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March 29, 2021

Instant Pot Mexican Queso Chicken and Rice

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Instant Pot Mexican Queso Chicken and Rice–flavorful, tender and moist chicken on top of seasoned rice and drizzled with a cheese sauce.

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Instant Pot Mexican Queso Chicken and Rice

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 Chicken Bog

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

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Instant Pot Mexican Queso Chicken and Rice
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Instant Pot Mexican Queso Chicken and Rice


★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

  • Author: 365 Days of Slow and Pressure Cooking
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes (plus 5-10 minute NPR)
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x
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Description

Flavorful, tender and moist chicken on top of seasoned rice and drizzled with a cheese sauce. 


Ingredients

Scale
  • 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

  1. 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. 
  2. Pour the broth into Instant Pot. Sprinkle the rice into the pot. 
  3. Place chicken on top of rice. 
  4. 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.
  5. Scoop rice and chicken onto a platter. 
  6. Clean out Instant Pot liner.
  7. 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.
  8. 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

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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.

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17 Comments Filed Under: All Recipes, Chicken, Gluten Free, Instant Pot, Mexican, Rice

Recommendations

Comments

  1. Jill says

    October 16, 2021 at 2:12 pm

    Can you cook this without rice?

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 18, 2021 at 6:48 pm

      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.

      Reply
      • Jill says

        October 19, 2021 at 7:08 pm

        Thank you!!!!!

        Reply
  2. Sarah M. says

    May 12, 2021 at 12:39 pm

    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!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Karen says

      May 12, 2021 at 1:01 pm

      Thanks Sarah for the 5 star review! this is one of my favorites too!!

      Reply
  3. Kay Thacker says

    April 4, 2021 at 2:46 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      April 5, 2021 at 2:19 pm

      I’m so glad he liked it! I really loved this one…the cheese sauce is so perfect.

      Reply
  4. Heather G. says

    March 31, 2021 at 1:00 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      April 1, 2021 at 1:04 pm

      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.

      Reply
  5. Ellyn says

    March 29, 2021 at 3:05 pm

    What is par boiled rice? I usually only use Jasmine rice.
    Do I cook for 6 minutes then?

    Reply
    • Karen says

      April 1, 2021 at 1:20 pm

      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

      Reply
      • Stahli Claassen says

        April 5, 2021 at 1:44 pm

        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!

        Reply
        • Karen says

          April 5, 2021 at 2:15 pm

          It really is just right. I have to agree with you! I am glad someone told me about it!

          Reply
  6. Candice says

    March 29, 2021 at 2:30 pm

    What if I just have regular long grain white rice or brown rice? How should I adjust the recipe?

    Reply
    • Candice says

      March 29, 2021 at 5:55 pm

      Disregard. I just need to read, since you already talk about it in your intro. Lom

      Reply
  7. tonya king says

    March 29, 2021 at 12:06 pm

    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?

    Reply
    • Karen says

      March 29, 2021 at 12:11 pm

      I would use a 15 minutes pressure cook time for legs. The rice might get overcooked though.

      Reply

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Hi, I’m Karen. I know that dinner time can be less than relaxing. Busy schedules and cranky kids and a hundred other things can lead to weariness when it comes to putting dinner on the table. I can help! I make homemade, family-friendly slow cooker and Instant Pot dinners and share the recipes with you.

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