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Today’s easy Cranberry Wild Rice Pilaf is hearty, nutty and full of festive flavor with cranberries, pecans and parsley. It’s an easy stovetop rice pilaf recipe that works for weeknight dinners and holiday tables alike – plus it reheats beautifully, making it meal-prep friendly and endlessly versatile alongside everything from poultry to fish, or your favorite vegetarian mains. Easy to make, easier to love.

From weeknights to holidays, this Cranberry Wild Rice Pilaf does it all. Nutty, aromatic and full of contrasting textures, our easy cranberry pecan wild rice pilaf is an elevated recipe without a lot of fuss.

Cranberry Wild Rice Pilaf Recipe

Nutty, aromatic and full of contrasting textures, our easy cranberry pecan wild rice pilaf is an elevated recipe without a lot of fuss.

While you can use a pre-made wild rice blend, we did a budget-friendly hack of making our own using 1/4 cup wild rice, 1/4 cup brown rice and 1 cup long-grain white rice. While the wild rice is a bit pricey, by stretching it out with our own blend, we were able to make several dishes (including a wild rice soup and wild rice stuffing) with a small bag.

The blend of rices cooks up tender yet chewy, with a toasty depth of flavor that comes from briefly toasting the rice in the skillet before adding water. Folded with buttery onions and carrots, bright bursts of fresh cranberry and the earthy crunch of pecans, this pilaf layers flavor in every bite. Fresh parsley, while optional, ties it all together with a green, herbal lift.

This is a mostly hands-off, stress-free dish that is perfect for everything from holiday gatherings to a gourmet side for family suppers. Leftovers reheat beautifully, making it great for meal prepping and enjoying as the base of a rice bowl throughout the week.

Cranberry Wild Rice Pilaf Variations:

If you’re not a huge fan of fresh cranberries, use dried cranberries (or even dried cherries, raisins or apricots) instead.
For a nut-free option, replace pecans with pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds for crunch without tree nuts.
Sauté chopped mushrooms with the onion and carrot for a deeper, savory flavor (and some added vitamin D in these darker fall days).
Add grated orange zest when folding in the cranberries for a bright finish.
Replace parsley or add to a mix of thyme and sage for a more robust autumnal flavor.

close-up image of cranberry wild rice pilaf on a navy blue plate

For this recipe, I used Millican Pecan’s Pecan Pieces. I didn’t realize what a difference there could be between pecan brands, but these are so incredibly fresh and flavorful. They also have delicious snack options like the Sweet and Spicy Pecans which are perfect for the holidays. My next order, I’m trying their Pecan Butter and the Caramel Pecan Coffee! (And by the way, this is not sponsored – I just really love them.)

Can I use only wild rice instead of a blend? Yes, but cooking time will be longer, often 40–50 minutes. Adjust water as needed. (Note: I don’t recommend this based on my personal preferences, but I like softer rice in general.)

Can I make this ahead of time? Absolutely, cook and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, then reheat with a splash of broth or water.

Do I need to soak wild rice? No soaking is necessary for our recipe that uses a blend of different rice grains, but if you don’t want your wild rice grains to be as hard/chewy, it will benefit from a short soak. (Note: either skip the toasting step for the wild rice or do it before soaking if you choose to soak the wild rice – as the wet rice will stick to the skillet and burn if soaked before toasting.)

Can I use vegetable oil instead of butter? Yes, olive oil or avocado oil works well and makes the dish dairy-free.

More Savory Recipes using Pecans:

Pecan-Crusted Salmon
Southern Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping
Maple-Glazed Pecan, Apple and Parmesan Pizza
Neiman Marcus Dip (use pecans instead of almonds)
Waldorf Salad (use pecans instead of walnuts)
Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal from In the Kids’ Kitchen
Maple Sage Glazed Chicken from Kylee Cooks
Maple Pecan Pork Chops from Taste of Home

composite image of a close-up of cranberry wild rice pilaf plus three images showing how to make the recipe

Cranberry Wild Rice Pilaf Ingredients

1 1/2 cups Wild Rice Blend, rinsed
3-4 cups Water, as needed
1/4 cup Butter
1 Small Onion, minced
1 Carrot, minced
Salt and Pepper, to taste
1/2 cup Fresh Cranberries, minced (can use dried)
1/2 cup Pecans, chopped
1/4 cup Parsley, minced

Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.

Tip: you can purchase a pre-made wild rice blend or do as we did and use 1/4 cup wild rice, 1/4 cup brown rice and 1 cup long-grain white rice.

labeled ingredient image showing ingredients needed to make wild rice pilaf

Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful

Skillet
Measuring Cups and Spoons
Wooden spoon or spatula <– I like these spatulas because they are one solid piece and don’t have removable heads for bacteria to get trapped underneath. Plus they are heat-resistant and have a lifetime warranty.
Sharp Kitchen Knife
Cutting Board

overhead image of cranberry wild rice pilaf on a navy blue plate set on a blue napkin, with a skillet full of more rice pilaf in the background

How to Make Cranberry Wild Rice Pilaf

Set a skillet over medium heat.

Once hot, add the rice and stir occasionally as you toast it off for about 5 minutes.

in-process images showing how to make wild rice pilaf

Place the rice in a saucepan and add 3-4 cups water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to low heat and cover as the rice cooks, about 12 minutes.

As the rice is finishing cooking, place the butter in a skillet over medium heat and once hot, add the minced onions and carrots. Cook for 4-6 minutes until soft and onions are golden.

Stir in the rice and season with salt and pepper.

Stir in the minced cranberries, pecans and parsley.

Pin this Decadent Wild Rice Pilaf recipe for a delicious Thanksgiving side dish:

Cranberry Wild Rice Pilaf is hearty, nutty and full of festive flavor with cranberries, pecans and parsley. It's an easy stovetop rice pilaf recipe that works for weeknight dinners and holiday tables alike - plus it reheats beautifully, making it meal-prep friendly and endlessly versatile alongside everything from poultry to fish, or your favorite vegetarian mains. Easy to make, easier to love.

Grab your free printable for our wild rice pilaf recipe:

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Yield: 8 servings

Wild Rice Pilaf

Name: Wild Rice Pilaf
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: Side Dish Recipe
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups Wild Rice Blend, rinsed; 3-4 cups Water, as needed; 1/4 cup Butter; 1 Small Onion, minced; 1 Carrot, minced; Salt and Pepper, to taste; 1/2 cup Fresh Cranberries, minced (can use dried); 1/2 cup Pecans, chopped; 1/4 cup Parsley, minced

Prep Time 10 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups Wild Rice Blend, rinsed
3-4 cups Water, as needed
1/4 cup Butter
1 Small Onion, minced
1 Carrot, minced
Salt and Pepper, to taste
1/2 cup Fresh Cranberries, minced (can use dried)
1/2 cup Pecans, chopped
1/4 cup Parsley, minced

Instructions

Set a skillet over medium heat.

Once hot, add the rice and stir occasionally as you toast it off for about 5 minutes.

Place the rice in a saucepan and add 3-4 cups water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to low heat and cover as the rice cooks, about 12 minutes.

As the rice is finishing cooking, place the butter in a skillet over medium heat and once hot, add the minced onions and carrots. Cook for 4-6 minutes until soft and onions are golden.

Stir in the rice and season with salt and pepper.

Stir in the minced cranberries, pecans and parsley.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 146Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 102mgCarbohydrates: 12gFiber: 2gSugar: 1gProtein: 2g

Sugar, Spice and Glitter uses an auto-generate nutrition calculator. Nutrition information isn’t always accurate unless analyzed in a scientific lab, so these should be considered more of a guideline than medical information.

cranberry wild rice pilaf on a navy blue plate set on a blue napkin, with a skillet full of more rice pilaf in the background

I hope your family loves this easy wild rice pilaf recipe as much as mine did!

For more scrumptious side dishes, check out our full side dish recipe collection here:

For more delicious salads, check out our full salad recipe collection here:

Wild Rice Pilaf