Rice a Roni. With or without chicken.
Decide If you will be adding Chicken, I use Bone in Skin on Thighs. The recipe also includes instructions on the adjustments that you will need to do if you dont want the onion or if you dont want to do it with Chicken.
Make sure that if you are making Chicken with this that you DECREASE the Liquid by 1/4 c (you will use 1 3/4 c) this allows for the added liquid that the Chicken will make. If using Organic Chicken then ignore this note, (organic is not injected with liquids). You will need to Season and Brown it well on both sides while you sauté the rice, vermicelli and onion… then you will add it when it’s ready to put the lid on.
FOR THE CHICKEN:
4 bone in Skin on Chicken Thighs…. well seasoned on both sides with your favorite seasoning. (I use Johnnies seasoning.).
(Or use 2” chunks of raw Chicken but decrease the cook time to just 4/10NPR)
don’t forget to decrease water/ broth for the rice to 1 3/4c). * If you want to cut the Chicken into smaller 2” chunks, then you don’t need to pre Saute it, just toss it in and pressure cook for 4 min/10 min NPR. 2 Tbsp EVOO
FOR THE RICE -A-RONI:
1 1/2 cups Jasmine, Basmati or long grain rice.
1 c vermicelli.
1/2 stick butter.
1-1 1/4 c Onion-Chopped
1 clove Garlic- minced
2 cups Chicken Broth plus 1/4 tsp Salt (1 3/4 c if making the Chicken too) OR use water with 2 tsp Costco’s Reduced Sodium Better than Bullion Chicken).
NOTE: If you are making just the Rice-a-Roni alone and leaving out the Onions and Garlic, then and only then, you will increase the liquid to 2 1/2 c . Staying with the 1:1 rice to liquid ratio. Make sense?
If your not using Chicken then skip that step and continue on to “Turn the Instant Pot to Saute……” you will still turn the pot off after you brown the rice and vermicelli to deglaze…and then set the time to 4 min with 10 min NPR.
*If using Chicken, Use a separate frying pan on medium, with 2 Tbsp of Olive oil. Place seasoned Chicken Skin side down for about 5 min and carefully pull up and flip. It should be golden brown.
When the Chicken has browned, remove it from the pan and use some of the liquid for the rice mixture to deglaze the pan, stir it around to get all the brown off.
While Chicken is cooking….
*Turn the Instant Pot to sauté, Medium …melt butter and add the rice and vermicelli, stir continuously for a few minutes until rice starts to brown slightly. Add Onion and Garlic and continue to sauté for a minute and then add the Better than Bullion to the water, stir. Add liquid. Stir the rice mixture well to get the brown off the bottom.
Turn pot off. Add all the liquid to the rice mixture and stir around for a few seconds to get any brown off the bottom of the pot.
Gently add Chicken to the top…by just lightly Laying it on top of the Rice mixture and then turn the pot on to manual for 4 min…let it fully NPR, 15-20 min, or for smaller chicken chunks then NPR for 10min. Remove Chicken and fluff with a spatula or wooden spoon.
If your adding Chicken…. see below starting with the Chicken in the frying pan.
