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Fluffy rice, seasoned perfectly and then flavored with garlic and fresh herbs, turns out beautifully every single time, thanks to the Instant Pot! Garlic and Herb Rice is full of amazing flavor and is a terrific side dish that can be served any time of year.
This rice is terrific served with Crock Pot Country Style Pork Ribs or Oven Baked BBQ Chicken for a weeknight meal, and perfect for Sunday supper.
If you’re a fan of the Instant Pot craze, you have to try this dish! It’s simple to make, but it’s packed with flavor. The best part is how tender the rice turns out when it’s cooked in the pressure cooker.
It’s hard to resist a bowl of perfectly seasoned rice, especially for my sons, who could eat it every day. That’s why I was thrilled to discover that rice can be cooked in the Instant Pot in less than 20 minutes.
Using this “hands-off” cooking method, I can focus on preparing other dishes for my meal, which saves me a lot of time. Plus, this inexpensive side dish is incredibly versatile – you can add a variety of flavors to rice, so let your imagination run wild!
To get great results, make sure you use the right amount of water for the amount of rice you’re cooking. As a general rule, one cup of rice needs one cup of water for the Instant Pot. Also, be sure to spread the rice evenly across the bottom of the pot, whether you’re using wild rice or basmati rice. By following these tips, you’ll have a tasty and satisfying meal in no time!
I love having a go-to recipe that can be made for every season, is easy to make, and one that I know my family and friends will enjoy. This Instant Pot Garlic and Herb Rice recipe does all those things wonderfully!
Tips For The Best Instant Pot Rice
- Use the right rice-to-water ratio: For long grain rice, use a 1:1.25 ratio of rice to water. This will ensure that the rice cooks properly and doesn’t become too mushy or dry.
- Consider adding cooked wild rice: If you want to add some texture and variety to your dish, mix in some cooked wild rice. This will also increase the nutritional value of your meal.
- Adjust cooking times for brown rice: If you’re using brown rice instead of white rice, you’ll need to adjust the cooking time and water ratio. Brown rice typically requires more water and a longer cooking time.
- Explore flavors from other parts of the world: Add some variety to your garlic and herb rice by incorporating flavors from Indian and Pakistani cuisine, such as turmeric, cumin, and coriander. This will give your dish a unique and delicious twist.
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Commonly Asked Questions
Yes, you can use brown rice instead of long-grain rice in this recipe. However, you’ll need to adjust the cooking time and water ratio to ensure that the brown rice cooks properly. Brown rice typically requires more water and a longer cooking time than white rice.
Yes, you can add vegetables to the Instant Pot along with the rice for a complete meal. Just make sure to adjust the water and cooking time accordingly based on the type of vegetables you’re using.
Yes, you can use dried herbs instead of fresh herbs in this recipe. However, keep in mind that dried herbs are more concentrated than fresh herbs, so you’ll need to use less of them. As a general rule, use â…“ the number of dried herbs as you would fresh herbs.
Yes, you can make this recipe ahead of time and reheat it when you’re ready to serve. Just make sure to store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator and reheat it in the microwave or on the stove.
Yes, you can use chicken broth instead of water for extra flavor. This will give your rice a savory, rich flavor that pairs well with garlic and herbs. Just keep in mind that the sodium content in chicken broth is higher than in water, so adjust your seasoning accordingly.
Need ideas of what to serve with Instant Pot Garlic and Herb Rice? Try these recipes:
- Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Chicken
- Air Fryer Salmon
- Grilled Lemon Chicken
- Balsamic Brown Sugar Pork Roast in the Crock Pot
- Sheet Pan Hamburger Steak with Mushrooms and Onions
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups long grain white rice
- 2 cups water
- 2 cloves garlic – minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¾ teaspoon Kosher salt (or less if you prefer)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley – chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh chives – chopped
- 1 tablespoon butter
Instructions
- Place rice in a strainer and rinse under running water until water runs clear, 3-4 minutes. Add water, rinsed rice, garlic and olive oil to Instant Pot and stir. Secure lid on pot. Select RICE button (it will set to 12 minutes) and close steam valve.
- Once timer goes off, do a quick release on steam valve. Carefully, remove lid and fluff rice with a fork. Add in parsley, chives, salt and butter, gently mixing into rice. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Store cooled leftover rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop until warmed through.
Nutrition
Want To Know More About Using The Instant Pot?
If you are new to cooking with an Instant Pot or just don’t know where to start, I’ve got something to help. I’ve put together a helpful guide with tips and recipes to get you using the Instant Pot like a pro!
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How much longer would I have to cook the rice if I used brown rice instead of white rice?
I’ve never tested with brown rice.
Donya
I just made this for lunch using Jasmine rice. I know, not traditional, it came out perfectly. I doubled the garlic because…garlic. And it needed more butter at the end with Jasmine rice being so sticky. But, this is going in my back pocket for quick rice sides or bases for other ingredients. Thank you!
Hey there!
I am so happy to hear that you enjoyed this recipe, it sounds like you made an absolutely delicious lunch! I have a couple different Instant Pot Rice Recipes you can search for on my site, but I think you’d really enjoy the Instant Pot Coconut Lime Rice. If you’re interested in using these recipes as a base for ingredient measurements, cooking times, or flavor ideas, you should definitely check out the coconut lime rice since it’s made with more liquid. Thank you so much for sharing your experience with this recipe and for your fantastic rating, I really appreciate your support! Let me know if you ever have any questions, I’d be more than happy to help!
~Donya
Hi Donya,
Two questions …
1. What is the serving size? It says 8 but I’m trying to understand if that’s cups or 1/2 a cup, etc
2. Did you ever get a response from the person who doubled the recipe? Trying to make this recipe for a Thanksgiving potluck.
Thanks!
Hey there Sherri!
Thank you so much for your interest in this recipe, I think it’ll make a wonderful potluck dish for Thanksgiving! The serving size is about 8 people if you’re giving them 1/3 cup to 1/2 cup portions. If you’re making this dish for a larger crowd, you can double the recipe but I would recommend using the RICE setting instead of the PRESURE COOK setting. I hope this helps, let me know how everything turns out, I’d love to hear what you think!
~Donya
This rice is perfect for picky eaters who aren’t so adventurous with flavours, but it is still a great side dish for all. I add everything but the butter during the pressure cooking and also use dried herbs. It comes out amazing! It’s just SO EASY. This is a weeknight staple for us. Very happy with this recipe, thanks for sharing!
Hey there Rebecca!
Wow! I am so happy to hear that everyone enjoyed this recipe, I completely agree that it’s a great middle-ground for picky eaters and people who prefer flavored rice, and adding extra herbs is always a great idea! If you liked this recipe, you should check out my Instant Pot Coconut Lime Rice, it’s just as easy to make and it’s subtly flavored so our picky eaters can still enjoy it. Thank you so much for your kind words, I really appreciate all your support!
~Donya
If your pressure cooker doesn’t have a rice setting, what temp. should it be set to?
Hey there Kirsten!
Thank you so much for your interest in this recipe, that’s a great question! If you’re using an Instant Pot or any pressure cooker without a rice setting, you can Pressure Cook the rice on HIGH for 5 minutes, do a natural release for 13 minutes, then a quick release of the valve and let it sit for 3 minutes before fluffing the rice. I hope this helps, let me know how everything turns out, I’d love to hear what you think of the recipe!
~Donya
This was wonderful. I’d had it with stovetop rice after moving to a new home with gas burners. This is an answered prayer. Thank you for another fantastic recipe.
Hey there Stacy!
I am so happy to hear you enjoyed this recipe, the flavors are pretty hard to beat! If you liked this rice recipe, you should check out my Coconut Lime Rice, it’s just as easy to make and it’s perfect to serve with any main dish. Thank you so much for your kind words and your phenomenal rating, I really appreciate your support!
~Donya
Delish,
I’ve made this recipe quite a few times now. My white rice setting is for 8 minutes. I did it for time in recipe first time and was a bit chewier but an interesting texture. I like that it’s ready to eat as seasoned and as you’ve said open to different flavors dependent on which fresh herbs or dried I use. Thanks for a tasty and easy recipe 🙂
Hey there Wenda!
Wow! Thank you so much for your kind words, I am so happy to hear you’ve found my recipe useful! I completely agree with you that it’s nice to have the rice ready to serve as soon as it’s out of the instant pot and you can switch up the flavors depending on the meal. If you liked this recipe, you should check out my Instant Pot Coconut Lime Rice recipe, I think you’d like it. Thank you so much for your support and your fantastic rating, if you ever have any questions about a recipe please don’t hesitate to ask!
~Donya
Only had dried herbs, so added them while the rice was cooking. Turned out delicious and everyone ate it up. Definitely will make again!
Hey there Molly!
Thank you so much for your kind words and this fantastic rating! I am so happy to hear everyone enjoyed this recipe, in my experience it turns out just as well with dried herbs as when you use fresh. If you liked this recipe you should check out my Instant Pot Coconut Lime Rice recipe, it’s just as easy to make, it just has a different flavor combination. Thank you for your support, if you ever have any questions feel free to reach out!
~Donya
Absolutely delicious. We substituted cilantro for parsley and loved it! It’s our family’s favorite rice dish!
Hey Marine!
Wow! Thank you so much for your sweet words and this phenomenal rating, I am thrilled y’all are enjoying this recipe. It’s one of those quick and easy recipes that is dependable and perfect for weeknight dinners. Thank you for your support, have a great day!
~Donya
Hello – I do not have an instant pot but it sounds delicious. Is there another way to prepare this?
Thank you,
Kari
Hello Kari!
Of course you can make this without the instant pot! You can always make your rice the classic way on stove top over a medium heat. Add an additional half cup of water and wait until your 2.5 cups of water come to a boil before you add your rice, then just follow the recipe for all the toppings!
Hope you enjoy the recipe!
~Donya
If you don’t have fresh herbs can you use dried herbs?
Hey Carrie.
Yes, you sure can. Let me know how you like the recipe.
Have a great day,
~Donya
How much longer did you cook the brown rice?
This turned out to be SO amazing. Thank you for the inspiration and a beautiful side dish to pair with grilled lemon butter garlic drumsticks. This is a must make again.
Thanks for sharing, Jeremy! You’ve made my day.
Have a great rest of the week,
~Donya
Hey there.
The recipe is updated. Thanks so much.
Have a great day,
~Donya
This is really very yummy! I’ve made this five or six times already. Today I made it with a little sprinkle of chicken bouillon and we had with chicken breasts and Brussels sprouts. What a great meal and the rice was again a big hit. What drew me to the recipe is how adaptable it is. I’ve added frozen peas to it previously as well. Thanks for this keeper!
Happened upon this recipe while looking for a side dish to go with kabobs; it. was. perfect! By far one of the best rice dishes I’ve made. It’s a keeper! :o)
I want to say this is the best rice that I have ever made! I’ve always done the 4 minutes for white rice because a lot of recipes say not to use the rice button. I will always do it like this from now on and will tell everyone I know that this is the best way
Thank you
Hey there Michelle!
My goodness, I am so happy to hear that you enjoyed this recipe! Using the Instant Pot is always the way to go when cooking rice, I’m really glad that you found this method more useful than the rice button, I think it just comes out more moist and well cooked this way. If you liked this recipe, you should check out my Instant Pot Coconut Lime Rice recipe, it’s just as simple to make and the bright flavors are incredible. Thank you so much for your kind words and for sharing my recipe, I really appreciate your support! Let me know if you ever have any questions, I’m always happy to help where I can!
~Donya
This was very good. I didn’t have parsley at all and only dried chives on hand (I added them during cooking) and it still came out wonderfully. This has enough flavor that it is not just plain boiled rice, but the flavor is mild enough to be neutral and go with any meal.
I tried this tonight and absolutely loved it! I’m new to using the instapot and this recipe sealed the deal for me. There was so much flavor jam packed into this rice! I’m absolutely going to make this again and again:)
This is absolutely delicious!!! This is my go to rice dish from now on, my family refuses to eat rice any other way!!! Thsnk you for this recipe.
That’s great Jennifer!
Thanks for sharing and I’m so glad y’all like it.
Have a wonderful day,
~Donya
Would thi be good served with sweet and sour chicken?
Hey there Sherry!
Thank you so much for your interest in this recipe and for your wonderful rating, that is a great question! I think that the flavors in this rice would go well with sweet and sour chicken, but I also have another Instant Pot Rice Recipe that I think might work even better. The flavors of my Instant Pot Coconut Lime Rice would compliment the sweet and sour chicken beautifully, I will link the recipe below so that you can compare the flavorings of each rice recipe and chose which one you think will work best for you, honestly they’d both be delicious sides! Let me know if you have any other questions, I’d be more than happy to help, I hope you enjoy the recipes!
https://www.asouthernsoul.com/instant-pot-coconut-lime-rice/
~Donya
Have you made this in a larger quantity in the pressure cooker? I’m wondering how much time to add on?
I have not made a larger quantity. I would use the RICE setting and just let the pressure cooker do its thing.
Hope this helps.
~Donya
I haven’t made this particular recipe in larger quantities but I have just doubled everything for others, pressed ‘rice’ on the instant pot and it works fine. Will let you know on this one, making it for a crowd tomorrow.
Hey there Diane!
Thank you so much for your interest in this recipe, I think you’re going to love the flavors! I usually make this dish for family dinners, so I’m not sure if I’ve ever actually tried doubling it. I think you’ve got the right idea, it should turn out perfectly! Please let me know how everything turns out, I hope everyone enjoys!
~Donya