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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  • Risotto
  • Shrimp and Rice Recipe {One Pot}
  • Skillet Honey-Lime Chicken
  • Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

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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

How to make white rice taste like restaurant? ›

Use Fresh Herbs and Chicken Stock

Next, add chicken stock instead of salted water and let the rice boil on high heat for two minutes. Then, lower the heat and allow the rice to steam. “The rice will smell so fragrant from the thyme and garlic, with the thyme enhancing the flavor to another level,” he says.

What does adding butter to rice do? ›

In the same way toasting nuts deepens their flavor, toasting rice in a little bit of oil or butter before cooking it in liquid adds a warm, toasty flavor to plain rice. The addition of butter or oil adds even more richness.

What can I mix with rice to make it taste better? ›

Take a look at a few of our favorite ingredients to add in to your meals.
  1. Alternative Cooking Liquid. For an effortless yet dramatic difference, infuse your rice with flavored cooking water or use more aromatic liquid like broth or juice. ...
  2. Cheese. ...
  3. Vegetables. ...
  4. Avocado. ...
  5. Herbs and Seasonings. ...
  6. Nopalitos or Cactus Pads.

Can you put butter in a rice cooker? ›

But when it comes to making rice in a rice cooker, rubbing butter inside before adding rice and water does one more thing — it prevents the grains from sticking to the sides, resulting in tender arroz that can be fluffed up with a fork.

How does Gordon Ramsay cook white rice? ›

Gordon explained: “Always start off with cold water. Then bring it up to the boil as quick as possible, then let it simmer for 8-10 minutes. "That's the secret to cooking great rice – allow it to steam as it's cooking. Do not lift the lid up."

How do you perk up white rice? ›

Add lemon juice to taste (great with butter and pepper). Mix in 1/2 cup or so grated or crumbled cheese, from mild to strong. Mix in 1/2 to 1 cup cooked beans, with some of their liquid. Stir in a tiny bit of ground cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and/or cloves — exercise restraint and be sure to taste.

How to dress up rice? ›

Stir in Tasty Sauces

First, cook or heat your favorite rice variety, and then stir in your sauce. Examples to try: Tomato sauce, pesto, tzatziki, sriracha, cheese sauce and any other favorites. You can also try it with dips like hummus, pico de gallo, or guacamole.

What is a good seasoning to add to rice? ›

Ingredients
  • Rice, like jasmine, basmati, white or brown rice.
  • Herbs, such as dill, parsley, oregano or cilantro.
  • Garlic, minced.
  • Onion, diced.
  • Spices, like cumin, curry powder, paprika or red pepper flakes.
  • Olive oil.
  • Chicken or vegetable broth.

What sauce to put in rice? ›

Incorporate the savory charm of Soy Sauce (light, dark) and the zingy goodness of Rice Vinegar (black, white), Shaoxing wine, Hoisin Sauce, Chinese Brown Sauce, plum sauce and more to bring out the best in your breakfast ideas and healthy recipes.

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.

Is it better to cook rice with butter or oil? ›

Butter Makes Your Fried Rice Taste Richer But Also Increases Fat Content. Since cooking with butter infuses food with a richer flavor and texture in general, you might find that frying leftover rice in oil leaves it bland in comparison.

How much rice for 2 people? ›

Measure one cup of long grain white rice into a cup and level it off. One cup of dry rice will make enough cooked rice for two to three adult servings. (Or two adults and two small children.)

What makes restaurant fried rice taste good? ›

The answer: high heat, expert tosses, and something known as 'wok hei. ' As J. Kenji López-Alt writes for Serious Eats, expert cooking with a wok (and the gas range it requires) is one of the main reasons that fried rice from a Chinese restaurant tastes so much better than what you can make at home.

Do restaurants add soda to rice? ›

Answer: Baking soda is used in hotels to cook rice because it makes the rice more whiter and makes the food more attractive.

Do restaurants add sugar to rice? ›

Many restaurant cooks use sugar to add complexity and a caramelized nutty flavor as it coats the grains of rice. Adding sweetness to your fried rice also complements the other flavors.

What seasoning to put on white rice? ›

You can season your rice with a variety of herbs, spices, broths, milks or sauces. If you prefer a Mediterranean flavor profile, cook your rice using chicken broth, lemon juice, garlic and onion. For a rich and creamy rice dish with a kick, cook the rice in coconut milk infused with spicy peppers.

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