For this edition of Slow Cooker Saturdays, I am sharing how to make rice in a slow cooker.
There are two big reasons that I love making rice in the slow cooker. First, I love putting rice in the crock-pot before teaching my afternoon music class and piano lessons, so when the music-making is done, I switch to my chef hat, and the rice is ready to be topped with deliciousness.
Secondly, I also love that making rice in the slow cooker doesn’t involve the rice cooker. Honestly, I have never made rice in a rice cooker, and I am sure they work fabulously. The thing is I have plenty of kitchen gadgets and appliances, and I don’t want to give up precious culinary real estate for another singleton appliance. What I mean by that is there are so many small appliances out there that only do one job: the pizza maker, the quesadilla maker, the popcorn maker, the yogurt maker, the waffle maker, etc…; you get the picture. I like to stick with my multifunctional appliances like my crock-pot(s). I regularly make my whole chickens, broth and soups, granola, apple crisps, rice and WAY more all in the crock-pot.
By the way, if I could only have one crock-pot, I would own a 6 quart crock-pot because you can do more things with it and it’s a bit bigger than the standard 5 quart. I really do use all of my crock-pots, and every week it’s quite normal for me to be using a couple of crock-pots at the same time, especially when I am making things overnight like broth or yogurt.
When you make rice in the slow cooker, don’t worry if after you pour the water over the rice you have some rice floating on top as shown in the photo below. Don’t stir as you go. Just stir at the end to fluff.
I make the rice in my 2 quart or my 4.5 quart crock-pot.
Easy Crock-pot Rice
Ingredients
- 3 1/4 cups of water for more flavor, you can sub part or all of the water with broth depending on what you are serving the rice with
- 1 1/2 cups organic brown rice I use Basmati (basically it's a generous 2 parts water to 1 part rice). The amount of cooked rice yielded depends on the type of rice you use.
Instructions
-
Generously grease the slow cooker with coconut or olive oil.
-
Place the rice in the bottom of the slow cooker.
-
Slowly pour in the water.
-
Cover and cook on high for about 2 1/2 hours or on low for about 5 hours or until the rice is soft and the water is absorbed. Every crock-pot cooks differently, so WITHOUT lifting the lid, check the crock-pot every hour the first time you make this.
-
Stir when completely cooked and top with your meats and sauces like Thai Cashew Shrimp.
The Verdict: Some people call making rice in the crock-pot, the perfect rice. I don’t know if I would go that far, but the slow cooker rice comes out quite nicely. Just make sure you grease your crock-pot well.
When we were kids, one of our favorite lunches my mom used to make was white rice topped with cinnamon and sugar drenched in milk. While I don’t buy white rice anymore, out of nostalgia, and if we have leftovers, I will occasionally give cinnamon and sugar rice to my kids, and they LOVE it.
Have you tried…?
or
GO HERE FOR THE COMPLETE LIST OF RECIPES.
This post may contain affiliate links that cost you no more money, but support our blogging efforts. Thank you!
Sharing at some of these great link parties.
When I was little we would have leftover rice with maple syrup and milk. I love it!
I’m going to start cooking my rice like this and freeze them; I make frozen lunches.
I too remember eating rice cereal (cinnamon and sugar rice)as a child since my brother and I didn’t like oatmeal. I still eat it now, to be completely honest. .. sometimes with agave and almond milk
Hi Stefanie. Ooo almond milk and agave. Sounds good! Hope you enjoy, and thanks for visiting!
Hi, Sonja!
I have a lot of rice to cook this afternoon. My rice cooker usually scorches the bottom so I was looking for an alternative – this sounds great! Question: can I do more than the quantity you state above, no problems?
Hi Melinda. I have made a bit more than the initial recipe calls before. You just might have to cook it longer. Basically it’s 1:2 + ratio-so 1 cup of rice to 2 cups of water and just a little more water. So yes, I’ve made 2 cups of rice with 4+ cups of water. Feel free to experiment. Hope this helps!
I’ve always made rice on the stove and tried once in the crock pot but it was a complete disaster. I’m going to try again with greasing the bottom and better measuring. And I too use to and continue to eat sweet rice. That is what we called cinnamon rice and I think everyone should have sweet rice at least once in their lifetime. My granny always makes me a pot of it when I visit her!
Hi Nina. I hope it works better for you to make rice in the slow cooker again. Sweet rice! Yum! Thanks, for sharing!
I love this!!!! My husband is Japanese and was skeptical about this. We have used this several times and he ate his words and the rice. I too am in LOVE with my 3 crock pots. With 2 girls, homeschooling and lots of family in my area they are a life savor. Thank you again for this, no more burnt rice on the stove.
Hi Sara. Thanks so much for sharing!! I am glad even your husband became convinced. Nothing like having the slow cooker do all of the work for you! You are welcome!
I normally do my rice in the oven, but I will definitely try this in one of my crock pots. I, too, have several and I use them ALL the time. I don’t think I could live without them and I’m really excited to try the rice. Thanks so much for another recipe to add to my main appliance.
Hi Toodie, You are welcome. I am totally in love with my crock-pots, as they make my life so much easier!
Thanks for the crockpot idea. I have one, but I’ve only used it once in three years. As for the rice cooker, I have had one for at least ten years. I have used it for many things: steamed veggies, oatmeal, and if I make rice, it only takes 20 minutes. I think you might appreciate one if you had one! Just like I might appreciate my crockpot if I actually used it. 🙂
Hi Rhonda, How awesome that the rice cooker is so quick! That’s great that you’ve found different foods to prepare in the rice cooker. If that’s your mode of cooking, great! I just think it’s nice to be able to have multiple purposes for one appliance, which sounds like that’s what you’ve found for the rice cooker. Thanks for opening my eyes to a new realm!
I use my crockpots all the time … but have never tried rice in one. I started baking it in my oven because I hated having to watch it on the stovetop. It takes one hour in the oven and I have perfect rice every time.
Hi Saundra, Thanks for sharing. I don’t like watching the rice on the stove top either. Also, I bet a lot of people haven’t thought about baking it. I love to have options! Thank you for visiting!
I made some! It worked perfectly! It took 2 hours and 15 minutes. I’m very pleased. It couldn’t be easier. I used to have a rice cooker, but finally gave it away, as it took up so much room and I really wasn’t that impressed. But THIS, this is great! Thank you again.
Hi Yolanda, I am so happy to hear from you and that it worked so well for you!
Thank you for this! It’s going to make my life easier.
Hi Yolanda, I know it has made my life easier. Thanks for visiting!
I love this idea as I too am a pot scorched. Do you think this would work with making Spanish rice, I quit making it because more stuck in the pot than onto our plates.
Hi Carolyn, Yes, I definitely think this would work will Spanish Rice. It might take some adjusting your liquids if you have tomato sauce, etc….I make a risotto in the crock-pot before that is amazing, so I know other rice dishes will work in the crock-pot!! https://practical-stewardship.com/2012/08/04/crock-pot-risotto-with-citrus-prawns-asparagus-bell-pepper-recipe/ I bet you could easily find some recipes on-line. Thanks for visiting!
Thanks for this post! I, like you, don’t accumulate lots of single-function appliances and I love my crockpot! We also prefer brown rice so I’ll be sure to give this recipe a try this week. ~Taylor-Made Ranch~ Wolfe City, TX
(visiting from Homestead Barn Hop)
I completely agree with you about the single-functioning appliances! Thanks for visiting!
First of all, what a cute crock pot you have!!! And second, I love this idea! I always thought I needed a rice cooker, but hey, if the crockpot will give me the same results than I will go with that! Selene @ restorationbeauty.com
Hi Selene, It really is so nice to use the crock-pot to make rice! Thanks for visiting!
I will have to try this! I always burn rice on the stovetop. Since we eat rice so seldom I have resorted to buying those frozen bags of rice from Trader Joe’s. This would definitely save me some money!
Hi Keri! I did not know that they even sold rice frozen. We don’t eat rice all the time, either; may be once a month I will make it, so the kids think it’s a treat. But when I do make it, I usually make it in the crock-pot. I hate scraping the bottom of my pan with burnt rice, too. The crock-pot just seems easier when I make rice. Blessings!!