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–+ servings
Cheesy Chicken & Spanish Rice is a quick & easy weeknight meal! Great flavor in this comforting One-Pot Spanish Rice recipe with added chicken and cheese. Can be made on the stove or in an Instant Pot!
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4 from 4 votes

Cheesy Chicken & Spanish Rice

Cheesy Chicken & Spanish Rice is a quick & easy weeknight meal! Great flavor in this comforting One-Pot Spanish Rice recipe with added chicken and cheese. Can be made on the stove or in an Instant Pot!
Servings: 6
Author: Jessica & Nellie

Ingredients

  • 1 TBSP olive oil
  • 1/2 cup diced onion
  • 1 clove minced garlic
  • 1 chicken breast diced
  • 1 cup long grain white rice
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 14.5 oz can Hunts Diced Tomatoes undrained
  • 1 8- oz can Hunts tomato sauce
  • 1 cup shredded Cheddar Jack cheese

Instructions

Skillet Directions:

  • Saute onion and garlic in olive oil on medium heat for 5 minutes. Add chicken and continue cooking for another 3-4 minutes.
  • Add uncooked rice and seasonings, stirring to combine. Saute for 3 minutes and then add broth, diced tomatoes and tomato sauce.
  • Stir, then reduce heat to low and cover. Cook for 40 minutes.
  • Remove lid and stir, continuing to cook for another 5 minutes. Stir in half the cheese. Top with remaining cheese, as well as cilantro. Serve with a dollop of sour cream.

Instant Pot Directions:

  • Select "Saute" mode on Instant Pot and drizzle pan with olive oil. Add onion and garlic and saute for 5 minutes. Add chicken and continue cooking for another 3-4 minutes.
  • Add uncooked rice and seasonings, stirring to combine. Saute for 3 minutes and then add broth, diced tomatoes and tomato sauce. Attach lid and make sure steam valve is sealed.
  • Select "Cancel" on the Instant Pot. Select "Rice" setting. Once pot comes to pressure, it will cook for 12-16 minutes. Once it's done, Natural Pressure Release for 5 minutes, then flip the steam valve to "Vent" and quick release the remaining pressure. Stir in half the cheese and top with remaining cheese. Serve sprinkled with cilantro and topped with a dollop of sour cream.
  • Alternatively, you can instead cook on Manual High pressure for 4 minutes, instead of using the "Rice" function, before continuing with the rest of the Instant Pot directions. This saves time as using the Rice function adds 5-6 minutes.

Notes

Notes on Making this Cheesy Chicken Spanish Rice in the Instant Pot: Since the instant Pot essentially steams the food with heat and pressure to cook it, this rice dish ends up having a softer, more risotto-like texture. If you're not keen on this, I've heard that using parboiled rice works well in maintaining a more rice-like texture in the Instant Pot.