Our easy Rice Pilaf recipe is my favorite way to upgrade white rice, with toasted rice cooked in chicken broth and seasonings. It pairs perfectly with any main dish and is picky-eater approved.
Rinse rice: Add rice to a fine mesh strainer or colander and rinse really well, until the water runs clear. Set aside to drain.
1 1/2 cups long-grain white rice
Sauté and season: Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the rice and cook, stirring often, until lightly golden. Add onion, garlic, salt, and pepper and cook until onion has softened.
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, 1/2 cup onion, 3 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Cook: Add chicken broth and bring to a boil. Cover pot with a tight fitting lid and reduce heat to a simmer. Don't remove lid during cooking. Cook for 18 minutes. Remove pot from heat and allow to rest, with lid on, for 10 minutes.
3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
Fluff rice with a fork and gently stir in chopped parsley.
¼ cup fresh chopped parsley
Video
Notes
Yield: 4 1/2 cups rice. Serving Size: 3/4 cup rice.For Instant Pot Rice Pilaf: Rinse rice then turn Instant Pot to sauté setting. Add butter and rice and cook until golden, then add onion, garlic, salt and pepper and cook until onion has softened. Add 1 1/2 cups of chicken broth then close with the lid and move the valve to sealed. Cook for 4 minutes on manual/high pressure with a 10 minutes natural release. Remove lid, add parsley, and fluff with a fork.Brown Rice Pilaf: Add an additional 1/2 cup of broth, and cook for about 40 minutes, instead of 15.Orzo Rice Pilaf: Reduce rice to 1 cup and add 1/2 cup of orzo.Vegan Rice Pilaf: Use vegan friendly butter and substitute vegetable broth.Vegetable Rice Pilaf: Add additional vegetables with the onion, like diced celery, bell pepper, carrots, and peas and substitute vegetable broth.Use leftover rice pilafto makeChicken and rice enchiladas, Crispy Southwest Wrap,Creamy Wild Rice Soup, Breakfast fried rice, Salmon bowls, Arroz chaufa, or Eggroll in a bowl.