Kick up your rice game with this quick and easy Instant Pot Spicy Rice. Packed with flavor and ready in minutes, it’s the perfect sidekick for any meal or the star of your next rice bowl.
I really love making this Instant Pot spicy rice. It’s a quick way to add some excitement to dinner without much fuss. Most of the cooking time is hands-off, and so its become a go-to for me, especially on busy days. The spice level is easy to adjust, and the rice pairs well with lots of different foods.
What do you need?
Equipment
You will need an electric pressure cooker to make this recipe. I use an Instant Pot, but any brand of electric pressure cooker or multicooker with a pressure cook function will work.
Key ingredients and substitutions
- Rice – This recipe uses long-grain white rice which is the traditional rice used to make this dish. However, you could substitute basmati or Jasmine rice if that is all you have. Don’t use arborio or risotto rice as it has a much higher starch content the dish will end up gummy.
- Stock – You can use vegetable or chicken broth or stock to make this recipe. If you are making a vegetarian version of this recipe be sure to choose vegetable stock!
- Garlic – This recipe requires four cloves of minced garlic. If you are using minced garlic from a jar, you will need around 4 teaspoons. Alternatively, substitute 1 teaspoon garlic powder.
- Tomato paste – This recipe uses tomato paste for flavor. For anyone in the UK, you can use concentrated tomato puree, which is equivalent to tomato paste in the US.
- Seasonings – This recipe uses a simple seasoning of cumin, paprika, onion powder, chili powder, salt, and pepper. You can change how spicy your rice is by adjusting the amount of chili powder.
Let’s make this spicy rice in the Instant Pot!
1
Sauté.
Add a drizzle of oil to the Instant Pot inner bowl and set it to Sauté while you chop the onion, and crush the garlic. When the oil is hot, sauté the onion for 2-3 minutes, then add the garlic and cook for another minute or so until aromatic. Press Cancel to end the Sauté program.
2
Deglaze.
Add the seasonings, tomato paste, and stock. Stir to combine, and ‘deglaze the pot’ by gently scraping the bottom and sides of the pot with a wooden spoon or silicone spatula to remove any residues from cooking the onions and garlic.
3
Add the rice and pressure cook.
Rinse the rice until the water runs clear (to remove excess starch), then add to the Instant Pot and stir well.
Secure the lid with the valve set to ‘Sealing’. Set to Pressure Cook on high for 7 minutes.
4
Natural release.
When the cooking cycle is complete, allow the pressure to release naturally for at least 10 minutes.
When it is done, use a fork to fluff up the rice grains before serving.
Serving ideas
- Serve alongside chicken fajitas with a dollop of sour cream and fresh salsa.
- Serve with air fried chicken and corn on the cob for a Nando’s style dinner.
- Use as a base for burrito bowls, topped with seasoned ground beef, lettuce, cheese, and guacamole.
- Use to stuff bell peppers, top with cheese, and bake until melty.
Instant Pot Spicy Rice
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion (chopped)
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 3 cups vegetable stock (or chicken stock)
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 cups long grain white rice
Seasonings [Note 1]
- 2 teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (Use ⅛ – 1 teaspoon depending on heat preference)
Directions
- Set the Instant Pot to 'Sauté'. Add a drizzle of olive oil, and when it is hot add the onion, and sauté, stirring often until the onion is tender (approx 3 mins). Stir in the garlic and cook for around 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add the tomato paste, stock, and seasonings to the Instant Pot bowl. Stir to combine and deglaze the bottom of the bowl [Note 2]. Press 'Cancel' to end the Sauté function.
- Rinse the rice in a sieve until the water runs clear [Note 3], then add to the Instant Pot and stir.
- Lock the lid onto the Instant Pot, and set to 'Pressure Cook' or 'Manual' for 7 minutes.
- When the cooking time is up, allow the pressure to release naturally for at least 10 minutes. Open the pressure cooker and stir to fluff up the grains, before serving.
Notes
- Or substitute 4-5 teaspoons of taco or fajita seasoning, or a Mexican seasoning rub.
- Gently scrape with a wooden spoon to remove any cooked-on flavor.
- Rinsing the rice removes excess starch and adds a little extra water to the rice. This prevents it from becoming gummy when cooked in a pressure cooker.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an estimate and provided for informational purposes only.
