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12 Delicious Instant Pot Biryani Recipes

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We love cooking rice in the pressure cooker and wanted to share with you our favourite Instant Pot biryani recipes. These Indian-inspired one-pot meal wonders will both nourish and satiate you and your family.

Instant Pot Biryani Recipes

WHAT IS BIRYANI?

Biryani is a staple in Indian cuisine, comprised of heavily seasoned rice and meat, fish, or vegetables. Sometimes, it is referred to as spicy rice. It's served up as a hearty and healthy main dish, packing in flavor, protein, and nutrients. Occasionally, egg or yogurt is added to give it a little extra substance.

It's naturally gluten-free, made with white or brown rice, and you can often find dairy-free variations or use coconut milk /dairy-free yogurt if the recipe calls for it.

Traditionally, the meat and rice are cooked separately. With the Instant Pot, we know skipping a few steps (almost) never hurts. That's why we love that it gives us the ability to make everything at once, providing a wonderfully satisfying one-pot meal in a jiffy.

There are so many unique varieties you can make depending on your cravings and the ingredients you have available. Here are a few of our favorite Instant Pot biryani recipes - with and without meat!

Oh, and the best type of rice to use for biryani? It's basmati rice!

Instant Pot Biryani Recipes

Instant Pot Chicken Biryani

Chicken is perhaps the most popular meat to use in biryani, so you know we had to start off with a classic. This dinner is done in under an hour so you won't have to wait very long before devouring it. With warm spices infusing the rice and cashews and raisins strewn throughout, you'll love every mouthwatering bite. Recipe from My Heart Beets.
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Instant Pot Chicken Biryani

Instant Pot Lamb Biryani

This dish is incredibly rich made with both yogurt and milk with lamb as the protein. Fun additions of flavor and texture include juicy dried apricot, white poppy seeds, garam masala, and chili for a kick. Top it off with raisins, cashews, and fresh mint. Recipe from Paint The Kitchen Red.
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Instant Pot Lamb Biryani

Butternut Squash Biryani

This vegan biryani is made with butternut squash and cauliflower, making it nutrient-dense and full of fiber. Fresh dill, mint, and coriander bring in the fresh flavor you love with all the warming, aromatic spices that give biryani its distinct flavor profile. Recipe from Holy Cow Vegan.
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Butternut Squash Biryani

Instant Pot Vegetable Biryani

Bell pepper, tomato, and potato are the stars of this vegan dish. Toss in a bag of frozen mixed veggies and you've got an all-star plate packed with color, vitamins, and minerals. This quick and easy meal is perfect for a busy night, and chances are, you have most of the ingredients handy. Recipe from Instant Pottin' With Poonam.
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Instant Pot Vegetable Biryani

Pressure Cooker Fish Biryani

For a lighter yet protein-packed variation of the classic Indian dish, opt for this fish biryani. Any white fish will do, so it's pretty budget-friendly if you choose whatever is on sale. Recipe from What To Cook Today.
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Fish Biryani

Shrimp Biryani

Whole peppercorns, bay leaf, and cinnamon stick infuse the basmati rice with the most delicious flavor. It's cooked with coconut milk and this recipe also uses yogurt for a creamy and delicious blend. Shrimp tossed throughout makes this a light, healthy choice without sacrificing flavor. Recipe from Simmer to Slimmer.
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Shrimp Biryani

Vegetable Instant Pot Quinoa Pulao

Quinoa is a favorite grain to make in the Instant Pot. It's a complete plant protein making it a filling choice for plant-based eaters. Essentially, this is a pretty traditionally spiced biryani with quinoa instead of basmati rice. It's a little less strong on the spice end, so this will be more pleasing to picky eaters and kids. Recipe from Cooking Carnival.
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Vegetable Instant Pot Quinoa Pulao

Quinoa Chicken Biryani

If you want chicken biryani with the quinoa, this recipe outlines each step for you. With heavy and warming biryani spice, this quinoa really does the trick at adding a bit of extra protein and "meat" to the dish, alongside tender, perfectly cooked chicken. Recipe from Indfused.
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Quinoa Chicken Biryani

One Pot Mutton Biryani

Mutton is an underrated meat choice. If you're not familiar, mutton is what mature sheep meat is called. This one infuses flavor by using bone-in meat that really complements a rice dish because it has the capability to soak all that goodness up. Recipe from Simple Indian Recipes.
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Low Carb Instant Pot Chicken Biryani

We always try to include something for everyone in these recipe roundups, so naturally, we had to share a low-carb recipe. This keto-friendly version of biryani is missing the fluffy basmati rice, but not to worry - cauliflower steps up to the plate to do its job. With a veggie base, you can still use all those biryani spices to hit the flavor notes just right. Recipe from That's Low Carb.
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How to make Chicken Biryani in Instant Pot

Making Biryani takes a lot of patience and experience to make a perfect biryani. It has many variables: the moisture, amount of salt and spices, perfectly cooked rice and chicken. The Instant Pot is a controlled way of getting the right result every single time. Recipe from Yellow Thyme.
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How to make Chicken Biryani in Instant Pot

Instant Pot Jackfruit Spiced Rice (Kathal Biryani)

Kathal Biryani is a tasty Indian, vegetarian rice recipe that is perfect for a weeknight dinner.  You can use mushrooms, paneer, asparagus, or artichoke hearts instead of jackfruit in this recipe. It’s gluten-free and vegan-friendly. This recipe is from the Authentic Indian Cooking With Your Instant Pot by Vasanti Bhadkamar-Balan.
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Have you had biryani? Whether you're used to eating it or it's brand new to you, it's bound to open up a whole new world of flavor. Traditionally, it's associated with longer cooking time, but we hope you enjoy these quick and easy methods. 

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Instant Pot Biryani Recipes

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