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Elevate your rice with flavor using this simple Instant Pot Rice Pilaf recipe! Made with a rich blend of dried seasonings and earthy mushrooms, Instant Pot Rice Pilaf feels fancy, but couldn't be easier to make!
Inspired by my mom's rice pilaf recipe, the bold, earthy flavors of Instant Pot rice pilaf pair beautifully with hearty entrees like London Broil, Balsamic Pork Tenderloin, and Chicken Marsala. It is an easy, inexpensive side dish that has restaurant-flair!
Kristen's Key Tips for Instant Pot Rice Pilaf
- Skip the packet! Opt for a homemade blend of spices that replicates Lipton Onion Soup Mix, which adds flavor without any additives.
- Use white or brown long-grain rice. The only thing that will change is the length of pressure cooking.
- Rinse the rice. Rinsing the rice will remove the surface starch and help to prevent mushy results.
How to Make Instant Pot Rice Pilaf
The following tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the ingredient quantities and detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Sauté mushrooms and onions. Using the sauté function, sauté the onions in melted butter until translucent. Add in the mushrooms and continue to sauté until the mushrooms have softened. Finally, add in the garlic and let toast for 30-60 seconds.
- Deglaze inner pot. Add a bit of broth to the inner pot and use a wooden spoon or spatula to scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the inner pot. This is super important to prevent a burn notice!
- Layer ingredients. Add in the remaining broth, seasonings, and Worcestershire sauce, and give the mixture a gentle stir. Add the rinsed rice and gently push the rice into the liquid so it is in an even layer and fully submerged in the broth.
- Pressure cook. Set to cook on high pressure for 3 minutes for white rice or 22 minutes for brown rice.
- Let pressure release naturally. Allow for at least 10 minutes of natural pressure release (just leave the Instant Pot alone after the cooking time has elapsed). This will yield the best texture.
- Fluff and serve. After pressure has been released, open the Instant Pot and use a fork to fluff the rice, which will help to keep the grains of rice intact.
More Instant Pot Rice Recipes
- Instant Pot Brown Rice
- Instant Pot Spanish Rice
- Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice
- Instant Pot Jasmine Rice
- Instant Pot Risotto
- Instant Pot Chicken and Rice
If you tried this recipe for Instant Pot Rice Pilaf, I would love for you to leave a comment and review below.
Instant Pot Rice Pilaf
Instant Pot Rice Pilaf is a fast and flavorful side dish made with rice, mushrooms, and onions in a richly seasoned broth.
Video
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ½ cup yellow onion, minced
- 8 ounces baby Bella or button mushrooms, sliced
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 2 cups low-sodium beef broth, or chicken or vegetable broth
- 2 tablespoons dried onion flakes
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon celery seed
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce
- 2 cups long-grain white rice or long-grain brown rice
- parsley for serving, optional
Instructions
- Turn the Instant Pot to the Sauté function, be sure the heat is at normal not high. If needed hit the adjust or sauté button to adjust the level of heat. Add in the 2 tablespoons unsalted butter and let melt. Once the butter has melted, add in ½ cup yellow onion (diced) and sauté until the onions begin to soften about 2-3 minutes.
- Add8 ounces baby Bella or button mushrooms (sliced) to the onion mixture and continue to sauté the mixture for 2-3 minutes until the mushrooms soften. Add 2 teaspoons minced garlic and sauté for 30-60 seconds, just until you smell the garlic. Turn off the sauté function by hitting cancel.
- Add 2 cups low-sodium beef broth and use a wooden spoon or spatula to scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the inner pot.
- Add 2 tablespoons dried onion flakes, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon celery seed, ¼ teaspoon pepper, ½ teaspoon dried parsley, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, and 2 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce and give the mixture a gentle stir.
- Place 2 cups long-grain white rice or long-grain brown rice into a fine-mesh st rainer and rinse really well. Once rinsed, add the rice into the inner pot and gently push the rice down so that it is fully submerged in the broth.
- Place the lid on the pressure cooker and seal the vent knob. Set to cook on high pressure for 3 minutes for white rice and 22 minutes for brown rice.
- Once the cooking time has elapsed, allow the pressure to release naturally for at least 10 minutes, before attempting to do a quick release of pressure.
- Once the pressure is released, open up the inner pot and fluff the mixture with a fork. Serve immediately with a sprinkling of fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
Stock/Broth: Use beef broth, chicken stock, OR vegetable broth.
Storage: Let cool slightly, transfer to an airtight storage container, and refrigerate for up to 3 days or store in a freezer-safe container, and freeze for up to 3 months.
Reheating: Defrost overnight in refrigerator if needed. Then transfer to a heat-safe container, add a splash of additional broth or water to the rice, cover with a moistened paper towel, and heat in the microwave until warmed through. (The water and towel will help prevent the rice from drying out.)
Dairy-Free Modification: Use extra virgin olive oil in place of butter.
Gluten-Free Modification: Use gluten-free broth and Worcestershire sauce.
Nutrition
Calories: 97kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 4gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 366mgPotassium: 413mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 119IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 22mgIron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Tried this recipe?Mention @amindfullmom or tag #amindfullmom!
This post was originally shared in 2022 and updated in 2025.
It was a great side dish. I used beef broth but will try with chicken or vegetable broth next time.
Thank you for sharing, Sharon! I love it with any broth 🙂
Hi Kristen, I plan to make this recipe tonight and just wanted to point out that the garlic listed in the instructions is not included in the ingredients list. Thank you. Love your recipes and have a list of the ones I want to try out.
Sorry about that! Updating now. Add 2 teaspoons minced garlic to the mushroom mixture and sauté for 30 seconds.