Instant Pot Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken & Rice

If you need a quick, comforting dinner that doesn’t leave you with a pile of dishes, this Instant Pot Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken & Rice is one to save.

Tender chicken and fluffy rice cook together with garlic and Italian seasoning before everything gets finished with heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. The result is a creamy, savory dinner the whole family can enjoy—and it’s ready in about 30 minutes from start to finish.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: About 20 minutes
Serves: 6

Ingredients

1½ lbs chicken breast, cubed
1½ cups long-grain white rice
2 cups chicken broth
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ cup heavy cream
¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

Set the Instant Pot to Sauté. Add the cubed chicken, season lightly with salt and pepper, and cook for a few minutes until lightly browned. The chicken doesn’t need to be completely cooked through at this point.
Add the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and onion powder. Stir and cook briefly until the garlic becomes fragrant.
Pour in the chicken broth and scrape the bottom of the pot well to loosen any browned bits. This is an important step to help prevent a burn warning while pressure cooking.
Sprinkle the long-grain white rice evenly over the chicken and broth. Gently press down any rice that isn’t touching the liquid, but do not stir.
Secure the lid and set the Instant Pot to HIGH pressure for 6 minutes.
Once the cooking time is complete, allow the pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes. Carefully release any remaining pressure before opening the lid.
Stir the chicken and rice together.
Pour in the heavy cream and add the grated Parmesan. Stir until the cheese melts and everything becomes creamy and well combined.
Taste and add additional salt and pepper as needed. Serve warm with a little extra Parmesan on top, if desired.

A Quick One-Pot Dinner

The Instant Pot makes this recipe especially convenient because the chicken and rice cook together in the same pot. Instead of juggling several pans and side dishes, you get a hearty dinner with minimal cleanup.

The garlic and Parmesan give it plenty of savory flavor, while the cream transforms the rice into something rich and comforting without requiring a separate sauce.

It’s a great recipe for busy weeknights, back-to-school season, or those evenings when you just don’t feel like cooking something complicated.

What to Serve With It

Since the chicken and rice make this a pretty hearty meal on their own, keep the sides simple. Try serving it with steamed broccoli, green beans, asparagus, or a fresh garden salad.

You can also add a little chopped parsley and freshly grated Parmesan on top just before serving.

A Few Tips for the Best Chicken & Rice

For this recipe, stick with long-grain white rice since different varieties of rice can require different amounts of liquid and cooking time.

Also, don’t skip scraping the bottom of the Instant Pot after browning your chicken. Getting those browned pieces off the bottom helps prevent the dreaded burn notice.

Finally, the rice may look a little loose immediately after adding the cream and Parmesan. Give it a couple of minutes to sit and it will continue to thicken as it cools.

Quick Tip: For an even creamier finish, add the Parmesan gradually while stirring so it melts smoothly into the hot rice.