Buttery seasoned rice with herbs is a quick and easy side dish that pairs well with just about everything. It’s a family favorite comfort food side that everyone will love.
Seasoned Rice
This is the best way to season white rice. It’s so good that it tastes like it was made at a restaurant!
This quick and easy recipe shows you how to season rice and is flavored perfectly! It’s made with all pantry friendly ingredients, like chicken broth and dried herbs and spices. Even with a simple ingredient list it’s still packed with buttery flavor that makes it the best rice recipe.
Even my nephews (who aren’t big fans of rice in general) loved this dish so much that there were no leftovers on their plates! That’s a huge win in my book.
It’s such a great simple side dish that pairs perfectly with chicken, especially this easy garlic chicken recipe.Â
You’re going to want to make an extra batch because it’s such a flavorful rice recipe, it’s easy to pair it with almost anything. Store it by placing it in an airtight container in the fridge. This is perfect for lunch the next day or a quick side dish for tomorrow night’s dinner.
One of my favorite things about this recipe is that it multiplies so well. I can easily double or triple the batch to feed a crowd. No matter who I serve it to, there’s never any leftovers because it’s such a crowd pleasing dish!
Ingredients
Long Grain White Rice: Long grain white rice is best for this recipe. Jasmine rice, basmati, or long grain brown rice will also work though. Long grain white rice is best because it doesn’t stick together. The end result is so easy to fluff with a fork, and has a delicious light and fluffy texture.
Butter: Butter is one of my favorite flavor powerhouse ingredients to use. It adds such a mouth watering flavor to the meal. I prefer using butter instead of oil because it’s more flavorful than oil is.
Herbs and Spices: The rice seasoning is what brings this side dish together. Parsley adds an earthy flavor and garlic powder and onion powder add a savory touch. Sea salt enhances all the flavors, which brings out their best qualities. Black pepper makes this rice dish taste more bold. Thyme is one of my favorite savory flavors and it really elevates simple things like rice and potatoes. Its flavor is almost similar to rosemary and is so delicious. All these seasonings blended together make the perfect mix to season white rice.
Chicken Broth: Adding chicken broth to the rice is so good and tasty. Using chicken broth instead of water for the cooking liquid allows you to season the rice from the inside while it cooks. It completely turns long grain white rice from bland to delicious! Everyone at the dinner table will wonder how you made it.
How To Season White Rice
Start by rinsing the rice thoroughly in a fine mesh strainer under cold running water. Continue rinsing the rice until the water runs clear. Heat a medium saucepan, then add the butter and let it melt. Once the butter has melted, add the spices and simmer them until they’re aromatic. (See the recipe card below for the full printable instructions.)
Pour the chicken broth into the butter mixture, then turn the heat up and bring it to a boil.
Add in the rice and stir. Place the lid on the saucepan and turn the heat down. Let it simmer without opening the lid until the broth is fully absorbed.
Remove the saucepan from heat and let it rest. Remove the lid and fluff the rice with a fork. Serve right away, it’s best while it’s still hot and fresh. See the recipe card below for the full written instructions, including ingredient amounts, cooking times, and helpful tips, etc.
How Can I Add Flavor To Rice?
There are so many ways you can add flavor to your rice, the list is practically endless. Just a few seasoning ideas for rice are adding taco seasoning, curry, fresh herbs, minced garlic and onion, or red pepper flakes for an extra splash of heat. Any one of these options adds flavor that will have your family asking for seconds!
To make rice tasty, try adding a creole seasoning which is made up of garlic, salt, black pepper, white pepper, oregano, and parsley. Creole seasoning is a southern style flavor that has just the right amount of kick to each bite.
Another alternative for seasoning rice is cooking it in coconut milk. It gives it a sweet creamy flavor. Any of these flavor combinations will make rice taste better!
What Goes With Rice?
I love serving rice as an easy side dish with either chicken, beef, shrimp, pork, or salmon. It’s really such a universal side dish that goes with just about everything. Try one of these quick and easy proteins to serve it with:
- Chicken and Peppers
- Honey Mustard Chicken
- Instant Pot Frozen Roast
- Broiled Pork Chops
- Shrimp Kabobs
- Brown Sugar Soy Sauce Salmon
Keep In Touch
I’d love to hear what you thought of this recipe in the comments or on Instagram! @KeyToMyLime #KeyToMyLime
Side Dishes
If you like this recipe, be sure to check out all of our other easy rice dishes! Some reader favorite side dishes are:
BEST Seasoned Rice Recipe {How To Season Rice}
Buttery seasoned rice with herbs is a quick and easy side dish. It's a family favorite comfort food that everyone will love.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups long grain white rice
- 3 Tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 3 cups low sodium chicken broth
Instructions
- Rinse the rice in a fine mesh strainer under cool running water until the water runs clear.
- Heat a medium sized lidded saucepan over medium heat. Add the butter and swirl to coat the bottom of the pot. Once the butter has melted, add the spices and saute until aromatic (about 1-2 minutes). Pour in the chicken broth, and turn the heat up to bring to a boil.
- Once the chicken broth has come to a boil, add in the rice and stir.
- Cover the saucepan with a fitted lid and turn the heat down to slightly less than medium-low (setting #2). Simmer without opening the lid for 18-20 minutes, or until the water is absorbed. Remove the saucepan from the heat and let it rest covered for an additional 10 minutes.
- Remove the lid from the pot, then use a fork to gently fluff the rice. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size:
1/6Amount Per Serving: Calories: 125Total Fat: 6.6gCarbohydrates: 13.3gFiber: 0.3gSugar: 0.2gProtein: 3.7g
Nutrition information isn’t always accurate.
Try serving this simple rice recipe as a side for your next family dinner. Everyone will absolutely love it!
2 thoughts on “Seasoned Rice Recipe”
Try boiling rice for ten minutes then turn off, add a lid, and let rest for ten minutes while it absorbs the stock. You will end up with beautifully cooked rice that is fluffy, but hold its shape and doesn’t become mushy. 1 cup basmati rice and 1 and 3/4 stock. Add a knob of butter at the end.
Good, simple recipe. Little heavy on thyme for my liking. I’ll cut it in half next time. But everything else was well-balanced. This rice went perfectly with herb crusted chicken. Thank you.