These Instant Pot Indian rice recipes make it easy to cook rice for everyday meals without watching a pot on the stove. This collection includes plain basmati rice, vegetable pulao, rice with beans and lentils, and one-pot dal and rice recipes.
I use my Instant Pot often for rice because I can start it while preparing a curry, dal, or vegetable side. And when I want everything cooked in one appliance, pot-in-pot cooking makes it possible to prepare dal and rice together.
If you are new to cooking basmati rice, start with my Basmati Rice 101 guide. My basmati rice water ratio guide also explains the rice-to-water ratios I use for different cooking methods.
Jump to:
- Why I Use the Instant Pot for Rice
- Which Instant Pot Rice Recipe Should You Make?
- Instant Pot Indian Rice Recipes
- Rice with Beans, Lentils, and Paneer
- Cook Dal and Rice Together in the Instant Pot
- Instant Pot Vegetable Pulao Recipes
- Tips for Cooking Indian Rice in the Instant Pot
- Storing and Reheating Cooked Rice
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Instant Pot Indian Recipes
Why I Use the Instant Pot for Rice
The Instant Pot is especially useful on busy days because the rice cooks without much attention once the pot is started.
I also use it because:
- I can prepare a curry or vegetable side while the rice cooks.
- The same appliance works for plain rice, pulao, khichdi, and other rice dishes.
- Pot-in-pot cooking lets me cook rice and dal at the same time.
- One-pot rice recipes work well for weekday meals and lunchboxes.
- I can use cooked beans from meal prep to quickly make chickpea, rajma, or lentil rice dishes.
If you are just getting started, plain basmati rice is the easiest recipe to try first.
Happy Cooking!
-Sravanthi
Which Instant Pot Rice Recipe Should You Make?
Choose the recipe depending on what you are serving and how much of the meal you want to cook in one pot.
For curry or dal: Start with Instant Pot basmati rice.
For vegetables and rice in one pot: Try tomato rice, pudina rice, potato pilaf, or coconut milk pulao.
For rice with beans, lentils, or paneer: Make chickpea rice, rajma pulao, masoor dal pulao, or vegetable paneer pulao.
For dal and rice together: Make khichdi or bisi bele bath.
For separate dal and rice cooked at the same time: Use my Instant Pot pot-in-pot method.
Instant Pot Indian Rice Recipes
Here are my Instant Pot Indian rice recipes for everyday meals, from plain basmati rice and vegetable pulao to rice with beans, lentils, and paneer. You will also find one-pot rice and dal recipes for days when you want to keep cooking simple.
Rice with Beans, Lentils, and Paneer
These Instant Pot rice recipes cook rice along with beans, lentils, or paneer. They are useful when I want more ingredients cooked with the rice while still keeping the meal simple.
Cook Dal and Rice Together in the Instant Pot
One of my favorite ways to use the Instant Pot is to cook dal and rice at the same time.
There are two ways to do this. You can keep the dal and rice separate using the pot-in-pot method, or cook them together as dishes such as khichdi and bisi bele bath.
Pot-in-Pot Dal and Rice
My Instant Pot pot-in-pot cooking guide shows how I cook dal in the main pot and rice in a separate bowl placed above it. This method is especially useful for everyday meals because the dal and rice finish cooking together.
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While they cook, I usually prepare a vegetable side, salad, or simple Indian tempering.
Instant Pot Vegetable Pulao Recipes
These recipes cook vegetables, spices, and basmati rice together in the Instant Pot. I make them when I want something more flavorful than plain rice without preparing several separate dishes.
Tips for Cooking Indian Rice in the Instant Pot
- Rinse the rice well. Rinsing removes excess surface starch and helps the grains stay separate.
- Check whether the recipe uses soaked or unsoaked rice. The amount of water may change depending on how the rice is prepared.
- Measure the water carefully. Small changes in liquid can make a noticeable difference when pressure cooking rice.
- Follow the recipe timing. Plain rice, pulao, and rice with beans or lentils may need different cooking and release times.
- Do not automatically double the pressure cooking time. When increasing the quantity, the Instant Pot will take longer to come to pressure, but the programmed cooking time often stays the same.
- Stay within your Instant Pot's capacity. This is especially important when making larger batches of rice, beans, or lentils.
- Follow the pressure-release instructions in each recipe. I commonly use a short natural pressure release for basmati rice.
- Fluff rather than stir. Use a fork or rice paddle to gently fluff the cooked rice so the grains do not break.
Storing and Reheating Cooked Rice
- Cool leftover rice and refrigerate it promptly in a covered container.
- When reheating plain rice or pulao, add a small splash of water if the grains have become dry. I usually reheat only the amount I need.
- Rice-and-lentil dishes such as khichdi and bisi bele bath become thicker after refrigeration. Add a little water while reheating until they return to the consistency you prefer.
- Leftover plain rice can also be turned into another meal. Use it for lemon rice, spinach rice, yogurt rice, or Indian fried rice instead of serving the same rice again. For more such ideas, check out my leftover basmati rice ideas post.
Frequently Asked Questions
The ratio can vary depending on the type of basmati rice, whether you soak it, and the texture you prefer. I have explained the measurements I use in my basmati rice water ratio guide.
Many rice recipes can be doubled as long as the ingredients stay within the safe capacity of your Instant Pot. The pressure cooking time generally does not need to double, although a larger quantity will take longer to come to pressure. Follow the instructions in the individual recipe when making a larger batch.
It depends on the recipe. For plain basmati rice, I usually allow a short natural pressure release before opening the pot. For vegetable pulao and other one-pot rice recipes, follow the release method given in that particular recipe so the rice and vegetables cook to the intended texture.
Yes. I regularly cook them together using two different methods.
Use the pot-in-pot method when you want the dal and rice to remain separate. Or cook them together in the same pot when making recipes such as khichdi or bisi bele bath.
Start with Instant Pot basmati rice. Once you are comfortable with the rice-to-water ratio and pressure release, move on to vegetable pulao and rice dishes with beans or lentils.
Yes. Plain cooked rice works well for recipes such as lemon rice, spinach rice, yogurt rice, and Indian fried rice. This is one reason I sometimes cook extra plain basmati rice when planning meals for the next day. For more ideas on using up leftover rice, check out my leftover rice ideas.
More Instant Pot Indian Recipes
If you use the Instant Pot regularly for Indian cooking, these collections will help you plan the rest of the meal.
If you find my kitchen-tested tips helpful, click the button to see more of my recipes first when you search on Google!
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