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Instant Pot Pollo Loco Mexican Chicken


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4.6 from 5 reviews

  • Author: 365 Days of Slow and Pressure Cooking
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 4 minutes (plus 5 minute NPR)
  • Total Time: 14 minutes
  • Yield: 4-6 servings 1x

Description

Yellow spanish-style rice with tender bites of chicken, carrots and white queso. 


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 1/4 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 2 Tbsp minced dry onion
  • 2 1/4 cup chicken broth
  • 1 1/2 cups converted/parboiled rice
  • 1 heaping cup of sliced carrots
  • 1/3 cup white queso dip (optional)

Instructions

  1. Cut your chicken across the grain into strips. Then cut it into cubes. Discard excess fat. I find this easier to do when the chicken is partially frozen.
  2. Add the chicken, olive oil, salt, garlic powder, pepper, oregano, turmeric, dry onion into Instant Pot. Stir to coat the chicken in the oil and seasonings. 
  3. Pour the broth into the pot. Sprinkle the rice into the pot. Dump the carrots on top. 
  4. 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 5-10 minutes and then move valve to venting. Remove the lid.
  5. Stir in the queso dip. Scoop onto plates and serve. 

Notes

Where can I  find queso dip? Try looking in the “fancy cheese” section in the store. Or you may find it in the refrigerated section near dairy where you can find fresh tortillas, chorizo, cream cheese etc. Shelf stable cheese dips don’t taste good in this recipe. You can also make white queso dip from scratch.

What is converted/parboiled rice? Don’t confuse converted rice (or sometimes it is called 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. Sometimes I buy it at Winco in the bulk section. I have also found it in the orange box (Ben’s brand) next to other rices.

  • Category: Chicken
  • Method: Instant Pot