A recipe for slow cooker brown rice may not sound glamorous, but I’m about to tell you why this is going to change your dinner game plan!
First of all, get out your slow cooker. This is the crock pot I use, but other sizes and models will work as well.
Here's how to cook brown rice in the slow cooker:
Spray the inside of your cooker with non-stick spray. If that’s not your thing, you can rub the sides and bottom of the cooker with butter.
Add two cups brown rice, 3 ⅓ cups broth (vegetable or chicken broth both work great), and 1 Tablespoon of olive oil.
Stir to combine.
Cook on high, stirring occasionally until rice is fluffy, 2-4 hours.
In the end, you have perfectly slow cooked brown rice for dinner.
Okay, so maybe this isn't the most exciting thing you’re read today. I get it.
We’re not setting anything on fire while yelling “Opa!!” (Which, by the way, is totally fun once you get over your fear of setting your house on fire.)
But trust me, this recipe is one to hang on to.
Cooking brown rice in a crock pot is a total timesaver.
Here's how to save even more time!
Slightly cool the rice, and then portion it into one or two cup servings.
Place each portion into a ziplock type baggie. Label it with the portion size and “cooked brown rice”.
Even though it clearly looks like rice, take the time to label it. Trust me on this. There may have been a time or two when I’ve pulled an unlabeled container from the freezer thinking, “What the heck is this and why did I put it in here????”
So label it, and then proceed to stock your freezer with precooked rice.
The next time you need a side dish recipe – say – for stir-fry, or as a side to taco night at your house, you are already ahead of the game! Add it to chicken soups instead of noodles, make a quick fried rice…
Slow Cooker brown rice is also a great shortcut for Instant Pot Stuffed Pepper Soup or Cilantro Lime Brown Rice!
You get the idea, right?
To use the rice, remove it from the bag and place into a microwave safe container. Heat for 60 seconds.
Pin my slow cooker brown rice for later here. You can serve it up with Instant Pot Mongolian Beef, or unstuffed egg roll in a bowl, too!
You can also try:
- Hearty Beef & Vegetable Soup
- Best Minestrone Soup
- Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken
- Crockpot Mexican Shredded Chicken
- Slow Cooker Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
If you love rice, try out my Cranberry Rice Pilaf recipe, too!
Brown Rice in the Slow Cooker
Here’s a meal planning tip that will save you precious time!
Ingredients
- non-stick cooking spray or butter
- 2 cups brown rice
- 3 ⅓ cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Spray the inside of your cooker with non-stick spray. If that’s not your thing, you can rub the sides and bottom of the cooker with butter.
- Add two cups brown rice, 3 ⅓ cups broth (vegetable and chicken broths both work great), and 1 Tablespoon of olive oil. Stir to combine.
- Cook on high, stirring occasionally until rice is fluffy, 2-4 hours.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1 gramsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 192Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 0gSodium: 360mgCarbohydrates: 37gFiber: 2gProtein: 4g
Rosa
I make rice SO often, and yet I've never tried it in the slow cooker before! This sounds fantastic, can't wait to try!
Deanne
Perfect! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Monica
I can't believe I've never tried rice in the slow cooker - so easy and delicious! And I love using brown rice to make it a touch healthier.
Deanne
Yes! Such an easy switch to brown rice!
Adriana
My family loves brown rice better than white rice, and I cook it in the Instant Pot to save time but have never tried the slow cooker, thanks for the inspiration.
Deanne
Aren't Instant Pots awesome???!?
Laura | Wandercooks
Yes - okay I'm taking your advice and I'm doing this going forward - so convenient to have rice prepared and ready to go no matter what's on the plan for dinner! And I'll throw in an 'Opa!' while I'm making it because this one is definitely a game-changer. 😀 Thanks!
Deanne
Opa! You're my kind of person, for sure!! Enjoy!!
Dannii
I never thought to try cooking rice in the slow cooker. I am definitely going to have to try that!
Deanne
Enjoy!
Michelle Mergenthaler
Trying this today?
What’s the serving size, please?
It said 8 servings but I wasn’t sure if you meant per cup?
Jan
I am also a farmer and mother to 7 (5 still at home). I have received a lot of brown rice recently, and, as my family isn't really much on rice I hadn't cooked it. I tried your recipe, all my kids loved it! My husband didn't try it, mainly because the kids ate so much it was gone. Am definitely going to remake.
The only problem I had was I put it on high and was in the barn longer than 2 hours, so the outer layer burnt. The middle and top was excellent though so next time will try medium heat. Thanks for the post!!
Jennifer Bruce
Thanks!
Morgan
I have a pound of brown rice in the crockpot now. This is great. I’m going to be able to have Nutritious brown rice ready anytime thank you
Morgan
I have a pound of brown rice in the crockpot now. This is great. I’m going to be able to have Nutritious brown rice ready anytime thank you so much for this great way to cook brown rice.
Lisa Moras
Being as I'm a senior, and not wanting to stand by the stove for 2 or 3 hrs plus, and not wanting a fire or burn up a pot which I have done before, The crockpot is the way to go. I just set the oven timer and check it 3/4 of the way through.
Theresa Horn
Hi! I just wanted to let you know that I apprciate the fact that when I googled "how to cook brown rice in a slow cooker", your recipe gave me my answer without having to read a long, boring blog post about the history of rice and the million ways your family likes or dislikes it. I quickly received the answer I was looking for and with that out of the way, I felt more like reading what else you have to say. Thanks! Time to cook!
Deanne Frieders
Ha, love it Theresa! So glad you're enjoying my site and recipes. Glad you're here!
Becca Lincoln
This is my second time using your recipe for slow cooker brown rice. My family eats brown rice and I have been making it and freezing 2 cup bags for years. Now, making it in the slow cooker is a huge time saver for me. We recently adopted 2 senior dogs and I cook for them as well. They like brown rice and that, some veggies and chicken (added to a little kibble for their teeth) is happily eaten. Using the slow cooker makes the whole process much easier for me. Thanks!
Deanne Frieders
I love that you AND your dogs are enjoying the slow cooker rice, Becca!
kristin
I second what Becca said! I was looking for directions on how to cook brown rice in the slow cooker because I cook brown rice stovetop weekly for my dog's food, and was looking for something easier. I found it! Thank you for this!
Alyssa
This recipe is wonderful! I've made it many times now, and it always turns out much better than stovetop rice. I was wondering if it could be doubled, or would the rice to water ratio need to be adjusted to do that?
Amanda
I've tried time and time again to cook brown rice on the stovetop - each time with no success. Thank you so much for this recipe! It works fabulously! I usually halve it.
Connie
I love love your brown rice in the slow cooker. I make a batch each Sunday so I can have it for the week. I was wondering if you have ever tried cooking Farro in the slow cooker? Thanks for a wonderful blog and sharing so many great recipes.
Deanne Frieders
Hi Connie, I'm so glad you love it! I haven't tried making farro in the slow cooker, but that sounds like a great idea!
Ivy
Do you rinse the rice first?
menkens
First time ever going this route for cooking long grain brown rice and it was wonderful! Worked great since I cooked the night before for my 11 meals-on-wheels folks and then quickly heated up the next morning before putting the meals together. Fluffed up real nice ... like others, will be a preferred method for making this much rice in the future! I did not wash the rice ... Thanks so very much for sharing!
jonathan smith
It says 1 hour 32 minutes to make. Then I read in and it says 2 to 4 hours. Dinner is gonna be late tonight
Deanne Frieders
Jonathan, I'll take a look at the recipe card to make a correction. I hope your rice turned out nice and was worth the wait. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Tiffany
Can this recipe be doubled? What would that do to the cooking time?
Heather
I know the broth will be great for flavor, but does it cook fine made with an equal amount of water?
Deanne Frieders
Yes, it does.