Slow cooker rice is so easy to make it is practically foolproof. Just add some water and rice and let your crockpot take over. You will have fluffy, delicious, perfectly cooked rice with minimal effort.
Rice is one of the most versatile foods around. There are an unlimited number of ways to flavor it. You can use it as a base, as a filler, and even as a wrapper (sushi roll).
It can be a perfect side dish, main dish, and even an awesome dessert (love rice pudding!). Plus, it is inexpensive
However, (there is always a but...), It is not that easy to make (at least for me). I don't have a rice cooker and always made my rice stove top. No matter how hard I tried or how closely I watched it, my end product was always mushy. And stuck to the side of the pot!
Until I decided to try to my old faithful slow cooker! Now...I make perfect rice. Every single time!
📝Shopping List
To make this simple recipe you will need:
- rice - this recipe calls for white, long grain rice. Brown rice can be made this way too, but cooking time will need to adjusted
- water
- salt - just a pinch of table salt will do
- non-stick cooking spray - you can also use olive oil or butter if you prefer.
🥣How to’s
When making crock pot rice, first place it in a strainer in the sink and run it under cold water. This helps to remove some of the excess starch on the surface of the rice.
Taking this step will help to reduce clumping and leave you with perfectly cooked, tender rice. The most important thing is to continue rinsing until the water runs clear.
Next, coat your slow cooker with a non-stick spray or another coating. Olive oil is always my non-stick choice.
I use a spray bottle to make sure it covers as much of the cooking surface as possible. You can also use a paper towel to spread it around.
Finally, add rice, water, and a pinch of salt to your slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for 2 - 2&½ hours. Right around the 1:45 mark, or when all of the water is fully absorbed, check on your rice. If it still feels too firm or crunchy, it needs to continue cooking.
Once the texture feels right, remove your slow cooker from the heating element. Be sure to do this carefully. It will be HOT!
Hint: It is always great to make an extra-large batch of rice when cooking it this way. It stores well and is so versatile. It can be added to almost any meal.
The key thing to remember is that you will need one cup of rice for every two cups of water. So, for example, if you wanted to cook 2 cups of rice, you would need 4 cups of water (which would yield 6 cups of cooked rice).
🍚Serving suggestions
Anyone else out there love plain rice? It is a staple in my house. If not, there are so many other great ways to serve it.
It is awesome in slow cooker soup like my favorite: Lemon chicken and rice soup. Italian roast and slow cooker chili are both delicious served on top of the rice. Additionally, slow cooker chicken recipes such as apricot chicken and chicken lettuce wraps make great rice companions.
Looking to add some extra flavor? Instead of using plain water, try cooking your rice with chicken, beef, or veggie broth. Add in some cut-up veggies and you have an easy, homemade vegetable rice dish!
Storing leftovers
Cooked rice stores really well! Airtight meal or recipe-sized containers or bags work perfectly. Your delicious rice will last 4-6 days in the refrigerator. Freezing is also a great way to store cooked rice and it will last up to 6 months. Just use a microwave to reheat and you are set!
😉Hints & hacks
- I always like to cook a big batch of rice and keep it in the freezer for future meals. (That's me being lazy!!)
- There are many different types of rice, each with its own unique flavor. From white rice to jasmine rice to basmati rice to brown, whole grain rice, they are all delicious and slightly different. So far, this cooking method has worked with every type of rice I have tried. Don't be afraid to experiment.
- Brown rice will take 30-90 minutes longer to cook than white. Keep an eye on it towards the end of the cooking time to make sure it doesn't get overdone. Long-grain brown rice is a great option if you are looking to add more fiber to your diet.
- I always recommend the use of a slow cooker liner. Of course, this is an optional step. I like to purchase my liners in bulk for a less expensive per-piece price. Here are the liners I buy.
- In the market for a new slow cooker? Here is the one I am currently lusting after
- When you are finished cooking, use a fork to help fluff your rice.
Recipes that are great with rice
❓FAQ's
Adding a small amount of salt to this easy recipe will help to keep the rice from getting too sticky
Not in a slow cooker! Just put the lid on and let it work its magic
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📖 Recipe
Lazy Slow Cooker Rice Recipe
Equipment
- 4 quart or larger slow cooker
- measuring cup
- spoon and fork
Ingredients
- 2 cups uncooked long grain white rice**
- 4 cups water
- pinch salt
- non-stick spay of choice
Instructions
- add rice to strainer. hold over sink and rinse with cool water until water runs clear
- spray slow cooker (or liner if using) with non-stick agent of choice
- add rice, water and salt to slow cooker
- cover and cook on high 2-2½ hours
- After about 1¾ hours, test rice to see if the grains are cooked all the way through. Continue to check every 5 minutes or so until rice reaches desired consistency.
- once rice is fully cooked, remove from the slow cooker. If you leave this dish on warm, the rice will stick to the pot, and/or become mushy
- rice can be used immediately or stored for future use,
Notes
Nutrition
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Have you tried this recipe? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below!
Bob M says
Can’t…WON’T…scroll thru all these adds etc
The Lazy Slow Cooker says
HI Bob. You don't have to scroll! Every recipe has a "jump to recipe" button - right under the title. It allows you to skip to the recipe card with all measurements and other details.
Those ads are necessary to pay for all the expenses that go into making these recipes, photographing them, writing about them, and hosting a website so that I can share them with you for free. 🙂
Bridget says
Four cups or water is wayyy to much water for this amount of rice, I made this recipe exactly like the directions call for and the rice is all mush. It should be 1 and 1/2 cups of water for every 1 cup of rice.
The Lazy Slow Cooker says
Sorry to hear the rice didn't come out the way you hoped. I make this recipe all time and always use 2 cups of water for every one cup of rice. The only time my rice gets mushy is when I cook it for too long. Since every slow cooker is a little different, it could be that yours runs hotter than mine and may be finished a little sooner.
Andi says
Lol, I saw stainer and the amount of water and thought you were going to strain cooked rice. Your recipe turned out beautifully for me. Rice cooker who? Thank you!
The Lazy Slow Cooker says
Hi Andi, Thanks for sharing! I agree! Who needs another appliance when your slow cooker can do it all? See you later rice cooker!! 👋
Jo says
Just tried this and it worked perfectly! When I make rice on my stove, it always gets mushy and overdone. I was thinking of investing in a rice cooker, but there is no need. I am never making it any other way again!!
BZ says
This worked great! I halved the recipe and used a 2 QT slow cooker. 1 3/4 hrs was perfect.
The Lazy Slow Cooker says
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! I know I will never make rice any other way again (I always ruined it on the stove)!
Karissa says
It's been 1 3/4 hours, my rice is still really hard, I only used 1 3/4 cups of water per cup of rice, still seems like too much water. I set the timer for another hour, so we will see. My crock pot must run lower than others.
The Lazy Slow Cooker says
Every slow cooker is a little different. Some of mine take the full 2.5 hours to make the perfect rice. Did you cook it on high heat?
Katie says
If i want to try to fill an 8qt oval crock how many cups should i do?
The Lazy Slow Cooker says
I have never tried filling up an 8-quart slow cooker with rice. I would start with 3 cups of rice and 6 cups of water and see how it goes. As long as you keep the ratio of 1 cup rice to 2 cups water, you can try different size combinations. If you give it a try, I would love to hear how it goes!