Description
This Instant Pot Chicken Souvlaki Rice recipe is a quick and flavorful Mediterranean-inspired meal that combines tender marinated chicken, aromatic rice cooked in broth with lemon zest, along with fresh Greek salad and creamy homemade tzatziki. It’s an easy one-pot dish perfect for weeknight dinners delivering authentic Greek flavors in under an hour.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Marinade
- 2 chicken breasts, skinless, diced into 1-inch cubes (about 1 lb. of meat)
- 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
- 2 tomatoes, sliced into wedges
- ½ bell pepper, sliced
- 1 medium cucumber, sliced
- ½ red onion, thinly sliced
- 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 yogurt 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)
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken Marinade: In a bowl, combine the diced chicken breasts with garlic, dried oregano, dried rosemary, sweet paprika, salt, olive oil, lemon juice, and a pinch of pepper. Mix thoroughly to coat the chicken well and set aside to marinate for 5-10 minutes to allow the flavors to penetrate.
- Prepare the Rice: Rinse the long-grain rice several times under cold water until the water runs clear to remove excess starch. Drain well. Add the rinsed rice to the Instant Pot, then pour in the vegetable or chicken stock along with the lemon zest for a bright citrus note.
- Layer the Chicken: Place the marinated chicken cubes evenly on top of the rice in the Instant Pot without stirring, ensuring the chicken stays on top to cook properly.
- Pressure Cook: Secure the Instant Pot lid and set it to pressure cook on high for 5 minutes. While it cooks, prepare the Greek salad and tzatziki sauce.
- Prepare Greek Salad: In a large bowl, combine sliced tomatoes, bell pepper, cucumber, red onion, chopped parsley, chopped mint, Kalamata olives, dried oregano, red wine vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Toss well and set aside to let the flavors meld.
- Prepare Tzatziki Sauce: Grate the cucumber and squeeze out excess moisture. In a small bowl, mix the cucumber with Greek yogurt, minced garlic, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and an optional drizzle of olive oil. Stir until well combined and creamy.
- Finish Cooking and Serve: When cooking finishes, perform a quick pressure release. Carefully remove the lid, drizzle a little olive oil and lemon juice over the chicken and rice mixture for added freshness. Serve hot accompanied by the fresh Greek salad and cool tzatziki sauce for a perfectly balanced meal.
Notes
- Ensure rice is rinsed thoroughly to prevent it from becoming sticky or gummy during pressure cooking.
- Marinating the chicken for longer (up to an hour) will deepen the flavor, but 5-10 minutes works well for a quick meal.
- You can substitute chicken breasts with thighs for juicier meat, adjusting cooking time slightly if needed.
- If you prefer, use chicken stock for more flavor or vegetable stock for a lighter taste.
- The tzatziki sauce can be prepared a day ahead and refrigerated for enhanced flavor.
- Adjust salt and pepper in all components according to taste preferences.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Instant Pot
- Cuisine: Greek
