Instant Pot sesame chicken with rice is super easy to make, especially because the chicken and rice cook at the same time in the pressure cooker!

Skip the takeout and make this Instant Pot sesame chicken with rice for dinner tonight!

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Don’t you just love how your Instant Pot makes it easier to get dinner on the table!

Not only does it cook food quickly, but it can also minimize cleanup and you don’t have to babysit it while it does its thing!

This Instant Pot sesame chicken with rice is a perfect example–so it’s no surprise that it landed on my list of the best Instant Pot chicken and rice recipes AND the best Instant Pot Asian recipes!!

For this recipe, the chicken and the rice cook at the same time, all on their own, leaving you the freedom to knock something else off your to-do list in those few minutes. 🙌

I love Asian-inspired dishes that have a bit of sweetness to them, often with a hint of saltiness or spice, which was the inspiration behind this Instant Pot sesame chicken.

Instant Pot Asian Chicken and Rice

For instance, I love Instant Pot sweet and sour chicken, easy teriyaki chicken bowls, Instant Pot Korean ground beef, Instant Pot Hawaiian chicken, Instant Pot chicken fried rice, and Instant Pot Kung Pao chickpeas. I’ve even learned to make a food court favorite–Instant Pot Bourbon chicken!

Each are so tasty and so easy! And they are a less expensive (and healthier!) alternative to takeout. This sesame chicken recipe is a great one to add to the Instant Pot repertoire!

I will often just use my pressure cooker to make a big batch of plain rice–such as Instant Pot white rice, failproof Instant Pot brown rice, perfect Instant Pot basmati rice, and easy Instant Pot jasmine rice. Then I’ll freeze smaller portions for later, to have on-hand whenever I need them.

But sometimes, if I haven’t had a chance to freeze rice, it’s ideal to be able to cook the rice along with the chicken and sauce!

For this meal, I adapted a stovetop version to be made in the Instant Pot!

Have an air fryer? Try my air fryer orange chicken recipe for another easy meal!

How to Make Instant Pot Sesame Chicken with Rice

To start, you’ll add some olive oil to the insert pot of your Instant Pot. Use the Saute function to heat it up.

Next, add some chopped chicken breast to the pot, browning it slightly. You don’t want it to cook all the way through, so this part should only take a couple of minutes. Turn the pieces so they brown on each side. Searing the chicken like this helps give it more flavor!

While the chicken is being seared, whip up the sauce.

In a large measuring cup or a small mixing bowl, go ahead and combine the ingredients for the sauce. Mix together some soy sauce, water, brown sugar, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger.

Turn off the Saute function and pour the sauce over the chicken.

Next, in a baking dish that will fit inside your Instant Pot (I use this one), combine rice, water and salt.

Place the trivet on top of the chicken and sauce mixture, then lower the baking dish onto the trivet. Close the lid and vent and cook at high pressure for 4 minutes.

After the cook time is complete, allow a natural release of pressure.

Once the pressure has released and the valve has dropped, carefully remove the lid and lift out the baking dish and trivet. Fluff the rice with a fork.

Stir a cornstarch slurry into the sauce to allow it to thicken while it’s hot.

Once the sauce has thickened to your desired consistency, serve over the rice and top with some sliced green onions (you can also sprinkle with sesame seeds if you have some on hand, but I never do, so I skip that part!). So good!

Serve it with some Instant Pot frozen potstickers and you’re set!

Notes and Adaptations for Sesame Chicken in the Instant Pot:

• I prefer to use boneless chicken breasts, but you can use boneless chicken thighs if you prefer–simply cook for 5 minutes instead of 4.
• I don’t recommend omitting the sesame oil, because its flavor is integral to this recipe. It’s a fairly inexpensive ingredient to have on hand! You can also use it to make sesame noodles, which are delish!

More Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Recipes:

• Creamy Instant Pot Chicken and Rice
• Instant Pot Cheesy Chicken, Broccoli, and Rice
• Instant Pot Rice a Roni and Chicken
• Instant Pot Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole