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Instant Pot Chicken Souvlaki Rice Recipe

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3.9 from 55 reviews

This Instant Pot Chicken Souvlaki Rice recipe combines tender, marinated chicken cubes cooked perfectly with lemon-infused rice for a one-pot Mediterranean meal. Paired with a fresh Greek salad and creamy homemade tzatziki sauce, it’s an easy, flavorful dinner that brings the taste of Greece to your table in under 30 minutes.

  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

Chicken Souvlaki Marinade and Chicken

  • 2 chicken breasts, skinless and diced into cubes (about 1 lb.)
  • 5 garlic cloves, peeled and minced or grated
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon sweet paprika (or mild)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Juice of ½ lemon
  • A pinch of pepper

Rice

  • 1.3 cups long-grain rice, rinsed 4-5 times with cold water
  • 1.5 cups vegetable stock or chicken stock
  • Zest of 1 lemon

Greek Salad With Herbs

  • 2 tomatoes, sliced into wedges
  • ½ bell pepper, sliced
  • 1 medium cucumber, sliced
  • ½ red onion, sliced thinly
  • 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
  • 2 tablespoons chopped mint
  • 1.5 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
  • A generous pinch of salt and pepper
  • ⅓ cup Kalamata olives
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano

Tzatziki Sauce

  • ½ cup Greek yoghurt or plain unsweetened yogurt
  • ½ medium cucumber, grated
  • 2 small cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • A pinch of pepper
  • A little olive oil drizzle (optional)

To Finish

  • A drizzle of olive oil
  • Extra lemon juice

Instructions

  1. Marinate the Chicken: Place the diced chicken in a bowl. Add the garlic, dried oregano, dried rosemary, sweet paprika, salt, olive oil, lemon juice, and pepper to create the marinade. Mix thoroughly to coat all chicken pieces. Set aside to marinate for 5-10 minutes while preparing other ingredients.
  2. Prepare the Rice: Rinse the long-grain rice under cold water 4-5 times until the water runs clear to remove excess starch. Set aside. Prepare the vegetable or chicken stock if not using store-bought ready stock. Grate the lemon zest and have it ready for cooking.
  3. Add Ingredients to the Instant Pot: Turn on the Instant Pot and add the rinsed rice, vegetable or chicken stock, and lemon zest inside the pot. Stir gently to combine. Arrange the marinated chicken cubes on top of the rice carefully, and pour any remaining marinade juices over the chicken and rice to infuse flavor.
  4. Pressure Cook: Close and lock the Instant Pot lid. Make sure the steam release valve is set to the ‘Sealing’ position. Select the Manual or Pressure Cook mode and set the timer for 5 minutes at HIGH pressure. The Instant Pot will take approximately 10 minutes to reach pressure before the cooking timer starts. Note that cooking happens during this pressure build-up time too.
  5. Prepare Tzatziki Sauce: While the chicken and rice cook, grate the cucumber for the tzatziki and squeeze out excess juice. Transfer the grated cucumber to a small bowl. Add Greek yogurt, minced garlic, salt, pepper, lemon juice, and a drizzle of olive oil. Mix well and refrigerate until serving.
  6. Make the Greek Salad: Chop and slice tomatoes, bell pepper, cucumber, and red onion as directed. Combine in a large bowl with chopped parsley and mint. Dress with red wine vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper, dried oregano, and add Kalamata olives. Toss gently and set aside.
  7. Release Pressure and Finish: When the cooking timer ends, allow the Instant Pot to naturally release pressure for 5 minutes. Then carefully switch the steam release valve to ‘Venting’ to release any remaining pressure. Open the lid and check that the rice has absorbed all liquid. Drizzle a little olive oil and extra lemon juice over the chicken and rice to finish.
  8. Serve: Plate the chicken souvlaki and lemon rice mixture in bowls or plates. Add a portion of Greek salad on the side and a scoop or dollop of tzatziki sauce on top or alongside. Enjoy the fresh, vibrant Mediterranean flavors!

Notes

  • Marinating the chicken even for a short time enhances flavor and tenderness.
  • Rinsing rice multiple times is essential for fluffy, non-sticky rice.
  • If you don’t have fresh lemon, bottled lemon juice can be used but fresh zest is recommended for aroma.
  • If using store-bought stock cubes, dissolve them well in hot water before adding.
  • You can replace chicken with vegetarian protein like tofu if desired, adjusting cooking times accordingly.
  • Tzatziki can be made ahead and kept chilled to deepen flavors.
  • Adjust the amount of garlic in the tzatziki depending on your preference for pungency.
  • Author: Adeline
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes (including pressure build and release)
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Instant Pot
  • Cuisine: Greek/Mediterranean
  • Diet: Halal