Wild Rice Casserole (Printable)

Hearty wild rice bake with mushrooms, vegetables, and savory herbs for a comforting meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Grains and Broth

01 - 1 cup wild rice, rinsed thoroughly
02 - 2 cups vegetable broth (gluten-free, if needed)
03 - 1 cup water

→ Vegetables

04 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
05 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
06 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
07 - 2 cups cremini or white mushrooms, sliced
08 - 1 medium carrot, diced
09 - 1 celery stalk, diced
10 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
11 - 1 cup fresh spinach, chopped

→ Seasonings

12 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
13 - 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
14 - ½ teaspoon salt
15 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

→ Optional Topping

16 - ½ cup grated Gruyère or Swiss cheese

# Preparation Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and minced garlic; sauté for 2-3 minutes until fragrant and translucent.
03 - Add sliced mushrooms, diced carrot, celery, and red bell pepper to the skillet. Cook for 5-7 minutes until vegetables soften and mushrooms release their liquid.
04 - Stir in chopped spinach, dried thyme, rosemary, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute until spinach wilts.
05 - Transfer the sautéed vegetables to the prepared baking dish. Add rinsed wild rice, vegetable broth, and water. Mix thoroughly to distribute all ingredients evenly.
06 - Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 1 hour, or until rice is tender and most liquid has been absorbed.
07 - If using cheese, remove foil and sprinkle grated Gruyère or Swiss cheese evenly over the top. Return to oven and bake uncovered for 10 minutes until melted and golden.
08 - Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and for easier serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It is one of those rare dishes that tastes even better the next day
  • The mushrooms become incredibly savory as they bake down into the rice
  • You can throw in whatever vegetables are lingering in your crisper drawer
02 -
  • The rice needs to be fully tender before you add cheese or it will continue cooking while the cheese melts
  • Different brands of wild rice absorb liquid at different rates, so check at 50 minutes
  • If the casserole seems too dry before baking, add another ¼ cup of water
03 -
  • Rinse wild rice thoroughly until the water runs clear or your casserole will have a gummy texture
  • Letting the dish rest before serving is not optional—those few minutes make the difference between watery and perfectly creamy
Return