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    Home » Recipes » Entrees

    Instant Pot Easy Cheesy Broccoli Rice

    Published: Mar 19, 2018 · Modified: Jun 21, 2022 by Lauren · This post may contain affiliate links · 3 Comments

    Jump to Recipe  ↓

    This cheesy broccoli rice is an easy and healthy meal made in the Instant Pot - Add in your favorite protein for a complete meal.

    Instant pot rice and cheese

    Who among you has not bought the marvel they call the Instant Pot??

    Recipes are flowing like water from food bloggers across the web, as the renowned pressure cooker is having a moment. From cake to soup to mashed potatoes, this versatile piece of equipment can seemingly do it all!

    My favorite ways to use it are for rice and beans. I love the freedom of not having to watch over the stovetop! It makes my life much easier, especially, if I have other tasks to tend to.

    Instant Pot broccoli rice

    Also, it has been so great to make dried beans without the mandatory eight-hour plus soak. I buy dried beans (which are cheaper and less 'sketchy' than their canned counterparts), add water and boom! Soft, creamy beans like the ones in this recipe (my fave!).

    We're not talking beans today, however, we're talking rice...my second favorite food in ze world!

    I eat rice a good 5-6 times each week, so I'm always looking for new ways to make it taste delicious. My favorite pairings include the classic chicken and broccoli, which this recipe is a spin on.

    Onion, garlic, carrot, and broccoli are briefly sautéed in olive oil and pressure cooked to a creamy consistency. This is a great way to get the kids to eat broccoli too, as this process breaks the cruciferous stalks down into soft, indiscernible bits, akin to risotto.

    Pressure cooker rice and cheese recipe

    After removing the Instant Pot lid, I like to stir in a good handful of cheese, some cooked chicken or beans, and a smattering of finely chopped kale or parsley.

    It makes a hearty, one pot meal that everyone is happy with!

    Pressure cooker rice and cheese recipe
    Print Recipe
    4 from 6 votes

    Instant Pot Easy Cheesy Broccoli Rice

    Creamy, vegetable-packed brown rice that is the perfect base for your protein of choice!
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time22 mins
    Total Time32 mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Rice
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 407kcal

    Ingredients

    • 1 ½ Tbsp olive oil
    • ½ yellow onion chopped (about one cup)
    • 4 garlic cloves minced
    • 1 medium carrot grated
    • 2 heads broccoli chopped (about four cups)
    • 1 tsp oregano
    • pinch red pepper flakes, to taste
    • 2 cups short grain brown rice
    • 2 ½ cups water
    • sea salt, to taste (I add about 1-2 teaspoons)
    • 1 - 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese grated

    Instructions

    • Add the oil, onion, garlic, and a good pinch of salt to your Instant Pot, and hit the 'Saute' button.
    • Cook 2-3 minutes until softened.
    • Stir in the grated carrot, broccoli, oregano, and red pepper flakes, and cook another 1-2 minutes.
    • Add in the rice and water.
    • Lock the lid in place, making sure the seal the vent.
    • Hit 'Manual' and set the pressure to 22 minutes (it should be on high).
    • Hit 'Manual' once more and wait for the Instant Pot to beep at the end of 22 minutes.
    • Once it beeps, let the pot sit untouched for 10 minutes.
    • Vent the remaining steam and carefully open the lid.
    • Add in the cheese and stir until it melts.
    • Stir in any protein or herbs of choice.
    • Enjoy!

    Notes

    Nutrition facts based on using 1 1/2 cups of cheddar cheese. No protein was included due to subjectivity. WW SmartPoints: 13

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 | Sugar: 3.9g | Fiber: 6.4g | Calories: 407kcal | Fat: 15.1g | Protein: 13.2g | Carbohydrates: 58.7g

    Notes:

    Add cheese as you desire. Sometimes I like a cheesier bite and add up to 1 1/2 cups.

    At the end of cook time, stir in some chopped cooked chicken or beans for a protein boost.

    I occasionally add in some chopped kale or parsley at the end as well. The heat from the rice is enough to cook the kale through while retaining its pretty green color.

    These are some of the items I use to make this recipe:


    Recipe Steps:

    Sauteing the onion...

    Add in the broccoli...

    ...and the rice...

    Post-cook...

    Top it all off with a little parmesan, if you like...

    Rice and broccoli recipe made in the Instant Pot

     

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    Filed Under: Entrees, Instant Pot

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Aryana

      August 03, 2018 at 3:59 pm

      Made this tonight and it was absolutely delicious! I even made it vegan by adding cashew cheese sauce instead of the cheddar cheese. Will definitely make again! Thanks for sharing 🙂

      Reply
      • Lauren

        August 05, 2018 at 2:49 pm

        I'm glad you enjoyed it, Aryana! 🙂

        Reply
    2. Lilly

      March 19, 2018 at 8:51 am

      I know i'm going to love this! I'm really looking forward to adding this to my meal rotation!

      Reply

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    Hi there, I'm Lauren Goslin, and I've been a food blogger for over ten years. My goal with this blog is to show you healthy, lower sugar recipes that my family and I enjoy.

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