Instant Pot Basmati Rice

Basmati rice made in the Instant Pot is tender, fluffy, and never mushy. Even better, this method is totally hands-off, super quick, and gives you perfect basmati rice every single time – you’ll never cook it any other way again.

What Makes This Recipe So Good

• Cooking basmati rice in the Instant Pot instead of on the stove means you always get perfectly cooked rice, every single time. No more crunchy, uncooked or mushy, overcooked grains; you don’t have to soak the rice first; there’s no watching and timing and covering and uncovering. SO. EASY.
• You only need TWO ingredients for the most perfect basmati rice ever! If you’d like, you can try swapping out the water with vegetable broth for a little extra flavor. I love it as-is, though!
• Fluffy basmati rice is great to keep on hand for meal prep. This recipe yields roughly 6 servings that can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 5 days. That’s a full work-week! Add your favorite veggies and proteins and you’ve got an easy lunch ready to go.

Key Ingredients

Basmati Rice – This long, narrow rice is a common ingredient in curries and Indian dishes. It’s similar to a basic white rice, though the taste is a little different. Basmati rice has a slight nutty taste, though it’s a lighter nuttiness than jasmine rice. The longer the basmati rice is aged, the deeper its flavor.

Water – Liquid is absolutely crucial for any Instant Pot recipe. Without it, you’ll get the dreaded burn warning! All you need for Instant Pot basmati rice is 1 ½ cups of regular old plain water.

Chef’s Tips

• The rice will double in size as it cooks, so don’t overfill the Instant Pot! 1 cup dry basmati rice will yield roughly 3 cups cooked rice.
• You can double or triple the recipe so long as your Instant Pot is large enough! For 2 cups dry rice, use 2 ½ to 2 ¾ cups water. For 3 cups dry rice, use 3 ½ to 4 cups water.
• Don’t skip the rinse. Rinsing the basmati rice before adding to the Instant Pot removes starches from the outside of the grains. If you don’t rinse them first, you’ll likely end up with a sticky batch of basmati – not what you want.
• The final texture of your basmati rice will depend on the amount of water you add to the Instant Pot. For me, the fluffy al dente texture I get with 1 ½ cups water to 1 cup dry rice is exactly what you should aim for. If you like a softer rice, though, you can try adding a little extra water. I wouldn’t add more than ½ cup max, though.

Be Sure to Try These Instant Pot Recipes, Too

• Instant Pot French Onion Soup
• Instant Pot Meatballs
• Japanese Curry in the Instant Pot
• Instant Pot Tom Kha Soup
• Instant Pot White Chicken Chili
• Dreamy Instant Pot Chicken and Rice