Wild Rice Casserole Veggies (Print Version)

Savory wild rice combined with mushrooms and colorful veggies baked for a wholesome dish.

# What You 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)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat; add onion and garlic and cook 2 to 3 minutes until fragrant.
03 - Add mushrooms, carrot, celery, and red bell pepper; cook for 5 to 7 minutes until softened and mushrooms release their juices.
04 - Stir in chopped spinach, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper, cooking for 1 minute until spinach wilts.
05 - Transfer wild rice, sautéed vegetables, vegetable broth, and water to the prepared baking dish; mix thoroughly.
06 - Cover tightly with foil and bake for 1 hour, until rice is tender and liquid mostly absorbed.
07 - Remove foil, sprinkle cheese evenly if using, and bake uncovered for 10 minutes until melted and golden.
08 - Allow casserole to rest 5 minutes before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It comes together in one baking dish, which means less cleanup and more time to actually enjoy eating.
  • The wild rice stays tender without being mushy, and it soaks up all those savory herb flavors in a way that feels almost luxurious.
  • You can make it ahead, reheat it, and it tastes even better the next day as the flavors deepen.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the wild rice—it removes starch that would otherwise make the casserole gluey and dense.
  • The mushrooms release liquid as they cook, which becomes part of your cooking liquid; this is not a mistake, it's essential to the flavor.
  • If your oven runs hot, cover the dish with foil for the entire baking time to prevent the top from drying out.
03 -
  • Toast your wild rice dry in a skillet for two minutes before cooking it; this deepens the nutty flavor and makes each grain more distinct.
  • Don't feel obligated to use cheese just because it's listed—this dish tastes equally elegant and satisfying without it, sometimes even more so.
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