Crockpot Brown Rice Recipe

Cooking brown rice in a crockpot is most likely one of the easiest things you can do in your slow cooker. There are only five simple ingredients included in this crockpot brown rice recipe, and only four simple steps to cook it. I have added a few tips and secrets in the Notes Section below to help make your crockpot brown rice the best you’ll ever eat.

Why Make Brown Rice in Your Crockpot?

Listen, I know that this isn't a standard Crock Pot "dinner". This is a way to utilize your slow cooker in concert with your other appliances. You might be grilling a steak, or stir-frying an Asian dish in the wok. You may just need the brown rice as a side, or as part of the main meal. Using your slow cooker, you can slam down some great brown rice easily, and keep your attention on other things.

You can use your fluffy crockpot brown rice in a variety of ways. Use it as a base for many wholesome dinners, or added to an appetizing salad. It can be the main ingredient for a rice bowl, or even added as a thickener for a soup.

WHY YOU WILL ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS CROCKPOT BROWN RICE RECIPE

• The flavor of the brown rice is superb. By slow cooking the brown rice in your crockpot, the natural essence of brown rice is revealed. Plus, the added onion powder, olive oil, and chicken stock work together to enhance the flavor of the brown rice.

• It’s so simple to cook. This recipe defines the term set it and forget it. No fuss, no mess, just turn the crockpot on, and in a few hours a large portion of your meal is complete.

• Brown rice is extremely economical and versatile. A two-pound bag of brown rice is one of the most economical and cost-effective ways to feed yourself and your family. One pound of uncooked brown rice yields a little over six cups of cooked rice. And if there is leftover rice, you can simply freeze the leftovers or reheat the brown rice to use in rice bowls, salads, main courses, or soups.

• This crockpot brown rice recipe is very forgiving. OK, here’s the real secret to this crockpot brown rice recipe: you really can’t mess it up. No really. You might try, but you can’t! The correct amount of rice, combined with the right amount of liquid cooked for the right amount of time, will result in remarkably delicious brown rice.

IMPORTANT: MAKE SURE TO RINSE YOUR RICE BEFORE COOKING!

• Thoroughly wash and rinse the brown rice. Washing and rinsing the brown rice has a few noteworthy benefits to the outcome of the rice. Washing brown rice before cooking removes excess starch, ensuring each grain is separated during cooking, preventing clumping and a mushy finished texture. Also, unwanted debris such as dust and dirt, rocks, chemicals, and pests are removed during the process. Be sure you spend the time carefully washing and rinsing the rice, as the payoff in flavor and texture is worth it in the end.

NOTES FOR COOKING CROCKPOT BROWN RICE

• Spray your crockpot with vegetable spray. This is a very easy step and should be part of your crockpot brown rice cooking process. Spraying vegetable oil onto your crockpot ensures that the rice will not stick to the sides as it cooks. If you don't have spray, just rub some butter on the sides of the crockpot (the inside though : )

• Add broth as the liquid for cooking the brown rice. Traditional rice recipes call for using water as the cooking liquid. The thing is, water adds no flavor to the rice as it cooks. I like using chicken broth for the cooking liquid to add more flavor to the brown rice. Vegetable or beef broth will do the trick as well.

• Add olive oil or butter to the brown rice. In this recipe, I add olive oil to the rice while it is cooking, but you can use butter instead. This technique separates the rice grains during cooking, creating a fluffier texture. The added bonus? Olive oil and butter add so much incredible flavor.

• Have a little bit of unwanted broth left? Your brown rice should just about be done after 2 ½ hours on high. Taste it to make sure that it has the texture you prefer. If the rice is done but you have some liquid left in the pot, just cook for another 10 minutes or so with the lid off. The broth should evaporate in roughly 10 minutes, leaving you with perfectly cooked brown rice.

• Stirring the brown rice at the end of cooking. You might want to stir the brown rice with a large spoon when it is very close to being finished. Resist this temptation. Use a fork instead. “Fluff” the brown rice slowly and carefully with a fork, allowing the steam to escape and avoiding too much mixing. This will create a lighter, less-dense textured brown rice.

INGREDIENTS FOR CROCKPOT BROWN RICE

• 2 cups brown rice, cleaned and rinsed; directions below
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 4 tablespoons olive oil, or butter
• 5 cups chicken broth
• Salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS FOR COOKING CROCKPOT BROWN RICE

1. Rince, clean, and soak the rice. Place the rice in a fine-mesh strainer, and place the strainer in a larger bowl. Run tap water over the rice while massaging the rice with your hands to remove any dirt and debris. You will notice that the water will become cloudy and dirty.

Throw the dirty water down the sink, and repeat the process two more times or until the water runs clear. When the water is clear, leave the rice in the strainer and soak it in the bowl for 20 minutes.

2. Add all the ingredients to the crockpot – Spray the crockpot with kitchen vegetable spray. Add the strained brown rice, onion powder, olive oil, and chicken stock to the crockpot and thoroughly mix together.

3. Cooking the brown rice in the crockpot. Turn the crockpot heat setting on HIGH. Place the lid on top, and cook for 2 ½ hours (on high), or until the texture of the rice is to your liking. There is no harm in checking on your brown rice and giving it a little stir during the cooking process.

4. Final steps for finishing the crockpot brown rice. Using a fork, stir and “fluff” the brown rice, allowing the steam to escape and the brown rice grains to separate. Taste the rice, and adjust the seasoning to your liking. Adding more butter to the brown rice is a delicious and delightful option.