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Instant Pot Cajun Chicken and Rice is a flavorful, spicy meal perfect for a weeknight dinner. Juicy and tender chicken thighs cooked with tender veggies and long grain rice. It comes together in less than 30 minutes and it’s all done in your Instant Pot.
Instant Pot Cajun Chicken and Rice
If you love meals packed with flavor and a kick of spiciness then this is the dish for you. Cajun cuisine is fresh, fiery and delicious. You can have a taste of it right from the comfort of your own home. This recipe comes together in less than 30 minutes and the result does not disappoint.
Instant Pot Cajun Chicken and Rice is a flavorful, spicy meal perfect for a weeknight dinner. Juicy and tender chicken thighs cooked with tender veggies and long grain rice. It comes together in no time and it’s all done in your Instant Pot.
What is Cajun Seasoning:
Cajun seasoning is a mix of spices creating a flavorful and spicy seasoning blend. It is used in Cajun cuisine originating in Louisiana. Cajun seasoning can be used in many recipes to spice up foods such as chicken, fish, shellfish, fries, and rice.
What’s in Cajun Seasoning?
Cajun seasoning is simply a spicy blend consisting of different spices. Different cooks may put their own spin on it but the basic spices found in most Cajun seasonings are cayenne pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder and oregano.
What you need to make this Instant Pot Cajun Chicken and Rice:
Ingredients:
- Chicken Broth
- Chicken Thighs
- Jasmine Rice
- Yellow Onion
- Garlic
- Carrots
- Corn
- Green Bell Pepper
- Red Bell Pepper
- Pink Sea Salt
- Onion Powder
- Garlic Powder
- Paprika
- Chili Flakes
- Cayenne
- Dried Oregano
- Dried Thyme
Equipment:
- Instant Pot
How to make Cajun Chicken and Rice in the Instant Pot:
- In a small mixing bowl whisk together all of the ingredients for the Cajun seasoning. Set aside. Dice onions, mince garlic, dice carrots, and dice red and green bell peppers. Cut chicken thighs into bite sizes.
- Open Instant Pot and set on sauté setting. Drizzle oil and bring to a heat. Toss in onions and sauté until translucent. About 2 minutes. Toss in garlic and continue to sauté for another 2 minutes. Next, add chicken and sauté until it cooks through and turns golden-brown. About 8-10 minutes. While chicken is cooking sprinkle in Cajun seasoning and stir chicken to make sure it gets well coated with seasoning.
- Once chicken has browned, stir in your veggies; carrots, corn, red and green bell peppers. Add rice and stir making sure all of the ingredients are mixed together well. Pour in chicken broth.
- Place lid on Instant Pot and seal valve. Set Instant Pot on pressure cook high and set for 8 minutes. It’ll take a few minutes for pressure to build up before it starts to countdown from 8 minutes and pressure cook rice.
- NPR for 10 minutes then manually release the rest of the pressure. Remove lid from Instant Pot and stir rice. Serve and garnish with fresh parsley if you wish. Enjoy!
Tips and Substitutions:
- Make sure you rinse rice before cooking it- This will remove some of the starch and prevent rice from getting too mushy while pressure cooking.
- Use pre-packed cajun seasoning if desired- Use about 1 tablespoon at first, then adjust if desired once rice is done.
- Want a spicier rice?- Add about 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper to rice if you’d like it spicier.
- Don’t want rice mushy at all?- NPR for only 5 minutes instead of 10.
Meal Prepping it:
This is a great make ahead recipe if you want to meal prep some lunches for the week ahead. It’s super easy to make and holds in the fridge for up to 3 days. I do prefer it fresh out of the Instant Pot for the best taste. You can prep your seasoning and veggies ahead too as part of your meal prep. Have those ready to make for dinner.
Did you like this Instant Pot Cajun Chicken and Rice recipe? You may also like these other chicken recipes:
- Turmeric Chicken and Rice
- Easy Chicken Fried Rice
- Honey-Mustard Chicken and Potatoes
- Balsamic Chicken with Herb Roasted Potatoes
Looking for more easy and delicious Instant Pot recipes? Check these out:
- Instant Pot Taco Meat
- White Chicken Chili with Roasted Poblano Peppers
- Instant Pot Roasted Whole Chicken
- Instant Pot Creamy Mashed Potatoes
Instant Pot Cajun Chicken and Rice
Ingredients
Chicken and Rice
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 lb boneless chicken thighs
- 1 cup jasmine rice
- 1 yellow onion
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 2 carrots
- 1/2 cup corn
- 1 green bell pepper
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Cajun Seasoning:
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp chili flakes
- 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1/2 tsp thyme
- 1 tsp pink sea salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
-
In a small mixing bowl whisk together all of the ingredients for the Cajun seasoning. Set aside. Dice onions, mince garlic, dice carrots, and dice red and green bell peppers. Cut chicken thighs into bite sizes.
-
Open Instant Pot and set on sauté setting. Drizzle oil and bring to a heat. Toss in onions and sauté until translucent. About 2 minutes. Toss in garlic and continue to sauté for another 2 minutes. Next, add chicken and sauté until it cooks through and turns golden-brown. About 8-10 minutes. While chicken is cooking sprinkle in Cajun seasoning and stir chicken to make sure it gets well coated with seasoning.
-
Once chicken has browned, stir in your veggies; carrots, corn, red and green bell peppers. Add rice and stir making sure all of the ingredients are mixed together well. Pour in chicken broth.
-
Place lid on Instant Pot and seal valve. Set Instant Pot on pressure cook high and set for 8 minutes. It'll take a few minutes for pressure to build up before it starts to countdown from 8 minutes and pressure cook rice.
-
NPR for 10 minutes then manually release the rest of the pressure. Remove lid from Instant Pot and stir rice. Serve and garnish with fresh parsley if you wish. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Tips and Substitutions:
- Make sure you rinse rice before cooking it- This will remove some of the starch and prevent rice from getting too mushy while pressure cooking.
- Use pre-packed cajun seasoning if desired- Use about 1 tablespoon at first, then adjust if desired once rice is done.
- Want a spicier rice?- Add about 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper to rice if you’d like it spicier.
- Don’t want rice mushy at all?- NPR for only 5 minutes instead of 10.
*Number of total servings in estimated. Actual number of servings may vary depending on your own personal preference in portion sizes.
**Nutritional values shown are general guidelines for 1 serving using the ingredients listed above. These numbers do not reflect and may vary depending on substitutions, additions and/or different brands and/or other ingredients that may be used.
**Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links and sponsored content. All the opinions are my own and I only recommend products I use in my own home with my own family.
