Wild rice is one of my favorite ingredients, but I rarely cook it because traditional methods can take a long time and are easy to get wrong. Instant Pot Wild Rice solves both problems: it shortens the cook time and consistently produces tender, separate grains with a pleasant bite—one of the best ways I’ve found to prepare this hearty grain.
Instant Pot Wild Rice
Wild rice can be outstanding when cooked properly, but it can also become mushy or undercooked if the technique or timing is off. The Instant Pot (or any pressure cooker) offers a reliable, hands-off approach that yields consistent texture: plump, tender grains with a slight chew rather than a gummy mash.
This method is straightforward: combine wild rice and good-quality stock in the pot, pressure-cook briefly, allow a short natural pressure release, then drain any residual liquid. The result is ready-to-use wild rice perfect for soups, salads, stuffings, side dishes, and casseroles.
Different Ways To Cook Wild Rice
There are several common methods for cooking wild rice; each has its pros and cons.
Boiled
Boiling involves simmering rice until the grains split open. It works, but it can take 45 minutes to an hour and requires attention to avoid overcooking. Overcooked wild rice becomes mushy and loses its pleasant texture.
Baked
Baking is popular for casseroles and “hotdish” recipes. Typically, you combine rice and boiling liquid in a covered oven-safe dish and bake at 350°F for about an hour. It’s effective but takes longer and requires a covered dish and oven space.
Steamed
Steaming is similar to boiling but uses less water. It can produce good results but still requires monitoring and a steaming setup.
Pressure Cooked
Pressure cooking is my preferred method. It delivers consistent results, is fast, and is essentially a hands-off version of steaming. With the right liquid ratio and timing, pressure-cooked wild rice comes out tender without turning mushy.
How To Make This Recipe
This Instant Pot method is intentionally simple. Add wild rice and stock to the inner pot, seal the lid, and pressure-cook. Allow a brief natural-pressure-release so the grains finish gently, then vent and drain any excess liquid. The rice is now ready to use in any dish that calls for cooked wild rice.
Ways To Use Instant Pot Wild Rice
Cooked wild rice is versatile. Keep a batch on hand during cooler months for hearty additions to soups, breads, stuffings, salads, and grain bowls. It’s especially good in creamy soups—think wild rice and mushroom or classic Minnesota-style wild rice soup—as well as in casseroles, grain salads with roasted vegetables, and stuffed vegetables like zucchini boats.
You can also stir a scoop into chicken or vegetable soups for extra texture, fold it into a warm grain salad with herbs and citrus, or use it as a base for grain bowls topped with roasted vegetables and a protein of your choice.
Instant Pot Wild Rice
Easy, reliable wild rice cooked in the Instant Pot. Tender, slightly chewy grains that hold up well in soups, salads, and casseroles.
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes (high pressure)
Total Time: 17 minutes (plus 10-minute natural pressure release)
Ingredients
- 1 cup wild rice (use whole, non-par-cooked wild rice)
- 4 cups chicken stock or broth
Instructions
- Place the wild rice and chicken stock into the Instant Pot inner pot.
- Secure the lid and set the cooker to High Pressure for 15 minutes.
- When the cooking cycle finishes, allow a Natural Pressure Release (NPR) for 10 minutes, then carefully release any remaining steam.
- Open the lid. If a little liquid remains, drain it—this is normal. Fluff the rice with a fork and use as desired.
Notes
Do not use cracked, quick-cooking, or par-cooked wild rice in this recipe; results will differ and timing may not be appropriate. If you prefer a firmer texture, reduce the liquid slightly or shorten the cook time by a minute or two and test. If the rice is too soft, try reducing the pressure-cook time next time.
Leftover cooked wild rice keeps well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for several days, or can be frozen for longer storage. Reheat gently with a splash of water or broth to restore moisture.
Nutrition Information (per serving)
Calories: 103 • Sodium: 628 mg • Carbohydrates: 21 g • Fiber: 1 g • Sugar: 1 g • Protein: 3 g