Fluffy Instant Pot Rice Pilaf

Instant Pot Rice Pilaf is one of our go-to recipes. This pressure cooker rice pilaf is so easy to make, and just requires 5 ingredients! Tender, fluffy, and packed full of flavor.

Want more easy Instant Pot side dish recipes? Try our Instant Pot potato salad with bacon and cheese spicy black-eyed peas or our no soak Cuban beans.

Instant Pot Rice Pilaf

We paired our Instant Pot pilaf with shrimp the night we made it. That way it was a crazy simple night of cooking for us.

Why Use An Instant Pot To Cook Rice?

Rice cooked that is pressure-cooked has the best texture and flavor. As it pressure cooks it infuses all the flavors into the Calrose rice. Giving this pilaf insane flavor.

What to Serve with Rice Pilaf Instant Pot Recipe

• Grilled BBQ Peach Chicken
• Bruschetta Chicken
• Lobster Rolls
• Longhorn Steakhouse Steak
• Rotisserie Pork Loin

Which Rice is Best for Pilaf?

So we used Calrose rice for our pilaf. But you are welcome to reach for long and slender rice. You can use long-grain white rice, Basmati, or even a Jasmine rice if you want.

Just know that with the change of any rice it will alter the flavor of your overall rice recipe.

Ingredients for Rice Pilaf

• Unsalted Butter
• Calrose Rice (or swap for what you have)
• Carrots
• Shallots
• Chicken Stock

We cooked our shrimp separate and then topped our rice pilaf with it. We cooked our shrimp on the saute feature once our rice was all cooked.

How to Make Instant Pot Rice Pilaf

Step 1: Add your butter into the Instant Pot on the saute mode. Add in your shallots once the butter has melted.

Stir continuously and cook for 2-3 minutes or until they become fragrant.

Step 2: Now add in your diced carrots, rice, broth, and give a good stir. Place Instant Pot lid on and do high pressure for 5 minutes.

Followed by a natural release of 5 minutes, and then quick release any excess pressure off your rice pilaf pressure cooker dish.

Step 3: Toss your pilaf well and then garnish with parsley if you would like!

How To Cook Shrimp With Rice Pilaf

If you want to cook the shrimp after you remove all your rice pilaf, you can turn the saute feature back on, with a little butter, and toss in your shrimp and saute.

Boost Flavor With Spices And Vegetables

Consider this recipe a base. Feel free to add in different spices, finely diced vegetables to add different elements of flavor to the pilaf.

We cleaned out our produce drawer when we made this version. You can add tons of different flavors to totally transform the recipe.

• Add in minced garlic
• Coriander, Cumin or even a Curry Powder
• Chopped peppers
• Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, etc
• Cajun Spice
• Etc

You want to perfume the rice, not overpower it with flavor. But if you want to add a lot of flavors you sure can. Those are some ideas on how to transform the flavor a bit.

Topping Ideas

• Slivered Almonds
• Diced Pistachios
• Smoked Paprika
• Parsley
• Pecans
• Etc

We did parsley and that was it, but if you want some crunch add in some nuts or paprika for a nice bright color.

Ingredients

Makes 6 servings

• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 2 shallots, roughly chopped
• 2 small carrots, minced
• 2 cups of medium Calrose rice, or substitute other rice
• 2 ½ cups of chicken broth

Method

1. Turn your Instant Pot to saute and add in your butter and let it melt. Then stir in your thinly sliced shallots. Make sure to stir continously or it will burn.
2. Once your shallots are fragrant you will add in your rice, carrots, and chicken broth. Turn off the saute feature.
3. Place your lid on your Instant Pot and select high pressure for 5 minutes. Make sure your Instant Pot is set to sealing.
4. Then once your timer goes off allow it to natural release for 5 minutes. Then follow a quick release to push off the rest of the pressure.
5. Stir well and then garnish with parsley.
6. Serve up your rice pilaf and enjoy.

Kitchen notes

If you want to cook shrimp like we do, just remove the pilaf and then add in 1-2 tablespoons butter, and toss raw shrimp and cook it on saute. Cook until your shrimp is fully cooked.