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Home » Side Dishes » Rice Pilaf with Cranberries and Pecans

October 11, 2018 By Sara 22 Comments

Rice Pilaf with Cranberries and Pecans

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This rice pilaf is made with a wild rice blend, apples, dried cranberries, pecans and fresh herbs. It’s a colorful and hearty addition to any meal and is perfect for the holidays.

When it comes to the holidays, I am all about the side dishes. Some of our favorites include sweet potato casserole with marshmallows and honey roasted carrots. This wild rice pilaf is also on my must-make list, it’s perfectly sweet and savory and is so festive. It also makes for a great vegetarian main course.

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A serving bowl of rice pilaf made with wild rice, apples, cranberries and pecans.

There’s nothing like a good rice pilaf, and this version happens to be my favorite. It’s loaded with sweet and savory ingredients and is full of different flavors and textures. I could make a whole meal out of this rice! It’s a great option for the holidays, especially if you have vegetarians in your family.

How do you make rice pilaf?

This recipe calls for wild rice, which is hearty and flavorful, but does take some time to cook. While the rice is simmering away, I prepare the rest of the ingredients which include sauteed onions and apples, dried cranberries, pecans and fresh herbs. Toss everything together and you’re got one amazing dish.

Sauteed onions and apples in a skillet.

What is rice pilaf?

The most basic definition of rice pilaf is rice cooked in a seasoned broth. Rice pilaf often contains other ingredients such as vegetables, herbs, fruits and nuts. This is a fall version of rice pilaf which is why I’ve included ingredients like cranberries and apples.

What is the best rice to use for rice pilaf?

I’ve used a wild rice blend here, which is a combination of brown rice, wild rice, red rice and black rice all in one bag. You can also use regular brown rice if you prefer.

WIld rice, onions and apples in a skillet.

Tips for rice pilaf

  • You can make this dish vegan by substituting olive oil for butter.
  • I use a blend of fresh rosemary and parsley in this pilaf, but other great options would be sage or thyme.
  • I went with Granny Smith apples because they hold their shape and don’t get mushy in the pilaf. You could also try a Gala or Honeycrisp Apple.
  • No pecans in the house? Try walnuts instead. No cranberries? Dried cherries also work great.
  • You can make this rice pilaf up to a day in advance. Cover it and store in the fridge, then reheat in a pan over low heat. You may need to add a little more butter when you reheat the rice if the mixture seems dry from being in the fridge.

Apples and wild rice topped with dried cranberries, pecans and herbs.

What to serve with rice pilaf

I typically serve this rice pilaf as a side dish, although as I mentioned before, it’s definitely hearty enough for a main course. Rice pilaf pairs perfectly with

  • Herb Roasted Turkey
  • Crock Pot Ham
  • Slow Cooker Turkey Breast
  • Slow Cooker Whole Chicken
  • Bacon Wrapped Pork Loin

A skillet of rice pilaf with apples, cranberries and pecans.

This wild rice dish has it all, and it’s sure to get rave reviews from family and friends. It’s so full of color that it’s almost too pretty to eat!

Rice Pilaf Video


A serving bowl of rice pilaf made with wild rice, apples, cranberries and pecans.
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5 from 9 votes

Rice Pilaf with Cranberries and Pecans

This rice pilaf is made with a wild rice blend, apples, dried cranberries, pecans and fresh herbs. It's a colorful and hearty addition to any meal and is perfect for the holidays.
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword rice pilaf, wild rice pilaf
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 6
Calories 291kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

  • 1 cup wild rice blend
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 1/2 cup onion finely diced
  • 2 Granny Smith apples finely diced
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/2 cup pecans chopped
  • 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary leaves minced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley leaves chopped
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Combine the wild rice blend and chicken broth in a pot. Cook the rice according to package directions.
  • While the rice is cooking, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
  • Add the onion and cook for 4-5 minutes or until softened.
  • Add the apples and cook for another 3-4 minutes or until softened.
  • Pour the cooked rice into the pan with the onions and apples, then stir to combine.
  • Add the dried cranberries, pecans, rosemary and parsley to the pan. Stir until thoroughly mixed. Season to taste with salt and pepper, then serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 291kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 357mg | Potassium: 302mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 380IU | Vitamin C: 11.1mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1.1mg

Filed Under: Gluten Free, Side Dishes, Vegetarian Dishes Tagged With: Apples, Christmas, Cranberries, Rice, Thanksgiving

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Comments

  1. Nicole says

    October 1, 2019 at 4:45 pm

    Can you make it ahead then put into crockpot on keep warm for few hours

    Reply
    • Sara says

      October 1, 2019 at 8:51 pm

      Yes that should be fine!

      Reply
  2. Debbie says

    September 9, 2019 at 1:40 pm

    5 stars
    This was so yummy warm and cold! A new favorite rice dish!

    Reply
  3. Josephine Campbell says

    September 9, 2019 at 9:23 am

    To make it vegan, you will also have to substitute vegetable broth for the chicken broth.

    Reply
  4. Lyndi says

    November 18, 2018 at 10:24 am

    What do you recommend if I want to make this for thanksgiving but have an hour drive? How should I keep it warm? Or should I re warm it on stove once I’m at our destination?

    Reply
    • Sara says

      November 18, 2018 at 11:25 am

      You could absolutely just re-warm it when you get there. What I would recommend is to follow the recipe through step 5, then you can transport it from there. When you reheat it, add the rest of the ingredients in step 6. Happy Thanksgiving!

      Reply
  5. Rika Agustini says

    October 13, 2018 at 9:00 pm

    5 stars
    Oh yum!!! I want this for thanksgiving dinner! I love rice pilaf with nuts too!

    Reply
  6. Rachel says

    October 13, 2018 at 8:25 pm

    This looks so good. I love the combination of sweet and savory together. I bet the textures are great too.

    Reply
  7. sara lafountain says

    October 13, 2018 at 12:50 pm

    5 stars
    I tried this rice pilaf with chicken last night and it was delicious! the flavor was incredibly good and I will definitely be making this again.

    Reply
  8. Nikki says

    October 13, 2018 at 12:19 pm

    Any ratings from someone who has made it?

    Reply
    • Sara says

      October 13, 2018 at 12:45 pm

      This is a brand new recipe that just came out 2 days ago, typically it takes a few weeks before reviews start coming in!

      Reply
  9. Catalina says

    October 13, 2018 at 12:15 pm

    5 stars
    I am so hungry now! This rice pilaf looks so inviting and perfect for tonight dinner! My family will loves it!

    Reply
  10. Jona Shares says

    October 13, 2018 at 11:38 am

    This looks so delicious. I am new to cooking and checking out recipes to try out and I guess this would be great to try. Let’s see how will my hubby react when I served him this food. I hope he will liked it.

    Reply
  11. Vyjay Rao says

    October 13, 2018 at 7:13 am

    5 stars
    We too make an Indian version of the Rice Pilaf that we call Pulao. It is made with special flavoured rice and lots of veggies with a generous sprinkling of spices. Cashew nuts and raisins are also used for garnishing.

    Reply
  12. Terri Steffes says

    October 12, 2018 at 6:17 pm

    5 stars
    This looks like a wonderful Thanksgiving side dish. We love cranberries at our house. I know this would be really popular with the gang.

    Reply
  13. Pam says

    October 12, 2018 at 3:08 pm

    This rice pilaf recipe looks like the perfect fall dish. I can see myself serving this one for Thanksgiving.

    Reply
  14. Jenn says

    October 12, 2018 at 1:11 pm

    This looks and sounds amazing. I love to cook with cranberries. I can’t wait to try this recipe, I know my family is going to love it.

    Reply
  15. Sarah Bailey says

    October 12, 2018 at 12:23 pm

    OK how absolutely delicious does this sound! What a great rice pilaf! i bet it would go amazing as a rice sidedish for so many things!

    Reply
  16. Liz Mays says

    October 12, 2018 at 11:42 am

    5 stars
    This is the kind of rice pilaf I need to start making. I’m loving all of those extra flavors. It will be so fun to pair this with some meals!

    Reply
  17. Tomi C says

    October 12, 2018 at 11:26 am

    5 stars
    Ooh this recipe sounds so tasty! Thanks for including the cherry and walnut switch up as I often have walnuts in the pantry for Fall baking.

    Reply
  18. Amber Myers says

    October 12, 2018 at 10:25 am

    5 stars
    This looks so delicious! I’m all about cranberries, so this would be the perfect combo for me. I will have to make this for my family soon.

    Reply
  19. candy says

    October 12, 2018 at 9:36 am

    This sounds really delicious and I love the looks of it. Also so healthy and would make such a great side dish. Putting this on the to make list.

    Reply

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