Get dinner on the table quickly with Johnsonville Brats, wild rice, sweet corn kernels, carrots, and a few more veggies.
This easy dinner idea is not only healthy, but also delicious for the whole family to enjoy!
Wild Rice with Brats & Vegetables
The year-long clock is tick-tocking. And before we know it, the long days of summer will be a thing of the past. Autumn will give way to cooler months and shorter daylight. With the cooler months comes one of my favorite seasons: Fall! I love everything about Fall. The cooler days are a welcome relief, and I get to indulge my sweater-fetish obsession. Cardigans anyone?!
Plus, fall also means our boys are back in school. All of these things are wins in my book. Although it was nice to have the kids home for the summer, I must admit our household runs better with the structure and balance of the school year. We’ve let them be lazy tweens and teens this summer, but we’re all ready for schedules and routines. YIKES! I may not be ready for the massive amount of homework (and Common Core); it will be nice to get everyone (me included) back on a good schedule.
And as we usher in the back-to-school season, here comes a great reason to celebrate Johnsonville’s Bratsgiving National Bratwurst Day. This day is coming up on the 16th of this month (August), so it’s a fun reason to celebrate and toss some brats on the grill!
I have a natural love of food because I grew up in a household where good food mattered. I am continuing the tradition of good food with my Wild Rice with Brats & Vegetables.
This is an easy recipe to make that will also work perfectly for a side dish during the holiday season.
Typically, wild rice is reserved for Thanksgiving and Christmas menus, but because it’s healthier than traditional long-grain white rice, it is also perfect for non-holiday meals.
Plus, with the addition of so many fresh vegetables, it not only packs tons of flavor, but it looks spectacular with so many contrasting colors; it’s like eating a rainbow!
I added carrots, sweet corn kernels, onions, turnips, collard greens, and red sweet bell peppers, tossed into the rustic old-world matrix of nutty wild rice. And finally, the Johnsonville Brats make it one heck of a hearty meal.
After you try this one, it may just end up in the family cookbook.
Ingredients:
- 6 Johnsonville Original Bratwurst
- 2 cups wild rice
- 4 cups water
- 1 cup sweet corn kernels
- 6-8 young carrots, washed and scrubbed, then cut into slices
- 1 large sweet red bell pepper
- 1 cup turnips, cut into cubes
- 2 cups collard greens, chopped
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, divided
- Sea salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black peppercorns to taste
Directions:
Using an Instant Pot, add a tablespoon of EVOO (olive oil), 2 cups of wild rice, and four (4) cups of water.
Secure the Instant Pot lid and cook under pressure for 3o-minutes.
While the wild rice cooks, chop and prepare all the vegetables.
After the rice is finished cooking, transfer it from the Instant Pot and into a large serving dish.
Clean the Instant Pot and add 1 tablespoon EVOO. Put the Instant Pot on the “sauté setting” and add the vegetable mixture.
Sauté the vegetables for 8-10 minutes, or until the carrots and turnips are tender. Add the mixed veggies to the wild rice.
Add one-half (1/2 tsp) of EVOO to the Instant Pot using the “sauté setting,” when the oil is hot add the chopped collard greens and sauté for six (6) minutes, add sea salt and freshly cracked peppercorns.
Remove from the pot and add to the rice and vegetables.
Next, add the brats to the Instant Pot and cook until the juices run clear.
If you cook the brats under pressure, it will only take ten minutes.
When the brats are finished place them on a cutting block and cut them into thick slices. Add the brats to the wild rice and vegetables.
Toss to combine evenly, then serve as a main dish or side.

Ingredients
- 6 Johnsonville Original Bratwurst
- 2 cups wild rice
- 4 cups water
- 1 cup sweet corn kernels
- 6-8 young carrots washed and scrubbed then cut into slices
- 1 large sweet red bell peppers
- 1 cup turnips cut into cubes
- 2 cups collard greens chopped
- 3 tbsps extra-virgin olive oil divided
- Sea salt to taste
- Freshly ground black peppercorns to taste
Instructions
- Using an Instant Pot add a tablespoon of EVOO (olive oil), 2 cups of wild rice and four (4) cups of water.
- Secure the Instant Pot lid and cook with pressure for 3o minutes.
- While the wild rice is cooking, chop and prepare all of the vegetables.
- After the rice is finished cooking transfer it from the Instant Pot and into a large serving dish.
- Clean the Instant Pot and add a single tablespoon of EVOO. Put the Instant Pot on the "s
- auté setting" and add the vegetable mixture. Sauté the vegetables for 8 - 10 minutes or until the carrots and turnips are tender. Add the mixed veggies to the wild rice.
- Add one-half (1/2 tsp) of EVOO to the Instant Pot using the "s
- auté setting."
- , when the oil is hot add the chopped collard greens and s
- auté for six (6) minutes, add sea salt and freshly cracked peppercorns. Remove from the pot and add to the rice and vegetables.
- Next, add the brats to the Instant Pot and cook until the juices run clear. If you cook the brats with pressure, it will only take only ten minutes.
- When the brats are finished place them on a cutting block and cut them into thick slices. Add the brats to the wild rice and vegetables.
- Toss mixture to evenly combine all of the ingredients and serve as a main dish or as a side.









Kathryn @ Family Food on the Table says
My kids are little (with my oldest starting kindergarten this year) but I feel you on the quick + easy weeknight dinners! And this one looks so super tasty – definite win 🙂
Amanda @ The Kolb Corner says
Looks like a great weeknight dinner! Thank you for sharing at Merry Monday!
Laura | Food Fun Family says
This looks amazing! Thanks for sharing with the Delicious Dishes Recipe party this week!