Seasoned Rice is a homemade version of the flavoured boxed rices like Rice-A-Roni and Uncle Ben’s! A quick way to add flavour to white rice to make it super tasty, this is a rice side that’s economical, simple to make, and goes with literally everything.
Make a big batch and refrigerate 4 days or freeze 3 months.
Buttery Seasoned Rice
I tell my friends this is the rice version of Potato Salad – you make a big batch, stash it in the fridge and bring it out night after night to serve with everything.
Except unlike Potato Salad, this rice recipe can also be frozen. Whip it out of the freezer, pop it in the microwave for a couple of minutes. Anyone for a 2 minute instant side – that didn’t come from a box??!!
Rice Side Dish for everything!
Don’t get me wrong, plain rice has its place in this world. Doused with saucy stir fries, smothered in spicy curries. But you do need a sauce.
So how do you make plain white rice so tasty, you will want to eat a meals’ worth straight out of the pot?? Cook it with stock powder/bouillon, some spices and add a good wack of butter!
Flavourings and spices for seasoned rice
Here’s what goes in this seasoned rice. You can make this with any white rice other than speciality rices like risotto, paella and sushi rice. Also see the recipe notes for how to adjust this for brown rice.
Don’t worry if you don’t have all the spices, there are plenty of alternatives! See below the photo for a list.
Substitution for spices
You could skip one of the spices and it will still taste similar. Or you can substitute as follows:
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Garlic powder – melt 1 tbsp (15g) butter and cook 2 finely chopped garlic cloves until golden, then add rice, water and all other ingredients and cook per recipe;
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Onion powder – add extra 1/2 tsp garlic powder instead;
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Paprika – just skip it, adds a touch of warm earthy flavour and a bit of colour, not critical;
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Thyme – not critical. Best sub is dried oregano, followed by basil. 1/4 tsp sage powder is SO GOOD as well.
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Parsley – optional, this is more for visual, to get the little green specks in the rice. Sub with basil, or stir through 1 cup finely sliced green onion, or 1/2 cup finely chopped fresh parsley or chives.
How to make rice taste better!
Here’s how to make this flavoured rice which comes out beautifully fluffy – with the added bonus of no scorched pot base too!
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Place rice, water and all the seasonings into a large saucepan or small pot and give it a good stir;
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Bring to a simmer over medium high heat until there’s bubbles around the edges and the entire surface is rippling, and it foams a bit (you’ll see in the video);
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Place a tight fitting lid on, then turn down to medium low – or low for strong stoves. You want the water to still be simmering – if the heat is too low, then the rice just sits there in hot water, bloating, rather than absorbing. Too high, and it will bubble over and out the sides of the pot. NO PEEKING – the lid needs to stay on to trap the steam inside – this will ensure your rice cooks evenly;
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After 13 minutes, remove from the stove and let it rest for 10 minutes – the rice will finish cooking during this time (if you try the rice as soon as it comes off the stove, you’ll find the surface of the grain is wet and the inside is still uncooked);
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Add butter and fluff up the rice with a rubber spatula – the residual heat will melt the butter. I recommend using at least 3 tbsp (50g) for a lovely buttery rice, but you can reduce to 2 tbsp (30g) if you want. Or sub with extra virgin olive oil, or just skip the butter – it will still be very tasty rice!
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Pile onto serving platter, sprinkle with parsley or something green for presentation if you wish. Dig in!
How to properly store cooked rice
Cooked rice will keep for up to 5 days in the fridge (I say 4 to be safe). Cool the seasoned rice rapidly – tumble it out of the pot into a large bowl, or if you scaled up the batch then spread out on tray(s). Refrigerate within 2 hours of cooking.
The stories you may have heard about food safety and cooked rice revolves around large volumes of cooked rice sitting out for hours and hours, creating a cosy environment for bacteria to grow which can lead to food poisoning. This is typical of large scale cooking, not home cooking (because vast quantities of rice takes ages to cool down).
A single batch of this seasoned rice will cool to room temp in 40 minutes once in a serving bowl, so you’ll have no practical issues with storing.
What to serve with Seasoned Rice
This is a rice side dish that will pretty much go with any foods other than Asian food and curries (they’ve got enough flavour in them as it is!).
It’s tasty enough to eat plain without sauce, quick enough for midweek meals yet so good you’ll want it on the table of grander affairs too! Here’s a few suggestions for mains to serve with this:
It would also be terrific to make a meat-free meal out of things like these:
AND stuff them into BURRITOS!!
Now, kiss those boxed rices goodbye, and make a big batch of this rice and refrigerate for days, or freeze it! – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
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Buttery Seasoned Rice
Ingredients
- 2 cups long grain white rice , uncooked (Note 1 for brown rice)
- 3 1/4 cups water (cold tap water)
- 2 tsp chicken powder / granulated bouillon , or 2 cubes dissolved in boiling water (Note 2)
- 1 tsp garlic powder *
- 1 tsp onion powder *
- 1 tsp paprika *
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme *
- 2 tbsp dried parsley *, optional
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Stir through:
- 50g / 3 tbsp butter, unsalted (or MORE!)
Instructions
- Place all Rice ingredients in a large saucepan and give it a stir.
- Bring to simmer over medium high heat (edges bubbling, entire surface rippling), put the lid on and turn stove down to medium low (LOW for strong stoves). It should be simmering gently.
- Cook for 13 minutes - do not lift lid!
- Tilt pot then QUICKLY peek to ensure all water is absorbed.
- Remove from stove, stand 10 minutes with lid on.
- Add butter and fluff rice with a rubber spatula. Serve!
- Storage - please read Note 4.
- Rice cooker - Same ingredients, water and rice ratio. Pop it all in your rice cooker and cook per manufacturer directions, stir through butter at end.
Recipe Notes:
- Garlic powder - melt 1 tbsp (15g) butter and cook 2 finely chopped garlic cloves until golden, then add rice, water and all other ingredients and cook per recipe.
- Onion powder - add extra 1/2 tsp garlic powder instead
- Paprika - just skip it, adds a touch of warm earthy flavour and a bit of colour, not critical
- Thyme - not critical. Best sub is dried oregano, followed by basil. 1/4 tsp sage powder is SO GOOD as well.
- Parsley - optional, this is more for visual, to get the little green specks in the rice. Sub with basil, or stir through 1 cup finely sliced green onion, or 1/2 cup finely chopped fresh parsley or chives.
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
Dozer thinks the social distancing rules don’t apply to him – lucky police aren’t fining DOGS for non compliance with these new laws!!
WoW , turned out perfect and was super easy , my new favourite rice recipe !!
Super yummy, thanks for an amazing recipe. I used homemade chicken broth and brown basmati rice in the Instant Pot and dumped all the ingredients in.
Instant Pot said to use 2.5C water with 2C rice, pressure cook for 22 mins and natural release for 10. It could have cooked for more time and had a bit more water. In the future, I’ll take it to at least 3C water/broth for 2C brown rice and cook for 25 mins with natural release for 10 and see where that gets me.
I use a similar recipe from food.com. It has more garlic and more butter but not the spices that you use. When I am making rice for a recipe, I always make a larger amount than stated and freeze the leftover rice to make fried rice later. I will start adding some of the spices you use in your rice.
Ok stop it, this is absolutely amazing! Thanks so much for sharing this recipe, even my picky toddler approves!
Made this tonight and it was so good! I had been looking at it for a while – it was worth the wait. So full of flavour. I have enough to freeze for another couple of meals. Enjoyed it with Easy Everyday Chicken Stir-Fry – another fabulous no fail meal from your beautiful book. Thanks Nagi xoxo
You are a lifesaver Nagi. Could never get my rice the way hubby likes it so gave yours a go. He raved about it. Added some Sesame Oil and Chine Rice Wine and fish sauce. Thank you thank you. PS My dog Smokey loves it also.
My family and I love this recipe. I made up bags ahead of time and keep them in my pantry so all I have to do is add water and cook. I even made a few for my parents and wrote the cooking instructions on the baggies. They loved it too!!
Absolutely love this recipe! So flavorful and makes so much at once; so thrilled to have found this. Just delicious!
I make this regularly as we lovvve it.. sometimes I quickly just type “rice” in search bar to get to what I’m looking for (it’s just quicker for me than going via the menu as I use my phone most of the time). But Nagi this one isn’t top-listed when I search! It’s lost somewhere in the middle! Criminal offence!
I wanted to add I use it as a bed for blackened catfish sometimes. I like the idea of adding mixed veggies like one person said. Mine turns out looking just like the picture.
I thought I had left a review. This is the 3rd time making this recipe. The difference I do is 4 cups of water and cut down on the salt because the bullion has salt. My family loves it!!! When I get me some chicken broth I’m gonna use that I think that would be wonderful too.
I have made this twice now & im going wrong somewhere. I follow the recipe & steps exactly but somehow each time the liquid has absorbed to the perfect consistency at the 13 min mark & I stand for 10 mins but the rice is still very undercooked. My stove needs to be on the lowest setting which I do but where am I going wrong? If I add extra liquid & cook for slightly longer will it dilute the flavour? The taste is however delicious Nagi, I just suck at cooking rice! 🤪
It’s the rice brand. Try a different brand. That is the likely culprit. It’s either that or the pot you use is incorrect. (Needs a heavy tight lid).
I forgot to add if you’re in a higher altitude like I am, add a bit more water.
Hi Lyn, Yes I have made this also and it doesn’t matter how many times I make it , the rice is not cooked. I have decided that this recipe is not for me. Won’t waste my time anymore on it.
Do 4 cups of water and 2 cups of rice and see if that works better for you.
Oh wow, this rice is amazing! Id started to follow another recipe but then it went weird so I switched to yours. So I had butter and olive oil in the pot and sauteed the rice for a bit. This is so good, thanks for the recipe. I think I’m going to saute some onions and throw them in next time.
Can I substitute the water or some of the water with chicken broth and not use the chicken bullion cubes?
Yes that would definitely work.
Family loves this rice recipe.
Woo hoo Del that’s great! I am glad they like it! N x
Delicious – I add frozen mixed veges and call it dinner. My flate-mate loves it as do I.
Great idea Deidre!! Enjoy! N x
This was very good!! Needed something to serve with chicken. Had the ingredients and it was so simple to prepare and tasty. Will be saving this recipe.
Before this recipe I was a failure at making rice. Now it is perfect every time. Cooked perfectly and so much flavor. I can’t believe it is so easy.
Woo hoo I am glad that you liked it Marilyn! N x
Can this be adapted for a rice cooker? If yes…can you help with the amounts of ingredients?
Hi Antoinette,
I just wanted to let you know that I make this recipe in my rice cooker all the time. The standard size of the measuring cup for a rice cooker is 3/4 cup, but measure yours just in case it differs! So I do three scoops in the rice cooker which equals 2.25 C, water to the 3 line, everything else the same, just with rounded rather than level measures for the spices. White rice setting and off you go!
I don’t use one – sorry Antoinette! N x
At the “remove from stove, let it stand” part, I tossed in a big bunch of chopped fresh spinach. Let it wilt, and fluffed it up with the butter in the next step. Without a doubt, this is the best rice I’ve ever made!
Woo hoo!! I am so glad you enjoyed it Pete!! N x
Could have done without the social distancing commentary on the rice recipe.