Bulgur is one of the easiest alternatives to rice that you can prepare in a rice cooker. Made from durum wheat, bulgur is a grain that has been parboiled and cracked, making it fast to prepare, as it has already been partially cooked. It is popular in Middle Eastern dishes such as a tabbouleh salad and comes in a variety of textures, from fine to coarse. Medium-grade bulgur is commonly used for basic preparations, such as serving as a dinner side. While rice cookers vary, use the basic cook setting you would use for white rice when you cook the bulgur.
Add bulgur and water to your rice cooker insert. For two cups of bulgur, add about 3 1/4 cups water. You can also use chicken stock instead of water for more flavor.
Set the rice cooker to the "cook" setting of your rice cooker and cover. When the cook cycle finishes and switches to the "warm" setting, let it sit for another 15 minutes, covered to continue lightly steaming.
Fluff the bulgur and add in salt, pepper and butter to your taste. You can also saute onions and vegetables such as diced carrots and peas to add to the cooked bulgur before serving.