Easy Wild Rice Vegetable Pilaf
This wild rice pilaf with vegetables is a quick and easy side dish for any meal. Start with boxed long grain and wild rice and dress it up with a combination of vegetables. Keep it vegetarian or top it off with crispy bacon!
This is a delicious all-purpose side dish for beef, chicken, pork, or fish. It all cooks in one pot and is ready to serve in under an hour.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s the perfect side dish for a dinner party menu or holiday meal. Cook it on the stovetop when your oven is full with other items.
- It’s a great menu item for your vegan and vegetarian guests.
- Cook everything in one pot so there’s little to clean up.
Ingredient Notes
- Boxed Long Grain & Wild Rice mix. This makes things simple to get started. I typically find boxes that are 3 or 4 servings each, so two boxes is necessary for the recipe. Look for Uncle Ben’s or other brands.
- Fresh vegetables. You can use different variations depending on what’s available or your taste. I use onion and celery as a seasoning base, and then green onion, and red or yellow bell pepper. I don’t suggest you use green pepper because it’s not as sweet and flavorful.
- Other vegetables. Use frozen corn and fresh or canned mushrooms, drained. Canned corn, drained, also works.
- Broth. Use vegetable broth for a vegan version, or chicken broth if you want that flavor.
- Optional bacon. We love adding cooked and crumbles bacon to this just before serving, but for the vegetarians, you can leave it off and simply serve a bowl of bacon on the side.
Quick Tip
Cut the vegetables in a uniform size so they all cook evenly. To save prep time, cut them a day or two in advance and store them in the fridge.
Variations
- Use these basic ingredients and substitute the rice with couscous, pearl couscous, or quinoa.
- Use other diced vegetables like carrots, butternut squash, frozen peas, or zucchini.
- Add crunch on top with lightly toasted pecans or walnuts instead of bacon.
How to Make It
See full directions in the recipe card below.
- Sautee the onion and celery.
- Add liquid and rice. Stir in corn, mushrooms, and red peppers
- Simmer, fluff and serve.
If you love rice like we do, I recommend you also try this fruit-nut wild rice recipe for dinners and our easy wild rice dressing for holiday entertaining. It’s equally delicious but has a sweet and savory flavor combination with a bit crunch from nuts.
Quick Tip
Make this an entree by adding in a can or two of beans, drained and rinsed.
What to Serve It With
- Serve this wild rice side dish with salmon or white fish.
- Serve this along with a slow cooker turkey breast for the holiday or any time of year.
- This is excellent with beef, filet mignon, pork chops and tenderloin.
- These marinated lamb chops are a great combo for wild rice and vegetables.
- Or serve it with a whole roasted chicken from the deli!
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Wild Rice and Vegetable Pilaf
This easy wild rice is a delicious side dish for dinner parties and holiday entertaining. It starts with quick cooking long grain and wild rice and gets a flavor boost from vegetables and crunchy bacon. It's perfect to serve with chicken, beef, pork, or fish.
Ingredients
- 2 boxes (6-oz each) Long Grain and Wild Rice Mix
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 celery ribs, finely chopped
- 1 ¾ cups vegetable broth
- 1 ¾ cups cups water
- 1 ½ cups frozen corn (or canned, drained)
- 1 small red bell pepper, diced
- ½ cup sliced mushrooms
- ¼ cup chopped green onion
- (Optional) 4 strips of bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, add the oil and heat over medium-low heat; add chopped onion and celery and cook until soft, about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Add the broth and water and bring to a boil. Stir in rice and seasoning mix and return to a boil.
- Reduce heat to low and add corn, diced pepper, and mushrooms. Cover tightly and reduce heat to low, and simmer for 25 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.
- Stir and transfer to a serving dish. Top with onion and serve.
- OPTIONAL: Add bacon or nuts on top for crunch.
