statesymbolsusa.org, “Wild rice has a high protein and carbohydrate content, and is very low in fat. Its nutritional quality (vitamins, minerals, protein) equals or surpasses other cereal grains.”
It’s different from normal rice because it is an aquatic grass. It’s also the only rice native to North America. You’ll notice it at the grocery store because it is black (I buy it in the bulk section at Winco). Wild rice is usually quite pricey compared to white rice. You will only need 1 cup of it for this recipe though.
When I think of Minnesota I think of cold weather and warm comforting foods like this casserole! My sister has lived in the twin cities area for several years and I’m always floored when she tells me the temperature in the winter time. So cold! Minnesota is full of hearty, gritty people. Hats off to you (actually keep those hats on…it’s like -20 degrees).
We loved this creamy comforting Instant Pot chicken and wild rice casserole and I think you will too.
What state are you from? Comment below and let me know what type of recipe I should make to represent your state!
More Instant Pot recipes with wild rice…
Instant Pot Creamy Wild Rice and Chicken Soup
Instant Pot Chicken Mushroom Wild Rice Soup
Instant Pot Cranberry Pecan Wild Rice Pilaf


Instant Pot Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 22 minutes (plus 10 minute NPR)
- Total Time: 60 minutes
- Yield: 6–8 servings 1x
Description
Instant Pot Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole is like chicken wild rice soup, but in casserole form. Plus it’s made in your Instant Pot so there is only one dirty pot to clean and it takes less time to cook.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 cup diced onion
- 8 oz sliced mushrooms
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup uncooked wild rice
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts (frozen is fine) or bone-in chicken pieces
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 (4 oz) jar pimientos, drained
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup slivered almonds
- Salt and pepper
- Cornstarch
Instructions
- Turn the Instant Pot on the saute setting. When the display says HOT add in the butter and swirl it around until melted. Add in the diced onion, mushrooms and ½ tsp salt and saute for about 5 minutes.
- Turn off the saute setting. Stir in the chicken broth and scrape off the bottom of the pot if there is anything sticking. Sprinkle in the rice evenly. Place the chicken evenly over the top of the rice. Sprinkle ¼ tsp pepper and 1 tsp salt evenly over the top of the chicken.
- Cover the Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure the valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 22 minutes. When the time is up let the pot sit there for 10-15 extra minutes and then release any remaining pressure. Remove the lid.
- Stir in the pimientos, heavy cream, parmesan cheese and almonds.
- If needs be, add salt and pepper. If it needs thickening, make a cornstarch slurry with 1 Tbsp of cornstarch and 1 Tbsp of water and then stir the mixture into the pot and turn the the pot to the saute setting until it has thickened. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
I used my 6 quart Instant Pot Duo 60 7 in 1*. You can also make this in a 3 quart pot or an 8 quart pot.
I would use thick chicken breasts if you are going to use them. Preferably I would use thighs or bone-in chicken. I used a combination of breasts and thighs.
Pin this recipe for later: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/153896512255944112/
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Instant Pot
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*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.
★★★★★
Thanks for the 5 stars!
Smells good. I followed the recipe exactly and opened the pot. Rice was crunchy and chicken was still raw. Trying to cook again so I can salvage my ingredients. Groceries are too expensive to have to throw them out!!!
★★
Yes, Hot Dish is the Minnesota term. This was the first recipe I tried in my new Instant Pot. It worked great and we loved it. It would never feed 6-8 people in our household though. I will double the wild rice, broth, onion, mushroom, and pepper. the next time. It was Yummy!! Thank you so much for the recipe!!
★★★★★
You are welcome Diane!
This recipe was my first attempt at instant pot meal. I have cooked beans but never a whole meal and I have to say this was absolutely magnificent! I loved it and so did my husband and mother in law.
Thank you for this delicious recipe. I can’t wait to try more things in my instant pot.
—Elyce
Reno, Nevada
Thank you Elyce! My niece spells her name the same as you 🙂
If I want to switch to white rice so my kids eat it does that alter the cooking time at all?
Yes I would cut the chicken into smaller pieces and only pressure cook for 5 minutes with a natural pressure release of 10 minutes
I made this dish today. It was super bland unfortunately. I added garlic powder, pepper flakes, more salt and more Parmesan cheese. It was good after those modifications… I would recommend adding more spices!
Okay good to know. Thanks for sharing.
I’d like to halve the recipe – can you advise how much cooking time that would be? I didn’t want to assume 1/2 time. Thank you for the recipe as I just bought 4 bags of wild rice in my quest to be healthier!
Same time! https://www.365daysofcrockpot.com/how-to-halve-instant-pot-recipes/
I grew up in Minnesota and used wild rice in numerous recipes so I had to try this one. The only issue is that wild rice is hard to find/expensive in Arkansas. Had to resort to Amazon. I used boneless thighs and it was fabulous. Definitely will try this one again and double the rice & liquid.
★★★★★
Glad you liked it! And yes wild rice is kind of hard to find…but it is so tasty!
Are you still doing the state recipes each week? Maybe you’ve already done NY, but if not you NEED to do Syracuse Salt Potatoes! Might not work in the instant pot, but perfect for new potato season. I’m making the wild rice tonight!
Those are so good! I tried my friend’s version and they were great: https://triedtestedandtrue.com/instant-pot-salt-potatoes-from-syracuse-new-york/
I love this recipe and have made it several times. I was wondering about adding more rice to make it go farther. If I were to double the rice do you think I would need to increase the liquid and if so how much?
Yes if you double the rice then you’ll need to double the liquid. I would also increase the spices or else it might be super bland.
Thank you!
Love your recipes and I have printed and made my own book of instant pot recipes. I make my own notes on each page and add, subtract etc that way. I would love to see a category for already, rotisserie, cooked chicken. I see many of them you can use this type of chicken but would be nice to have them all in one place.
That’s a great idea! I rarely cook with rotisserie chicken because I use fresh or frozen uncooked but there are a lot of recipe that you could use with rotisserie if you wanted.
I’m from MN and I love wild rice! We tried this recipe and it was a huge hit in our house (even with my husband who normally hates anything with wild rice)!
★★★★★
Yay!!!
Karen,
Hello from Minnesota. I use a Slow-Cooker. Not quite sure where to find the recipe for that. A mention in the e-mail, said something about the “card.” Thanks for your help!
★★★★★
Hi Brig, I’m sorry but I don’t have a slow cooker version of this one yet!
Would frozen chicken breast work?
maded this tonight. Never had wild rice. I enjoyed it very much. However my husband did not like the rice. Said it was straw like. I thought maybe a little. How do you know then this type of rice is done? Is there and other type of rice, you could suggest? Like your book very much. It has help as I new at cooking in the Instant pot. learning new things every day . Thank you from Oregon
★★★★
It is a little different since it’s not a regular rice but it’s actually an aquatic grass. You could definitely use brown rice instead!
WIld rice cooks slower … you can make it sort of “crunchy” or “perfect” or “mushy”. I am also from MN so I like my wild rice curled but not mushy -PERFECT!
★★★★
Alaska here. I don’t have a specific recipe suggestion per se, but something involving wild salmon or halibut would be most representative of the Last Frontier. Maybe smoked salmon chowder?
I LOVE that idea! I absolutely love salmon!
22 minutes at HIGH pressure?
Yes, high pressure!
Love this and looking forward to trying it. I live in
Minnesota. Just this morning I was looking at my wild rice and wondering about doing something in the Instant Pot. Your timing is amazing!!
Yay! Stay warm Ruth!!
BettyBeing from Washington State something with apples would be nice.
Yes I think so too!
Shrimp and Grits
South Carolina
YUM! Sounds like a plan 🙂
Looking forward to making this.
However, in Minnesota it’s not called a “Casserole,” it’s referred to as a “Hot Dish”! 😊
Haha! I was just about to say that 😂
Oh haha! That is great. I’ve never heard of that before 🙂
Thanks, wasn’t going to make it not knowing what a “casserole” was 😉
I worry a lot about cooking boneless chicken breasts for 22 minutes. Most recipes call for about 8-10 minutes for those. Won’t 22 minutes make the chicken awfully dry and/or rubbery/hard to chew?
I would use thick chicken breasts if you are going to use them. Preferably I would use thighs or bone-in chicken. I’ll write this as a note in the recipe card above.
Arizona anything with green chilis or jalepeno
GREAT idea!
What is the meaning of the 502 Bad Gateway at the end. I do not get that. I am a Minnesota girl born and raised. I now live in California but would sooo rather live in Minnesota. Love my birth state. Thanks for the recipes, I don’t use all but do enjoy reading them. I have a lot of cookbooks, too.
the 502 was an error in the nutrition facts but it should be fixed by now! Thanks for being here!!!