Easy Coconut Rice Made in a Rice Cooker

Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 25 mins
Rest Time: 8 mins
Total: 38 mins
Servings: 6 to 8 servings
Yield: 5 cups

Coconut rice is one of those delicious and decadent dishes available to you when you're at an Indian or Thai restaurant. But there's no big mystery about how to make it. The ingredients are few—rice, coconut milk, salt, and shredded, dried coconut—and it comes together in about 20 minutes.

Coconut rice can be served with a variety of Thai and Indian dishes such as curries, stir-fried vegetables, fish, and seafood mains. This easy coconut rice recipe is made in a rice cooker and, as the starchy, nutty, and slightly floral notes of coconut and jasmine rice play together so well, this may become your default rice side dish for Asian fare.

For this recipe, you'll need canned coconut milk, which is usually found in the international foods aisle at the grocery store. You'll want to skip the refrigerated, watery kind that comes in cartons and is meant more for drinking (think smoothies) than for cooking. It doesn't have the kind of texture or consistency you want here. Shake the can before opening it to integrate any of the thick cream that separates from the liquid. The recipe works best, too, if you use jasmine white rice, a long-grain, slightly sticky rice that's typically grown in Thailand; success cannot be guaranteed if you opt for other rice types.

Mounds of cooked coconut rice on a plate

The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

"The coconut rice was super easy to make in my rice cooker. I used white jasmine rice, full-fat coconut milk, and unsweetened shredded coconut, and it was delicious. The rice was excellent with a stir-fry dish." —Diana Rattray

Easy coconut rice made in a rice cooker and served in a bowl
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 2 cups Thai jasmine rice

  • 2 cups water

  • 1 cup full-fat coconut milk

  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste

  • 2 to 3 tablespoons dry unsweetened or sweetened shredded coconut

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for easy coconut rice in a rice cooker recipe gathered

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

  2. Place rice in the rice cooker. Add the water, coconut milk, salt, and shredded coconut. Stir well; use a plastic or wooden utensil to avoid scraping off the nonstick surface. Cover and set to cook.

    Rice in rice cooker with water, shredded coconut, coconut milk, and salt with the lid on it

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

  3. Once your rice cooker switches to "warm" mode, allow another 8 to 10 minutes for the rice to finish steaming. This will ensure your coconut rice is fully cooked and pleasantly sticky.

    Coconut rice in rice cooker on warm mode

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

  4. Gently fluff with chopsticks before serving. Some of the shredded coconut may have risen to the surface; just stir it back into the rice. Taste it for salt, adding a little more if needed.

    Coconut rice in rice cooker fluffed with chopsticks

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

  5. Serve with Thai, Chinese, or Indian dishes of your choice. Enjoy.

    Coconut rice served on top of a finished dish

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack 

Tips

  • Rinse the rice before cooking it. Some rice is coated with talc during processing, which is inert and won't hurt you if you ingest it, but it's best to remove it. Rinsing also removes starch, making the rice less mushy, and it helps to keep the grains separate as they cook.
  • If the rice is still hard after cooking, add 1/4 cup of water and cook it on very low heat with the lid on for 5 minutes more.

Recipe Variations

  • Toss the finished rice with 2 to 4 tablespoons of chopped cilantro or sliced green onions.
  • Add a dash of sugar to the cooking liquid.
  • For savory coconut rice, add about 1 teaspoon of minced garlic to the cooking liquid.

How to Store and Freeze Coconut Rice

Rice will keep in the fridge, covered in an airtight container for up to five days, but it also freezes well. It is often helpful to freeze it in a zip-close bag in portion sizes that make the most sense for you and your family.


Coconut rice can be defrosted in the microwave or refrigerator and then reheated completely in a pot. You may need to add a little bit of liquid, such as water or coconut milk, to rehydrate it.

What Is Considered a Serving of Rice?

 In general, a serving of cooked rice is about 1/2 cup, but it depends on the individuals and ages, dietary needs, and the number of other menu items. If you are feeding guests, err on the side of more and plan on at least 3/4 cup per person. You can refrigerate or freeze any leftovers for another meal.

What Makes Jasmine Rice Different?

White jasmine rice is a long-grain white rice from Thailand that is used in Southeast Asian cuisine. The rice has a floral aroma and somewhat sticky texture when cooked. Jasmine rice grains are shorter and a bit thicker than basmati rice grains.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
120 Calories
7g Fat
12g Carbs
2g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 8
Amount per serving
Calories 120
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 7g 10%
Saturated Fat 7g 33%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 46mg 2%
Total Carbohydrate 12g 5%
Dietary Fiber 0g 2%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 0mg 2%
Calcium 11mg 1%
Iron 1mg 8%
Potassium 87mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)