Once you learn how to cook wild rice in the Instant Pot, you'll be making this a quick and easy oil-free vegan side dish often. 3 ingredients and a few simple steps for perfect wild rice every time!

After discovering Instant Pot barley and the deliciousness of veggie curry rice in the Instant Pot, I had to try wild rice. And I was not disappointed.
Table of Contents
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- The Instant Pot (or another electric pressure cooker) is an excellent tool for cooking wild rice and getting it ‘right’ every time.
- Unlike the stove top, the Instant Pot provides heat consistency, so there's no adjusting or guessing to make perfect wild rice every time.
- Suitable for any size of Instant Pot.
What Is Wild Rice?
Wild rice is a type of aquatic grass that grows naturally in freshwater lakes, rivers, and marshes throughout North America but is available in many parts of the world.
Unlike white or brown rice that you might be used to, wild rice has a distinctive nutty flavor and a chewy texture that many people find appealing.
It’s also known for being high in protein, fiber, and essential minerals, making it a nutritious addition to any meal. Whether you’re a fan of hearty soups and stews or simply looking to mix up your side dishes, wild rice is a versatile and delicious ingredient worth trying!
Recipe Ingredients
Wild Rice. Use wild rice, not a blend (see below for differences).
Water. You can also use a flavorful broth.
Salt. Salt brings out the flavor of the rice. Use a salt substitute, a teaspoon of soy sauce, or other salt blends.
Please see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the complete list of ingredients with measurements plus recipe instructions.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Add 1 cup of rice, 1 ¼ cups of water, and ¼ teaspoon salt to the Instant Pot.
Step 2: Secure the lid on the Instant Pot and close the steam handle to sealing. Set the manual or pressure-cooking setting to 23 minutes.
Step 3: Let the Instant Pot sit for 10 minutes of natural pressure release. Then carefully open the steam handle to release the remaining pressure.
Step 4: Fluff up the rice and serve.
Pro Tips
- Start with cold water and let the heating water start the cooking process. Rice is different from pasta in this way.
- Let the Instant Pot stand for more than 10 minutes of natural release, but don't use a quick release when cooking rice. The rice continues cooking until you remove the lid.
- If you miscalculate the water ratio and end up with excess liquid after cooking the wild rice, strain it.
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What To Serve With Wild Rice
When serving wild rice, many options can complement its nutty, slightly chewy texture. Pair this simple side dish with roasted veggies like Brussels sprouts and cauliflower or as a base for grain salads with mixed greens, fruits, and nuts.
Our favorite wild rice salad also has a lemongrass tofu companion, giving you two good protein sources in one delicious, hearty salad.
Frequently Asked Questions
Vegetable broth adds a depth of flavor to the rice. You can also consider vegan beef or chicken broth, depending on what you serve wild rice with. Use the same amount of vegetable broth as water.
In addition to salt, you can add black pepper when you cook wild rice. Other spices include bay leaf, garlic or onion powder, a pinch of cayenne pepper, dried herbs, and an Italian mix. This all depends on what you are serving with your wild rice. Spike the cooking liquid with a teaspoon of lemon juice for a zesty flavor.
Real wild rice is one ingredient. Wild rice blend contains a mix of wild rice with white rice and sometimes brown or black rice. Some blends also use red rice.
If you are cooking on the stovetop or Instant Pot, consult the package instructions for your brand of wild rice blend. This will direct you on how many cups of water to add and the specific timing. We’ve found that 23 minutes with 10 minutes of NPR is a good measure for cooking rice blends.
Store plain leftover wild rice in an airtight container for up to 1 week. It's best practice to let the rice cool to room temperature before adding it to the refrigerator.
Cooked wild rice freezes well. Let it cool completely before adding it to a freezer-safe container. Freeze for 3 months.
The best way to reheat wild rice (and other types of rice) is in a steamer basket over boiling water. You can also reheat it in the microwave, but the steamer basket keeps it moist.
More Grain Recipes to Explore
Do you have a question or recipe request or need a cooking tip? Leave a comment below or contact Denise. I’m here to help! If you want more healthy vegan recipes, please subscribe to my newsletter or follow me on Facebook or Pinterest for the latest updates.
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👩🏻🍳 Recipe
Prefect Instant Pot Wild Rice (Oil-Free Recipe)
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Ingredients
- 1 cup wild rice
- 1 ¼ cups water - or vegetable broth
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Add the wild rice, water, and salt to the Instant Pot.
- Secure the lid and set the steam handle to sealing.
- Cook the rice under high pressure for 23 minutes. Let the Instant Pot sit for 10 more minutes of natural pressure release.
- Carefully open the steam handle, then remove the lid. Fluff the rice and serve.
- 1 cup makes about 3 cups of cooked rice.
Notes
- Total cooking time includes 10 minutes for the Instant Pot to start the cooking process.
- You can adjust the amount of water or broth depending on how you like your rice. For softer rice, use more liquid; for firmer rice, use less water.
- Add seasonings or vegetables to the pot before cooking to flavor the rice.
- Store rice in an airtight container for 1 week or freeze it for several months. Reheat it using a steamer basket for the best results.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimation only.
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