Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken and Rice

Instant Pot teriyaki chicken and rice is an easy one pot meal we love. Like our fluffy Ninja Foodi pressure cooker chicken and rice recipe but healthier and with an Asian flare with a different sweet and savory sauce.

Teriyaki Chicken and Rice Instant Pot

Yes you can use any brand of pot you have. I make a lot of Ninja Foodi recipes like this in it with the pressure cooker function and lid that is not attached. They all work the same except the first adds the air fryer function which is handy.

Years ago we shared how to make chicken and rice in a pressure cooker. Just like the Campbell’s version you had growing up, it is still a go to for dinner. BUT this gives it more of an Instant Pot teriyaki chicken feel with your side dish mixed together.

Ninja Foodi Teriyaki Chicken and Rice

If you have been reading my blog for any length of time you know how much I love teriyaki sauce. I mean I was born and spent my childhood in Hawaii so it was just something you put on everything.

That got me thinking that it would be great as another version of our favorite meal. I either use this pot or my Cosori to make meals, it just makes my busy life easier.

When I can throw in protein, a starch, sauce, and sometimes I even include 1/2 c. frozen corn in this…it’s a fast meal. Everyone always cleans their plate so it’s always a win too so there are rarely leftovers or wasted food.

Can you cook rice and meat at the same time in Instant Pot?

You sure can, we do it all the time. Use kielbasa for Instant Pot sausage and rice that is cheesy, or try Instant Pot ground beef and rice. The trick is to not stir in the long grain pieces. Rather you gently submerge into the liquid and start the cook time.

Can you cook raw chicken with rice?

Yep! I typically do brown the outsides first but really it is not a real must. You could throw it in as is, in small pieces and just add an additional minute to the posted time below. You could also alternatively use leftover chicken breasts.

First you will want to cut your meat into bite size pieces though. Saute them with a bit of olive oil until the outsides are no longer pink.

Once that is done be sure to deglaze pressure cooker properly so the burn notice doesn’t show up and stop the process. This will give your meat a bit of texture on the outside and shorten the cook time overall.

How to Make Teriyaki Chicken and Rice in Pressure Cooker

1. Add oil to pot and set to saute. Toss cubed bite size pieces of chicken thighs or breasts with salt and pepper. Add into your pot and cook for 2-3 minutes so that just so outsides of your meat are no longer pink.
2. Turn pot off and deglaze pot with a bit of your broth to remove stuck on pieces of meat off bottom. You can remove chicken to do this or just move to the side.
3. Pour in your soy sauce, syrup, rice vinegar and rest of broth into pot. Stir together.
4. Sprinkle uncooked long grain white rice on the top and gently submerge into liquid but do not stir.
5. Seal lid and steam valve. Cook on high pressure for 6 minutes with a 2 minute time for steam to release naturally. Then quick release at the end.

Open pot, fluff rice and sprinkle some green onions on top before serving. For heat you could add a bit of red pepper flakes too. Remember the tip about not stirring. Yes the grains will start to sink but they will still stay above the chicken which will act as a buffer. This will help eliminate the pot thinking that the bottom is burning.

Ingredients

1. Diced boneless skinless chicken thighs is one of our fave quick chicken thigh recipes
2. Olive oil or avocado oil works too
3. Long grain white rice we used here, cooking Jasmine rice in Instant Pot requires an 8 min natural release at the end
4. Chicken broth or stock works
5. Soy sauce or aminos for gluten free
6. Maple syrup for a bit of sweetness
7. Rice vinegar gives it a pop of flavor

Substitutions

Alternatively you could use 1/2 cup teriyaki marinade instead of making your own sauce with the last 3 ingredients up on this list. Bottled is easy of course but these items will give you a very similar flavor for this dish so just as simple if you ask me.

I will say I have not made this with Instant Pot brown rice and time would take much longer with that. Cauliflower rice would turn to mush so that isn’t a good alternative either. Frozen chicken pieces aren’t recommended either. Those would release moisture and wouldn’t be able to be sautéed in the beginning either.

Why is my Instant Pot chicken rubbery?

If you ever find that this is the case it actually means you haven’t cooked it long enough! That is right, the high pressure will break down the meat well so much so that if it isn’t so tender you can pull it apart with 2 forks you should cook it longer. If you use the timing below and cut your pieces into small bite size pieces you shouldn’t have this issue here.

How long does chicken and rice last in the fridge?

Ok so I am picky when it comes to leftover rice. Pretty much no matter what you do to it it will never be as moist as the first hour it’s made. Integrating a sauce into it though, like this, will definitely help it not to dry out as fast. Allow it to completely cool to room temperature. Then spoon into a portioned out freezer bag and suck ALL of the air out, then seal it shut. Store in fridge for 2 days ideally and enjoy it during that time.

How to reheat leftovers

Rewarming To reheat, pour a bit of teriyaki sauce, soy sauce or water on top, toss it with the grains and microwave for 30 seconds. Stir it and warm again for another 30 sec. until it is as warm as you want.

I know right?? Doesn’t that spoonful just make your mouth water? They are both fabulous and really you could make both in one week and not really think about the fact that the main ingredients are essentially the same.

More easy chicken recipes you’ll love

• We have a lot of other Instant Pot chicken recipes for sure.
• Want to make something similar in your slow cooker? Try our Crockpot chicken and rice recipe too. I mean when I bring this to a potluck people are always asking me for the recipe.
• Rather keep with your quick meals? We posted this Instant Pot Mexican chicken and rice recipe recently
• Instant Pot cheesy chicken rice is great too. It is super cheesy with bold flavors like this one but less Asian with a more Spanish flare to it.