Kheer or Payasam is an Indian favorite dessert for special occasions. It is basically rice pudding made with rice and milk infused with saffron, cardamom and assorted dried fruits. This Kheer made in the instant pot is a game changer. The best thing about this, no stirring and it is ready in less than 40 mins!

Kheer instant pot
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Traditionally making kheer meant keeping milk and rice on the stove for 2 hours and stirring it frequently until the milk thickens and becomes creamy. With the Porridge setting in instant pot, the same thing happens, but you just dump all the ingredients and go your happy way to enjoy yourself!

As Diwali is approaching, I have been wanting to make some desserts that we can share with family and friends. Food, or rather desserts are integral part of Indian Diwali celebrations. You visit friends or have them over. But really, everywhere you go, you will find a table full of snacks and desserts laid out for you to enjoy. Oh, I love Diwali (how can a foodie not? 😉

This is going to be my dessert addition to Diwali potluck’s this year – Instant Pot Kheer.

Watch How to Make Rice Pudding / Kheer

How to make Kheer in Instant Pot?

Kheer instant pot

This rice pudding is super easy with just adding all ingredients to the instant pot and setting it on porridge mode. The instant pot does it’s magic and perfect aromatic rice kheer is ready for you in 30 mins. If you have not tried kheer in instant pot yet, you just have to!

I hope you enjoy this easy and delicious Instant Pot Indian Dessert – Rice Pudding. Do share how it turned out!

Here are some other dessert made in the instant pot that you might enjoy:

  • Sabudana Kheer – This gluten-free Sabudana pudding is made with tapioca pearls and milk in the instant pot.
  • Seviyan Kheer – Also called Vermicelli Kheer or Semiyan Payasam, this delicious dessert can be made in the instant pot in less than 25 minutes.
  • Carrot Pudding – Carrot Kheer is made with carrots, milk, cashews and dates, with the added aroma of cardamom & saffron. A delicious & satisfying desert, with no added sugar.
  • Coconut Almond Laddoo – A quick sweet recipe that can be made in just 20 minutes for any occasion.
  • Kheer – It’s a rich and creamy pudding made by cooking rice with milk and adding nuts and saffron for flavor. Try this easy recipe for a delicious taste of tradition.
4.77 from 247 votes

Rice Pudding / Kheer – Instant Pot

An Indian favorite dessert for special occasions – Rice pudding made with rice and milk infused with saffron, cardamom and assorted dried fruits. 
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 6

Video

Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • Sanitize the instant pot steel insert, lid and sealing ring thoroughly. If you have an extra sealing ring for sweet foods, use it. 
  • Add all the ingredients in the instant pot steel insert. Close lid with vent in sealing position. (Based on your preference, you can add sugar, nuts and raisins after pressure cooking too) 
  • Set instant pot to PORRIDGE mode for 20 minutes on high pressure. When instant pot beeps, let the pressure release naturally.
  • Open Instant Pot and mix well. Rice pudding is ready. Serve warm or chilled.
  • If needed, to get the desired consistency, cook on SAUTE mode for 2-3 mins. Or add more milk, mix and let it boil for a minute.  

Notes

Sugar Substitute: Although I have not tried it myself, some readers have suggested that if using jaggery or coconut sugar in place of regular sugar, then add it after cooking on porridge setting (else the milk can curdle). 
Roasted Nuts: If you don’t have already roasted nuts. Add 1 tbsp of ghee to the instant pot and saute the nuts for about a minute. Then, follow the recipe. 
Storing: When kheer is stored, it gets thicker and creamier. If you prefer, you can thin the consistency by adding more milk. 
Kheer sticking to the bottom of the pot: I got feedback from some that the kheer sometimes sticks to the bottom of the pot. Some tips below to avoid this:
  • Try to boil 1/2 cup water in the instant pot on sauté mode, then add other ingredients. Make sure the water is already steaming before adding other ingredients. 
  • After opening the pot, take the instant pot steel insert out of the pot so the bottom layer does not overcook or stick to the pot.
PLEASE READ: This recipe was created in a 6qt Instant Pot DUO60 Multi-use Pressure Cooker. I do not recommend making this in a 3qt or doubling the recipe in a 6qt, as the milk boils and can come out. 
Variations: 
  • Add cinnamon powder and vanilla essence to get a different flavor. 
  • You can use brown sugar instead of white sugar, based on your preference.  

Nutrition

Calories: 256kcalProtein: 7.4gFat: 8.4gSaturated Fat: 3.5gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 67mgPotassium: 300mgFiber: 0.9gSugar: 26.1gCalcium: 150mgIron: 1.1mg

Additional Info

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Indian
Diet: Gluten-free, Vegetarian
Tried this recipe?Mention @pipingpotcurry or tag #pipingpotcurry!

Check out the collection of 10 Instant Pot Indian Desserts from the best blogs here.

10 Indian Desserts Instant Pot

About Meeta

I strongly believe that each one of us has a chef inside us, we just need to explore the ingredients and create great food. My passion is to share easy, healthy, and wholesome recipes made using Instant Pot & Air Fryer, that are well tested, so you can cook with confidence.

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4.77 from 247 votes (183 ratings without comment)

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215 Comments

  1. Hi,

    Made Khera today. Tasted good but the color was brownish. I made it without any sugar .

    Why don’t think color was like that.

    1. You can cook for 15 minutes for regular pressure cook mode. I would suggest to use low pressure if that is an option ion your electric pressure cooker.

  2. Hi Meeta , made rice pudding yesterday for Rakhi celebration and everyone enjoyed it…. Just reduced the sugar a bit but was yummy as always with your recipes. Always spot on with taste😋
    Thank you.

  3. Thanks for easy recipe. The rice kheer was so delicious and easy to make it. My guests totally enjoyed it! I used the exact measurements you had given it was perfect. I made a small change I added 4 cups milk and 1 cup of whipping cream.

  4. Hi, I already have Pre cooked rice. How to follow this recipe should I use one cup of
    Cooked rice, how much milk should I take?

    1. Hi Siddhi – This pressure cooker recipe will not work directly with cooked rice. I would suggest using the Boil mode to boil the milk and then add cooked rice to it. Then keep it on slow cook or saute (low) mode to thicken the kheer.

  5. Hello Meeta,

    I have enjoyed making your other recipes before, although this kheer recipe did not turn out well as I added coconut sugar with all the ingredients and later read that the milk can curdle if added sugar before. I did not read the notes as I was short on time however it would have been helpful if you have edited the recipe and told to add sugar at the end. I remember my mom making it in a traditional way on stove top and she used to add sugar at the end. But I followed your recipe and ended up having sour kheer.

    1. I think your milk curdled because you used coconut sugar..if you use white sugar I think you can put all together but coconut sugar is more like jaggery powder.. try once again 😊👍🏻

    2. Hi Isha – Thanks for sharing your feedback. I would agree that this can happen if using alternatives for regular white sugar. I will clarify in the recipe.