Easy Mushroom Rice in the Instant Pot or Ninja Foodi

If stovetop rice has ever betrayed you, this easy mushroom rice is about to become your new best friend. Made in the Instant Pot or Ninja Foodi, it’s buttery, savoury and ridiculously simple to pull off.

Serve it beside just about any protein, or eat it straight from the pot while pretending you’re only “checking the seasoning.” hee hee!

Easy Mushroom Rice in the Ninja Foodi

Truth be told, stovetop rice and I have not always been friends. I’ve overcooked it, undercooked it and somehow managed to run it out of water entirely. Rice should not require this much emotional resilience.

The first time I made rice in my Ninja Foodi using the pressure cooker function, it came out tender and fluffy without me hovering over the stove. Suddenly, an entire world of easy rice dishes opened up:

• Mushroom rice
• Rice pilaf
• Vegetable rice
• Seasoned buttery rice

This mushroom version is one of my favorites. The mushrooms and onions are sautéed in butter before the rice is pressure cooked in savory broth, giving you an easy side dish with loads of flavor.

Although I originally developed this recipe in my Ninja Foodi, you can make it in an Instant Pot or another electric pressure cooker using the same pressure setting, cooking time and release.

The first time I made Perfect Rice in the Foodi, I was so incredibly happy. The whole world of different rice combinations was now open to me!

• Buttery Brown Rice
• Rice Pilaf
• Vegetable Rice
• Fried Rice

Why You’ll Love This Mushroom Rice

• It’s practically hands free. Once the lid goes on, the pressure cooker does the babysitting.
• It uses simple ingredients. Nothing fancy or difficult to find here.
• It works with almost any dinner. Serve it with chicken, beef, pork, fish or roasted vegetables.
• It works in different pressure cookers. Use the pressure cooking function on a Ninja Foodi, Instant Pot or another electric pressure cooker.
• It makes excellent leftovers. Warm it up for another meal or turn it into a quick rice bowl.

Ingredients Needed

✅ Rice: Regular long grain white rice works best with this cooking time. Avoid short grain, instant, converted or brown rice because they absorb liquid and cook differently.
✅ Mushrooms: I use ordinary white button mushrooms, but cremini mushrooms are also delicious. Oyster mushrooms can work as well, although their texture will be slightly different.
✅ Onion: A little diced onion adds sweetness and extra savory flavor without overpowering the mushrooms.
✅ Chicken Broth: If you wanted to keep this rice dish vegetarian, substitute chicken broth for vegetable broth.
✅ Butter: Butter adds richness and helps brown the mushrooms and onions. Honestly, I find butter the better fat to use because of the flavor it imparts, but, olive oil can be substituted if you prefer.
✅ Seasonings: Salt and black pepper keep things simple, but garlic powder, onion powder, thyme or parsley would all be right at home here.

Can I Make Mushroom Rice in an Instant Pot?

Absolutely! This recipe uses only the sauté and pressure cooking functions, so it is not limited to the Ninja Foodi.

• On an Instant Pot, select “Sauté” to cook the mushrooms and onions.
• After adding the remaining ingredients, secure the lid, set the valve to “Sealing” and cook on “High Pressure” for 3 minutes.
• Allow a 10 minute natural release, then carefully vent any pressure that remains.
  
  ***The names and locations of the buttons may vary slightly between pressure cooker models, but the cooking time and release remain the same.

Please refer to the printable recipe card below for exact amounts, detailed instructions, and helpful tips to make this recipe perfect every time.

Tips for Perfect Pressure Cooker Rice

• Rinse the rice well to remove excess starch.
• Use long grain white rice for the timing given in this recipe.
• Deglaze the inner pot after sautéing the vegetables to help prevent a burn warning.
• Measure the broth carefully. Too much liquid can produce wet or mushy rice.
• Do not immediately release all the pressure when the cooking time ends. The 10 minute natural release is part of the cooking process.
• Fluff the rice gently rather than aggressively stirring it into submission.
• If the rice seems slightly wet when you first open the lid, let it rest uncovered for five minutes. It will continue absorbing moisture as it sits.

What to Serve With Mushroom Rice

This buttery mushroom rice works beside almost any protein, which is why it is such a useful little recipe to have in your back pocket.

I have served this mushroom rice dish with pretty much any protein I cook. It would go great with these Smothered Pork Chops, or these Buttery Ranch Pork Chops also made in the Foodi.

To switch it up from pork, this rice dish would be a great side for this Air Fryer Salmon with Lemon Caper Sauce (the lemon flavors from the sauce would be beautiful with the mushrooms!), or another great idea is this Slow Cooker Sausage Curry.

You can also enjoy it as a simple meatless meal with a little extra butter, grated Parmesan or a fried egg on top. No rules. We are feeding ourselves, not appearing before a culinary tribunal. And, eating this easy dish just on its own with a little butter on top is divine!

Can I Add White Wine to this Dish?

Yes. I would add up to a half cup, and it would be added during the cooking time of the mushrooms and onions so the alcohol has time to evaporate from the dish.
Reducing the wine is important. If too much wine remains in the pot, the additional liquid may leave the finished rice softer or wetter than intended.

Troubleshooting Pressure Cooker Mushroom Rice

Why is my rice still crunchy?

Crunchy rice usually means it did not absorb enough liquid or the pressure was released too soon. Make sure the pressure cooker sealed correctly and allow the full 10 minute natural release.
If it is only slightly underdone, stir in a tablespoon or two of hot broth, replace the lid and let the rice sit for another five minutes.

Why is my mushroom rice mushy?

Too much liquid, insufficient rinsing or using a different variety of rice can make it mushy. Measure the broth carefully and use regular long grain white rice.

Why did I get a burn warning?

Small pieces of onion or mushroom may have remained stuck to the bottom after sautéing. Always deglaze the pot thoroughly before pressure cooking.

If you receive a burn warning, release the pressure according to your appliance instructions, open the lid carefully and check the bottom of the pot before continuing.

Can I use brown rice?

Not with the cooking time written here. Brown rice requires a longer cooking time and may need a different amount of liquid. For reliable results, stick with long grain white rice in this recipe.

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

• Transfer leftover mushroom rice to a shallow airtight container and refrigerate it promptly. Use it within three to four days.
• To reheat it, add a small splash of broth or water before warming it in the microwave or on the stovetop. The added moisture helps soften the rice without turning it into soup.
• Mushroom rice can also be frozen for up to two months. Portion it into freezer safe containers, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator and reheat it until steaming hot.

This easy mushroom rice is proof that your pressure cooker can handle more than soups and roasts. Whether you make it in the Ninja Foodi or Instant Pot, I hope it saves you from babysitting another pot of rice on the stove!

Thanks so much for stopping by The Salty Pot today. I hope you love the recipe, and I’ll see you next time!