Vegan Instant Pot Teriyaki Fried rice is packed with colorful veggies, sesame seeds and a sweet and salty teriyaki sauce you will LOVE! Such a delicious one-pot dinner! This easy Japanese restaurant-style fried rice is ready in 20 minutes making it family-friendly for busy weeknights.
I love me a quick, no fuss, one-pot meal with minimal washing up to take care of after eating! This Teriyaki fried rice is my new favorite! Picture a complete Asian-inspired veggie-packed meal made in one-pot! Trust me, this Vegan Instant Pot Fried Rice will be on constant dinner rotation. It’s so easy and SO good!
Making teriyaki fried rice in an Instant Pot is a real game changer! No sticking, or stirring, no water boiling over. Set and forget and the rice comes out perfectly cooked every time.
The beauty of this easy restaurant-style Instant Pot fried rice recipe is that you can add whatever vegetables you have in the fridge. I used zucchini, peas, bell peppers, and carrots but the possibilities are endless.
FOR MORE VEGAN RICE DISHES CHECK OUT THESE RECIPES:
- Turmeric Lemon Rice
- Vegetable Carrot Fried Rice
- Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas Rice Pulao
- Masala Fried Rice with Turmeric Onion Raita
- Peanut Sauce Fried Rice
Recipe Card
Vegan Instant Pot Teriyaki Fried Rice
Ingredients
For the Teriyaki Sauce-
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) soy sauce or use tamari to make it gluten-Free
- 3 tbsp maple syrup
- 1.5-2 tbsp Brown sugar or regular sugar
- 2 tsp minced fresh ginger
- 2 tsp minced fresh garlic
- 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar
- 1 tsp molasses
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- 2 tsp sesame seeds
- 2 tbsp water
For the Fried Rice
- 1.5 cups (280 g) white rice washed and soaked for 15 minutes, I use basmati
- 2 cups (365 g) veggies such as zucchini, stir fry mix, peppers, carrots, peas, etc
- 7 oz (200 g) of extra firm tofu pressed and cubed into small pieces. You can also use 1 cup of slightly mashed chickpeas instead.
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper flakes
- chopped green onion for garnish
Instructions
- Mix the soy sauce, maple syrup, sugar, ginger, garlic, vinegar, molasses and water, until well combined. Reserve half of the sauce. Add the sesame seeds to one half of the sauce, and add cornstarch to the other half of the sauce.
- In an instant pot, select sauté then add 2 tsp of oil. Once the oil is hot, add in the tofu and cook until it is golden on some sides.
- Switch off sauté. drain the rice and add it to the instant pot. Add in the vegetables, salt, pepper, and half of the teriyaki sauce that has sesame seeds. Add 1.5 cups of water, and mix really well.
- Close the lid, select pressure cook for 5 minutes at high pressure. Let the pressure release naturally for 8 minutes. Then carefully quick release, then open the lid.
- Meanwhile, mix the teriyaki sauce that has cornstarch in it so that the cornstarch that has settled will mix in again. Then heat that mixture in a microwave or in a skillet until the sauce thickens a little bit.
- Remove the fried rice from the instant pot into a large bowl and fluff it. Then drizzle the thickened teriyaki sauce all over, but don't completely mix it so that there are swirls of some concentrated teriyaki sauce all over in the fried rice. You can also serve half of that sauce on the side instead of mixing all up, for people who want that extra punch of the teriyaki sauce, while eating the fried rice.
- Top it with Green Onions, and more sesame seeds, and serve.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Ingredients for making Instant Pot Teriyaki Fried Rice:
- soy sauce – the dark kind is recommended here. You could also use tamari to make this gluten-free
- maple syrup, molasses, and sugar for sweetness and that signature dark color
- plenty of minced fresh ginger and garlic are a must for making anything teriyaki
- rice wine vinegar adds some more tang to the frying sauce
- cornstarch helps thicken the teriyaki sauce
- sesame seeds are great addition as they add some crunch and a nice nutty aroma to this recipe
- white rice washed and soaked for 15 minutes – I recommend long grain rice
- veggies: I use zucchini, stir fry mix, peppers, carrots, peas, etc but you can mix it up
- extra firm tofu works best here. Make sure to press it before you cut it into small pieces
Tips & Substitutions:
- About the peas – feel free to add them right in the end if you want them to maintain their gorgeous green color. When cooked for the entire duration they might look a bit grey and less attractive. For a simple dinner, I don’t mind them that way but if company is coming, add them in once the pressure has been released. The heat from the rice cooks them in a minute.
- You can also make this recipe with different grains such as quinoa, or millet. For quinoa, pressure cook it for only 4 minutes.
- To make this without tofu, you can add in 1 cup of slightly mashed chickpeas instead.
Mix the soy sauce, maple syrup, sugar, ginger, garlic, vinegar, molasses and water, until well combined. Reserve half of the sauce. Add the sesame seeds to one half of the sauce, and add cornstarch to the other half of the sauce.
In an instant pot, select sauté then add 2 tsp of oil. Once the oil is hot, add in the tofu until it is golden on some sides.
Switch off sauté. drain the rice and add it to the instant pot. Add in the vegetables, salt, pepper, and half of the teriyaki sauce that has sesame seeds. Add 1.5 cups of water, and mix really well.
Close the lid, select pressure cook for 5 minutes at high pressure. Let the pressure release naturally for 8 minutes. Then carefully quick release, then open the lid.
Meanwhile, mix the teriyaki sauce that has cornstarch in it so that the cornstarch that has settled will mix in again. Then heat that mixture in a microwave or in a skillet until the sauce thickens a little bit.
Remove the fried rice from the instant pot into a large bowl and fluff it. Then drizzle the thickened teriyaki sauce all over, but don’t completely mix it so that there are swirls of some concentrated teriyaki sauce all over in the fried rice.
You can also serve half of that sauce on the side instead of mixing all up, for people who want that extra punch of the teriyaki sauce, while eating the fried rice.
Top it with Green Onions, and more sesame seeds, and serve. You can also make this with different grains such as quinoa, or millet. For quinoa, pressure cook it for 4 minutes.
WHICH RICE SHALL I USE FOR MAKING TERIYAKI FRIED RICE?
I would recommend long-grain rice for making this recipe. It holds its shape better and stays separate when cooked. Basmati rice is great but you can also go for Jasmine rice.
Jennifer
Love this recipe. One question: when you say “pepper flakes” do you mean black pepper? That’s what I used.
Richa
Red pepper flakes
Sarah
Is the cook time in the Instant Pot the same if you want to double the recipe? Thanks- it looks delicious!
Richa
Yea same cook time
Sarah
My entire family loved this dish – simple and healthy!
Vegan Richa Support
Wonderful!
Simone Wiens
This was delicious 🙂 We will have it again many times !
Vegan Richa Support
Very glad to hear!
Kristine
So easy. So good. I used diced orange peppers, grated carrot, and green peas. I stirred in 1 cup pineapple tidbits after it cooked. Absolutely fabulous recipe!
Richa
Yay
Candyk
I did about everything wrong and it was finished off in one sitting! I cooked the brown rice in instant pot by itself, then added it to sauté pan with browned tofu, thawed veggies and both parts of the sauce mix. Stirred a bit and served. Topped with green onions. Delicious! I am anxiously waiting for the new Instant pot cookbook. Thx for this quick meal, all freezer/pantry foods.
Richa
Glad it worked out!! I am eagerly waiting for the copies to arrive as well
Rebecca
This is the best fried rice recipe I have tried!
Vegan Richa Support
Excellent !
Kate
Made with udon noodles. Didn’t have cornstarch nor molasses and turned out just fun. Simple, tasty sauce not requiring any special ingredients. Fantastic taste.
Vegan Richa Support
mmmmmmmm udon, thanks Kate
Rita
Another great recipe. Richa your recipes never disappoint, they are so full of flavour, we enjoy them so much. I used a frozen stir fry vegetable mix and just tossed them in, worked out fine. However I see you recommend thawing first so I will try that next time. This will be made again and again. We love one pot meals and your recipes!
Richa
Awesome
Karen
How would you store and reheat this?
Vegan Richa Support
you can freeze, or refrigerate
Casper
Are the vegetables fresh, or do you use frozen vegetables?
Richa
I use a mix. Peas and carrots are frozen, rest are fresh. Thaw the frozen veggies before using
Anushka
Ooh My !!!That pot looks delicious – definitely going to try this fried rice. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Vegan Richa Support
i hope you like it
Char
Richa,
Just love all of your recipes! I have both of your cookbooks and I treasure them.
Question: Can you use brown rice for the instant pot version?
Vegan Richa Support
Thanks! It won’t work well. You could pressure cook brown rice for 22 mins. Quick release after 5 mins. Leave the veggies out as they will overcook. Add quick cooking veggies when you open the lid. Mix well, close the lid and let it sit for 7-8 mins for veggies to cook in the residual heat. Then open the lid and swirl in the thickened sauce
Lily
Yum! I knew it would be really good (your recipes always are!), but I was surprised with just how much I loved it.
Thank you for sharing!
Vegan Richa Support
thanks for popping in Lily
Sarah
Absolutely perfect. Easy to make and the whole family loved!
Vegan Richa Support
thank you Sarah!
scrappy
Yum!! Making this right meow! Wondering if a double recipe would fit in the 6qt Instant Pot by chance?
Richa
It will fit. But larger amounts of rice can sometimes scorch in the instant pot (diff models have diff moods). I would suggest make the current serving first to see if works flawlessly in your IP then try double next time
scrappy
Hi Richa,
Thank you for your quick reply. I actually ended up waiting for my husband to be done using our 10qt IP lol I doubled the recipe and it was absolutely delicious! I’ve never cooked rice in an IP before, but it came out flawless; much better than my rice cooker.
Thank you for all your hard work you do to create fantastic recipes, photos and creative writing. I’m looking forward to your new book!
-scrappy
Richa
Awesome
Shanthi
Really good and toddler approved one lot meal on our weekly rota , thank you !
Richa
Awesome!!
Shanthi
ReAlly good and easy to make one pot complete meal. On our weekly rotation and toddler approved. Thank you!
Elise
Fantastic recipe, could you use brown rice?
Vegan Richa Support
Thanks! It won’t work well. You could pressure cook brown rice for 22 mins. Quick release after 5 mins. Leave the veggies out as they will overcook. Add quick cooking veggies when you open the lid. Mix well, close the lid and let it sit for 7-8 mins for veggies to cook in the residual heat. Then open the lid and swirl in the thickened sauce
Joseph Stewart
Brilliant. We didn’t have green onions and that was a regret because it definitely would have made it better. We did add cashews or sliced almonds (depending on the person). Both were good. Great dish! Thank you for the recipe.
Richa
Awesome!
Priya
My kid asked for seconds! Enough said. It was a hit with everyone. I added some broccoli at the end and closed up the instant pot to allow the broccoli to steam.
Elaine
Can I substitute frozen stir fry veggies? How would the instructions change?
Vegan Richa Support
no changes frozen is fine
JenBayArea
Made this tonight with riced broccoli and carrots as the vegetables and it was delicious! Didn’t have fresh ginger so I subbed dry ginger powder and it worked. Would be so happy if you created a version for (short grain) brown rice. My omnivore husband absolutely loved it too.
Vegan Richa Support
Awesome!! Do leave a rating too if you like
Nafsika Antypas
Nice Guide!
I will try this recipe soon! looks yummy!
Vegan Richa Support
excellent – let me know how you like it
Namagiri sRIDHAR
Hi Richa
Can black strap molasses be used instead of molasses. Is corn starch optional any substitute?
Richa
Yes for molasses. You need some thickener so use any other starch such as arrowroot or potato starch
Jayshree Shah
Looks amazing, I will certainly try this. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
Bozu
Your recipe is fabulous !!!
I made a Pilaf rice in the pan, because I didn’t think I could make it in the Instant Pot! I see that I still have a lot to discover with the instant pot …
I love rice, so I’ll quickly make your beautiful recipe.
Thank you very much Richa
Loreen Davies
I made this dish this evening and it was a hit. I marinated the tofu for about 15 mins in the teriyaki sauce before I split the sauce into the two separate batches.
Monica
Hi there. I don’t have an instaPot but think my slow cooker might work. What would you suggest as far as cook time? And should I set to low or high? Thank you so much for any feedback.
Richa
I don’t use a slow cooker so I dk t really know. Maybe use a rice setting
Lynn
would love to make this but do not have an instant pot. Instructions for stove
top?
Richa
Just added that to notes
Paulette Bray
Can you use brown rice? If so, how long would you cook in instant pot?
Vegan Richa Support
It won’t work well. You could pressure cook brown rice for 22 mins. Quick release after 5 mins. Leave the veggies out as they will overcook. Add quick cooking veggies when you open the lid. Mix well, close the lid and let it sit for 7-8 mins for veggies to cook in the residual heat. Then open the lid and swirl in the thickened sauce
Carol
How long should you cook it in the Instant Pot, if you choose to use long grain brown rice instead of white rice?
Carol
Hi Richa,
Would brown basmati work as well??
Debbie
Carol I love brown basmati and use it all the time. I am not sure it would work in this recipe as stated as it does take longer to cook. To cook the brown rice to done, the veges would be overcooked. However, I would wonder if you partially cooked it, then used in the recipe as stated if that might work? Would have to experiment and see unless others have a response for you.
Richa
It won’t work well. You could pressure cook brown rice for 22 mins. Quick release after 5 mins. Leave the veggies out as they will overcook. Add quick cooking veggies when you open the lid. Mix well, close the lid and let it sit for 7-8 mins for veggies to cook in the residual heat. Then open the lid and swirl in the thickened sauce
Loreen Davies
I made this dish this evening and it was a hit. I marinated the tofu for about 15 mins in the teriyaki sauce before I split the sauce into the two separate batches.
Richa
Awesome