Join 11,000+ other food lovers enjoying weekly recipes.

Instant Pot Brown Rice Recipe

Instant Pot brown rice serves as the perfect base for hundreds of dishes. Pressure cooker brown rice can be safely made inside the Instant Pot as you create the rest of your dinner.

Craving rice dishes? Some other great options include these cute stuffed mini peppers with beef and rice, Instant Pot rice beef pilaf (a family favorite) or this unstuffed cabbage roll casserole.

Instant Pot brown rice in a bowl sprinkled with fresh herbs.

Flavorful Instant Pot Brown Rice

Brown rice gets a bad reputation as the least desirable type of rice. In the past, I may have agreed with that and opted for white rice, but that was before I tried Instant Pot brown rice.

Cooking it inside the pressure cooker means that the rice is perfectly chewy and has that wonderful rich, nutty flavor. With this recipe, brown rice gives a deep flavor profile that is quickly becoming a family favorite.

Instant Pot Brown Rice Cooks Itself

Yes, you can make rice on the stovetop, but the beauty of Instant Pot rice is that you can create it entirely hands-free, at a fraction of the time. Rather than constantly adjusting the temperature of the dish on the stove pot, you can simply add your ingredients into the IP and let the machine take care of making perfect brown rice.

Instant Pot Timing

It’s important to note that when you’re making a pressure cooker recipe like this Instant Pot brown rice, there are three times you must consider.

  • First, it will take a certain amount of time for the cooker to come to pressure.
  • Secondly, the recipe must cook at that pressure for a certain amount of time.
  • Lastly, the rice will need to de-pressurize before you open the lid.

If you’re wondering why some rice recipes seem quicker than others, it is likely because only the second part of the recipe is indicated in the recipe timing. While it is hands-off cooking, it’s still important to know that it will take longer than just the cook time.

A scoop of Instant Pot brown rice being scooped out of the pressure cooker.

How to Make Brown Rice in an Instant Pot

  1. Making rice in an Instant Pot is one of the most popular uses for the pressure cooker. In fact, you may notice there is even a rice button on the machine. For this recipe, however, you’ll need to use manual pressure.
  2. First, you’ll need to rinse the rice. This can be done easily in a mesh strainer or with a cheesecloth. Brown rice only needs to be rinsed 1-2 times to remove the extra starch before making rice in an Instant Pot.
  3. Then combine your rice, salt, and chicken broth into the IP. Place the lid on and make sure the ring is set to seal. Cook the rice in the Instant Pot for 30 minutes, followed by a natural release after 20 minutes. Then open and fluff before topping with butter and fresh herbs.

FAQs About Pressure Cooker Brown Rice

Cooking pressure cooker brown rice is certainly different than cooking white rice. Because it isn’t done as frequently (yet), I wanted to address a few frequently asked questions.

Is Brown Rice Healthier Than White Rice?

Short answer – yes…maybe. Brown rice has long been considered healthier since it is not stripped of the outer bran, which has higher fiber (7 times more than white) and protein content among other nutrients.

Overall, brown rice may be healthier than white rice, but that also depends on your fitness goals.

What Goes with Pressure Cooker Brown Rice?

There are so many fantastic ways to serve this pressure cooker rice. Some of my favorite recipes to make with it include:

Does Brown Rice Need to be Rinsed?

Yes. Pressure cooker brown rice should be measured, then rinsed before cooking. This is done to help remove the excess starch the grains contain.

Without rinsing, the starch will result in stickier rice, and you will also run the risk of clogging the valve while using the pressure cooker.

Can I Double This Recipe? 

Pressure cooker brown rice can be doubled. Use twice the amount of each ingredient, but leave your pressure cooking time the same.

Pressure cooker brown rice in a bowl with a skillet of shrimp in the background.

More Instant Pot Recipes:

Instant Pot Brown Rice

5 from 1 vote

This easy pressure cooker brown rice results in a perfect grain every time.

Author: Marina | Let the Baking Begin
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American, asian
Keyword: instant pot rice
Calories: 201 kcal
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 4 people

Ingredients

Instant Pot Brown Rice Ingredients

Optional Ingredients

  • 1 sprinkle chopped parsley or cilantro
  • 1 tbsp butter

Instructions

How to Make Brown Rice in an Instant Pot

  1. Measure 1 cup of brown rice and rinse 1-2 times until the water is clear.

  2. Add rice, ½ tsp of salt and 1 ⅓ cup of chicken broth to the Instant Pot.

  3. Place lid and make sure valve is set to seal.

  4. Set on manual then select high pressure at 30 minutes.

  5. Once countdown has finished, allow rice to naturally release pressure for 20 minutes.

  6. Open lid, fluff rice with a fork. Sprinkle the rice with chopped parsley or cilantro along with 1 tbsp of butter before serving if you would like.

Nutrition Facts
Instant Pot Brown Rice
Amount Per Serving
Calories 201 Calories from Fat 36
% Daily Value*
Fat 4g6%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Cholesterol 8mg3%
Sodium 605mg26%
Potassium 190mg5%
Carbohydrates 37g12%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 110IU2%
Vitamin C 5.8mg7%
Calcium 20mg2%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Bon Appetit & Happy Pinning

Thank you for following me on Instagram, Facebook & Pinterest!

Hashtag your photos #LetTheBakingBeginBlog so I can see your creations and for a chance to be featured!

Marina | Let the Baking Begin

Welcome to Let the Baking Begin! I'm Marina and my love and passion for eating only the most delicious foods drive me to share that love here on Let the Baking Begin (since 2009). With over 20 years of experience in the kitchen, you know the recipes are tested and retested until perfect. I'm so happy to have you here. Enjoy! Read more...

Join 11,000+ other food lovers enjoying weekly recipes.

Comments

Leave a comment

Please give this recipe a STAR RATING




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • Tina

    I haven’t tried this exact recipe but a version of beef rice pilaf using brown rice in the IP. I came across a sushi chef on YouTube saying to let brown rice soak in water an hour before cooking- I did so and it was overall SO delicious! Going forward any brown rice recipe I use- I’ll be soaking it beforehand. It comes out as tender as white rice.

    · Reply

As seen in