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    Home » Recipes » Indian Main Course

    Easy Chicken Pulao Recipe (Instant Pot)

    Published: Sep 24, 2021 · Modified: Jul 18, 2023 by Shilpa Kerur · This post may contain affiliate links. 13 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video
    5 from 109 votes

    Instant Pot chicken pulao is a delicious one-pot meal that combines tender chicken with fragrant rice and aromatic spices. Made with moist chicken pieces, this Indian-style chicken and rice casserole is a flavorful and satisfying dish that can be prepared in 20 minutes.

    The rice is cooked to perfection, and the subtle flavors from the whole spices perfectly complement the tender chicken, making it a hit with the whole family.

    Chicken pulao.
    Jump to:
    • Why you will love this chicken pulao recipe?
    • Ingredients and substitutes
    • Variations
    • Step-by-step instructions
    • Expert tips to make Instant Pot chicken pulao
    • What to serve with chicken pulao?
    • Recipe FAQs
    • More chicken recipes
    • Recipe card
    • Comments

    Why you will love this chicken pulao recipe?

    • This one-pot chicken pulao recipe is a great option for those looking for a simple and versatile meal that can be served for busy weeknights or special occasions.
    • Made with basic and simple ingredients and spices, this Instant Pot chicken pulao recipe is easy to prepare and perfect for a quick and satisfying meal.
    Chicken pulao.

    Ingredients and substitutes

    instant pot chicken pulao ingredients

    Chicken: I use chicken legs or drumsticks to make the pulao. You can use any cut with either bone-in or boneless chicken.

    Rice: Use Basmati rice to make this chicken rice.

    Spices: The whole spices I use are bay leaves, green cardamom, black cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon. The powdered spices I use are garam masala, turmeric, and chili powder.

    See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

    Variations

    Yakhni pulao: Yakhni means broth, and yakhni pulao is a flavorful variation where the chicken is cooked in a broth made with a blend of whole spices and onions. The rice is then cooked in this chicken stock, resulting in a rich and aromatic pulao.

    Keema Pulao: Chicken keema pulao is made with ground chicken (keema) instead of chicken pieces. The keema is cooked with spices, onions, and tomatoes, and then the rice is added and cooked until done.

    Green chicken pulao: This variation uses a vibrant green masala made from cilantro, mint, green chilies, and spices. The chicken is cooked with this masala, giving the pulao a fresh and herbaceous flavor. You can find my recipe to make green vegetable pulao here.

    Tomato chicken pulao: In this variation, the chicken is cooked in a tomato-based gravy along with spices and aromatics. The rice is then added and cooked together, resulting in a tangy and flavorful pulao.

    Step-by-step instructions

    Make the marinade.
    Step 1: In a small bowl, add yogurt, ginger, garlic, turmeric, and red chili powder. Mix well.
    Marinate chicken pieces.
    Step 2: Add the chicken and mix well. Marinate the chicken for 30 minutes.
    Fry onions until golden brown.
    Step 3: Heat ghee and add the whole spices. Saute for a few seconds. Add onions and fry until the onion is golden brown.
    Saute the chicken legs.
    Step 4: Add the marinated chicken pieces to the caramelized onions and mix well. Cover and saute for 5 minutes.
    Instant Pot chicken pulao.
    Step 6: Pressure cook mode for 5 minutes on high pressure. Do a quick pressure release.
    Chicken pulao made in instant pot.
    Top with cilantro and mix gently before serving.

    Expert tips to make Instant Pot chicken pulao

    Wash the Basmati rice thoroughly in running water until the water runs clear. Then, soak it for 20-30 minutes. Soaking the rice is an important step while making any kind of pulao. Washing and soaking the rice will help to remove excess starch from it and achieve a non-sticky texture to the pulao.

    The water-to-rice ratio for this Instant Pot chicken pulao is 1:1. Adding more than this amount will make the rice sticky and mushy.

    The whole spices are important to make the best-tasting pulao. You may skip the ones you don't have access to, but it will definitely change the taste of the final dish. You can also add one teaspoon of cumin seeds along with other spices.

    Add green chilies along with onions to increase the heat. You can also add more red chili powder or cayenne to make a spicy pulao.

    Marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes. You can marinate the chicken for longer if you are planning ahead to make this dish. Place the marinated chicken in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight and then use it.

    I use chicken legs or drumsticks to make the pulao. You can use any cut with either bone-in or boneless chicken. Adjust the saute time accordingly.

    Click here for more one-pot meals recipes. Also, check out my collection of Indian rice recipes in Instant Pot.

    What to serve with chicken pulao?

    Raita and salad: Raita is a yogurt-based side dish that helps balance the spices in the pulao. Cucumber raita, onion raita, and mint raita are great options. Make a simple kachumber salad or slice cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions and place them on a wide plate. Sprinkle salt and lemon juice and serve.

    Papadums or Naan: Papadums (crispy lentil wafers) or naan bread are great options to serve alongside chicken pulao.

    Green Chutney: Green chutney add a zesty and refreshing element to the meal. It can be served as a dip or drizzled over the pulao. Whisk it with a dollop of yogurt to make yogurt mint chutney.

    Recipe FAQs

    What is the difference between chicken biryani and pulao?

    Both biryani and pulao are rice-based dishes. The most important difference is in the assembly of the dish. In pulao, soaked rice is added along with vegetables/meat and cooked while in biryani, the rice is parboiled first and then layered with a gravy/curry made with vegetables/meat.

    Which rice can I use to make pulao?

    Basmati rice works best for this dish. Not only does Basmati rice have a great aroma, but it also has long grains that if cooked correctly, are separate, non-lumpy, and do not stick to each other.

    Can I make it using a stovetop pressure cooker?

    Yes, a stovetop pressure cooker can be used. Follow this recipe and pressure cook for 2 whistles. Open the lid once the pressure goes down and mix the chicken and fluffy rice gently.

    How to make this chicken rice in a slow cooker?

    For a hands-off approach, you can prepare chicken pulao in a slow cooker. Sauté the ingredients and partially cook the chicken on the stovetop, then transfer them to a slow cooker along with the soaked rice and water. Cook on low heat for 4-6 hours until the rice and chicken are fully cooked.

    Chicken pulao.

    More chicken recipes

    • Chicken biryani.
      Authentic Hyderabadi Chicken Biryani
    • methi chicken in instant pot.
      Methi Chicken in Instant Pot (Methi Murg)
    • easy and delicious chicken curry.
      Easy Home-style Indian Chicken Curry
    • balti chicken served with naan.
      Balti Chicken in Instant Pot

    If you tried this Chicken Pulao Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below.

    Recipe card

    Chicken pulao.

    Instant Pot Chicken Pulao

    Instant Pot chicken pulao is a delicious one-pot meal that combines tender chicken with fragrant rice and aromatic spices. Made with moist chicken pieces, this Indian-style chicken and rice casserole is a flavorful and satisfying dish that can be prepared in 20 minutes. The rice is cooked to perfection, and the subtle flavors from the whole spices perfectly complement the tender chicken, making it a hit with the whole family.
    5 from 109 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Author: Shilpa Kerur
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Indian
    Servings: 4
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

    Ingredients

    For the marination:

    • 4 chicken drumsticks
    • ¼ cup yogurt
    • 1 inch ginger grated
    • 3 cloves garlic grated
    • ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
    • 1 teaspoon chili powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt

    For the pulao:

    • 1 cup Basmati rice
    • 2 tablespoon ghee (use store-bought or homemade ghee)
    • 1 large onion thinly sliced
    • 1 bay leaf
    • 4 cloves
    • 4 cardamom
    • 1 black cardamom
    • 1-2 small cinnamon sticks
    • 1 teaspoon garam masala (use store-bought or homemade garam masala)
    • ½-1 teaspoon salt adjust as per taste
    • ¼ cup cilantro
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    Prep and marinate:

    • Wash the Basmati rice thoroughly and soak it in water for 20-30 minutes.
    • In a small bowl, add yogurt, ginger, garlic, turmeric, salt, and chili powder. Mix well.
    • Add the chicken and mix well. Marinate the chicken for 30 minutes.

    Make the pulao:

    • Set the Instant Pot to saute mode and add ghee.
    • Once it heats, add the whole spices (bay leaf, green cardamom, clove, black cardamom, and cinnamon). Saute for a few seconds.
    • Add onions and fry until the onion is golden.
    • Add the marinated chicken pieces and mix well. Cover and saute for 5 minutes.
    • Drain the water from the soaked Basmati rice and add the rice.
    • Add garam masala, salt, and one cup of water and mix well.
    • Close the lid of the Instant Pot and seal the vent. Set the Instant Pot to pressure cook mode for 5 minutes.
    • Do a quick release of the pressure. Open the lid and gently fluff up the rice. Garnish with cilantro (coriander leaves).
    • Serve hot with raita.

    Video

    Notes

    Use Basmati rice or a good variety of long grain rice to make this pilaf. When cooked correctly, the grains will be separate, non-lumpy, and will stick to each other.
    Wash the Basmati rice thoroughly in running water until the water runs clear. Then, soak it for 20-30 minutes. Soaking the rice is an important step while making any kind of pulao. Washing and soaking the rice will help to remove excess starch from it and achieve a non-sticky texture to the pulao.
    The water to rice ratio for this Instant Pot chicken pulao is 1:1. Adding more than this amount will make the rice sticky and mushy.
    The whole spices are important to make the best-tasting pulao. You may skip the ones you don't have access to them but it will definitely change the taste of the final dish. You can also add one teaspoon of cumin seeds along with other spices.
    Calories: 406kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 66mg | Sodium: 63mg | Potassium: 314mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 318IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 67mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this Recipe? Share it Today!Mention @easyindiancookbook or tag #easyindiancookbook!

    You may also like:

    1. Skillet chicken pot pie.
    2. Turkey rice casserole.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Giangi Townsend says

      December 11, 2021 at 8:32 am

      5 stars
      Great recipe!! One of my favorite. Thank you so much for all your instruction pictures, they are helpful to me. So excited to make it for my family.
      Thank you for sharing

    2. Zhen of greedygirlgourmet says

      December 11, 2021 at 10:18 am

      5 stars
      So easy and delicious! I do love chicken recipes!

    3. Dawn Conklin says

      December 11, 2021 at 11:06 am

      5 stars
      This chicken pulao is so delicious! Love how quick and easy it is to make in the Instant Pot too. It's the perfect dinner for us on a busy day and everybody loved it so I will definitely be making it again.

    4. Andra says

      December 11, 2021 at 11:17 am

      5 stars
      I love how easy this is to make! Super tasty and gluten-free! Thank you so so much! <3

    5. Kayla DiMaggio says

      December 11, 2021 at 4:19 pm

      5 stars
      This instant pot chicken pulao is so delicious! We loved it and it was such a hearty dinner!

    6. Jeannie says

      December 11, 2021 at 8:37 pm

      5 stars
      I like how this recipe is done in 20minutes and only uses one pot to cook the recipe.

    7. Addie says

      December 11, 2021 at 10:40 pm

      5 stars
      Such an easy and delicious recipe!

    8. Gina Abernathy says

      December 12, 2021 at 8:02 am

      5 stars
      I love serving one pot meals. This easy chicken and rice is a breeze to make and the family loved it. Thanks for a great recipe.

    9. Cindy Mom the Lunch Lady says

      December 12, 2021 at 9:27 am

      5 stars
      I had convinced myself I didn't need an instant pot, since I don't really have room for yet another small appliance in my kitchen. Then I see recipes like this one and realize I really do need to get on the instant pot band wagon. This looks like such a flavourful and easy meal to make!

    10. Shilpa says

      December 12, 2021 at 3:53 pm

      I use my IP in so many dishes. I love how quickly I can finish cooking plus the clean-up is a breeze as it's just one pot!

    11. Jules says

      December 12, 2021 at 4:54 pm

      5 stars
      I freaking LOVE Indian food like love - literally thought about needing a good Indian food recipe yesterday! Guess the universe is listening thank you for posting this!

    12. KK says

      July 29, 2022 at 12:52 am

      5 stars
      I’ve tried other recipes in the past but this one is spot on! Really good! Thanks!

    13. Shilpa says

      July 29, 2022 at 5:54 am

      I am really glad you liked it, KK. Thank you for your feedback 🙂
      - Shilpa

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