Name: Instant Pot Sausage And Rice from the Pot
Yield: 4

Instant Pot Sausage And Rice overflows with flavor from smoky sausage, tender chicken, fire-roasted tomatoes, and fluffy rice, pure comfort food in a bowl!

author’s note

The Cozy Instant Pot Dinner I Keep Making!

I’m fully on an Instant Pot kick right now because it truly feels like it does all the work for me. Between school schedules, work, and trying to get dinner on the table before everyone gets hangry, I’ve been leaning hard on meals where I can mostly let the Instant Pot handle dinner while I deal with everything else.

This Instant Pot Sausage And Rice has quickly become one of my favorites because it tastes like something that took way more effort than it actually did. The sausage adds tons of smoky flavor, the chicken gets ridiculously tender, and everything cooks together into the richest, most flavorful sauce.

The first time I made it, I actually tried cooking the rice right in the Instant Pot too, and it completely ruined the texture. The rice got way too soft and soaked up all the liquid. After testing it again with the rice cooked separately, it was reliable. Now the rice stays fluffy, the sauce stays creamy, and every bowl has the best texture.

I also love that this is one of those dinners that somehow tastes even better the next day. The flavors deepen overnight, so leftovers are a huge win around here.

Ingredient shot-- image of all the ingredients used in this dish

Instant Pot Sausage And Rice Ingredients

Ingredient	Tips & Swaps
Smoked sausage	Andouille gives more heat. Turkey sausage works too.
Chicken thighs	I don’t recommend chicken breasts here because they dry out faster.
Fire-roasted tomatoes	Regular diced tomatoes work in a pinch.
Creole seasoning	Every brand varies in salt and spice, so check the seasoning and adjust.
White rice	Basmati is a reliable because it stays fluffy.
Bell pepper, celery & onion	These veggies add tons of flavor with very little effort.

Process shots of Instant Pot Chicken, Sausage, and Rice-- images of onion, pepper, celery, chicken, sausage, tomatoes, seasonings, and chicken broth being added to the instant pot

chelsea’s recipe tip

How To Make Instant Pot Sausage And Rice (Tips)

Cook rice separately: Cook rice on its own to avoid overcooking.
Sealing: Make sure the sealing ring is in place and the valve is closed before cooking.
Natural vs. quick release: Use quick release to stop the chicken from overcooking. Natural release takes 10-25 minutes.
Monitor salt levels: Taste as you go and adjust salt, as broth and sausage might already have some.
Play with heat: Add cayenne or hot sauce for more spice, or serve spicy condiments on the side.

Proces shots-- images of the cream sauce being made and added to a pressure cooker

What To Serve With This Dish:

Garden Salad: Crisp greens with tangy vinaigrette for freshness.
Cornbread: Sweet, crumbly, and reliable with this instant pot sausage and rice’s savory flavors.
Veggies: Steamed or roasted asparagus, green beans, or Brussels sprouts.
Coleslaw: Crunchy and refreshing on the side.
Grilled Corn: Buttered and seasoned, it’s always a good side.

Storage

Store leftover Instant Pot sausage and rice in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. The flavors deepen as it sits, making leftovers seriously satisfying.

You can also freeze it for up to 3 months. I like freezing the sausage mixture separately from the rice for the best texture.