This instant pot chicken recipe keeps the stove clean and allows you to both sauté and pressure cook. And of course to make things even easier, if you have a rice cooker (in addition to the pressure cooker)- get that rice going at the same time. This meal will come together in no time. The chicken has so much flavor and literally falls off the bone. It’s easy comfort food and I don’t think it gets better than that. Afghan food for the win!
RICE
If you have a rice cooker you want to get started on your rice first. Get your rice washed then allow it to soak for 30 min- 1 hour in order to really let the grains expand. If you don’t have time for this you can just wash and begin. Your grains just won’t be THAT soft (I do this plenty of times in a rush). Starting our with your rice first also allows you to focus on the chicken and by the time you’re done with it the rice will be done too.
RICE CONTINUED…
Rice cooker ratio for BASMATI/SELLA rice only: for every 1 cup of rice its 1.5 cups of water
I love “mother rice” by Aahu Barah and Royal Sella Basmati is good too. For this recipe I used 2 cups of rice. Put the washed, soaked, and drained rice into the rice cooker. Add 3 cups of water. 1 tablespoon of salt and a drizzle of oil. Mix, close the lid- turn on “white rice” function and let it do its thing! Once it’s done- fluff with a fork and put on “keep warm” function until ready to serve.
CHICKEN steps broken down + simplified
(this timing is for bone in chicken leg only. if you change the cut of meat your pressure cook time will change)
On saute mode (high) get going your diced onion and oil.
Once sautéed down slightly, add in all your spices, tomato paste, and garlic. Let that saute for just 1-2 minutes and add in your chicken.
Allow that to sear for 5-8 minutes until you don’t see much pink anymore. Now add in the pureed tomatoes, mix and add in water.
Close the lid and switch to pressure cook function (high) for 15 minutes. When pressure cook is done- release ALL pressure.
Open lid and turn saute mode back on (high) for 10-15 minutes until the liquid as reduced and thickened into a gravy consistency.
Turn off- add in freshly chopped cilantro. Toss + you are ready to serve! See below for exact measurements.
LINK TO PRESSURE COOKER + RICE COOKER:
The instant pot is the DUO PLUS which also has a rice cooker function so if you just get this one you’ll have it all in one. But if you want the EXTRA rice cooker on the side to get things done at once- the “AROMA” is the rice cooker only- TAP TO SHOP
WATCH FULL INSTAGRAM VIDEO
INSTANT POT CHICKEN + rice
Equipment
- Pressure Cooker linked in post
- Rice Cooker linked in post
Ingredients
RICE
- 2 cups washed + soaked rice mother rice by aahu barah or royal SELLA basmati
- 3 cups water
- 1 tbsp salt
- oil drizzle
CHICKEN
- 8 pc chicken leg skin on or off. I did on
- 1/3 cup oil I use avocado
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 1 tbsp bouillon I used chicken (you can use any)
- 1 tbsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp salt increase to 1.5 tsp if you skipped the bouillon
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp turmeric
- 1/4 tsp cayenne optional for a little heat
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 3 tomatoes pureed (I used 8-9 small Campari tomatoes)
- 2 cups water or enough to JUST about cover the chicken
GARNISH
- chopped fresh cilantro
- thai chilies ( red or green ) or even sweet peppers in the end to throw in for garnish
Instructions
RICE
- after rice is washed, soaked, and drained. Place into rice cooker with water, salt, and oil. close lid and turn on "white rice" function
CHICKEN
- pressure cooker on HIGH saute mode
- saute chopped onion in oil for just a few minutes
- add in all spices. mix
- add in tomato paste and minced garlic
- saute for a minute
- add in chicken and let it sear for 5-8 minutes
- add in pureed tomatoes. mix. add water
- close lid
- switch to pressure cooker function on high for 15 minutes
- once done, release ALL pressure. open carefully
- switch to high saute mode again for 10-15 minutes until liquid has reduced and thickened to a gravy consistency.
- turn off. add cilantro and peppers
- mix. and ENJOY with rice
