Instant Pot Brown Rice Pilaf

Instant Pot Brown Rice Pilaf is a delicious side dish recipe that cooks to the perfect texture, and is very flavorful. Enjoy this pressure cooker brown rice pilaf recipe with chicken, beef, pork, fish, or any other main dish you like.

Rice Pilaf is a classic recipe that has great flavor and is easy to make!
Originally published Dec 27, 2018

Instant Pot Brown Rice Pilaf

Rice is one of the staples I make in my Instant Pot® often. Everything from basmati, white rice, to risotto with arborio rice, and rice pudding!

Once you get the cook times down, you can toss the ingredients in and proceed to make all kinds of yummy Instant Pot rice recipes.

What is Rice Pilaf?

Rice Pilaf is basically rice cooked in a flavorful broth, with veggies and seasonings added to it. Often you will find herbs such as parsley or rosemary, and even mushrooms, almonds, dried cranberries, and such.

What is nice is that once you set the lid and cook time it is hands-off until it is done!

Rice Pilaf as a Main Dish?

You can make this Instant Pot Brown Rice Pilaf as a tasty side dish that will compliment your entree, or make it the main dish.

It’s so easy to make Brown Rice Pilaf in the Instant Pot. You can experiment with the herbs and creative, flavorful add-ins as this recipe is very versatile:
• Pine Nuts
• Sliced Mushrooms
• Garbanzo Beans
• Sliced Almonds
• Dried Cranberries

Is Brown Rice Pilaf Vegetarian?

You can make this a vegetarian rice pilaf in the Instant Pot simply by using vegetable broth or water in place of chicken broth, which I use for the flavor.

I think as-is, this is a delicious combination of flavors, with a little zip of citrus that brightens this rice up just enough. I could just eat this as my Meatless Monday meal and be really happy!

Instant Pot White Rice
Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice
Instant Pot Mushroom Risotto with Peas
Instant Pot Korean Ground Beef – Bulgogi

If you make this flavorful Instant Pot Rice Pilaf recipe, please let me know. Just leave a comment with a star rating below. I’d like to know how you liked it!

5 from 8 votes

Instant Pot Brown Rice Pilaf

By Sandy Clifton

Instant Pot Brown Rice Pilaf is a delicious side dish recipe that cooks to the perfect texture, and is very flavorful. Enjoy with chicken, beef, pork, fish, or any other main dish you like. Make this vegetarian by using veggie broth.

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 22 minutes mins

Natural Release: 15 minutes mins

Total: 47 minutes mins

Servings: 4

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Equipment

• Electric Pressure Cooker (any size)

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Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 3 Tablespoons Butter, unsalted
• ▢ 1 small Onion, diced
• ▢ 1½ cups Long Grain Brown Rice (or Brown Basmati rice)
• ▢ 3 cloves Garlic, pressed or finely minced
• ▢ 1 teaspoon Fresh Rosemary, minced
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon Thyme Leaves, dried (not ground)
• ▢ ¾ teaspoon Kosher Salt (or ½ tsp table salt)
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon Pepper
• ▢ 1¾ cups Broth, low sodium chicken or vegetable
• ▢ ½ teaspoon Lemon Zest (grated)
• ▢ 1 teaspoon Lemon Juice, fresh
• ▢ 2 Tablespoons Fresh Parsley, minced
• ▢ 2 Tablespoons Shredded Carrot,

Optional Add-Ins

• ▢ 4 oz Sliced Mushrooms
• ▢ ¼ cup Pine Nuts
• ▢ ½ cup Garbanzo Beans (canned)

Instructions 

• Turn the pot on to the Sauté setting. When the display reads HOT add the butter.
• Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until it turns translucent.
• Stir in the rice and cook, stirring constantly, until all of the rice is coated in the butter.
• Add the garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant (careful not to burn it).
• Add the rosemary, thyme, salt, pepper and broth (plus any add-ins). Stir.
• Place the lid on the pot and lock in place. Turn the steam release knob to the Sealing position.
• Press the Pressure Cook or Manual button or dial, and then the +/- button or dial to select 22 minutes (High pressure).
• When the cook time has finished, let the pot sit undisturbed (natural release) until the pin in the lid drops. Then turn the steam release knob to the Venting position to make sure there is no more steam/pressure in there.
• Open the lid and fluff the rice pilaf with a fork. Then add the lemon zest, lemon juice, parsley and carrot. Stir.
• Taste and adjust salt, if needed and test for doneness. If the rice isn't soft enough, put the lid back on and let sit for a few minutes.
• Serve immediately.

Notes

Storage:

Keep in an airtight container in the fridge up to 5 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 368kcal

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Tried this recipe?Mention @simply_happy_foodie

RESOURCES TO MAKE Brown Rice Pilaf in the Instant Pot

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