This sweet Coconut Rice recipe will take your meal to the next level! It is delicious, only has 5 ingredients, and is ready in less than 30 minutes!

I love to serve it in a Poke Bowl, Hawaiian Bowls, or with Teriyaki chicken.

A platter full of homemade coconut rice, with a spoon in it for serving.

Why I love this rice:

  • Delicious – There is no kind of rice I love more than coconut rice! It really takes any meal to the next level.
  • Easy – Only 5 minutes of prep work and it’s ready in less than 20 minutes!
  • Only 5 basic Ingredients – All you need is rice, coconut milk, brown sugar, salt and water.
The ingredients needed to make a coconut rice.

How to make Coconut Rice:

Combine Ingredients: Add water, coconut milk, sugar, and salt to a large saucepan.

A saucepan filled with coconut milk, rice, water, sugar and salt to make coconut rice.

Cook Rice: Bring to a boil then stir in rice. Cover the pot and simmer for 15 minutes.

Cooked coconut rice in a saucepan.

Allow to Rest. Remove from heat and let rest/steam for 10 minutes. Remove lid and fluff with fork. Sprinkle with toasted coconut when serving, if desired.

What to serve with Coconut Rice:

Recipe Variations:

  • Instant Pot Coconut Rice: Use 2 cups jasmine rice, 2 cups coconut milk, and ½ cup water (along with the salt and brown sugar called for in the recipe). Add all ingredients to the pressure cooker and stir to combine. Cook on high pressure (manual) for 4 minutes. Allow a 10 minute natural release (the valve may release sooner than that but allow the rice to sit for 10 full minutes).
  • Coconut Lime Rice: Replace 2 Tablespoons of the water with lime juice and cook according to recipe instructions.
  • Rice Substitutions:
    • Basmati Coconut Rice: Substitute equal amount with no other changes.
    • Long-Grain White Rice: Substitute equal amount with no other changes.
    • Brown Rice: Follow same instructions but cook for 45 minutes instead of 15.

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Recipe

A platter full of homemade coconut rice, with a spoon in it for serving.
Prep 5 minutes
Cook 15 minutes
Rest 10 minutes
Total 30 minutes
Save Recipe

Ingredients
 
 

  • 2 cups water
  • 1 1/2 cups canned unsweetened coconut milk (shake the can before using)
  • 2 tsp light brown sugar , packed
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 cups Jasmine rice (about 13 oz.), well rinsed and drained
  • 1/2 cup sweetened flaked coconut (optional), lightly toasted

Instructions
 

  • Combine 2 cups water, coconut milk, sugar, and salt in large saucepan. Bring to simmer, then stir in rice.
  • Return to a gently boil, cover, reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
  • Remove from heat and let stand 10 minutes. Remove lid and fluff rice gently with a fork.
  • Transfer rice to a bowl; sprinkle with toasted coconut.

Notes

*Unsweetened Coconut Milk is located in the Asian food aisle at your local grocery store.  Note that this is not the same as coconut water found in the refrigerated section.
Instant Pot Coconut Rice: Use 2 cups jasmine rice, 2 cups coconut milk, and ½ cup water (along with the salt and brown sugar called for in the recipe). Add all ingredients to the pressure cooker and stir to combine. Cook on high pressure (manual) for 4 minutes. Allow a 10 minute natural release (the valve may release sooner than that but allow the rice to sit for 10 full minutes).
Coconut Lime Rice: Replace 2 Tablespoons of the water with lime juice and cook according to recipe instructions.
Rice Substitutions:
    • Basmati Coconut Rice: Substitute equal amount with no other changes.
    • Long-Grain White Rice: Substitute equal amount with no other changes.
    • Brown Rice: Follow same instructions but cook for 50 minutes instead of 15.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 400kcalCarbohydrates: 58gProtein: 6gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 424mgPotassium: 256mgFiber: 3gSugar: 6gVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 31mgIron: 2mg

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I originally shared this recipe September 2010. Updated September 2019 and February 2022.

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Lauren Allen

Welcome! I’m Lauren, a mom of four and lover of good food. Here you’ll find easy recipes and weeknight meal ideas made with real ingredients, with step-by-step photos and videos.

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  1. 5 stars
    I LOVE this recipe. Such a simple upgrade from plain white rice, and the toasted coconut really brings it to the next level. I could eat this all day long. Next time I make it (which can’t come soon enough), I plan to extend the cook time on mine by a few minutes. Not sure if it’s an altitude thing, but the rice was still a little wet and just a smidge underdone with the 15 minutes. Still ate it all, though! Delish!

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