Instant Pot Fajita Rice

Top this easy Instant Pot Fajita Rice, loaded with juicy chicken and lots of cheese, with your favorite toppings to make a tasty meal your whole family will love. 

Suitable for gluten free diets. Post includes Weight Watchers points.

Hey, Mexican and Southwest flavor lovers…you have come to the right place because I got you some easy and really cheesy fajita rice cooked right in the Instant Pot. 

Move over, tacos and chicken fajitas! This super simple Instant Pot chicken fajita with rice one-pot meal is so easy to make, and cleanup is a breeze.

The juicy chicken, veggies, and rice are cooked in the same pot, and the addition of fajita seasoning gives it an explosion of flavor. I mean, what’s not to love about chicken fajita rice? Especially with all that cheese! #yum

Why Make This Recipe

• Feeds a Crowd – double the recipe and pull out for Cinco de Mayo, potlucks, game day gatherings, dinners, and Mexican feasts.
• Simple – made with everyday ingredients you probably already have on hand.
• Meal – make extra and meal prep or freeze for later.
• Frugal – cooked rice is filling, so you can use less meat and still have a totally satisfying meal.
• Dietary – suitable for gluten free diets.

And if you love Mexican then you for sure will love these Instant Pot Chicken Fajita Pasta, 5 ingredient Chicken Fajita Casserole, and super easy Chicken Fajita Foil Packs.

Ingredient Notes

• Rice – We’re using white basmati rice, a type of long grain rice, for this recipe. If you use brown rice, you may need to extend the cooking time. 
• Chicken Breast – Select boneless skinless chicken breasts. You can swap in boneless skinless chicken thighs if preferred.
• Chicken Stock – Chicken stock adds great flavor to this recipe. You can use water if you don’t have stock on hand. You can also substitute vegetable stock. 
• Veggies – Onions and bell peppers are standard fare for fajitas. Use your favorite onions, and green bell peppers are fine, but yellow and red add great color. If you want spice, add in some poblano peppers or jalapenos. 
• Seasonings – Fajita seasoning and smoked paprika give this dish a smoky Mexican flavor. Use taco seasoning or regular paprika, or even chili powder if that’s what you have on hand. 
• Dairy – Use whatever cheese you have on hand. Cheddar and Monterey Jack are our favorites. Some sour cream to top it off really completes this.

How To Make Chicken Fajita Rice

Get full ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

1. Add the diced chicken breast, chicken stock, rinsed rice, onions, and peppers to the Instant Pot.
2. Sprinkle on the fajita seasoning, salt, and paprika, making sure to not stir.
3. Cover and cook at high pressure for 4 minutes, followed by a quick pressure release.
4. Open the lid and stir in the salsa, sour cream, and cheese and let sit for 5 minutes until the cheese melts. 
5. Serve fajita chicken rice in bowls with your favorite toppings and a squeeze of fresh lime juice. 

Toppings Ideas

Topping these Instant Pot Fajita Rice Bowls is so fun and lets everyone customize their bowl to match their cravings and favorite flavors. Here are some suggestions:

• Pico de Gallo
• Black Beans
• Mexican Street Corn Salad
• Sliced Avocado
• Pico de Gallo
• More Cheese
• More Sour Cream
• Cilantro
• Diced Tomatoes

Tips For Success

• Rinse your rice beforehand. It removes excess starch, so the grains are less sticky. 
• Add the salsa, sour cream, and cheese AFTER you pressure cook the chicken and rice. 
• I like to fluff rice before serving.

Delicious Variations

Chicken and Rice Fajita Bowls are yummy, but it’s easy to make changes to fit your needs.

• Make it meatless – Leave out the chicken for a meatless meal. For a vegetarian meal, use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock or chicken broth. 
• Make it EXTRA spicy – Add in slices of poblano or jalapeno peppers and use a spicy salsa for an extra spicy fajita chicken rice bowl. 
• Change the meat – feel free to use turkey instead of chicken.

Budget-Friendly Tips 

• Make Your Own Fajita Seasoning – Seasoning blends are easy to make yourself, and you probably have all the individual spices in your pantry to make your own fajita seasoning. 
• Double the Recipe – Make twice as much so you only have to cook once and use the leftovers for easy meals throughout the week. 
• Use Leftover Chicken –  Substitute leftover chicken from a previous meal or use rotisserie chicken. 
• Make Tacos –  Scoop leftover chicken fajita rice into tortillas with lettuce, refried beans, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, and sour cream to make a new meal from your leftovers. 
• Freeze Onions and Bell Peppers – Toss leftover raw onions and bell pepper into freezer-safe containers and save for up to 2 months. It makes meal prep super easy!

Make Ahead and Storage

• Make Ahead – This meal is perfect for making ahead and reheating when you are ready to eat. 
• Store – Store cooked chicken and rice in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
• Freeze – Leftover rice can be stored in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months. Defrost the rice by placing it in the fridge overnight.
• Reheat in the microwave or in a skillet. You may need to add a bit of water or stock if the rice is a little dry. 

Meal Prep With Leftovers

This is a great recipe for meal prep. Cook once and eat for days!

• This recipe stores for 4 days so you can eat it on the day you cook it plus 4 more days.
• Separate leftover rice and store in up to 4 portions inside airtight meal prep containers (microwave safe), then let cool completely with the lids off.
• When cool, close the lids and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
• To reheat, it is best to add a splash of water and then reheat in 1-minute increments in the microwave until warmed through.
• To vary it up through the week, feel free to turn it into a burrito style wrap with tortillas, make into a fajita rice bowl, or serve alongside grilled meat, a large salad, or with other leftovers like cooked veggies or frozen corn.

FAQs

More Recipes You May Like

• Instant Pot Chicken Fajita Pasta.
• 5 Ingredient Chicken Fajita Casserole.
• Chicken Fajitas Foil Packets.
• Chicken Burrito Bowl.
• Instant Pot Chicken Fajitas.

Weight Watchers Points

There are 9 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.

Tools To Make This

• An awesome Instant Pot.
• Measuring cups and spoons.
• An awesome spatula.
• A sharp knife make cutting so much easier.

Get The Instant Pot Fajita Rice Recipe: