Description
This Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Burrito Bowl is a quick, flavorful one-pot meal combining tender chicken, seasoned rice, black beans, corn, and salsa. Ready in just 25 minutes, it’s perfect for a wholesome, satisfying dinner with customizable toppings like cheese, avocado, and sour cream.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup long-grain white rice, rinsed
- 1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 1 cup chunky salsa (mild or spicy)
- 1 ½ cups chicken broth (or water)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Optional Toppings
- Shredded cheese
- Chopped cilantro
- Avocado slices
- Sour cream
- Lime wedges
Instructions
- Sauté Aromatics: Set the Instant Pot to sauté mode. Add olive oil, diced onions, and minced garlic. Cook until they are softened and fragrant, approximately 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
- Cook Chicken: Add the bite-sized chicken pieces to the pot. Season with salt and pepper. Sauté the chicken until it is lightly browned on the outside but not fully cooked through, about 4-5 minutes. Stir occasionally to ensure even cooking.
- Add Remaining Ingredients: Stir in the rinsed white rice, black beans, frozen corn, chunky salsa, and chicken broth. Make sure to scrape the bottom of the pot carefully to deglaze and prevent any ingredients from sticking or burning during pressure cooking.
- Pressure Cook: Secure the Instant Pot lid and set it to Manual or Pressure Cook mode on high pressure for 10 minutes to cook the chicken and rice fully.
- Release Pressure: Once the cooking cycle completes, allow the pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes to finalize cooking. Then carefully perform a quick release to release any remaining pressure.
- Serve: Open the lid, fluff the mixture with a fork to combine. Serve the chicken and rice mixture in bowls with your choice of optional toppings such as shredded cheese, chopped cilantro, avocado slices, sour cream, and lime wedges for added freshness and flavor.
Notes
- Rinsing the rice helps remove excess starch and prevents it from becoming sticky.
- Use chicken thighs for juicier, more flavorful results; chicken breasts work well for leaner bowls.
- Feel free to swap chicken broth with vegetable broth or water if preferred.
- Adjust salsa spice level to taste, using mild for less heat or spicy for more kick.
- Natural pressure release helps maintain moisture and texture in the rice and chicken.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat easily in a microwave or stovetop pan.
