Garlic Butter Rice

A staple garlic butter rice recipe is a must for every kitchen. Buttery, garlic-infused fluffy rice pairs with just about anything you can imagine, and it’s ready in only 35 minutes.

Why this recipe works

Bring a little oomph to the plate by learning how to make garlic butter rice. Really though, it’s a great way to add flavor to plain white rice, because who said it needs to be boring? Flavored rice is no new practice around here, cough cough (Cajun rice), I can’t imagine a time when we would settle on anything less now that we’ve experienced how good white rice can be.

On top of the buttery garlic goodness, we’ll use bouillon base to pack in even more flavor. You can kiss bland rice goodbye from here on out. All you’ll need is long-grain white rice, minced garlic, garlic salt, butter, and vegetable base (or broth) to get started.

Ingredients you will need

Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.

Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions

RICE – Long grain rice such as Basmati or Jasmine rice are perfect for this recipe. You can also use long grain brown rice.

ADDITIONS – We use a concentrated bouillon base for most of our recipes instead of broth or stock. It’s convenient, takes up a lot less space, and is easily reconstituted with water. You can certainly use broth or stock instead. Furthermore, you can substitute the vegetable base with beef or chicken, it all comes down to preference and what you are serving it with.

How to Make Garlic Butter Rice

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.

1. Melt butter in a skillet over medium-high heat, add garlic and saute 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
2. Add rice and stir to combine.
3. Sprinkle the garlic salt over the rice.
4. Add the vegetable base and stir until combined.
5. Finally, add the water and stir.
6. Turn heat down to the lowest setting. Cover and cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until water is almost absorbed and rice is tender. Remove from heat and cover, fluffing after 3-4 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips

Store leftover rice in an airtight container kept in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Rinsing rice before cooking helps remove excess starch, ensures the rice is clean and promotes even cooking resulting in fluffy, separated grains. Some rice brands sell pre-washed or “no-rinse” rice. If your rice is labeled as such, you can skip the rinsing step. Otherwise, it’s generally a good idea to give it a quick rinse for the best texture.

Serving Suggestions

Garlic butter rice is truly universal, it pairs well with just about anything! From vegetarian mains such as honey garlic tofu to beef, chicken, fish, and pork. It’s harder to come up with a dish that garlic butter rice wouldn’t pair with when you think about it.

More Rice Recipes

• Rice Pilaf
• Dirty Rice
• Cajun Rice
• Mexican Rice

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