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Forget plain, boring rice. This easy Garlic Butter Rice Recipe transforms a simple staple into a rich, fluffy, and incredibly flavorful side dish. It’s so simple to make in one pot but tastes like it came from a high-end restaurant, pairing perfectly with just about any main course.
Why This Garlic Butter Rice Recipe Works
This isn’t just plain rice with butter stirred in at the end. The flavor is built in layers, making this Garlic Butter Rice Recipe a standout.
Toasting the uncooked rice in the garlic butter is the most important step. It gives the grains a wonderful nutty, golden flavor and prevents them from getting mushy.
Simmering the rice directly in chicken bone broth (or vegetable broth) infuses every single grain with deep, savory flavor, something you can’t get from just using water. If you love this rice recipe you will enjoy my Fried Rice with Bacon recipe too. Perfect side dish with to any protein.
Everything In Garlic Butter Rice
- Butter use a good quality butter unsalted which will give you full control of the saltiness.
- Rice very much personal preference here but long grain is the key, I am all for flavor so consider the following as best advice when making this choice.
- Basmati if your health conscious take into consideration that it has a lower glycemic index which means it raises blood sugar levels more slower that Jasmin. The taste is nutty and light in texture, it will absorb the butter and garlic perfectly and is my choice when it comes to this dish.
- Jasmin higher glycemic index gives you a burst energy and it also gives you a stickier texture but is softer than Basmati. This will sweeten the dish and the floral aroma mixed with the garlic is perfect balance for this recipe. I recommend making this dish with both varieties so you can find your absolute favorite!
- Chicken Bone Broth trust me here, its such a simple yet flavorful way to enhance the flavor of white rice. Use chicken bone broth to add a richer deeper flavor than normal chicken broth. It will also increase the protein value of your dish this is the secret to the best rice.
- Garlic if you’ve been following me for any length of time you’ll know, it’s not a CafeDelites recipe without garlic!
Note: Find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the Recipe Card.
How To Make It (With Photos)
This one-pot recipe is ready in just a few simple steps. The key is to not stir the rice while it simmers!
- Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a medium-sized pot over medium heat. Add garlic and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Stir in rice to coat with the garlic butter.
- Add broth, dried parsley, salt and pepper. Stir well and bring to a boil.
- Cover with lid and reduce heat to low so the liquid is simmering very gently. Cook until all liquid has been absorbed, about 15 minutes. Don’t be tempted to stir the rice while it’s simmering. This will cause the rice to turn gummy.
- Uncover and stir through fresh parsley.
- Remove from heat, cover with lid and let stand 5-10 minutes, until soft. This rest period finishes steaming and absorbs the last of the moisture ensuring the rice does not come out gummy.
- Fluff rice with a fork. Stir through remaining butter and season with a little extra salt, pepper and dried parsley.
- Garnish with some fresh chopped parsley. Add salt to your taste if needed.
What to Serve With Garlic Butter Rice
This versatile side dish pairs perfectly with almost any main. It’s a fantastic base for Honey Garlic Chicken, Chicken Tikka Masala, Butter Chicken and Beef Bourguignon. You can also serve it alongside lemon garlic butter scallops.
What to do with leftover Rice
Store the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, add a splash of water or broth to the rice and microwave until hot, or reheat in a pan over low heat.
Recipe FAQ’s
Yes, sauté the garlic and toast the rice on the stove first, then transfer to the rice cooker with the liquid and cook as per your machine’s instructions.
Yes you can but the liquid portion and cooking times will change. Brown rice usually requires more liquid about 2.5 cups per 1 cup of rice and much longer simmer time around 40-45 mins.
Definitely. For a more gourmet look, sprinkle a little coarse salt, extra chopped rosemary, or even grated Parmesan over the buns before baking. The toppings will bake into a golden, fragrant crust that pairs perfectly with the soft cheese centre.
Watch It Being Made
Garlic Butter Rice
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp butter
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- 1 1/2 cups uncooked white rice long grain, basmati or jasmine
- 2 1/2 cups chicken bone broth or vegetable stock
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp fresh cracked black pepper
- 2 tbsp fresh chopped parsley
Instructions
- Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a medium-sized pot over medium heat. Add garlic and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Stir in rice to coat with the garlic butter.
- Add broth, dried parsley, salt and pepper. Stir well and bring to a boil.
- Cover with lid and reduce heat to low so the liquid is simmering very gently. Cook until all liquid has been absorbed, about 15 minutes.
- Uncover and stir through fresh parsley.
- Remove from heat, cover with lid and let stand 5-10 minutes, until soft.
- Fluff rice with a fork. Stir through remaining butter and season with a little extra salt, pepper and dried parsley.
- Garnish with some fresh chopped parsley.
Notes
- Chicken Bone Broth The recipe calls for chicken bone or vegetable broth, but you can use plain water. Make sure you use low sodium broth as your rice may come out too salty. If using regular broth, simply adjust the amount of salt you add.
- No rinsing needed: If you follow the ratios below, you don’t need to rinse the rice — it cooks up fluffy and separate on its own.
- Toasting the rice: Don’t skip sautéing the rice in butter and garlic first. It adds a nutty, rich flavour and helps keep the grains from clumping
- Salt control: If your broth is salty, reduce the added salt in the recipe to taste.
- Add-ins: Stir through cooked peas, corn, or chopped herbs for variety.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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