Wild Rice Casserole (Printable)

Hearty wild rice and vegetable bake with mushrooms in a savory broth. Perfect vegetarian comfort food.

# What You'll Need:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup wild rice, rinsed
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

→ Dairy (optional)

16 - ½ cup grated Gruyère or Swiss cheese (optional, for topping)

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic; sauté for 2–3 minutes until fragrant.
03 - Add mushrooms, carrot, celery, and red bell pepper. Cook for 5–7 minutes until vegetables are softened and mushrooms release their liquid.
04 - Stir in the chopped spinach, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper; cook for 1 minute until spinach wilts.
05 - In the prepared baking dish, combine the wild rice, sautéed vegetables, vegetable broth, and water. Mix well.
06 - Cover tightly with foil and bake for 1 hour, or until the rice is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
07 - If using cheese, remove foil, sprinkle cheese evenly over the top, and bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes until the cheese is melted and golden.
08 - Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The wild rice stays perfectly chewy while soaking up all those savory vegetable flavors
  • Its a complete meal in one dish but somehow feels elegant enough for company
  • Leftovers actually taste better the next day as the flavors meld together
02 -
  • Wild rice takes longer to cook than regular rice, so dont rush the baking time or youll end up with crunchy grains
  • The casserole will seem very liquid going into the oven, but the wild rice absorbs it all as it bakes
  • If the rice isnt tender after an hour, add a splash more water and continue baking covered
03 -
  • Rinse your wild rice thoroughly before using to remove any debris or starch
  • Toast the nuts in a dry pan for 3 minutes before adding them for maximum flavor
  • Use freshly ground black pepper if you can, it makes a noticeable difference
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