Turn Instant Pot to Sauté mode. Add olive oil, onion, celery, and carrot. Sauté for 4-5 minutes or until tender.
Add the garlic, orzo, and rice and sauté for an additional 2-3 minutes. Turn Sauté mode off, add cranberries, broth, thyme, and salt.
Lock the Instant Pot lid, set vent to closed. Cook on High Pressure for 3 minutes with natural release for 10-12 minutes.
Carefully remove lid, discard thyme sprigs, fluff pilaf with a fork, add Mix-Ins.
Elevate this rice pilaf with adding some of the following mix-ins: Toasted Almonds Apple Chunks Parsley Pomegranate arils (seeds)
Rice pilaf with orzo is loaded with fresh veggies, sweet cranberries, and plenty of fresh herbs for a holiday-inspired side dish recipe that's so good!
Serve this warm side dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve dinner, or part of your weeknight meal.
FULL RECIPE AT: