Instant Pot Chicken with Piquillo Pepper Sauce, Green Olives, and Saffron Rice

Name: Instant Pot Chicken with Piquillo Pepper Sauce, Green Olives, and Saffron Rice
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 22 min
Total time: 42 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Mediterránea
Ingredients: 1.5 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs; 1 1/4 cups basmati rice; 6 oz roasted piquillo peppers; 2/3 cup pitted green olives; 1 cup yellow onion; 4 cloves garlic; 1/2 cup crushed tomato; 1 1/2 cups chicken broth; 1/4 cup dry white wine; 2 tbsp olive oil; 1/2 tsp saffron threads; 1 tsp sweet paprika; 1/2 tsp dried oregano; 2 tsp lemon zest; 1 tbsp lemon juice; 1/4 cup fresh parsley; 1 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper

An original Instant Pot dish with browned chicken thighs, fragrant saffron rice, and a silky sauce of piquillo peppers, tomato, and green olives. It has a gentle Mediterranean flavor profile that is savory, comforting, and ideal for a complete weeknight meal.

20 minPrep

22 minCook

42 minTotal

4Servings

Dairy-FreeHigh Protein

Ingredients

Adjust servings

700 g boneless skinless chicken thighs (cut en trozos large)
240 g basmati rice (enjuagado and escurrido)
170 g roasted piquillo peppers (escurridos)
90 g pitted green olives (cut sliced)
150 g yellow onion (chopped fina)
12 g garlic (chopped)
120 ml crushed tomato (without sugar added)
360 ml chicken broth (low sodium if preferred)
60 ml dry white wine (for desglasar)
30 ml olive oil (divided)
0.25 g saffron threads (lightly desmenuzadas)
2 g sweet paprika
1 g dried oregano
4 g lemon zest (finely grated)
15 ml lemon juice
15 g fresh parsley (chopped)
6 g salt (or to taste)
1 g black pepper (freshly ground)

Nutrition facts

per serving

512 kcal

Calories

33 g

Protein

39 g

Carbs

21 g

Fat

3 g

Fiber

36 g

Net carbs

Approximate nutritional information. Estimated from the recipe’s ingredients and amounts, using standard reference nutrition values. It may vary with brands, sizes and cooking method. For guidance only; not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.

Allergens

Sulfites

Instructions

1
In a small bowl, mix the salt, black pepper, sweet paprika, and dried oregano. Season the chicken thigh pieces with this mixture.
2
Set the Instant Pot to Sauté on high. Once hot, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Brown the chicken in 2 batches for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until colored but not fully cooked. Remove and set aside.
3
Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil to the pot. Add the onion and cook for 3 minutes, stirring. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds more, until fragrant.
4
Pour in the dry white wine and scrape the bottom with a wooden spoon to release any browned bits. Cook for 1 minute. Add the crushed tomato, piquillo peppers, and chicken broth. Stir well.
5
Add the basmati rice in an even layer without over-stirring. Scatter the saffron threads, green olives, and lemon zest over the top. Arrange the reserved chicken over the rice and pour in any collected juices.
6
Lock the lid, set the valve to sealing, and cook on high pressure for 8 minutes. When finished, let it rest for 10 minutes with natural release, then carefully release any remaining pressure manually.
7
Open the lid and check that the chicken is fully cooked; it should reach at least 165°F/74°C in the thickest part. Add the lemon juice and half of the fresh parsley. Gently fold to combine without breaking the rice too much.
8
Let it stand uncovered for 2 minutes so the sauce can settle. Serve hot topped with the remaining fresh parsley.

Chef tips

For fluffier rice, rinse it until the water runs almost clear. If you want a deeper, smoother sauce, blend the piquillo peppers with the tomato before adding them to the pot.

Substitutions

You can replace basmati rice with long-grain rice using similar timing. The white wine can be replaced with the same amount of chicken broth plus an extra teaspoon of lemon juice. Parsley can be swapped for mild cilantro for a different finish.

What I used to make it

Generic kitchen tools that work for this recipe. You don’t need to buy anything to make it.

Illustrative image
Ninja Professional BL610 Blender
Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Easy-to-wash jar
- Check the power and jar size
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Illustrative image
Cosori Pro LE 5 Qt Air Fryer
Browning and baking with little oil
- Browns food with very little oil
- Handy for vegetables, chicken and reheating
- Check the basket capacity
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Illustrative image
TempPro TP19H Digital Thermometer
Checking doneness of meat and chicken
- Checks doneness of meat and chicken
- Quick reading
- Clean the probe after each use
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