Simple Garlic Butter Rice (Flavorful & Easy Side Dish!)

This Simple Garlic Butter Rice is a delicious and easy side dish that elevates plain white rice to a whole new level! Fluffy jasmine rice is cooked in chicken broth with sautéed onions and garlic, then finished with a generous amount of butter for extra richness. I love how this recipe uses simple ingredients and techniques to create a side dish that’s packed with flavor. It’s perfect for serving alongside chicken, beef, fish, or any of your favorite main courses.

Why You’ll Love This Garlic Butter Rice

• Flavorful: The combination of garlic, onion, chicken broth, and butter creates a savory and delicious flavor.
• Easy to Make: This recipe uses simple ingredients and straightforward instructions.
• Versatile Side Dish: It pairs well with a wide variety of main courses.
• Better Than Plain Rice: A simple way to make rice more interesting and flavorful.
• One-Pot Recipe: Everything cooks together in one pot, making cleanup easy.

Ingredients for Garlic Butter Rice

Here’s what you’ll need to make this flavorful side dish. The full list with measurements is in the recipe card below.

Main Ingredients

• Salted butter (Fat)
• Olive oil (Oil)
• Diced yellow onion, chopped small (Vegetable)
• Minced garlic cloves (Aromatic)
• Uncooked white jasmine rice (Grain)
• Chicken broth (or vegetable broth) (Liquid)

Seasoning

• Salt (Seasoning)
• Ground black pepper (Spice)

(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card below.)

Variations

I love this Garlic Butter Rice as is, but here are a few ideas for variations:

• Add Herbs: Stir in some chopped fresh parsley, chives, or cilantro at the end.
• Make it Cheesy: Stir in some grated Parmesan cheese along with the butter.
• Add Vegetables: Sauté some diced carrots, peas, or corn along with the onions.
• Use Different Rice: Try using basmati rice, long-grain white rice, or brown rice (adjust cooking time and liquid accordingly).
• Add Lemon: Stir in some lemon zest or a squeeze of lemon juice at the end for brightness.

How to Make Garlic Butter Rice

Let me show you how easy it is to make this Simple Garlic Butter Rice:

Sauté Onion and Garlic

1. I heat a pan over medium-high heat with 1 tablespoon of butter and the olive oil.
2. I add the diced garlic and onion.
3. I cook until the onion turns translucent.

Add Broth and Seasoning

1. I add the chicken broth, salt, and pepper and stir the ingredients together.
2. I bring the liquid to a boil, then reduce the heat to low.

Add Rice and Simmer

1. I add in the rice and mix everything together.
2. I cover the pot with a lid.
3. I let it simmer until all the liquid has disappeared. I do not stir during this step. I use a spatula to gently scoop some of the rice to the side to check if all the liquid is gone from the bottom.

Steam and Finish with Butter

1. I remove the pot from the heat and let it sit, covered, for 5-10 minutes to steam the rice.
2. After that, I add the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter.
3. I fluff the rice with a fork and mix in the butter as I do so.
4. I season again with salt and pepper, to my taste.

Serve

1. Serve and enjoy.

Tips and Tricks for the BEST Rice

Here are my secrets for making this rice truly exceptional:

• Use Jasmine Rice: Jasmine rice has a lovely aroma and cooks up fluffy.
• Don’t Stir While Simmering: Stirring the rice while it simmers can make it gummy. Let it cook undisturbed.
• Let it Steam: Allowing the rice to steam off the heat after the liquid is absorbed is crucial for achieving a fluffy texture.
• Use Broth: Cooking the rice in chicken or vegetable broth adds much more flavor than using water.
• Sauté Aromatics: Sautéing the onion and garlic before adding the liquid builds a flavorful base.

How to Serve

This Garlic Butter Rice is a perfect side dish for:

• Chicken: Grilled, roasted, or pan-seared chicken.
• Beef: Steak, pot roast, or beef stir-fry.
• Fish: Baked, grilled, or pan-seared fish or shrimp.
• Vegetarian Mains: Serve alongside roasted vegetables, tofu, or beans.

Make Ahead and Storage

You can store leftover garlic butter rice in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the microwave or on the stovetop, adding a splash of water or broth if needed.  

FAQs about Garlic Butter Rice

• Can I use brown rice?
  • Yes, but you’ll need to adjust the cooking time and liquid amount according to the package directions for brown rice.
• Can I make this without the butter?
  • The butter adds richness and flavor, but you can use more olive oil or a dairy-free butter alternative if needed.
• Can I use garlic and onion powder instead of fresh?
  • Fresh garlic and onion provide the best flavor, but you can substitute with about ½ teaspoon of each powder if necessary.

Enjoy this flavorful, buttery, and easy-to-make Simple Garlic Butter Rice! It’s a perfect upgrade to your usual side dish routine.

Simple Garlic Butter Rice

• Author: Caoimhe Byrne
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Resting Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20minutes
• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 4-6 1x
• Category: Appetizer
• Cuisine: American

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Description

This Garlic Butter Rice is a simple yet incredibly flavorful side dish. Jasmine rice is cooked with sautéed onions and garlic in chicken broth, then finished with butter for extra richness. It’s an easy and delicious upgrade from plain rice.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 tablespoon salted butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/4 cup yellow onion, chopped small
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 cups uncooked white jasmine rice, rinsed (see notes)
• 3 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 3 tablespoons salted butter, cut into pieces

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Instructions

• Sauté Onion and Garlic: Heat a medium saucepan or pot over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of butter and the olive oil. Once the butter is melted, add the chopped onion and minced garlic. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onion turns translucent and the garlic is fragrant, about 2-3 minutes. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
• Add Broth and Seasonings: Pour in the chicken broth (or vegetable broth). Add the salt and pepper and stir to combine.
• Bring to Boil: Bring the liquid to a boil.
• Add Rice: Once boiling, add the rinsed rice to the pot. Stir everything together.
• Simmer: Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot tightly with a lid, and let it simmer until all the liquid has been absorbed. Do not stir the rice during this step. Cooking time will vary depending on your stove and rice, typically 15-20 minutes. To check if the liquid is gone, gently push some rice aside with a spatula to see the bottom of the pot.
• Rest/Steam: Once all the liquid is absorbed, remove the pot from the heat. Let it sit, covered and undisturbed, for 5-10 minutes. This allows the rice to steam and become fluffy.
• Add Butter and Fluff: Remove the lid. Add the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter pieces to the hot rice. Use a fork to gently fluff the rice, mixing in the butter as you do so until it’s melted and distributed.
• Season and Serve: Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if needed. Serve warm.

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Notes

• Rinsing Rice: Rinsing the jasmine rice before cooking removes excess starch and helps prevent it from becoming sticky. Place the rice in a fine-mesh sieve and rinse under cold water until the water runs clear.
• Alternative Method (Toasting Rice): Many rice pilaf recipes involve toasting the uncooked rice in the butter/oil with the onions and garlic for 1-2 minutes before adding the broth. This can add a slightly nutty flavor. You can adapt this recipe to include that step if you prefer.
• Don’t Stir While Simmering: Resist the urge to stir the rice while it’s simmering. Stirring can release starch and make the rice gummy.
• Broth: You can use chicken broth or vegetable broth. Low-sodium broth is recommended to control the saltiness.
• Serving Suggestions: enjoy!
• Storage: Store leftover rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.