Slow Cooker Wild Rice Recipe with Pecans is simple to make in the crockpot. Grains, nuts, and veggies are all combined for a unique side dish and is special over the holidays too.
There are so many nice wild rice blends on market shelves now. Wild rice can be a little, well, wild for some people so when it’s combined with lots of other grains the flavor is softened and extra special.
This recipe is especially nice for a party or holiday. Not that it can’t be eaten on any day of the year but there is just something festive about its looks and taste.
Just look at the earthy colors and mix of textures. Another super plus is that it comes from the crockpot.
There is literally about 6 minutes of preparation and then everything goes into the slow cooker.
How beautiful is that?
A lot of people wonder how to cook wild rice. It is a little different but there is nothing to think about when you’re using a slow cooker.
Wild rice takes longer to cook than white or brown rice and that makes it doubly perfect for making this slow cooker recipe.
Table of Contents
What is Wild Rice?
- Wild rice is very different from the Asian rice varieties that we usually consume.
- In fact, it isn’t even rice but grass. The grain grows on the grass which grows in water and wetlands. It is a cousin to rice!
- It has a chewy outer sheath with a tender inner grain.
- Another really interesting fact is that there is more than one species and many are native to North America.
- From the Great Lakes to the Gulf Coast you can find wild rice. Four species, in fact. There is also one species that is native to China.
Is Wild Rice Gluten Free?
- Yes! Not only that, every single ingredient in this recipe is gluten free.
- It is possible to buy a soy sauce that is not gluten-free but tamari is always gluten free so if you can't find the soy sauce you need then get tamari.
- It's pretty easy to find gluten-free soy sauce so just make sure you read the label. It is even on the front of the label.
Ingredients in this Slow Cooker Wild Rice Recipe
- Vegetable broth - adds flavor right off the bat.
- Wild rice blend - is an amazing mix of grains that blend perfectly together.
- Button Mushrooms - are milder and don't fight with the other flavors.
- Carrot - adds a little healthy vegetable sweetness.
- Dairy free butter - is needed for an underlying flavor.
- Tamari or soy sauce - adds a wonderful depth of flavor.
- White onion - is a sweet vegetable when cooked and really adds lots of contrasting flavor.
- Dried marjoram - has a mild flavor and is very similar to oregano.
- Dried tarragon - is hard to explain but it is minty and peppery all at the same time.
- Salt and black pepper - are needed for seasoning.
- Pecans - give that little bit of crunch and turn this side dish into something even more special.
- Scallions - do taste good but they are specially used for the pretty green garnish. So this is optional.
How To Make Wild Rice and Veggies in the Crock Pot?
- This is really a dump-and-go recipe and barely needs explanation but here goes. 🙂
- Use a 3 ½ to 4 quart slow cooker.
- Place all of the broth, wild rice blend, carrot, mushrooms, dairy free butter, tamari, onion, marjoram, tarragon, salt and pepper in the slow cooker.
- Turn to low 5-6 hours.
- At the end of that time stir in pecans. Cover and let stand 10 minutes.
- Serve with a slotted spoon and garnish with scallions.
- See what I mean? Easy!
📋 Recipe
Slow Cooker Wild Rice Recipe with Pecans
Ingredients
- 21 ounces vegetable broth
- 12 ounces wild rice blend
- 8 ounces button mushrooms, sliced
- ½ cup carrot - coarsely chopped carrot, I pulsed 4 times
- 1 tablespoon dairy free butter
- 3 tablespoons tamari or soy sauce
- ⅓ cup diced white onion
- ½ teaspoon dried marjoram
- ½ teaspoon dried tarragon
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ cup chopped pecans
- scallion, sliced for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Use a 3 ½ to 4 quart slow cooker
- Place all of the broth, wild rice blend, carrot, mushrooms, dairy-free butter, tamari, onion, marjoram, tarragon, salt and pepper in the slow cooker.
- Turn to low 5-6 hours.
- Stir in pecans. Cover and let stand 10 minutes.
- Serve with a slotted spoon and garnish with scallions.
Kacey @ The Cookie Writer
This looks absolutely perfect! My vegetarian soul is crying out for some 🙂 I love that is uses the slow cooker because with this heat, I cannot put up with the stove!
Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats
This sounds delicious and love that it is made in the slow cooker, perfect for those school nights!
Ginny McMeans
I'm with you Kacey - for the food and the slow cooker! 🙂
Ginny McMeans
You are so right Krista - school nights are for studying not cooking 🙂
Patricia @ Grab a Plate
Love this! These are my favorite sorts of dishes, and this looks fantastic! Love the pecans for added crunch 🙂
Deb@ Cooking on the Front Burner
Being in MN - wild rice is in abundance - love that you have shared a slow cooker recipe! Going on my to do list.
Kelley
Ohhh this looks delish! I love a good wild rice!
Ginny McMeans
Thanks so much Patricia! It is very comforting too 🙂
Ginny McMeans
Wonderful Deb! Thanks for your support 🙂
Ginny McMeans
Me too Kelley! Thanks so much!
Joanie @ Zagleft
This would be a really great side dish any time of the year. I love wild rice and have never thought to make it in my slow cooker. Pinning to make later!
Ginny McMeans
That makes me very happy Joanie!!!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet
This looks and sounds positively deeeeelicious!
cristina
That's an elegant rice dish and luvin' the mushrooms and pecans with those dried herbs. I'm always on the lookout for good slow cooker recipes - luv this!
Cynthia/What A Girl Eats
This is a hearty looking dish!
Brandon @ Kitchen Konfidence
Mmmm, I love the addition of pecans here!
Matt @ Plating Pixels
I'm on the lookout for slow cooker recipes. Plus the wild rice looks great! Adding this to the list
Ginny McMeans
Wonderful Matt! I have quite a few slow cooker meals here if you want to click on the recipe index and then scroll down to "more Slow Cooker recipes". Thanks so much!
Christiane - Taking On Magazines
Cooking wild rice in the slow cooker is brilliant. It takes so long otherwise, so I love the idea of leaving it to do its own magic.
Ginny McMeans
That is great Christiane! Thanks so much 🙂
Ashley
Can the leftovers be frozen? I wasn't sure if the rice will still be good if it's frozen and later reheated.
Ginny McMeans
Yes, you can freeze this Ashley. I will add that to the instructions when I am at the desktop tomorrow. Freeze and then after you defrost - heat in the microwave or in a skillet. You will probably need to add a bit of vegetable broth when heating. I am not sure how much because I don't know how much leftovers you will have but I would start with a couple of tablespoons at a time until it is lightly moistened and hot.
Sandi
I'm looking for vegetarian (or vegan) recipes that can be frozen first and then cooked - is there a way to adapt this recipe for that?
Ginny McMeans
Not with this one Sandi. The ingredients go into the slow cooker raw and then cook.
April
I haven't' tried wild rice but yours looks pretty fulfilling and good! Next time I run to the grocery I will pick some up!
Valentina
This is so festive and fun, and I'm sure delicious! Love it!
Denise Wright
This is my kind a dish! I haven't made wild rice in such a long time but this looks really easy. I bet it would make a really good salad to the next day. Great recipe!
Dahn
I love wild rice and this really does look like a festive dish that would be great for a dinner party. Heck I would eat this on a weeknight with my hubby and call it a date 🙂
Kristine
Eee! I love the pecans in this recipe, what a yummy combination! Looks healthy AND delicious!
Sharon Sawdon
I've made this before and it's very good. I was wondering if I didn't have time to put in crock pot for 5-6 hours if I could make this in the oven or on the stove quicker? thanks!
Ginny McMeans
Yes Sharon, I think you can. I haven't done this but I think this will work. If you're wanting it quickly it will still take a while because it's wild rice but here goes. I would put everything in a large casserole. Cover and bake at 375 degrees for 1 hour. Uncover and bake another 45 minutes. Check it at 30 minutes to see if it is already done and that it still has enough moisture to cook if it isn't done.
Sharon Sawdon
Thank you! I'll let you know how it comes out!
Linda Melgoza
Would it still taste great if I left the salt out? One serving of this has My total days worth of sodium in it. Thanks!
Ginny McMeans
Hi Linda! Thanks for the heads up. I hadn't realized that I didn't have the wild rice worked into the servings so the nutrients were way off. Its fixed now and if you'd like to cut salt even more make sure you get low sodium vegetable broth and low sodium tamari/soy sauce. Yes, you can leave out the salt and add it back at the table if you find it lacking.
Aliyah
Can I use cashews instead? .......I'm allergic to pecans and walnuts?
Ginny McMeans
Yes Aliyah! They'd both work perfectly.
Misti
Have you ever made your own wild rice mix? If so, what did you use for ratios of rice to wild rice?
Ginny McMeans
I haven't Misti but it would be very easy. Choose what you like but the easiest varieties to find would be White rice, Brown, Wild & Red Rice with the smallest measurement being red rice. Another would be Long Grain Brown Rice, Sweet Brown Rice, Wild Rice, Whole Grain Wehani Rice, Whole Grain Black Japonica Rice. So start with the largest measurement for the first rice and a little less for each rice after that.
Elaine Black
This recipe was delicious! I am so excited that I made this and it came out awesome! Sometimes, you try a recipe and it comes out... eh... but this recipe was spot on! Any tips for converting to an instant pot recipe (mine will be arriving today -- yay)?
Even as I type this review on my break at work, I am imagining how delicious my bowl of wild rice will be at lunch!
Ginny McMeans
That is wonderful Elaine! I am so glad you found the recipe and it's one of my favorites too. I haven't made it in an IP yet but let us know if you give it a go.
Binah
Hi! Can you recommend a good, large slow cooker to buy? I'm looking for a 10 or 12 quart ideally. Thanks!
Ginny McMeans
That is a very large size and there aren't too many. I do love Hamilton Beach though as they have quality appliances and this one has a removable crock for washing. https://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-33195-Extra-Large-Capacity/dp/B07DKXNW2M/ref=as_li_ss_tl?dchild=1&keywords=crockpot+10+qt&qid=1607622785&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyWkFFSDhXVFNOMjFTJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMTI1MzgzS1lOTExaMEtOTlBBJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA1MzMyNjIyMUNRWjBGTFo3WkZDJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==&linkCode=sl1&tag=vif0e-20&linkId=8af211f9d379b46079aca7b294355af3&language=en_US
Joyce
I have had trouble making my wild rice blend in my rice cooker or on the stove but this recipe solved my problem! It was excellent! I did not have marjoram or tarragon so I substituted dried oregano. This has become a favorite at our table!
Lezlie
I served this dish today and it was excellent. I didn’t have pecans and substituted toasted almonds. I will definitely make this recipe again.