Garlic Butter Rice Recipe - Cooking Classy (2024)

Published June 8, 2021

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The easiest rice recipe! This Garlic Butter Riceis made with basic long grain white rice, fresh garlic, a fair amount of rich butter, and chicken broth for extra flavor.

Garlic Butter Rice Recipe - Cooking Classy (1)

Flavorful Garlic Butter Rice Recipe

One of the perfect go-to side dishes! Because it pairs well with just about anything.

Plus it only needs a handful of ingredients you can always keep on hand, it’s perfectly hearty and filling, and it’s just simple delicious comfort food!

And of course it’s something people of all ages will enjoy. In other words it’s one of those back pocket recipes.

Not sure what side to make? Garlic butter rice is the answer!

Garlic Butter Rice Recipe - Cooking Classy (2)

Garlic Butter Rice Recipe Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups dry long grain white rice, rinsed in a fine sieve and drained well
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped yellow onion
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic (or up to 2 Tbsp)
  • 2 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 4 Tbsp unsalted butter, cut into 1 Tbsp pieces, divided
  • 1 Tbsp minced fresh parsley (optional)

Possible Substitutes

  • Jasmine rice can be used for white rice.
  • Vegetable broth will work for chicken broth.
  • Salted butter will work in place of unsalted (just cut back slightly on salt added).
  • Dried parsley works in place of fresh, just use a teaspoon.

Garlic Butter Rice Recipe - Cooking Classy (3)

How to Make Garlic Butter Rice

  1. Melt butter in pan: Melt 1 Tbsp butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.
  2. Saute onion: Add yellow onion and saute until starting to deepen in color, about 3 minutes.
  3. Saute garlic: Add garlic and saute until just barely starting to deepen in color (not browned), about 1 minute.
  4. Add broth, boil: Pour in chicken broth, season with salt and pepper to taste and bring to a boil.
  5. Add rice, simmer: Add rice and stir once, cover with a snug lid then reduce heat to low. Let simmer until liquid has been absorbed, about 15 – 18 minutes.
  6. Rest add more butter, fluff rice: Remove from heat and let rest 5 – 10 minutes. Add remaining 3 Tbsp butter, toss and fluff with a fork.
  7. Garnish: Serve warm garnished with parsley if desired.

Variations

  • Lemon rice: For lemon garlic butter rice replace 2 1/2 Tbsp chicken broth with fresh lemon juice. Also for stronger lemon flavor you can add 1/2 tsp lemon zest.
  • Heartier rice: If you want to make it more of a main dish you can finish with a cooked protein such as adding some cooked shredded rotisserie chicken at the end, or cooked chick peas.
  • Herby rice: Finish with lots of parsley or try with other herbs such as green onions or chives.
  • Extra garlicky rice: Want even more garlic flavor? Use 2 Tbsp garlic.

Garlic Butter Rice Recipe - Cooking Classy (4)

More Tasty Rice Recipes to Try

  • Baked Chicken and Rice
  • Cilantro Lime Rice
  • Fiesta Rice
  • Fried Rice
  • Mexican Rice

16 Quick & Easy 30 Minute Recipes! (plus weekly recipe updates)

Garlic Butter Rice Recipe - Cooking Classy (5)

5 from 7 votes

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Garlic Butter Rice

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The easiest rice recipe! This Garlic Butter Riceis made with basic long grain white rice, fresh garlic, a fair amount of rich butter, and chicken broth for extra flavor.

See the notes for a tasty lemon variation as well!

Servings: 6

Prep5 minutes minutes

Cook20 minutes minutes

Resting10 minutes minutes

Ready in: 35 minutes minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Melt 1 Tbsp butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.

  • Add yellow onion and saute until starting to deepen in color, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and saute until just barely starting to deepen in color (not browned), about 1 minute.

  • Pour in chicken broth, season with salt and pepper to taste and bring to a boil.

  • Add rice and stir once, cover with a snug lid then reduce heat to low. Let simmer until liquid has been absorbed, about 15 - 18 minutes.

  • Remove from heat and let rest 5 - 10 minutes. Add remaining 3 Tbsp butter, toss and fluff with a fork.

  • Serve warm garnished with parsley if desired.

Notes

  • Jasmine rice will cook more near 15 minutes, long grain rice will take closer to 18 minutes to cook.
  • For lemon garlic butter rice replace 2 1/2 Tbsp chicken broth with fresh lemon juice and add 1/2 tsp lemon zest.
  • In higher altitude add an additional 2 Tbsp broth.

Nutrition Facts

Garlic Butter Rice

Amount Per Serving

Calories 249Calories from Fat 72

% Daily Value*

Fat 8g12%

Saturated Fat 5g31%

Trans Fat 1g

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 2g

Cholesterol 20mg7%

Sodium 239mg10%

Potassium 171mg5%

Carbohydrates 40g13%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 4g8%

Vitamin A 441IU9%

Vitamin C 4mg5%

Calcium 28mg3%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Garlic Butter Rice, Garlic Rice, Rice Recipe

Author: Jaclyn

Categorized:

Tagged:

  • butter
  • chicken broth
  • garlic
  • parsley
  • rice
  • yellow onion

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37 Comments

  • Em

    Love this recipe. So simple and failsafe! I used it in bowls with chicken, fresh veg and tzatziki and it elevates it so far much over plain rice. I had someone over for dinner who said it was the best rice she ever tasted. Quite the compliment!

  • Kelly

    This is yummy! I used 1/2 chicken broth, 1/2 veg broth because I only had that much of the chicken. Also used Basmati rice. It turned out perfectly! I added a small bit of salt and, as per your suggestion, added the parley and scallions. Will definitely make this again!!

  • Carmela

    How much salt and pepper?

    • Jaclyn

      Garlic Butter Rice Recipe - Cooking Classy (10)

      It really depends on the chicken broth used, some have more salt than others. I’d start with 1/4 tsp each then go from there.

  • Olivia

    Overall great! Although I only partly made it and changed the rest. The one thing I can say is… you will need 2 extra cups of chicken broth. Or 32 oz all together.

  • Catherine

    So I made it exactly according to the directions and my rice was mushy not fluffy… any ideas why that happened? I used jasmine rice and rinsed it like suggested.

    • Jaclyn

      Garlic Butter Rice Recipe - Cooking Classy (11)

      Sorry to hear this! How long did you rinse it for? When rinsing rice it should be rinsed until it runs clear. Also be sure not to lift the lid while cooking and try cooking a few minutes less if you try again.

  • Renee Johnson

    easy and good everyone loves it even the kids

More Comments

Garlic Butter Rice Recipe - Cooking Classy (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to cooking rice? ›

Let rice sit, then fluff:

Don't rush cooking rice; it needs 10 minutes off the heat, covered, to allow the last bit of steam and water to fully absorb into the kernels so they are extra fluffy.

Does adding butter to rice make it better? ›

COAT YOUR RICE

Toasting your rice in butter brings real depth of flavour, so be sure to add the rice and stir it up to coat each grain in all of the melted butter flavour before adding the water. Then add your water, bring to the boil and simmer until cooked.

How do you make perfect rice every time? ›

So Here's How to Do It

saucepan. Swirl the pan to combine—do not stir. Bring rice-and-water mixture to a boil, and cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid, before reducing heat to low, aiming for a slight simmer. Cook the rice without uncovering the pot for 18 minutes.

Why do you soak rice in water before cooking? ›

Soaking is optional, but we recommend it! Soaking grains helps to remove some of the naturally-occurring phytic acid in the grain, which helps improve digestibility and speed cook time. To soak: Add rice to a large mixing bowl or pot and cover with twice the amount of lukewarm water (1 cup rice + 2-3 cups water).

How do I make rice taste like a restaurant? ›

“Instead of water, use either vegetable or chicken stock. Homemade is ideal, but plenty of premade boxed stocks exist for convenience. Add stock to the hot pan with vegetables and toasted rice.” He explains that toasting the rice first adds a layer of nutty flavor and creates more depth.

What to add to white rice to make it better? ›

Use butter and salt

One of the most basic ways to add a little extra flavor to plain white rice is pretty simple and can often easily be done with ingredients you already have at home. All you need to do is add a little bit of butter and salt, which can help make the rice fluffier and richer.

What sauce to put on rice? ›

Tomato Sauce goes great with a wide range of different rice dishes, like this Cabbage Roll Bowl made with Minute® White Rice cups, paprika, garlic powder and canola oil for example.

Should you stir rice while cooking? ›

There are only two rules: firstly, measuring rice by volume makes it easier to judge how much water to add. Secondly, NEVER stir rice as it cooks or it will break up and turn sticky. In some recipes a knob or butter or spoonful of oil is often added at the start to help separate the grains before they cook.

How many cups of rice for 4 people? ›

One (1) cup raw rice yields 3 ½ cups cooked rice, or enough for 3 light eaters. To be sure you have enough rice, prepare 1 ½ cups raw rice for 3 or 4 people and 2 cups raw rice for 4 to 6 people. Time required to cook a pot of rice? Plan on 30 minutes from the moment you turn on the heat to when the rice is cooked.

When should you add butter to rice? ›

Drain the rice in a fine-mesh strainer. Return the rice to the saucepan, cover, and steam off the heat for 10 minutes. Add the salt and butter to finish. Add the salt and butter or oil, if using, fluff with a fork, and serve.

How much butter for 1 cup of rice? ›

Basics of Cooking Rice

Combine 1 cup rice, liquid (see chart below), 1 teaspoon salt (optional), and 1 tablespoon butter or margarine (optional) in a 2 to 3-quart saucepan. Heat to boiling; stir once or twice as it begins to boil. Lower heat to a simmer; cover with a tight-fitting lid.

How much butter to add to rice? ›

The proportions are generally two to one: two cups of water to one cup of rice. 2. Add the rice, ½ teaspoon of salt and 1 tablespoon of butter, stir once.

What is the secret to fluffy rice? ›

Be sure the lid fits tightly on the pot and turn the heat to its lowest setting. Let the rice simmer for about 18 minutes, then remove from heat and allow the rice to steam in the pot for another 5 minutes. Don't uncover the saucepan or stir the rice during cooking. Fluff the rice with a fork before serving.

What is the best method of cooking rice Why is it so? ›

According to Gadre, there's one more method of cooking rice that's been found useful to reduce arsenic and its called 'Par-boiling and refreshing water method'. According to this method the rice is parboiled in excess water, after which the water is drained.

Why does my rice always come out mushy? ›

Even a rice cooker can make the rice soggy and wet if you've added too much water or haven't washed the rice before cooking. To fix mushy rice from a rice cooker, pour out the excess water and turn the unit back on to a low-power setting. This will help the moisture evaporate.

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