Instant Pot Cajun Chicken and Sausage

Instant Pot Cajun Chicken and Sausage is a great one pot meal to make during the week. The Instant Pot makes it especially easy. I have a tendency to always burn rice when cooking it in a skillet on the stove. I can never seem to get the temperature just right so that the liquid evaporate from the rice without scorching the bottom. However, cooking rice with your meal has never been easier when using the Instant Pot.

This Cajun Chicken and Sausage dinner is so easy to make. I used the saute setting to sear the onions, garlic, and meat. This got the flavor started and locked the moisture into the chicken. Cajun seasoning was the main source of flavor in this recipe, it has such a robust flavor that there was no need for salt. The paprika added just a tiny bit of heat, not enough to burn little mouths.

To cook the rice with the chicken, I just pushed the chicken and sausage to the side to make room for the rice. I cooked the rice and chicken in tomatoes and chicken stock. The rice turned out much like Spanish rice, but not as spicy. When it was all done, we removed the rice and tossed in the more delicate vegetable to cook a little while the meat cooled.

The whole meal took about 25 minutes to cook, the Instant Pot took just under 10 minutes to come to pressure and the food itself only needed to cook for 15 minutes. I used white rice since it has a similar cooking time as chicken thighs. Brown rice needs to cook for around 25 minutes. If you are wanting to make this with brown rice, try cooking for 25 minutes using frozen chicken and skip the searing step.

I cannot profess enough love for my Instant Pot. Even my husband sings it’s praises to others, and he’s not like that! If you don’t have one, GET ONE!

The meal turned out fantastic! It is definitely one to add to your weeknight menu.

Instant Pot Cajun Chicken and Sausage

Ingredients:

1 tbsp. Olive oil
1 medium onion chopped
3 tbsp. Minced garlic
1 – 12 oz smoked beef sausage sliced
2 lbs. Defrosted chicken thighs
3 tbsp. Cajun seasoning
1 tsp. Paprika
1 tsp. Parsley
2 cups white rice
1 – 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
1 – 4 oz can tomato sauce
2 cups chicken stock
3 celery stick chopped
1 green bell pepper chopped
2 tbsp. Tomato paste
Chopped green onions (garnish)

Directions:

1) Turn Instant Pot to saute, pour in olive oil to heat. Saute onions and garlic for about 2 minutes until they soften.
2) Add sliced sausage and chicken, saute for another 2-3 minutes.
3) Mix in Cajun seasoning, paprika, and parsley. Scoop all the chicken and sausage to the side to make room for the rice. Pour the rice into the Instant Pot next to the chicken.
4) Cover the rice and meat with diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and chicken stock. Do not mix. Lock the lid into place, and turn the pressure valve to sealing. Using the manual setting cook on high pressure for 15 minutes. Release the pressure using the quick release method.
5) Remove the lid and scoop as much of the rice as possible into your serving dish. Add the celery, bell pepper, and tomato paste into the Instant Pot with the meat. Mix it up and let it sit while it is still hot to soften the celery and bell pepper, only 3-5 minutes.
6) Serve over the rice and garnish with green onions.

Enjoy! Find other Instant Pot Dinner Recipes here, here, here and here! Can’t get enough instant pot recipes? Check out our banana bread, and why not a cheesecake in the instant pot?

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