This easy Instant Pot Coconut Rice recipe is delicious and versatile, with a delicate coconut flavor and no added sugar. Serve it with a spicy curry, sautéed vegetables, or your favorite main dish. This flavorful side dish can be made in less than 30 minutes.

bowl of instant pot coconut rice in shiny bronze bowl on mat.

No matter the time of year, a bowl of warm, cooked white rice is just so comforting and versatile. And, this easy recipe for Instant Pot Coconut Rice is as simple as it gets.

All you have to do is combine rinsed rice, a can of coconut milk, and some water into your electric pressure cooker. In less than 30 minutes, you’ll have one of the best flavorful and fragrant rice recipes you’ve ever had. Serve your perfect rice with almost any main dish.

Contents hide
1 Why You Need This Recipe
2 Key Ingredients
3 Recipe Steps
4 What Goes With Coconut Rice?
5 Recipe Tips
6 Recipe FAQs
7 More Easy Instant Pot Rice Dishes You Might Like
8 Don’t Miss These Instant Pot Resources
9 Instant Pot Coconut Rice

Why You Need This Recipe

  • This recipe has only two main ingredients: rice and coconut milk.
  • You can prep it in less than 5 minutes!
  • Instant Pot Coconut Rice is naturally vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, with no added sugars.

Key Ingredients

ingredients to make instant pot coconut rice.

Coconut milk plus water acts as the liquid base to cook the rice in this recipe. For best results, use full-fat canned coconut milk.

White rice is budget-friendly and easy to find. When cooked in the coconut milk, it transforms into a stick rice that is a delicious side dish. Check the recipe card below for details on using brown rice.

Recipe Steps

Step One

Place your long-grain white rice in a fine-mesh colander and give it a good rinse until the water runs clear.

This step is necessary to remove any dirt, and to prevent the grain from burning in the pressure cooker.

white rice in a fine mesh colander for rinsing.

Step Two

Next, pour the rinsed rice, unsweetened coconut milk, and water into a 6-quart Instant Pot (see my guide on how to use the Instant Pot Duo).

Stir and then lock on the lid. Make sure the valve is in the sealing position.

Please see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.

ingredients for coconut rice in the pot of a pressure cooker.

Step Three

Set the cook time to 6 minutes at high pressure. Then, when the cooking time is complete, let the pressure come down naturally for about 5 minutes using the natural pressure release.

Then, use the quick release to release the remaining pressure.

Carefully remove the lid and stir the dish before serving.

cooked coconut rice in the instant pot.

I hope you love this flavorful side dish as much as I do! It is really versatile, but I think it goes best with Asian-inspired dishes such as curries, stir-fries, or teriyaki dishes.

coconut rice served with baked teriyaki salmon on black dish.

What Goes With Coconut Rice?

Simple Curry Chicken Recipe

Salmon Stir-Fry

Air Fryer Salmon

Air Fryer Crispy Tofu (Gluten-Free)

Recipe Tips

  • Be sure to rinse the rice well before cooking to make sure it doesn’t burn in the Instant Pot.
  • You can use full-fat coconut milk if you prefer. This will make the coconut rice very decadent and full of tropical coconut flavor.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to five days in the refrigerator. Or, you can freeze any leftovers for up to several months.
  • If you choose to use brown rice, you’ll need to increase the cook time to 22 minutes.
  • If you prefer a sweet coconut rice, feel free to add 1-2 tablespoons of sugar to the pot before cooking.
  • You can also serve your cooked coconut rice with a squeeze of fresh lime juice.

Recipe FAQs

Can I use light coconut milk to make this recipe?

Yes, but the rice will be less rich tasting.

What kind of white rice should I use?

You can use any long grain white rice including basmati or jasmine rice.

Can I make this recipe in a 3-quart mini Instant Pot?

Yes, but you need to cut the recipe in half.

Can I use coconut water in this recipe?

Coconut water is not traditional for making coconut rice. Use canned coconut milk instead.

How do I prevent getting the burn notice when cooking rice?

Be sure to rinse the rice well before adding to the Instant Pot. You may also want to add a little extra water. And, if you find that your rice sticks to the pot, you can try spraying the pot with a nonstick cooking spray before you add the rice and coconut milk to the pot.

More Easy Instant Pot Rice Dishes You Might Like

I gave away my rice cooker when I realized how great rice turns out in the Instant Pot. Try these other easy Instant Pot recipes using simple ingredients.

Don’t Miss These Instant Pot Resources

25+ Healthy Instant Pot Side Dishes

Best Healthy Instant Pot Cookbooks for 2022

Instant Pot Meal Prep Gift Guide (Plus Recipes)

How to Use the Instant Pot Duo (For Beginners)

I hope you make this recipe! If you do, please leave a comment and a starred review below.

And, consider following me on social media so we can stay connected. I’m on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube!

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steamed coconut rice in bowl.

Instant Pot Coconut Rice

★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews
Print Recipe

This easy Instant Pot Coconut Rice recipe is delicious and versatile, with a delicate coconut flavor and no added sugar. Serve it with a spicy curry, sautéed vegetables, or your favorite main dish. This flavorful side dish can be made in less than 30 minutes.

  • Total Time: 27 minutes
  • Yield: 8 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 2 cups long-grain white rice, rinsed and drained in a fine-mesh colander
  • 1 13.5–ounce can full-fat coconut milk
  • 1 1/2 cups water

Instructions

  1. In the base of a 6-quart Instant Pot, combine the rinsed rice, coconut milk, and water. 
  2. Lock the lid on the pot and set the time to 6 minutes and high pressure. 
  3. When the cooking time is complete, let the pressure come down naturally for about 5 minutes. Then, use the carefully quick-release to release the remaining pressure.
  4. Remove the lid and use a serving spoon to stir and serve the rice.

Equipment

Notes

  1. You can easily double this recipe.
  2. Store any leftovers in a tightly-sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Or, you can freeze leftovers for up to 2 months. Defrost and reheat before serving.
  3. If you choose to use brown rice, you’ll need to increase the cook time to 22 minutes.
  • Author: Carrie Forrest, MPH in Nutrition
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 6 minutes
  • Category: Side dish
  • Method: Instant Pot pressure cooker
  • Cuisine: Asian-inspired
  • Diet: Vegan

Keywords: pressure cooker coconut rice, instant pot white rice with coconut milk

About the Author: Carrie Forrest is the author of the best-selling Instant Pot-authorized cookbook, The Healthy Meal Prep Instant Pot Cookbook. She has a master’s degree in public health with a specialty in nutrition and receives more than 7 million annual visitors to her site. Send Carrie a message through her contact form.

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