Paint The Kitchen Red

  • HOME
  • RECIPES AND GUIDES
  • ABOUT
menu icon
go to homepage
  • HOME
  • RECIPES AND GUIDES
  • ABOUT
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • HOME
  • RECIPES AND GUIDES
  • ABOUT
×
Home » Recipes » Instant Pot

Instant Pot Wild Rice Pilaf

Published: Nov 1, 2019 | Updated: Aug 2, 2023 | Author: Neena Panicker

JUMP TO RECIPE
Instant Pot Wild Rice Pilaf Pinterest Pin - rice topped with pecans and dried cranberries in a blue bowl on a festive red tablecloth- Paint the Kitchen Red

This Instant Pot Wild Rice Pilaf recipe is a hearty side dish that is a perfect alternative to traditional stuffing for your next holiday feast. The wild rice is perfect for absorbing all the flavors of the herbs and spices. Stir in leftover rotisserie chicken or turkey to make this a delicious one-pot meal that’s not just for special occasions!

Instant Pot Wild Rice Pilaf topped with pecans and dried cranberries in a blue bowl on a festive red tablecloth- Paint the Kitchen Red

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the disclosure.

Table of Contents


  1. Introduction
  2. Tips
  3. Ingredients
  4. Step by Step Instructions
  5. Recipe Card – Printable
  6. Related Recipes and Guides

Introduction

I’ve been wanting to try out wild rice in the pressure cooker for a while now, and finally, I got the perfect opportunity. I was recently featured in the Thanksgiving issue of Devour magazine and this is the recipe I contributed.

One of the standard recipes on my Thanksgiving menu has been a cornbread stuffing that I’ve been making for many years. Recently, I decided to change things up and try a wild rice version of the recipe.

I took my stuffing recipe and used all the same ingredients to make a wild rice version of that recipe using a wild rice blend. The result was a healthier but just as tasty version of my homemade stuffing. This recipe is vegetarian unless you choose to use chicken broth as I do.

I’ve included a quick recipe at the end of this post for cooking plain wild rice blend.
[Go directly to PLAIN Instant Pot Wild Rice Blend Recipe]

Here are some other side dishes you might like to try out!
– Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes and Parsnips
– Instant Pot Beet Salad with Arugula, Goat Cheese, and Walnuts

– Instant Pot Wasabi Deviled Eggs

Tips and Substitutions


Wild Rice Blend

I prefer to use Lundberg wild rice blend for this recipe rather than straight-up wild rice because I like the variety of textures and colors with the different types of rice: wild rice, brown rice, red rice and black rice.


White Wine

If you don’t wish to use white wine, feel free to substitute chicken broth or vegetable broth.


Chicken Broth

This recipe can be made completely vegetarian by substituting  chicken broth with vegetable broth.


Apples

I like the tart flavor of green apples but you can use any type of apple. The apples can also be omitted.


Pecans

Pecans can be substituted with walnuts.


Releasing Pressure

This recipe calls for a 15 minutes Natural Pressure Release (NPR 15). This involves waiting for 15 minutes and releasing any remaining pressure using the quick release method.


Dried Cranberries

Dried cranberries are also known by the brand name ‘Craisins’. If you can’t find them, substitute any dried fruit like raisins, dried cherries, apricots, figs, or dates. Or you can omit altogether.


Extra Liquid

Depending on the quantity of liquid that’s released from the vegetables, it’s possible you might have some extra liquid in the inner pot after pressure cooking is complete. If you do, let the rice rest for a few minutes with the lid open and the liquid should dissipate.


Cooking Time

The cooking time I recommend is based on my own texture preference, which I find to be just right, but on the chewier side. If you’d like the rice to be cooked softer, add another 2 minutes of cooking time.

If you’re new to the Instant Pot and aren’t familiar with how to use it, please read the Instant Pot  DUO Beginner’s Quick Start Guide or the Instant Pot ULTRA Beginner’s Quick Start Guide first and then come back here to learn how to make this recipe for Instant Pot Wild Rice Pilaf with wild rice blend.

Instant Pot Wild Rice Pilaf – Ingredients

Instant Pot Wild Rice Pilaf Ingredients 1 - Paint the Kitchen Red
  • Butter
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Thyme
  • Sage
  • White wine
  • Balsamic vinegar
  • Garlic
  • Rosemary
  • Crushed Red Pepper
Instant Pot Wild Rice Pilaf Ingredients 2 - Paint the Kitchen Red
  • Celery
  • Wild Rice
  • Onion
  • Mushrooms
  • Broth
Instant Pot Wild Rice Pilaf Ingredients 3 - Paint the Kitchen Red
  • Apples
  • Pecans
  • Dried Cranberries (Craisins)
  • Parsley (not pictured)

How to Make Instant Pot Wild Rice Pilaf (Step by Step Instructions)

  1. Turn on Saute mode
  2. Saute onion mixture in butter
  3. Saute spices and mushrooms
  4. Add broth and wild rice blend
  5. Pressure Cook the wild rice
  6. Do a 15 minute natural pressure release
  7. Stir in apples, pecans, cranberries and garnish.

How to Turn on Saute Mode

Instant Pot Ultra Duo Saute Function collage - arrows pointing to Saute in Duo and Ultra - Paint the Kitchen Red
  • Instant Pot DUO:  Select the Saute function.
  • Instant Pot ULTRA:  Select the Saute function and press Start.

Saute Onion Mixture in Butter

Instant Pot Wild Rice Pilaf Instructions collage - butter melting, onion garlic celery added, stirred - Paint the Kitchen Red
  • Add butter to the inner pot and allow it to melt.
  • Saute the onions, celery, and garlic until the onions are soft, about 2 minutes.

Saute Spices and Mushrooms

Instant Pot Wild Rice Pilaf Instructions collage - spices, stirred, mushrooms - Paint the Kitchen Red
  • Stir in salt, black pepper, thyme, sage, rosemary, and crushed red pepper.
  • Deglaze with white wine, stirring to remove any brown bits.
  • Press ‘Cancel’.
  • Stir in the mushrooms.

Add Broth and Wild Rice Blend

Instant Pot Wild Rice Pilaf Instructions collage - broth added, wild rice added, stirred - Paint the Kitchen Red
  • Stir in broth and balsamic vinegar.
  • Finally, add in the wild rice blend.
  • Don’t stir, but push the rice down with a spatula to make sure the rice is submerged in the liquid.

Instant Pot Duo Pressure Cook 26 minutes

Instant Pot Duo Manual mode 26 minutes collage - close lid, press manual, press - or +, display shows 26 - Paint the Kitchen Red
  • Close the lid and make sure steam release handle is in ‘Sealing’ position
  • Press ‘Manual’ (or ‘Pressure Cook’) and ‘+’ or ‘-‘ until the display reads ‘26′ (26 minutes).

Instant Pot Ultra Pressure Cook 26 minutes

Instant Pot Ultra pressure cook 26 minutes collage - close Instant Pot Ultra, set time to 00:26 and select Pressure Cook, press start - Paint the Kitchen Red
  • Close the lid.
  • Select Pressure Cook mode and adjust the time to 26 minutes (00:26).
  • Press ‘Start’.

Pressure Cooking Process (Duo and Ultra)

Instant Pot Duo Pressure Cooking collage - display shows On, float valve is down, display shows L0:00 - Paint the Kitchen Red
Instant Pot Ultra pressure cooking collage - Ultra display shows On, float valve is up, display shows 00 00 - Paint the Kitchen Red
  • Instant Pot display will change to ‘On’.
  • Once the Instant Pot is pressurized, the float valve will go up.
  • The display will count down to 0; it will then switch to ‘Keep Warm’ mode and display ‘L0:00’  or ’00 00′ and begin to count up the number of minutes since pressure cooking completed.

How to do a 15-minute Natural Release of Pressure

Instant Pot Ultra and Duo 15 minute Natural Release (NPR) collage of both Duo and Ultra display panels -Paint the Kitchen Red
  • Allow the Instant Pot to stay in Keep Warm mode for 15 minutes.

How to Release any Remaining Pressure on the DUO

Instant Pot Quick Release collage - move handle to venting, float valve down, lid propped open - Paint the Kitchen Red
  • Move the steam release handle to Venting. Any remaining steam will come out of the steam release handle.
  • When your Instant Pot is depressurized, the float valve will be in the down position.
  • Press Cancel and open the Instant Pot.

How to Release any Remaining Pressure on the ULTRA

Instant Pot Ultra Release Steam and Open collage - press steam release button, float valve in down position, Instant Pot Ultra is open - Paint the Kitchen Red
  • Press down on the Steam Release Button until it locks into place, and any remaining steam will come out of the Steam Release Valve.
  • When your Instant Pot is depressurized, the float valve will be in the down position.
  • Press Cancel and open the Instant Pot.

[Find out more about the pressure release methods and how and when to use them. ]

Add Apples, Cranberries, Pecans and Garnish

Instant Pot Wild Rice Pilaf Instructions collage - cooked rice with pecans and craisins on top, stirred, parsley on top - Paint the Kitchen Red
  • Open the lid and add in pecans, cranberries, and apple.
  • Fluff the rice with a fork, and stir the ingredients.
  • If there is extra liquid at the bottom, allow the rice to rest with the lid open and any remaining liquid should evaporate.
  • Garnish with parsley.

How to Make Plain Lundberg Wild Rice Blend in the Pressure Cooker


Ingredients

  • 2 cups wild rice blend
  • 2 cups water
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon butter (optional)

Instructions

  1. Rinse out wild rice blend in a fine mesh sieve and drain.
  2. Stir together rice, water, salt and butter in the Instant Pot inner pot.
  3. Pressure cook on high pressure for 26 minutes.
  4. Do a full natural release of pressure or release remaining pressure after 15 minutes have elapsed.

Notes

  • Use the same cup to measure rice and water.
  • * One of the most common brands in grocery stores is Lundberg wild rice.

Instant Pot Wild Rice Pilaf topped with pecans and dried cranberries in a blue bowl on a festive red tablecloth- Paint the Kitchen Red

Instant Pot Wild Rice with Cranberries and Pecans

This Instant Pot Wild Rice Pilaf recipe is a hearty side dish that is a perfect alternative to traditional stuffing for your next holiday feast. The wild rice is perfect for absorbing all the flavors of the herbs and spices. Stir in leftover diced chicken or turkey to make this a delicious one-pot meal that doesn’t just have to be part of your holiday table.
5 from 4 votes
PRINT PIN RATE
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 173
Author: Paint the Kitchen Red
Prevent Screen from Going Dark

Equipment

  • Instant Pot Pressure Cooker

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • ½ cup onion chopped
  • ½ cup celery chopped
  • 1 teaspoon garlic minced
  • 1 cup mushrooms sliced
  • ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper powder
  • ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon ground sage
  • ¼ teaspoon dried rosemary
  • ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper or to taste
  • 1 tablespoon dry white wine
  • 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
  • 1 cup low sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth
  • 1 cup wild rice blend
  • ¼ cup pecans toasted, chopped
  • ¼ cup dried cranberries
  • ¼ cup green apple peeled and chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped (to garnish)

Instructions
 

  • Select ‘Saute’ mode and allow the Instant Pot to heat up.
  • Melt butter in the Instant Pot inner pot and sauté onions, celery, and garlic until onions start to become transparent.
  • Stir in salt, black pepper, thyme, sage, rosemary, and crushed red pepper. Press 'Cancel'.
  • Deglaze with white wine, stirring to remove any brown bits.
  • Stir in mushrooms, balsamic vinegar and broth.
  • Add in the wild rice blend but don’t stir. Just push the rice down with a spatula to make sure the rice is submerged in the liquid. This helps prevent the 'Burn' error or Instant Pot sealing issues.
  • Close the Instant Pot lid and pressure cook on High Pressure for 26 minutes.
  • Do a 15 minute Natural Pressure Release (NPR). Allow the pressure to release naturally for 15 minutes and then release any remaining pressure using the quick release method. [Read More: The Different Pressure Release Methods]
  • Once the float valve is down, open the lid and fluff the rice with a fork. If there is extra liquid at the bottom, allow the rice to rest for 10 minutes with the lid open, and the liquid should evaporate. If not, turn on ‘Saute’ mode and heat for a couple of minutes.
  • Stir in pecans, cranberries and apple; garnish with parsley.

Notes

  • Prep time does not include steps that are already accounted for in the ingredient list, e.g. chopped onion, sliced mushrooms, etc.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 173 kcal | Carbohydrates: 30 g | Protein: 4 g | Fat: 4 g | Saturated Fat: 11 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1 g | Cholesterol: 7 mg | Sodium: 209 mg | Fiber: 3 g | Sugar: 6 g
Course Main Dishes
Cuisine American
Main Ingredient rice
Have you made this recipe? I love seeing your photos! Tag me on Instagram @PaintTheKitchenRed or #PaintTheKitchenRed!

Thank you for visiting Paint the Kitchen Red. All photos and content are copyright protected. Please don’t use any content without prior written permission. If you’ve made this recipe and would like to share it with your friends, please link back to this recipe. Thank you!

I am not a certified nutritionist.  I provide my best estimate of nutritional information merely as a courtesy to my readers.  If you depend on nutritional information for dietary or health reasons,  I suggest using your favorite online nutrition calculator to confirm the nutritional value of this recipe based on the actual ingredients that you use.

Did you know that the best way to support your favorite bloggers is to comment and rate recipes, and share on social media? If you loved this recipe, please comment and give it a five ⭐ rating in the comment section below. If you’re a pinner, pin this post using the Pin buttons at the top and bottom of this post and in the recipe card above. Thank you for your support!

BACK TO TOP

Recipes you Might Also Like!

1
Instant Pot Brown Rice P1 turquoise bowl with brown rice with flowered napkin in background
Perfect Instant Pot Brown Rice
A step by step guide on how to cook brown rice in the Instant Pot using the PIP (Pot in Pot) method. The PIP method allows you to cook brown rice in smaller quantities, with minimal cleanup.  Perfectly cooked Instant Pot brown rice every time, quick and easy.
GET RECIPE
2
Instant Pot Brown Fried Rice P1 - black bowl of fried rice with carrots peas and green onions with a serving spoon in the middle of bowl
Healthy Chinese Style Instant Pot Brown Rice and Vegetables
This Instant Pot Brown Fried Rice is a healthier version of Instant Pot Chinese Fried Rice because it uses brown rice. The recipe is a great way to add flavor to plain brown rice with minimal effort. To make the recipe non-vegetarian, stir in ham, rotisserie chicken and/or a fried egg to the cooked rice.
GET RECIPE
3
Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes and Parsnips in a turquoise bowl with basket of fresh vegetables in the background - Paint the Kitchen Red
Perfect Instant Pot Mashed Parsnips and Potatoes
These Instant Pot parsnips and potatoes come out perfect every time. The slightly sweet taste of parsnips goes so well with the potatoes that you may never go back to plain mashed potatoes again.
GET RECIPE

More Instant Pot

  • Instant Pot Brownies a la Mode - 3 mason jars of brownie with ice cream topped with blueberries, mint leaf- Paint the Kitchen Red
    Instant Pot Brownies in a Jar
  • Bowl of Kerala parippu curry with fried curry leaves, onions, and chili.
    Kerala Parippu Curry – South Indian Dal
  • Instant Pot Error Codes A Complete Guide with image of Instant Pot display panel.
    Instant Pot Error Codes Complete Guide
  • Instant Pot Chicken Tinga rice bowl in orange bowl with chicken tinga tacos and nachos in the background - Paint the Kitchen Red
    Best Instant Pot Chicken Tinga

Comments

  1. Bernadette says

    August 22, 2022 at 10:10 am

    I’m so happy to see how you show the various IP’s. However, my IP is the 3qt Duo. I’d like to make half the amount but I’m concerned about the rice ratio.
    Can you help with that?

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red says

      August 22, 2022 at 6:38 pm

      Hi Bernadette, thank you for reaching out. Yes, you should be able to make the recipe in your 3 quart and halve it. The only issue is whether 1/2 cup of liquid will allow your Instant Pot to come to pressure. That can vary based on the Instant Pot. I can get my 6 quart to pressurize with 1/2 cup but others can’t – go figure! Use the same pressure cooking time.

      Reply
  2. Karan Lewis says

    December 21, 2019 at 12:26 pm

    5 stars
    Can you double this?

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red says

      December 21, 2019 at 4:00 pm

      Yes you can – I’ve doubled it successfully.

      Reply
5 from 4 votes (3 ratings without comment)

Questions, Comments? I love hearing from my readers and I reply to all comments! Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Rate This Recipe!




Neena in red sweater head tilted

Hi, I'm Neena Panicker, and welcome! I am the creator, photographer, and author of recipes and tips at Paint the Kitchen Red. I live in the glorious west in Salt Lake City, Utah with my family.

More about me →

Popular

  • Reasons Why Instant Pot is Not Sealing or Pressurizing
    Reasons For Your Instant Pot Not Sealing
  • Instant Pot Thai Red Curry with colorful vegetables in white bowl with spoon on rich red napkin.
    Instant Pot Thai Red Curry with Chicken
  • 4 Instant pots - 3, 6, 8 and 10 quart - what size instant pot should i buy?!
    Sizes of Instant Pot – What Size do you Need?
  • Instant Pot Chili in white bowl on green cloth with cornbread; topped with cheese, sour cream and green onions - Paint the Kitchen Red
    Homemade Instant Pot Chili (using Dried Beans)
  • Natural Release vs Quick Release
    How To Natural Release Instant Pot vs Quick Release
  • Instant Pot Panang Curry with chicken, green beans, red and green peppers, Thai basil in a white bowl on a light wood background
    Thai Instant Pot Panang Curry with Chicken
  • Beginner's Manual and User's Guide Instant Pot Duo Crisp Air Fryer
    How to Use the Instant Pot Duo Crisp + Air Fryer | Beginner’s Manual

Seasonal

  • 4 ears of corn sitting on husks on a white plate
    Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
  • Wasabi Instant Pot Deviled Eggs with wasabi and pickled ginger on colorful blue plate - Paint the Kitchen Red
    Wasabi Deviled Eggs Recipe – Delicious Appetizer
  • Instant Pot Korean Chicken two thighs and four drumsticks on a dark background, garnished with sesame seeds
    Instant Pot Korean Chicken with Gochujang
  • Instant Pot Thai Grilled Chicken Thighs on dark background with sprinkled cilantro and green onions
    Thai BBQ Chicken
  • Instant Pot Banh Mi sandwich on black background, with meat, daikon, carrots and cilantro; cilantro and green onions sprinkled on surface - Paint the Kitchen Red
    Instant Pot Banh Mi | Vietnamese Sandwich
  • Instant Pot Jamaican Jerk Chicken L1 - Paint the Kitchen Red
    Grilled Instant Pot Jamaican Jerk Chicken
  • Instant Pot beet, arugula, candied walnut salad on white plate with fork or dark background
    Arugula Goat Cheese Beet Salad
  • Instant Pot Ratatouille - round wooden board with cheeses, basil, olives, crostini, cherries, nuts, crackers
    Instant Pot Ratatouille | Braised Summer Vegetables with Fresh Herbs

Featured In

Media that have featured Paintthekitchenred.com including cnet, nbc news, cnbc, instant pot, the huffington post.

Social Media

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • About Me
  • Contact

Disclosures

  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Statement

Web Stories

  • Google Web Stories

Shop

  • Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2016 - 2025 Paint the Kitchen Red

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.