This Spicy Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Meal Prep is inspired by the chicken burrito bowls from Chipotle! It’s so easy to make and takes less than 30 minutes to meal prep for four days!
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Spicy Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Meal Prep
Folks, it’s been freezing cold in Toronto. Like cycling through snow, ice, frozen rain, type of cold. I was excited about having a white Christmas but now that it’s mid-January, I’m over it. I have to put on base layers under my sweatpants to get to work! It’s practically like having to put on a costume because of all the additional layers! This weather essentially activated hibernation mode and when I’m at work and I want to cross the street for some Chipotle, I’ve got to go put on all my layers plus switch into my winter boot. Nope. There’s got to be a better way!
And thus, this Spicy Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Meal Prep was born! I want my Chipotle and this is pretty much the next best thing (well, number 1 now since it means I don’t have to go outside). With the Instant Pot, this meal is so easy to make and very hands off. You can also make this without the Instant Pot but you just have to go through a few extra steps.
What You Need For The Spicy Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Meal Prep
This Spicy Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Meal Prep is made in two steps. The first round, you put in
- rice
- salsa
- water
- oil
- chicken
- spices
Then after you pressure cook that, you open it and stir in
- beans
- corn
- cilantro
and then you just give it a stir and you’re ready to go! Easy right? Other things you can add in afterwards could be chopped red onions, sour cream, cheese, guac, and lettuce just like Chipotle does! However, mix sour cream and guac later, on the day of eating because it might spoil.
So What’s An Instant Pot?
I have the Duo Plus 9 in 1 Instant Pot. The Duo Plus replaces 9 commonly used kitchen appliances – Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice/Porridge Cooker, Yogurt Maker, Cake/Egg Maker, Sauté/Searing, Steam, Warm and Sterilize. It’s quite the multi-use product! Plus, because this is using the Instant Pot, it falls under the #OnePotRecipe category too! Minimal dishes! Win-Win-Win!
Tips for Making the Perfect Spicy Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Meal Prep
- Instead of water, you can use chicken broth to amp up the flavour in this chicken and rice meal prep
- I use these bento boxes to pack my chicken and rice to work
- If you want to mix it up, shred your chicken or cut it into smaller cubes and put it inside a tortilla and turn it into a burrito
- If you’re worried about your rice burning as you don’t want to add too much liquids, mix the rice mixture together in a separate bowl, place the chicken breasts down FIRST and then layer the rice on top of it!
- Turn this into a spicy meal prep burrito by shredding the chicken and rolling it up with tortilla wrap.
- Rinsing the rice first will remove some of the starch, and will help prevent the rice from sticking to the bottom of the Instant Pot.
How to Make This Spicy Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Meal Prep (1 min video)
Spicy Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Meal Prep
Ingredients
- 1 cup long grain white rice
- 430 ml salsa
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1.5-2 cups water* see notes
- 2 chicken breast each cut in half
- 1 tbsp garlic
- 1 tbsp chili
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp salt
add in after
- 1 can beans
- 1 cup corn
- cilantro
Instructions
Instant Pot Instructions
- Place the rice, water, salsa, and oil in the pot. Stir to combine.
- Place the chicken pieces on top and sprinkle generously with the spice mix, if you have left over spices, sprinkle it into the rice mix.
- Put your lid on and make sure to seal the little knob on it and turn the instant pot on high pressure for 8 minutes. When done, quick release.
- Once ready, open the lid and give it a quick stir before removing the chicken. Set it aside and mix in the beans, corn, and cilantro. Serve immediately or portion into containers for later.
Stove Top Instructions
- Mix 1 cup rice, salsa, and 2 cup water in small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil, cover with lid and reduce heat to low. Let it simmer, stirring every 5-7 minutes until rice is tender, about 20-25 minutes.
- Coat the chicken with your spice mix and in a cast iron, cook your chicken until it's done.
- Once the rice is done, stir in the beans, corn, cilantro, and the chicken. Serve immediately or portion into containers for later.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
FAQ’s for This Instant Pot Chicken and Rice
Can I Use A Different Rice for this chicken and rice recipe?
Yes, if they have the same cook time. Something like brown rice might not work as well but jasmin rice could work. Note: I have not tested this.
Can I Use Frozen Chicken?
I would not recommend it due to the chicken and rice cooking together in the Instant Pot, it could skew the liquid to rice ratio.
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Want to try another Instant Pot recipes? Check these recipes out
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Lori
Followed this recipe and unfortunately there wasn’t enough liquid and got a BURN message. Had to try to salvage supper by cooking it on the stove
Carmy
Hi Lori! I’m so sorry to hear. Do you mind if I double check what kind of rice you’re using? I’ve tried this a couple times and never got a burn message myself.
Lisa | Garlic & Zest
This looks like a really hearty meal for the whole week — and I love your tip about putting it on a tortilla like a burrito. I don’t have an instant pot (yet) but I do have a slow cooker and a regular pressure cooker (not to mention a monster dutch oven), so I’m confident I could make this recipe in a multitude of ways. I love the idea of the bento boxes for portioning out individual lunches too — I’m not nearly as crafty — relying on my tupperware to do the job. I may have to invest in a few bentos.
The Foodie Journey
I do not have a instant pot but Im sure I could make this in a pot instead. It looks delicious! Im always after simple yet nutritious recipes and this one seems perfect! Thanks for sharing
Amanda
I love chipotle so much so having this for lunch just makes my day so amazing. Although, it doesn’t last me all week because I keep giving myself extra big portions hehehe
Gloria
Meal preps are becoming very popular. Sure helps during the busy weeknights for dinner. This sounds and looks delicious. We all need a little help in the kitchen.
Susie
Thank goodness it is finally spring.. I hope you are finally having some warmer weather in Canada. Just reading your post made me so glad the snow is gone!
I have the same Instant Pot as you and I LOVE it! Besides my grill it is probably one of my favorite appliances in my kitchen/house.
These burrito bowls look amazing. I would love this for summer lunch prep when the kids are home all day, every day. It would make my day a lot easier
Julia
Omg – don’t remind me of the winter! It was bad!! Love this recipe and video – so cute! I also like how you actually cut the chicken breasts in half. I find that a full chicken breast is often too much but most recipes (mine included) always assume 1 chicken breast per person and I never can finish a whole thing.
Patty
Nice recipe, meal prep is so handy and the instant pot is such a time saver. As a new user, I’m so glad for all the tips you are giving, I hope I can use only 1.5 cups of water like you and not get the burn notice, thanks!
michele
I really love the bento boxes you found for these, I like to make my meal prep meals look cute so when Im eating them my meals feel special! The burrito bowls at Chipotle are my favorite so you know I’ll be making these really soon! 🙂
Tina
I love how easy this is and healthy too. Meal prep is popular in my house. Everybody is always on the go and if we wait until last minute to pack a lunch, we end up eating fast food. I love this idea, I can easily adapt this to my slow cooker. Saving this, thank you!
Marisa Franca
At times like this I really miss not having an Insta-Pot!! Meal prep is a must in a busy household. We always get so tied up trying to finish what we start that our meals have to be made ahead or it’s throw something together at the last minute. This recipe is a real time saver.
Amanda
What a great recipe for the Instant Pot! I haven’t done a lot of chicken in it yet and this looks like the perfect recipe to prep for the week ahead. Love those zesty spices, and what a great idea to use a jar of prepared salsa. Easy and delish!
Tracy Koslicki
Oh I LOVE a good copycat recipe! And one that is EASY. Thank you for both with this one. Although jeez as if I needed MORE reasons for this magical Instant Pot but this may be the recipe that finally gets my husband to break down and get me one! 😉
Dan
IP was used for the recipe. I used brown rice and a cup and a half of chicken broth. Rice came out a little soupy but it was tasty. Will try again with a cup and a half.
Carmy
Thanks for letting me know! I’m glad it was tasty! 🙂
Daniel
Any time. Should have said one cup of broth. 😛
Joy
Could this recipe be doubled without changing the cook time?
Carmy
I would stay within Instant Pot’s suggestion of 6 minutes per lb of chicken if you were to double the recipe 🙂
Janice - Salads for Lunch
Oh I love when I come across a recipe where I already have all the ingredients in the house. This looks easy and delicious!