Perfect Brown Rice Every Time (Instant Pot Side Dish)

This simple Instant Pot recipe for perfectly cooked brown rice takes just 10 minutes of hands-on time, 20 minutes cook time, and results in fluffy, flavorful rice every time.

The secret? Using chicken broth to enhance the rice’s flavor and a bit of salt to bring out its natural taste. Whether you’re making a quick side dish or prepping rice for the week, this recipe will quickly become your go-to for easy, delicious brown rice.

Cooking brown rice, or "arroz integral", doesn’t have to be complicated. While it can be tricky, the Instant Pot makes it easy to achieve fluffy, perfect rice every time.

This versatile side dish works well when making fried rice, burritos, or even a quick version arroz con pollo! This recipe is for you if you’re busy and need dinner on the table quickly.

While white rice, or "arroz blanco", is a staple in Panamanian cuisine, I love giving classic dishes a unique twist by swapping in cooked brown rice. I love how it adds variety and keeps me satisfied longer. Even my picky fiancé couldn’t tell the difference!

For most pressure cooker rice recipes, a 1:1 rice-to-liquid ratio works, but I noticed this ratio didn’t produce the texture my family enjoys. After testing the recipe 5 times, I found the magic ratio 1:1.25, that’s 1 cup of washed rice to 1 ¼ cups of liquid, which guarantee consistent fluffy rice with a texture similar to white rice every time.

Now, let’s take a closer look at what you’ll need to make this delicious and all-purpose side dish recipe.

📋 Ingredients & Substitutions

To make this recipe, you’ll need just three simple pantry ingredients:

• Uncooked brown rice: I used long-grain brown rice. Depending on the type of rice, you may need to adjust the amount of liquid slightly.
• Chicken broth: This amplifies the rice’s flavor. You can substitute it with flavored stock, broth, bone broth, or even a homemade version if you have some on hand. Preferably use low-sodium options. 
• Condiments: Salt is essential for flavor because nobody likes bland food! For extra seasoning, you can add black pepper, onion powder or garlic powder.

You’ll find the exact measurements for each ingredient in the recipe card below.

For equipment, you’ll need:

• An electric pressure cooker (like an Instant Pot)
• A fine mesh strainer
• A spoon or fork

📝 How To Make Brown Rice In A Pressure Cooker

Prep

The only preparation step is:

1. Add the rice to a fine-mesh stranger and rinse under cold water until the water runs clear.

💡Tip: This helps the rice achieve a fluffier texture by removing excess starch and debris.

Cooking

2. Add the rinsed rice, chicken broth, and salt to the inner pot of the Instant Pot, and mix. If you’re using any additional spices, add them here.

3. Ensure the sealing ring is in place of the Instant Pot lid, then close the lid and set the valve to the sealing position.

4. Press the “Manual” button and set the timer for 20 minutes.

💡Tip: Warming the chicken broth before adding it to the Instant Pot helps it reach pressure faster.

5. When the cooking time is up, the Instant Pot will display "L0:05", indicating a 5-minute natural pressure release. After that, quickly release any remaining pressure. Then press the “Cancel” button to turn off the Instant Pot.

6. Open the pot and fluff the rice with a fork. Serve immediately and enjoy!

If you’ve tried the simple brown rice recipe or any other on Nashi food, don’t forget to rate it and leave a comment below! I love hearing about your cooking experience.