Instant Pot Wild Rice Pilaf is one of those side dishes that feels a little fancy without actually requiring you to do anything fancy. A hearty wild rice blend cooks together with mushrooms, carrots, celery, onion, and herbs until perfectly tender, and your Instant Pot does most of the heavy lifting.
If you've ever tried cooking wild rice on the stovetop, you already know the drill. You hover. You check. You add more water. You check again. You walk away for two minutes and suddenly it's either crunchy or glued to the bottom of the pan.
This Instant Pot wild rice pilaf takes all the guesswork out of it. Your pressure cooker handles the hard part while you finish the rest of dinner (or sit down for a few minutes to say hi to me 👋).
The result is fluffy, flavorful wild rice that works just as well on a Tuesday night as it does on your Thanksgiving table.
Dinner Feeling a Little Boring?
If plain rice has become your default side dish, this Instant Pot wild rice pilaf is an easy way to add more flavor and vegetables without adding much extra work. It pairs with everything from grilled pork chops to holiday turkey and cooks almost entirely hands-off.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- The Instant Pot takes all the guesswork out of cooking wild rice
- Loaded with vegetables and savory herbs in one easy dish
- Naturally dairy free
- Simple vegetarian swap with just one ingredient change
- Tastes even better the next day — perfect for meal prep
- Freezer friendly for future you (she deserves a good side dish too)
Rice is a such a great way to stretch a meal! I bet you'd also enjoy my dirty rice with sausage.
Pick This Recipe If...
- You have a bag of wild rice blend sitting in the pantry and aren't sure what to do with it. (Hey, it happens.)
- You want a side dish that looks like you tried harder than you did.
- You need a dependable side dish that works for both weeknight dinners and holiday meals.
- You're planning Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner and need one less thing to babysit on the stove.
- You love earthy mushroom flavor.
- You're tired of plain rice but don't want to overthink dinner.
Ingredient Notes
- Wild Rice Blend - This recipe was developed with a packaged wild rice blend, which includes a mix of wild rice and other long-grain rice varieties. Most grocery store blends work beautifully here. If you're working with pure wild rice, you'll need to add cooking time, so check your package directions.
- Mushrooms - Baby bella mushrooms add a nice earthy depth, but white button mushrooms work just as well. Don't skip them — they add a lot of flavor to the finished dish.
- Broth - Chicken broth gives the richest, most savory result. Buy store bought or make your own broth from rotisserie chicken bones. Vegetable broth works perfectly if you want to keep this vegetarian.
- Fresh Parsley - Stirred in at the very end, parsley adds brightness and a little color. It's one of those small finishing touches that makes the dish feel complete.
- Toasted Slivered Almonds - Completely optional, but highly recommended! They add crunch and a subtle nuttiness that plays really well against the earthy mushrooms and rice. Toast them in a dry skillet for a few minutes and you'll be glad you did.
farm girl shortcut
No Need to Soak
A quick rinse is all your wild rice blend needs before it goes into the Instant Pot.
How to Make Instant Pot Wild Rice Pilaf
Saute the veggies.
Add the carrots, onion, celery, mushrooms, and garlic. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring often, until the vegetables soften and the mushrooms release their moisture. (This is seriously the most effort this recipe asks of you.)
Add rice and broth.
Stir in the rinsed wild rice blend, broth, and rosemary. Lock the lid and set the valve to Sealing.
Cook.
Pressure cook for 15 minutes, followed by a 10-minute natural release. Let the rice rest another 5 minutes before fluffing with a fork.
Leave the lid on and let the rice rest for 5 minutes. This step helps the rice finish absorbing the broth — don't skip it.
Open the lid and fluff gently with a fork.
Finish
Stir in the fresh parsley and toasted almonds.
Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Garnish with extra parsley before serving.
If you love rice side dishes, also check out my cranberry rice pilaf.
FArm girl tips
- Make this a day ahead if you can. The flavors come together even more overnight, which makes it a great option for holiday prep.
- Rinse your wild rice blend before cooking to remove excess starch.
- Toast the almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring constantly. They go from golden to burnt faster than you'd expect. Ask me how I know!
- If your rice comes out a little chewy, add a small splash of broth, lock the lid, and pressure cook for another 2–3 minutes.
Save This Recipe For Later
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Variations
Holiday Wild Rice Pilaf — Stir in ⅓ cup dried cranberries for a festive, slightly sweet twist that looks beautiful on a holiday table.
Extra Herb Flavor — Add a tablespoon of fresh thyme alongside the rosemary, or stir in a handful of fresh herbs right before serving.
Cheesy Version — Mix in ¼ cup grated Parmesan while the rice is still warm. No complaints have ever been filed about this one.
Make It a Meal — Stir in shredded rotisserie chicken or leftover turkey and call it dinner. It works surprisingly well.
What to Serve with Wild Rice Pilaf
This Instant Pot wild rice pilaf pairs well with just about any protein:
- Juicy Grilled Pork Chops
- Herb Grilled Chicken
- Stuffed Pork Loin
- Air Fryer Meatloaf
- Grilled Chicken Thighs
It's also a natural fit alongside turkey, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
To Freeze: Transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
To Reheat: Microwave individual portions with a small splash of broth to bring the moisture back. You can also warm it in a skillet over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally.
Love this recipe! Such a tasty and easy side dish. I will definitely be making this one again! ~ Kim
Frequently Asked Questions
Honestly, no. White rice cooks much faster than wild rice and would turn to mush with these cook times and liquid ratios. Stick with a wild rice blend for this one.
You can, but pure wild rice typically needs a longer cook time. Check your package directions and adjust accordingly.
Absolutely. Swap the chicken broth for vegetable broth and you're all set. Everything else stays the same.
Yes, and honestly you should! The flavors develop even more after sitting overnight, which makes this a great option for holiday meal prep. It reheats beautifully and is an excellent make-ahead side dish for Thanksgiving and other holidays.
Different blends cook a little differently depending on the mix of grains. If it's not quite done, add a splash of broth and pressure cook for another 2–3 minutes.
Yes, as long as you don't exceed the max fill line on your Instant Pot. Keep the cook time the same. Note that it will and Yes. Keep the cooking time the same. The Instant Pot will simply take longer to come to pressure.
No. Fresh vegetables hold their texture much better after pressure cooking.
If you have a question I didn't answer, leave a comment and I'll get back to you! I read them all.
More Instant Pot Side Dishes
If you love cooking side dishes in the Instant Pot, try these next:
Tried this recipe?
⭐ A quick star rating and comment of your thoughts helps other busy cooks decide what to make for dinner!
Recipe
Instant Pot Wild Rice Pilaf (Easy Wild Rice Blend Recipe)
Ingredients
Method
- Turn the Instant Pot to Sauté. Add 1 Tablespoon olive oil.
- Add 2 large carrots, ½ medium red onion, 2 large celery stalks, 10 ounces baby bella or white mushrooms, and 2 teaspoons minced garlic. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring often, until the vegetables soften and the mushrooms release their moisture.
- Stir in 1 cup wild rice blend, 2 cups chicken brothand 1½ teaspoons dried rosemary.
- Lock the lid and set the valve to Sealing.Cook on High Pressure for 15 minutes.
- Allow a 10-minute Natural Release, then carefully release any remaining pressure.Let the rice rest for 5 minutes before opening the lid.Fluff gently with a fork.
- Stir in 2 Tablespoons fresh parsleyand ⅓ cup toasted slivered almonds, if using.
- Taste and season with additional salt and pepper as needed. Garnish with extra parsley before serving.
Farm Girl Tips
- Use a wild rice blend. This recipe was tested using a wild rice blend, not 100% wild rice. If using pure wild rice, you'll likely need to increase the cook time according to the package directions.
- Rinse the rice first. A quick rinse removes excess starch and helps the grains cook up fluffy.
- Fresh parsley makes a difference. Stir it in after cooking for the brightest flavor and color. If you only have dried parsley, use 2 teaspoons.
- Toast the almonds. Toasting brings out their nutty flavor and adds a delicious crunch. It's optional but highly recommended.
- Season before serving. The saltiness of chicken broth varies by brand, so taste the pilaf after cooking and add additional salt and pepper if needed.
Jackie says
I followed the recipe very closely with no modifications made and the rice had a significant amount of leftover fluid.
Jackie says
I followed the recipe very closely with no modifications made and the rice had a significant amount of leftover fluid.
Erika says
The flavor was good, but it came out soupy. I followed directions. Not sure what the issue was.
Erika says
The flavor was good, but it came out soupy. I followed directions. Not sure what the issue was.
Jaunnette says
I followed the quantities and cooking directions, got overcooked rice that was still pretty wet. I'll stick to rice pilaf on the stovetop next time, this was far too mushy for me. Tasted good though.
kim says
Love this recipe! Such a tasty and easy side dish. I will definitely be making this one again!
Kelly Anthony says
This wild rice pilaf will be a great side dish with any protein making it the perfect meal for any day of the week.
Toni says
I love how tasty and easy this is to make!! Quickly became a favorite at my house!
Diana Reis says
Thank you for the Instant Pot instructions. It's so much faster than on the stove top and fool proof. No chewy rice in this house.
kim says
Love this recipe! Such a tasty and easy side dish. I will definitely be making this one again!
Kelly Anthony says
This wild rice pilaf will be a great side dish with any protein making it the perfect meal for any day of the week.
Toni says
I love how tasty and easy this is to make!! Quickly became a favorite at my house!
Diana Reis says
Thank you for the Instant Pot instructions. It's so much faster than on the stove top and fool proof. No chewy rice in this house.
Nancy says
If one did not have an Instant Pot, could you just bake it in the Oven or crockpot?
cyndy says
What a great recipe for my IP - and such a time saver. And, gluten free is a total bonus!
Candice says
I took you up on the advice to make this ahead for thanksgiving... THANK YOU! It was delicious, and freed up so much time for everything else I was cooking. Great post, great advice, great recipe!
Sapana says
So flavorful and easy to make -- I cooked a batch for the week!
Krissy Allori says
This is so good and was so easy to make. I made it as a side dish for Thanksgiving this year and it was a hit.
Anita says
What a great way to prepare wild rice pilaf in an instant pot. This is awesome for an easy lunch with some grocery bought rotisserie chicken. 🙂
cyndy says
What a great recipe for my IP - and such a time saver. And, gluten free is a total bonus!
Candice says
I took you up on the advice to make this ahead for thanksgiving... THANK YOU! It was delicious, and freed up so much time for everything else I was cooking. Great post, great advice, great recipe!
Sapana says
So flavorful and easy to make -- I cooked a batch for the week!
Krissy Allori says
This is so good and was so easy to make. I made it as a side dish for Thanksgiving this year and it was a hit.
Anita says
What a great way to prepare wild rice pilaf in an instant pot. This is awesome for an easy lunch with some grocery bought rotisserie chicken. 🙂