Garlic Rice Recipe – This tasty side dish is literally the easiest, most delicious rice you’ll ever make. But be warned, you just may never want to eat plain rice again. 😜
Besides being super easy to make, garlic rice is super versatile because you can add all sorts of herbs. So, if you never want to go back to regular rice, I completely understand. The difference adding buttery sauteed garlic to a pot of rice can make is insane.
I do recommend cooking this rice on the stovetop for maximum flavor dividends. If you’re a rice cooker devotee currently cringing at those words, let me assure you this stovetop version is just as easy. And it’s about a thousand times more flavorful than basic rice. That said, if you can’t bring yourself to do this without it, you can make garlic rice in a rice cooker.
When to Serve Garlic Rice
Here’s my favorite thing about this rice recipe: it goes with everything! From Mexican and Caribbean food to Middle Eastern and African dishes, it’s always a welcome addition. The ultra-flavorful way it pairs beautifully with other flavors without overpowering them is the picture of versatility. 🤩
Recipe Ingredients
- Rice – Long-grain white rice is the best if you’re following this recipe as-is. And, if we’re honest, long-grain white rice is the variety that benefits most from enhancing the flavor.
- Garlic – Aromatic and flavorful, garlic is the star player. Use your garlic minced or sliced; it’s up to you.
- Butter is the rich fat of choice in this recipe for sauteing the garlic and infusing the rice with garlicky goodness.
- Soy Sauce – Salty and umami, you might call this tiny dash of soy sauce the secret ingredient. It also gives your rice a garlic fried rice spin.
- Chicken Stock – You can cook your rice in water, to be sure, but chicken stock adds serious flavor.
- Green Onions – Optionally, you can garnish this rice with chopped green onion. 💚
How to Make Garlic Rice
- Rinse rice until water runs clear.
- Fry Garlic – Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat, add garlic, and fry in the butter for about a minute. Be careful not to let it burn.
- Assemble – Add the rice and coat with the melted butter and garlic. Then, add stock, soy sauce, and salt, and turn the heat to high. (Photos 1-2)
- Simmer – Bring it to a boil, cover, lower the heat to a simmer, and let it cook for 15 minutes.
- Rest – Turn off the heat, leave it covered, and let it rest for 10 minutes. (Photo 3)
- Fluff the rice. Then garnish it with green onions and fried garlic slices. (Photo 4)
- Serve with your favorite proteins or veggies.
Recipe Variations
- Adjust the texture. If you like your rice a little more al dente, reduce the cooking time by 2 minutes. If you prefer softer rice, increase the cooking time by 2 minutes.
- Add veggies. Sometimes, I add about ⅓ cup of frozen peas, carrots, and corn to the pot of rice as it cooks. It adds beautiful color without detracting from the garlic flavor.
- Use another type of rice. Long-grain white rice is best, but you can make this with just about any variety, from jasmine to brown rice. However, you may need to adjust the cooking time.
- Flavor variations. Lemon garlic rice (add the zest of one lemon) and garlic parmesan rice (add ¼ cup freshly grated parmesan when fluffing).
Tips and Tricks
- For a richer flavor, use chicken broth instead of water.
- More aromatics, like bay leaf or thyme, added to the pot provide extra flavor as well.
- Resist the urge to peek or stir the rice after it begins simmering. That can be hard, but the key to a perfect stovetop rice is leaving it alone while it slowly absorbs the water. Trust me on this one. 😉
Make-Ahead Instructions
Garlic rice stores well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months. So feel free to make it in advance. Add a splash of broth when reheating if it seems dry.
Leftovers also make an amazing garlic fried rice, so make a double batch.😉
Serving and Storage Instructions
Serve steaming hot garlic rice garnished with chopped green onion if you please.
Store leftover garlic rice in the fridge in an airtight container for up to three days. To reheat, microwave it on high for 1-2 minutes or heat it in a saucepan over low heat until warmed through.
What Goes With Garlic Rice
Literally everything. All your favorite mains and sides play well with garlic rice, so feel free to get creative. I like to pair it with grilled salmon and a fattoush salad or Jamaican curry shrimp and spicy fried plantains. But seriously, this rice goes with everything.
More Ridiculously Good Rice Recipes to Try
Garlic Rice
Ingredients
- 2 cups (390g) long-grain white rice
- 4-5 tablespoons (56-70g) unsalted butter
- 6 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 2½ cups (590ml) low-sodium chicken stock (or water)
- ½ teaspoon (2-3ml) light soy sauce
- ¼ teaspoon (1g) salt (or to taste)
- Green onions for garnish
Instructions
- Rinse rice until water runs clear.
- Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat, add the garlic, and cook for about a minute. Be careful not to let it burn.
- Add the rice and coat with the melted butter and garlic.
- Add stock, soy sauce, and salt, and turn the heat to high.
- Bring to a boil, then cover, reduce the heat to low, and let it cook for 15 minutes.
- Turn off the heat, leave it covered, and let it rest for 10 minutes.
- Fluff the rice and garnish with green onions and fried garlic slices.
- Serve with your favorite proteins or veggies.
Tips & Notes:
- For a richer flavor, use chicken broth instead of water.
- More aromatics, like bay leaf or thyme, added to the pot provide extra flavor as well.
- Resist the urge to peek or stir the rice after it begins simmering. That can be hard, but the key to a perfect stovetop rice is leaving it alone while it slowly absorbs the water. Trust me on this one.
- Please remember that the nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used in the recipe.
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