A complete meal made in one-pot, this Teriyaki Instant Pot Rice will be a great addition to your mid week dinner rotation. It’s so easy! Stovetop instructions are included too in case you don’t have an Instant Pot.
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Crazy. That explains my life right now and quick meals like this Teriyaki Instant Pot Rice are what’s keeping me sane. It’s a quick, no fuss, mid-week meal with very minimal washing up. No accompaniments are needed either, unless you want to be fancy schmancy and add some chopped cilantro and green onions like I did for the photos here.
Wanna know a secret though? In “real” life my food does not look pretty and it does not come with sprinkles of anything.
That couldn’t be more true at the moment. I am literally rushed off my feet, working on a special project which I will hopefully be able to announce very soon. I am so excited and can’t wait to tell you, but have to keep it zipped for now ????The lovely people on my mailing list will be the first to know the news, so now is a great time to sign up! You can do so here. (my big news has since been announced…I’m writing a cookbook!) ????????
Ok, back to the recipe….
A big ol’ bowl of tasty rice is one of my favourite things to eat. My Oven Baked Garlic Mushroom Rice and my One-Pot Spicy Vegetable Rice get made here all the time and now this Teriyaki Instant Pot Rice has been created that will too. They are such straightforward, no fuss, super tasty meals.
And the thing about rice is that it cooks pretty quickly. It’s even better when cooked in an Instant Pot because you do not need to watch it at all. No sticking. No stirring. No boiling over. Just set and forget. It even keeps the food warm for you if you aren’t quite ready for it when it’s done.
I love mine so much. If you haven’t heard of them here is what they look like:
You can pick them up in most places that sell small kitchen appliances or from Amazon here.
HOW TO MAKE TERIYAKI INSTANT POT RICE
SEE MY VIDEO FOR A VISUAL GUIDE. FOR INGREDIENTS & FULL INSTRUCTIONS PLEASE SEE THE RECIPE CARD AT THE END OF THIS POST
Teriyaki Instant Pot Rice is really easy to make in just a few simple steps. Here’s how:
STEP 1
Sauté the vegetables (right there in the Instant Pot).
STEP 2
Add some water and soy sauce or coconut aminos.
STEP 3
Add rice wine vinegar, maple syrup and red chili pepper flakes.
STEP 4
Stir then cook. Those are before cooking and after cooking shots ????
WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE AN INSTANT POT?
Never fear. I have included stovetop instructions too and it’s still pretty easy. You’ll just have to stir it occasionally throughout cooking so the rice doesn’t stick.
SWITCH THINGS UP!
The beauty of this recipe is that you can use whatever vegetables you have on hand. I used carrots, celery, bell peppers and peas but there are no end of possibilities. Use what I did or add some extras or change it up completely. I sometimes throw some cubes of tofu on the top prior to cooking in the Instant Pot too. It doesn’t crisp up. It’s more like steamed tofu but it works really well with the teriyaki flavours and adds an extra protein punch.
A NOTE ABOUT THE PEAS
If you have eagle eyes, you might notice that in my video I add the peas with all of the other ingredients in the beginning, but instruct you to add them at the end in the recipe instructions.
When cooked for the entire duration they become really soft and pretty grey looking and unattractive. I don’t mind it that way and when it’s just us, I do just throw them in. But it is way better if you cook everything else, then once pressure has been released, add the peas and stir. The heat from the rice cooks them in a minute or two and there is no need for any extra cook time.
That is what I meant to do when making the video, but I got carried away when adding the ingredients and if I am totally honest with you, I really didn’t want to have to make the whole recipe again just to film that part. I did actually consider picking every pea out of the Instant Pot and cutting out the scene of me adding them, but life is too short so I decided to just live with it ????
I am loving this Teriyaki Instant Pot Rice because it’s:
- Easy
- Quick
- No fuss
- Hearty
- Flavourful
- Versatile
- & delicious
I can’t wait for you to try it!
PLEASE NOTE – This recipe has only been tested in a 6 quart Instant Pot Duo. If yours is different then you may need to adjust the recipe slightly for the recipe to work well. If your Instant Pot is bigger than 6 quart then you may need to double the recipe or add more liquid to avoid getting the burn message. If you do get the “burn” message then this article might be useful for you to read.
For more Vegan Instant Pot recipes, check out these great options:
- Vegan Instant Pot Portobello Pot Roast
- Instant Pot Lentil Dal
- Seasoned Pressure Cooker Black Beans
- Instant Pot Tomato Soup
- Healthy Chocolate Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats
- Vegan Instant Pot Potato Curry
And if you love this recipe, please do check out my cookbook, and subscribe to my email list for a fabulous FREE eCookbook featuring my top 10 recipes. Being on the list means you will be first to see my new recipes and you’ll be kept in the loop on all things new and exciting too!
Teriyaki Instant Pot rice
Ingredients
- 15ml / 1 tablespoon sesame oil , optional - use water to sauté to make oil-free
- 1 medium onion , finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic , chopped finely
- 2 medium carrots , cubed or sliced
- 2 ribs celery , chopped into small peices
- 2 large bell peppers , 2 different colours are nice, chopped into bite sized pieces
- 380g / 2 cups brown rice , or white rice (but take note of the reduced cooking time)
- 420 ml / 1¾ cups water , use 2 cups if cooking on a stove top
- 80 ml / ⅓ cup coconut aminos , or low sodium soy sauce (be sure to use gluten-free soy sauce to make this recipe gluten-free)
- 60 ml / ¼ cup rice vinegar
- 60 ml / ¼ cup maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon red chili flakes
- 150 g / 1 cup frozen peas , used straight from the freezer
Instructions
To make in a 6 quart Instant Pot
- Set the Instant Pot to sauté. When it is hot, add the oil (or a few tablespoons of water if you would like the recipe to be oil-free).
- Sauté the onions, garlic, carrots and celery for 3 to 4 minutes until the onion is translucent. Turn the Instant Pot off by pressing "keep warm / clear".
- Add the bell peppers and rice then stir, then add all of the other ingredients except the peas. Stir really well again and make sure that any grains of rice that are stuck to the sides of the pot above the liquid line are pushed down.
- Put the lid on the Instant Pot, turn the vent to the sealed position and set to high pressure for 22 minutes. If you are using white rice, simply turn the vent to the sealed position and press the "RICE" button. Let the pressure release naturally then open, add the peas and stir before loosely putting the lid back on (you don't need to seal it) and allow it to sit for 1 - 2 minutes so the peas can cook in the residual heat. Serve immediately.
To make on the stovetop
- Heat the oil in a large pan. when hot add the onions, garlic, carrots and celery. Sauté until the onion is translucent, moving frequently.
- Then add the bell peppers and all of the other ingredients except the frozen peas. Be sure to use 2 cups of water when using this cooking method. Stir really well, then cover with a lid and cook on medium low until the rice is tender and the liquid has been absorbed (about 40 minutes). Open the lid to give it a stir every 5-10 minutes as the rice might stick a little.
- Once the rice is tender, turn off the heat and add the frozen peas. Stir really well, put the lid on and allow to sit for 1 to 2 minutes for the residual heat to cook the peas. Serve immediately.
Long time vegan, creator of A Virtual Vegan & author of the book 
Sheila says
I have a larger IP so will maybe go with 1-1/2x the recipe, but I am wondering, did you use the IP rice measuring cup or go with a straight 2-cup measure? Wondering if that made a difference for some of those commenting on burning or not cooking.
Melanie McDonald says
I think you would be wise to increase the recipe if your IP is a bigger one. You shouldn’t need to change the cooking time as that for the most part tends to stay the same.
I’m not sure what you mean by a 2 cup measure? The measurements for my recipes are always in American cups (240 ml) and I provide the metric as well. I didn’t use the little cup that came with the IP.
Hope that helps!
Roberta says
I cut the recipe in half and didn’t calculate the water very well so mine came out a bit mushy. However, that was easily overlooked because the flavor was WONDERFUL! My son and I went back for seconds…and a few more spoonsful while packing up the leftovers. I like recipes where you can use what’s on hand…I used chopped spinach and corn. This will definitely be added to my ‘Vegan Recipes for Non-Vegans’ file….I’m vegan, my son and fiance are not.
Thanks, Mel!
A Virtual Vegan says
I’m glad you enjoyed it despite the water mishap. It will be even better next time! Thank you Roberta!
S says
Not sure what went wrong here but followed the recipe exactly and my rice wasn’t cooked.
A Virtual Vegan says
If the rice wasn’t cooked, it sounds like your IP didn’t come to pressure. Rice certainly doesn’t take any longer than this to cook. In fact, 22 minutes as this recipe states, is pretty generous. Or maybe you didn’t let it release pressure naturally after? This step is important as the rice continues cooking during that time.
Miriam says
I just made this with ancestral grains instead of brown rice and it turned out perfect. Thanks a lot!!
A Virtual Vegan says
I’m so glad it worked out with ancestral grains. That’s good to know.
Maryse says
I did this recipe, the taste is very good but it burn in my instant pot. And the rice wasn’t cooked. I have the viva 80 may that one is too big for this recipe. I followed the ingreand recipe 100% .
A Virtual Vegan says
The recipe has been designed and tested in a 6 quart model which tends to be the most common. You will find almost all online recipes are designed around 6 quart machines. If you make it in a bigger Instant Pot you will need to adjust the recipe because unless it’s a really wet soup or something similar there won’t be enough water.You can either double the recipe or add an extra 1/2 to 1 cup of liquid. Keep the cooking time the same. This article about the Instant Pot Burn Message might be useful for you. https://www.paintthekitchenred.com/instant-pot-burn-message/
Shantel Jones says
Great recipe its been added to our regular rotations!
carrie haqq says
First meatless meal, used all ingredients except red pepper flakes used cayenne instead. It was awesome. I will make it again along with other recipes I would like to experience. Plan to gradually incorporate a plant based diet.
A Virtual Vegan says
That’s great Carrie. I’m so pleased you enjoyed it. Good luck on your plant-based journey!
Olivia Brown says
Wow! Looks healthy and delicious! Will try it soon!
Katie says
This was the first recipe I made with my Instant Pot and it was a huge hit and super easy for learning the basics of pressure cooking. I made it for 4 and there wasn’t a drop left. The rice is just spicy enough and the sweetness from the maple syrup makes you want to keep going back for more. This will definitely be added to my go-to recipes because of how easy and delicious it was. Thank you for this awesome recipe :)
A Virtual Vegan says
I’m so pleased you enjoyed it Katie! Thanks so much for coming back to leave feedback. It’s much appreciated!
Mary says
Made this recipe last night so easy and YUMMY!!! Subbed basmati white rice for brown rice (because I had it) subbed mushroom broth for water (because I had it) subbed canned peas for frozen peas (because I had it) subbed cayenne pepper for red pepper flakes( (because I did not have it) used a little less maple syrup. Set pressure cooker for 5 min. for the white rice. Might add chopped broccoli next time. Makes LOTS, Will DEFINITELY make again. THANKS for another easy delicious recipe Mel
A Virtual Vegan says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Mary. As you found, it’s so versatile. Great for clearing out the fridge/pantry! White rice tends to swell up a bit more than brown so I expect that made it go further. Even better. I love lots of leftovers!
Kim @ FoodTalko says
Saving this recipe to try out later this weekend. Thanks so much!
A Virtual Vegan says
hope you enjoy it!