Instant Pot Mexican Queso Chicken and Rice–flavorful, tender and moist chicken on top of seasoned rice and drizzled with a cheese sauce.
Instant Pot Mexican Queso Chicken and Rice
If you’re looking for perfectly seasoned chicken and rice that’s super easy to make I’ve got a recipe for you! I think you’re really going to love this chicken and rice recipe. The cheese sauce that’s drizzled on top is the bomb too!
What makes this recipe so tasty? The chicken is tossed in plenty of seasonings and because it’s cooked right on top of the rice the rice gets seasoned too. Because chicken tenders are used they get perfectly cooked in just 5 minutes along with the parboiled rice. Then a flavorful dreamy, creamy cheese sauce is quickly prepared and drizzled over the top.
Can I use chicken breasts? Yes, just cut them up into the size of chicken tenders.
What about frozen chicken? You can try using frozen chicken tenders. However, they will put off a little extra liquid so you may want to cut down on the broth by a couple of tablespoons.
Can I use a different type of rice? The parboiled rice works so well because it’s not sticky or clumpy. It really was so perfect. However, I do understand that you may want to try another type of rice. If you’d like to use long grain white rice, jasmine or basmati you can follow the recipe ratios and times as listed in the green chart below. Brown rice won’t work for this recipe because the chicken will get way too overdone.
More Chicken and Rice Instant Pot Recipes…
Instant Pot Cheesy Chicken and Rice
Instant Pot Chicken Fajita Rice
Instant Pot Ranch Chicken Taco Rice
Instant Pot Southwest Shredded Chicken Bowls
Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Soup
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Instant Pot Mexican Queso Chicken and Rice
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes (plus 5-10 minute NPR)
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
Flavorful, tender and moist chicken on top of seasoned rice and drizzled with a cheese sauce.
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 pounds fresh chicken tenders
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 2 tsp paprika
- 2 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 1/4 cups chicken broth
- 1 1/2 cups parboiled/converted rice
Cheese sauce:
- 2 Tbsp flour
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/4 tsp paprika
Instructions
- Add chicken into a large bowl. Add in the cayenne, oregano, paprika, cumin, kosher salt, pepper, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder and olive. Toss the chicken so it is coated in the oil and seasonings.
- Pour the broth into Instant Pot. Sprinkle the rice into the pot.
- Place chicken on top of rice.
- Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 5 minutes. When time is up let pot sit for 5-10 minutes and then move valve to venting. Remove lid.
- Scoop rice and chicken onto a platter.
- Clean out Instant Pot liner.
- Make the cheese sauce by turning Instant Pot to sauté setting. Add the butter in and let melt. Whisk in flour and cook until it begins to bubble. Add in the milk, slowly, whisking well. Continue to whisk until mixture is heated through. When mixture is hot enough to melt cheese (but not boiling) add in the cheese and let melt. Stir in the salt, paprika and cayenne. Remove from heat.
- Drizzle cheese sauce over each serving of rice and chicken. Eat and enjoy!
Notes
Don’t confuse parboiled rice with pre-cooked or minute rice. The rice kernels aren’t clumpy and glued together instead they are more separated. I found a bag of parboiled rice at Walmart next to the normal long grain white rice.
I used my 6 quart Instant Pot Duo 60 7 in 1*.
Try serving this with some pico de gallo and sliced avocados on top!
- Category: Chicken
- Method: 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.
Can you cook this without rice?
You could try! I would season the chicken. Then only add 1/2 cup of broth into the pot. Pressure cook for 5 minutes with 5-10 minute npr.
Thank you!!!!!
Made this for dinner last night and it was SO delicious! Rice cooked perfectly and was very flavorful! Such an easy, yet filling, dinner to put together! This will definitely be going into my regular dinner rotation, thank you!
★★★★★
Thanks Sarah for the 5 star review! this is one of my favorites too!!
I made this dish 2 days ago and got the same reply from my husband…this is delicious! Over the last few months since I got my pot and discovered this site that is he reply. I used the arborior rice and was out of cyanene pepper but he finished up the last for lunch today. I love all your recipe s and tips.
I’m so glad he liked it! I really loved this one…the cheese sauce is so perfect.
This looks right up my family’s alley – planning on making it tonight! If I want to add a half bag of frozen veggies do you think it would be fine? Thank you!
Yes that would be tasty. But I would not pressure cook them because they’ll get too overdone. I would microwave or steam separately and then throw them in.
What is par boiled rice? I usually only use Jasmine rice.
Do I cook for 6 minutes then?
What is parboiled rice? Don’t confuse parboiled rice with pre-cooked or minute rice. Parboiled rice has been processed in its husk by soaking, steaming, and drying. As a result, all the nutrients from the husk are absorbed into the grain before it’s removed. The starch content alters in the process, making cooked parboiled rice less sticky than regular white rice. The rice kernels aren’t clumpy and glued together instead they are more separated. I found a bag of parboiled rice at Walmart next to the normal long grain white rice.
You can use jasmine. I would cook for 5 minutes
I love how the parboiled rice is always just right, never clumpy! This is the rice we use 9 times out of 10 anymore. I think we will have to try this recipe out some time soon!
It really is just right. I have to agree with you! I am glad someone told me about it!
What if I just have regular long grain white rice or brown rice? How should I adjust the recipe?
Disregard. I just need to read, since you already talk about it in your intro. Lom
I have some chicken legs I need to use (freezer and deep freeze are full so not buying anything right now) How would I adjust for them?
I would use a 15 minutes pressure cook time for legs. The rice might get overcooked though.