How to Cook Rice in a Slow Cooker

Make a big batch of weekly rice—totally hands-free!—with these easy tricks.

Perfectly cooked rice can be a little tricky to master, but cooking rice in a slow cooker and following this recipe makes it easier. Choose white rice, brown rice, or wild rice, then let your slow cooker do the rest. Once your rice is cooked, you can store it in the fridge for 4 to 6 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months, so you can always have ready-to-eat rice on hand.

How to Make White Rice in a Slow Cooker

This is the recipe that's going to completely change up your meal prep! It makes six servings in a small slow cooker, so you'll have more than enough for one person for the week, or you can double it if you're planning to use it as a side dish for family meals a few times a week. Here's how to do it:

This is the recipe that's going to completely change up your meal prep! It makes six servings, so you'll have more than enough for one person for the week, or you can double it if you're planning to use it as a side dish for family meals a few times a week. Here's how to do it:

1. Place a steamer basket with the center post removed (if possible) in a 3½- to 6-quart slow cooker. If you don't have a steamer basket, you can use a wire rack or several small balls of foil. Cover and preheat the slow cooker on high for 15 minutes.

2. Add 2 cups boiling water to the slow cooker. Place a 1½-quart dish on the steamer basket, rack, or foil. In the dish, combine another 2 cups boiling water, 1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice, and ½ tsp. salt. Cover the dish with a lid, plate, or foil. Cover and cook on high for 1½ hours or until the rice absorbs the water.

Related: The 8 Best Slow Cookers for Soups, Stews, and Easy Dinners, According to Testing

How to Make Brown Rice in a Slow Cooker

Once your slow cooker brown rice is ready, you can serve it on its own or add it to other recipes to make a main dish. For a quick lunch or dinner, top brown rice with a crumbled slice of bacon, an egg, and shredded cheese. Here's how to make brown rice in your slow cooker so you can always have some ready:

For slow cooker brown rice, make sure to spray the inside of your slow cooker generously with nonstick cooking spray before adding any ingredients. Then, combine 3⅔ cups water or reduced-sodium broth with 2 cups brown rice. Add a few mix-ins if you want, such as 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1 or 2 tablespoons snipped fresh herbs. Then cook the rice on high heat for 3 hours.

Related: 8 Delicious Rice Alternatives That You Can Easily Swap In

How to Make Wild Rice in a Slow Cooker

Wild rice is ideal for making in your slow cooker because it usually takes longer to cook than white or brown rice, and it's sturdier than both. Just follow these directions:

For wild rice, in your slow cooker combine 4 cups water (or reduced-sodium broth) with 2 cups rinsed and drained wild rice. Then stir in any extra ingredients you want to add for flavor such as finely chopped garlic and onions. Cook on low heat for 3 hours.

Now that you know how to cook rice in the slow cooker, try using it to make a batch of fried rice or a sweet rice pudding.

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