Chicken Pulao Instant Pot Recipe

This quick and easy one-pot chicken and rice meal is a great gateway dish to Indian cuisine. It’s aromatic and mildly flavored with Indian spices. Thanks to the instant pot, making chicken pulao is nearly effortless.

Chicken Pulao

Everyone knows of chicken biryani, right? Chicken Biryani is famous. Like a hall of fame, superstardom level famous. Well, let me introduce you to chicken pulao, the quiet and shy relative of biryani who isn’t as interested in the limelight. Don’t get me wrong, pulao is still very special – pulao just isn’t an A-list celebrity if you know what I mean. Still, there are times when you might prefer pulao to biryani.

What is the difference between Pulao and Biryani?

Truthfully, I wasn’t even sure if I should share a recipe for chicken pulao on the blog. Why? Because with an Instant Pot, you can make Chicken Biryani and chicken pulao in the same amount of time. That’s right. Both take the same amount of effort to make. So why would anyone choose to make humble pulao over showy biryani? I’m going to tell you why of course!

For one thing – sometimes you just want a dish that’s a bit lighter, with a bit less spice. A dish that’s wholesome and delicious and isn’t going to steal the show/overpower other dishes. Chicken pulao is a dish that’s comfortable saying “hey, I don’t need to be the star today. Let’s all shine equally.”

Chicken pulao is also a great gateway dish if you’re introducing someone to Indian food for the first time or if you’re making this for kiddos who aren’t accustomed to spices. It’s familiar because it tastes like a regular pilaf… with chicken and aromatic whole spices. 

In the past – as in pre-Instant Pot – chicken pulao was the easier dish to make compared to biryani which took far more time and effort. Pulao was a dish that Indian families served more regularly: on weeknights, for gatherings, whenever a nice – but quick – dish was required. Pre-IP, chicken pulao was made in Indian homes more often than biryani. And because of that reason, sometimes when I’m feeling nostalgic for pulao or am in the mood for something a bit lighter, I’ll opt for pulao over biryani.

The great thing about chicken pulao is that it’s easy to adapt – you can use whatever whole spices you prefer – just don’t forget the caramelized onions, those are key. And if you prefer a spicier pulao, just add cayenne or chili peppers or well, more spices.

Instant Pot Pulao Chicken Ingredients:

Best Rice for Pulao and Biryani

If you’ve made my biryani before then you might notice that this chicken pulao is a teeny bit saucier than my chicken biryani – I think the reason for that is because there aren’t quite as many ground spices to soak up the extra moisture. For that reason, I suggest using basmati rice that will hold up under pressure.

I have said it many times – but this brand of rice – is my favorite when it comes to making basmati rice in an Instant Pot. The grains maintain their texture and remain separate. That can’t be said about all brands, so if you’re using a different brand you may need to reduce the cook time or the soak time. Play around with the cook time until you get the rice the way you prefer. I wish I could test all brands but the truth is, after buying aahu barah rice I really don’t want to use any other (this is not sponsored – I’ve bought every grain of rice myself, lol).

How to Make this Instant Pot Chicken Pulao Recipe

The process is very simple and I have a step-by-step breakdown in the recipe card below. We’re sauteing whole spices and then caramelizing sliced onions before adding garlic, ginger, and chicken. Stir-fry for a few minutes, then add water and rice to the pot. Close the lid and cook! Told you, it’s so easy!

Storing and Reheating Pulao

You can store chicken pulao in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days or in the freezer for a couple of months. You can reheat it on the stovetop or using a microwave.

Instant Pot Pulao Serving Suggestions

You can serve this chicken pulao with some Raita and achar/pickle for a perfect and simple meal. It would also go really well with my Curried Tomato Soup, which is also a great way to use up fresh ripe tomatoes. Here are some other ideas:

I can’t wait to hear what you think of this chicken pulao. If you’ve tried both my Chicken Biryani and my chicken pulao you really have to let me know what you think!

Instant Pot Chicken Pulao Recipe

Instant Pot Chicken Pulao Recipe

4.81 from 46 reviews

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Ingredients

 

• ▢ 1 cup basmati rice soaked 15 minutes
• ▢ 2 tablespoons oil or ghee

Whole Spices

• ▢ 1 ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
• ▢ 3 green cardamom pods
• ▢ 3 whole cloves
• ▢ 1 bay leaf
• ▢ 1 black cardamom
• ▢ ½ cinnamon stick
• ▢ ½ teaspoon whole black peppercorns

• ▢ 2 medium onions thinly sliced
• ▢ 2 teaspoons minced garlic or garlic paste
• ▢ 1 teaspoon minced ginger or ginger paste
• ▢ 1 pound boneless and skinless chicken thighs cut into quarters

Spices

• ▢ 1 ½ teaspoons salt adjust to taste
• ▢ ½ teaspoon coriander powder
• ▢ ½ teaspoon garam masala
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon turmeric

• ▢ 1 cup water
• ▢ Cilantro garnish

Instructions

 

• Soak the basmati rice in cold water for 15 minutes. Drain, rinse and set aside.
• Press the sauté button. Add the oil/ghee to the pot. When it melts, add the whole spices and stir. Once they begin to sizzle add the onions. Stir-fry for 7-8 minutes or until the onions turn golden brown.
• Add the garlic, ginger, chicken and spices. Stir-fry for 5 minutes or until most of the outside of the chicken is no longer pink.
• Add the rice and water to the pot and mix well.
• Secure the lid, close the pressure valve and cook for 6 minutes at high pressure.
• Naturally release pressure for 10 minutes. Open the valve to release any remaining pressure.
• Discard the whole spices if desired, sprinkle with cilantro and serve.

Notes

• I love this brand of basmati rice – the rice grains are always perfectly cooked! If you are using another brand you may need to reduce the cook time – play around with the times depending on how you prefer your rice.

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