Rice Cooker Hidden Uses: How To Cook Chicken In A Rice Cooker

In this post we will be exploring how to cook chicken in a rice cooker. The rice cooker is appliance commonly used for the preparation of rice, whether long or short grain, white or brown. This at the first glance simple appliance has some hidden talents. You can use your rice cooker to prepare outstanding dishes, including desserts.

Rice cooker can work harder and help you with the preparation of some most popular dishes without fuss. Another benefit of the rice cooker is that you will be able to keep your food warm and the possibility of burning something is close to zero. There is practically no need to watch over the food because most of the rice cookers come with an automatic timer that shut down the heat after a certain time.

Using the rice cooker is fairly simple and for a successful meal, you only need quality ingredients as well as some of your time. The entire cooking process is easy and this type of food preparation does not require constant over watching of food that is being cooked.

Many rice cookers are equipped with a warming mechanism from their heat insulating casing. When the dish you are preparing has been fully cooked, the cooker will switch modes automatically to keep warm cycle. This cycle prevents food from being overcooked and will actually keep the food warm until you open the cooker.

Now that we’ve explored a bit more about what it is and what it’s generally used for let’s dive into the hidden use of cooking delicious chicken meals with a few recipes you can try at home.

How To Cook Chicken In A Rice Cooker – The Recipes

Chicken Breasts with Yogurt and Beer

This is the perfect recipe for dinner, brunch or a family gathering. Despite the use of beer, it is also child friendly as the alcohol content will be cooked out in the process.

Serves: 4

Time: 15 mins.

Ingredients:

• chicken breasts (4, halved)
• olive oil (3 tbsp)
• oregano (1/2 tsp)
• onion (1, thinly sliced)
• paprika (1/2 tsp)
• salt (1/2 tsp)
• black pepper (1/4 tsp, ground)
• yogurt (1 cup, plain)
• beer (1/2 cup)

Directions:

1. First step is to press the cook button on the rice cooker and begin to heat the olive oil.
2. Once the olive oil becomes hot begin to add the chicken breasts and cook for approximately 4 minutes on both sides then set aside.
3. Sauté the onion for roughly 3 minutes and ensure that chicken breasts are not browned.
4. Gradually stir in the oregano, paprika, salt, and pepper then add in the beer and yogurt.
5. Cook for an additional 10 minutes and adjust taste if needed. Serve.

Chicken Soup

The chicken soup is a well-known classic soup. We have decided to prepare a slightly different version…or, at least, richer one.

Serves: 4

Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 boneless and skinless chicken breasts, diced
• 4 cups chicken stock
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup baby spinach
• 1 carrot, cut into thin rounds
• ½ cup frozen broccoli
• ½ cup frozen cauliflower
• 2 cups egg noodles
• ½ tablespoon olive oil
• Salt, to taste

Directions:

1. Add the oil to a rice cooker. Set to cook.
2. Add the onion, carrot, and garlic. Cook for 5 minutes.
3. Add the chicken and veggies. Cook for 6-7 minutes.
4. Add the chicken stock and season to taste.
5. Once the mixture boils add the noodles. Cook until the noodles are almost tender. Add the spinach and cook until wilted.
6. Serve while still hot.

Chicken Paella

Who says paella can be only prepared in a pan? We do not support such claim and bring you probably the easiest paella recipe.

Serves: 4

Time: 55 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups Basmati rice
• 4 cups chicken stock
• 75lb. skinless and boneless chicken breasts
• 3lb. shrimps, peeled, deveined and chopped
• ¼ chopped brown onion
• 1 cup water
• green chiles
• unsalted tomato sauce
• 1 chopped green bell pepper
• 1 tomato, diced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ¾ teaspoon ground cumin
• 4 teaspoons chili powder
• ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika

Directions:

1. Coat the rice cooker with olive oil.
2. Add all ingredients, by order into a rice cooker.
3. Stir gently and cover. Set the brown rice setting and cook for 50 minutes.
4. Serve while still hot.

Taco soup

Tacos are delicious food containing tender chicken, beans, and corns, just like the soup we have prepared for you. For the extra crunchiness, top the soup with crushed tortilla chips.

Serves: 6

Time: 50 minutes

Ingredients:

• 5 cups chicken stock
• 1 small white onion, diced
• 1 cup can corn kernels
• 2 carrots, diced small
• 3 chicken skinless and boneless chicken breasts, diced
• can diced tomatoes
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• ½ cup can black beans, rinsed
• ½ cup brown rice
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Salt, to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat rice cooker. Add oil and once hot add the onion and garlic.
2. Cook for 5 minutes and add the chicken.
3. Cook until browned.
4. Add the chicken stock, tomatoes, rice, carrots, corn, and beans.
5. Set the rice cooker to brown rice and cook for 45 minutes.
6. Serve the soup while still hot.

Balsamic Chicken

Rich and slightly sweet balsamic vinegar marries well with the parsley, shallots and mustard in this easy chicken dish.

Serves: 4

Time: 1 hour 20 minutes + inactive time

Ingredients:

• 4 6oz. skinless and boneless chicken breasts
• quartered white mushrooms
• 4 tablespoons chopped parsley
• 2 shallots minced
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 ½ cups chicken stock
• ½ cup balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons mustard
• 1 cup farro

Directions:

1. Combine the balsamic vinegar and mustard in a bowl. Add the chicken and cover.
2. Marinade for at least 30 minutes. Discard the marinade.
3. Set the rice cooker to the regular. Add oil and once hot add the shallots.
4. Cook the shallots for 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook for 6-8 minutes or until the mushrooms have released juices.
5. Stir in farro and cook for 3 minutes.
6. Stir in the stock and add the chicken. Cover with lid and cook for 1 hour.
7. Serve the chicken while still hot with chicken and farro. Garnish with chopped parsley before serving.

Conclusion

As you can see, the rice cooker will ease your food preparation and because of that, it should be part of your cooking routine.