Learn how to cook rice perfectly every time with these Instant Pot rice recipes! These dishes are so easy and delicious you’ll want to make them every day.
So much can go wrong when cooking rice on the stove. Cook it too long, and it’s a mushy mess. If you take it off the stove too soon, it’s crunchy. No one wants that.
These easy recipes ensure you never again encounter any kind of rice-cooking fiasco.
From fluffy Basmati and Jasmine rice to simple long grain rice—the Instant Pot does all the heavy lifting.
Check out these Instant Pot Rice recipes for a great way to infuse properly cooked rice for lunch, dinner, and even dessert.
1. Creamy Instant Pot Rice Pudding
Rice pudding doesn’t get the praise it deserves—at least not in the States. If you have a bag of rice in your cupboards, you are halfway there to a rich and creamy dessert.
The trick to transforming rice into creamy goodness is sweetened condensed milk.
Fragrance spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla pack massive flavor, and you can’t forget a healthy pour of caramel syrup!
2. Instant Pot Chicken and Rice
Chicken and rice are always a family favorite, but it requires so. many. dishes.
Everything in this dish cooks right inside the Instant Pot, saving your oodles of time.
While it’s rich garlicky flavors, you don’t need to spend time tirelessly peeling garlic.
Cut a head of unpeeled garlic in half, throw it in, and it infuses your chicken and rice with the essence of garlic sans the tedious peeling.
3. Instant Pot Garlic Herb Chicken and Rice
Are you looking for an easy weeknight meal that even the pickiest of eaters will love? Transform simple pantry staples into a buttery, cheesy chicken and rice dish in 35 minutes!
The chicken thighs (with bone) infuse many flavors into buttery rice with a subtle kick from lemon juice.
Garish with a bit of Parmesan cheese and serve with a crisp garden salad.
4. Instant Pot Garlic and Herb Rice
There’s no dinner you can’t jazz up with a bit of garlic and herb rice.
It’s so simple it works with just about anything from grilled chicken to taco Tuesday.
Adding fresh herbs like parsley and chives elevates the rich flavors from the rice and garlic, and it comes out light, fluffy, and delicious.
5. Instant Pot Fried Rice
With your handy Instant Pot, you can make restaurant-style fried rice without the need to dust off your wok.
It’s a great way to use up all the veggies in your fridge before they go bad, but you can also use frozen mixed vegetables to save time.
Add eggs for protein and flavor, and serve alone or with your favorite dinnertime protein.
6. Instant Pot Basmati Rice
Basmati rice is the perfect pairing for super saucy Indian or Asian cuisine. When cooked properly, it’s light and fluffy and soaks up curry sauce like a dream.
Making it on the stove is trickier than short grain rice, so it’s time to employ the Instant Pot.
For added Indian flavors, toss a little ghee into the cooking water for rich buttery basmati rice ready for a curry.
7. Instant Pot Yellow Rice
Yellow rice, or Nasi Kuning, is a staple in Indonesian cooking.
It earns its fragrant coloring from turmeric with sweet and salty notes from soy sauce and coconut milk.
Garnish lightly with coconut flakes, salt, and pepper to add more flavor to your rice.
The light and fluffy rice pairs well with grilled chicken or steak. To keep it vegetarian, serve with roasted veggies.
8. Instant Pot Chicken Souvlaki Rice
Traditional chicken and rice get a Mediterranean makeover with this super healthy Souvlaki rice dish.
The key to flavorful Souvlaki is all about that marinade! It’s filled with robust herbs that soak into every last morsel of your chicken for massive flavor without much extra effort.
Serve your Souvlaki with bright roasted veggies, and marry all those flavors together with a creamy tzatziki sauce.
9. Instant Pot Spinach Rice
Whether you want a vegetarian dinner dish or a lighter boxed lunch, this Instant Pot spinach rice dish makes for easy meal prep.
Spinach and herbs infuse hearty and earthy flavors into the rice, and the entire flavor profile lifts with a dash of lemon juice.
Make a big batch ahead of time, and store it in the fridge when you need to whip up a quick dinner or bring something more satisfying to work.
10. Instant Pot Brown Rice
Brown rice is the ultimate healthy side dish, but it seems to take forever to cook on the stove.
If you want a healthier rice alternative but don’t have all evening to watch a pot of brown rice, this recipe cooks in half the time!
Pair simple brown rice with grilled veggies and chicken, or use it as a base for your favorite Asian cuisine.
11. Instant Pot Jasmine Rice
Like Basmati rice, Jasmine rice has that perfect fluffy yet sticky consistency for saucy Asian dishes.
When cooked in an Instant Pot, it fluffs up perfectly in half the time when cooking on the stove.
Toss a little olive oil for a hint of flavor and season with salt.
12. Instant Pot Paella with Chicken and Sausage
Paella has never been so simple!
If you are a little reluctant to try this Spanish dish, let your Instant Pot do all the tricky bits for you.
Chicken and sausage impart tons of savoy and meaty flavors that pair perfectly with saffron and rich spices and veggies.
If you can chop vegetables, you have all the skills needed for a crowd-pleasing paella.
13. Instant Pot Seafood Paella
Are you looking for a paella recipe that’s a little lighter? Swapping out chicken and sausage for seafood is a great way to keep flavors high and calories low.
It infuses fresh veggies and smoky spices that go great with fresh seafood.
Everything (even the rice!) cooks together in the Instant Pot in 30 minutes.
It’s an excellent dish when you need to feed an army or love leftovers.
14. Instant Pot Osso Buco
Osso Buco is a popular Italian dish incorporating veal shank, risotto, tomatoes, and wine.
It’s a notoriously difficult dish, but with an Instant Pot (and a few tweaks here and there), it’s a perfect dinnertime dish for even cooking newbies.
While the recipes call for veal shank, you can easily replace it with any lamb or beef shank cut.
15. Instant Pot Chickpea Biryani
You’ve heard of chicken biryani, but what about chickpea biryani?
This recipe is worth checking out if you are on the hunt for a great vegetarian alternative to this classic Indian dish.
Chickpea Biryani earns a spicy kick from garam masala, red chili, and green chili. If you don’t want to scratch your tongue, dial back the spice.
Paired with basmati rice (to soak up all that yummy sauce) and protein-rich chickpeas, it’s a great vegetarian alternative that doesn’t shy away from the flavor.
16. Instant Pot Mexican Beef Rice Casserole
Taco Tuesday doesn’t always have to be ground beef and crunchy tortilla shells.
This insanely addictive Mexican beef rice casserole packs satisfying Mexican flavors and doesn’t shy away from cheese.
Scoop out a serving and pair it with guac and tortilla chips for a dinner feast that everyone will love.
17. Instant Pot Dirty Rice
Are you on the hunt for classic comfort food to warm your bones this winter?
Dirty rice is the ultimate Cajun fare, incorporating punchy Cajun spices with ground beef and long grain rice.
Most of the ingredients on the list are pantry staples, so it’s an easy way to spice up dinnertime without making a special trip to the grocery store.