Instant pot wild rice is a quick and simple way to make wild rice. Our wild rice in the instant pot is flavor packed with the use of chicken broth resulting in tender rice to serve as is or in your favorite recipes.
Cooking rice in a pressure cooker is so easy, you’ll wonder why you didn’t get started sooner. Especially with wild rice! Cooking wild rice in the Instant pot is ready in under an hour with no soaking required.
For more easy recipes with rice, check out Chicken and Rice (Crockpot), Dairy Free Rice Pudding, and Gluten Free Spanish Rice.
Table of Contents
What is Wild Rice?
Wild rice is actually not a rice but instead a seed from an aquatic grass plant. This edible grain is known for its earthy and nutty flavor that is tender yet chewy.
Wild rice can also be used in meat or plant-based burgers, casseroles, salads and soups. It is a versatile grain that complements many entrees.
We share more ways to serve wild rice below to encourage you to add this rice variety as a staple in your kitchen.
Make sure to also check out our 15 Gluten-Free Pantry Essentials guide to find other ingredients that add variety and flavor to a gluten-free diet.
To get started, gather the equipment and ingredients then follow the written instructions or printable recipe card. Enjoy!
Ingredients
- 8 ounces wild rice
- 1 1/2 cups chicken broth ✅
Gluten-Free Guide: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten.
How To Make
Rinse the rice for at least 2 minutes if you’re looking for more separated rice. You can skip rinsing but the the end result will be more sticky. Add the wild rice and the chicken broth (may use water) to the instant pot. Stir and place the lid onto the instant pot.
Turn the valve to sealing.
Cook
Set the instant pot to high pressure and set for 30 minutes. Once the time is up do a natural release for 10 minutes then release the rest of the pressure and remove the lid.
Serve
Serve rice as is or use in your favorite recipe.
Serving Suggestions
The powerful flavor of wild rice makes it a unique addition to any meal.
Mix with air-fried vegetables such as Air Fryer Asparagus, Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts, Gluten Free Sweet Potato Fries or Air Fried Cauliflower then drizzle with your favorite sauce for a vegan or vegetarian meal option. You could also add beans like kidney, black or garbanzo for a protein boost.
Serve as is or seasoned for a side option paired with any of these recipes:
- Crockpot Ranch Chicken
- 3 Ingredient Crockpot Pork Chops
- No Peek Beef Tips
- Broiled Chicken Breasts
- Air Fryer Ranch Chicken Thighs
- Greek Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
- Salmon Buddha Bowl
- Broiled Haddock
A scoop of butter or drizzle of olive oil along with your favorite spice blend is an easy way to season wild rice.
Storing Instant Pot Wild Rice
In the fridge: Store rice for up to 5 days in the fridge in a covered container.
In the freezer: Place cooled rice onto a baking sheet to freeze for at least 30 minutes. Once frozen, the rice can be added to a container, Ziploc bag or stasher bag to freeze for up to 3 months.
For best results, thaw rice in the fridge overnight and reheat the next day.
In the pantry (dry): Store dry rice in a cool dark place for a few months or up to a year if sealed tightly. Dry rice can be added to an airtight container once the seal is broken to extend its shelf life.
Reheating Instructions
Microwave: Add thawed rice to a microwave-safe bowl with a splash of water or broth to rehydrate the rice. Cover with a damp paper towel to retain the moisture and microwave in 30-second increments. Stir in-between until rice is hot.
Stovetop: Place rice in a covered pot over low to medium heat to reheat until hot (approximately 3-5 minutes for thawed and 7-10 minutes for frozen). Add a splash of water or broth to the bottom of the pot to prevent the rice from burning. Stir occasionally.
Tips and Substitutions
- Use beef or vegetable broth or water for cooking in place of chicken broth.
- Add seasonings such as garlic powder, onion powder, or your favorite spices to the rice before or after cooking.
- Sprinkle with salt if looking for more flavor.
- Add 1-2 Tablespoons of olive oil (dairy-free option) or butter for added flavor.
- Do not turn on the “Keep Warm” function with wild rice, immediately remove from heat once pressure is released to prevent the rice from sticking to the bottom.
- If there is excess water in the Instant pot after cooking, pour the rice into a colander to drain.
Frequently Asked Questions
If desired, you can soak for up to 10 minutes then proceed with the recipe. However, soaking the rice is not required (only rinsing). Either way, the end result is perfectly cooked rice.
There are a few scenarios for the rice sticking. One is there was not enough liquid added to the instant pot. Be mindful of the total volume of liquid if making adjustments to the total amount of rice being cooked. The other cause could be the Instant pot was left on the “Keep Warm” function. After the pressure is released, be sure to remove the rice from the Instant Pot or the insert out of the base. Lastly, the pressure was not released as written.
There are two pressure releasing functions with an Instant pot – natural and quick release. Natural is letting the pressure release from the pot on its own. Quick is a manual release of pressure by turning the value to venting. Read each Instant pot recipe to see which release function is needed for perfectly cooked rice.
Sure. Be aware the total cooking time could differ depending on the grains in the blend. This recipe was created for long grain wild rice.
Nope, you will cook for the same amount of time. Simply adjust the total volume of liquid accordingly.
Yes, wild rice in its natural form is gluten-free. Always read labels for specific brands to ensure you are selecting a celiac-safe product.
It is 1 cup of wild rice to 1.5 cups of water. This ratio can be helpful to remember if looking to make a double batch of cooked rice.
How To Cook Rice in Instant Pot
There are multiple rice varieties that can be cooked in the Instant Pot either on the manual or Instant Pot rice setting. Learn how to make rice in an Instant pot to then use as side dish or in a recipe.
Sushi Rice
The instant pot makes it quick and simple to prep rice for sushi. It is made with 3 ingredients in under 25 minutes then can be used to make homemade sushi, poke bowls, buddha bowls and more.
Basmati Rice
Basmati rice is a long grain aromatic rice that can be made with no soaking required in half the time in the Instant Pot.
Jasmine Rice
Similar to this basmati rice recipe, jasmine rice can be made in a few steps. Turns out light and fluffy too.
Long Grain White Rice
Simply add the rice and water, cover, and cook for just 8 minutes before using a fork to fluff and serve.
Mexican Rice
A traditional fluffy white rice that adds seasoning to upgrade flavor and is yet another rice option for meals.
Kids In The Kitchen
Cooking tips and suggestions for kids making this recipe.
- Rinsing rice (before cooking) helps to remove any excess starch on the grain, keeping the rice from becoming too sticky and mushy.
- As soon as the rice is cooked, remove from the Instant pot. Do not leave rice on rest mode.
- When cooking wild rice, use the manual high pressure setting instead of the rice setting.
Instant Pot Soup Recipes
CKC Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.
The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn’t require a helper.
Instant Pot Wild Rice
Equipment
- fine mesh strainer
Ingredients
- 8 ounces wild rice
- 1 1/2 cups chicken broth ✅
Instructions
- Prep the rice. Rinse the rice under running water for at least 2 minutes. Add the wild rice and the chicken broth (may use water) to the instant pot. Stir and place the lid onto the instant pot. Turn the valve to sealing.8 ounces wild rice, 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
- ⭐️Cook. Set the instant pot to high pressure and set for 30 minutes. Once the time is up do a natural release for 10 minutes then release the rest of the pressure and remove the lid.
- Serve. Serve rice as is or use in your favorite recipe.
Notes
- Use beef or vegetable broth or water for cooking in place of chicken broth.
- Add seasoning such as garlic powder, onion powder, or your favorite spices to the rice before or after cooking.
- Add 1-2 Tablespoons of olive oil (dairy free option) or butter for added flavor.
- Do not turn on the “Keep Warm” function with wild rice, immediately remove from heat once pressure is released to prevent the rice from sticking to the bottom.
- If there is excess water in the Instant pot after cooking, pour the rice into a colander to drain.
- Store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Store dry rice in a cool dark place for a few months up to 1 year if sealed tightly.
Nutrition
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