Rice is a perfect side dish for all types of recipes. From stir-fries to chicken, you can’t go wrong with having some rice to round out your meal. But preparing rice on the stove can be plain and boring.
A lot of people say they have trouble making rice. Even though it’s a simple dish, it can be challenging to get it to turn out right. Trying it in the oven might be the easy solution you’ve been seeking.
This recipe for baked rice seems a bit unusual, but that’s only because you haven’t tried it yet. The advantage of this rice is that not only does it all cook on its own, but it also forms a crust that gives it a delicious crunch.
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Savory Rice Recipe
This recipe has a little bit of flavor from the minced onion. But there’s no rule that says you can’t add more flavors to it. This recipe is endlessly customizable, however you think your family would enjoy it.
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Consider adding other spices to the rice that would complement the other dish you’re serving with it. Are you having a Mexican-themed dish? Try adding cumin or a bit of chili pepper. If you want to give it an Italian theme, try adding garlic, basil, or oregano (or even all three).
Even though the rice does all its cooking in the oven, you can make it even better by putting it in the broiler for a couple of minutes. Putting it in the broiler after it finishes cooking gives the rice a satisfying crust on the top. You’ll love the extra texture.
Want to make your savory rice even better? Try putting a sprinkle of cheese across the top of the rice before you put it under the broiler.
But you can also leave out the minced onion and any additional seasonings you wish. You can just make completely plain rice. Once you discover how well it turns out in the oven, you may never go back to other rice cooking methods again.
Baked Rice Recipe
If you have been making your rice on the stovetop or even in a rice cooker, you might not think you have any reason to do things differently. But actually, baking your rice in the oven might be the easy solution you never considered before.
The advantage of baking your rice in the oven is that the pan heats evenly. When you cook rice on the stove, it heats up unevenly. Because it heats up unevenly, it can give the rice a clumpy texture that’s less than appealing.
- 4-serving meals starting at $3.77 per serving (up to 25% cheaper than HelloFresh).
- Incredible variety with 10+ weekly meal options, delivered directly to you.
- Easy to prepare meals ready in 30-minutes or less.
This also means that you can end up with scorched rice on the bottom of the pan. Scorched rice not only goes to waste, but it also makes it miserable to do the dishes afterward. We don’t know about you, but the last thing that we want to do after cooking dinner is to spend more time on the cleanup!
Cooking your rice in the oven also frees up space on the stovetop. When you’re cooking other food on the stovetop, you’ll appreciate having an extra burner free. But if you’re cooking the main entrée in the oven, why not take advantage of the fact that the oven is already on and keep the stovetop completely free?
Believe it or not, baked rice actually turns out to be the fluffiest rice you’ve ever tried. The even heating of the liquid and rice means that it comes out better. You won’t have uneven spots, clumpy rice, or scorched rice on the bottom.
Making rice in the oven may sound a little strange, but it may just be the best rice you’ve ever made.
What to Serve With This Recipe
If you've just discovered this recipe and don't have anything planned to go with it, no worries! We've got some great suggestions here. Each of these entrees will pair excellently with baked rice.
First, you can't go wrong with chicken. We know, it's a bit of a boring suggestion, but the dish you choose doesn't have to be! There are so many ways to make chicken that it's almost exhausting to consider your options. Do you make something sweet? Spicy? Sweet and spicy? The choice is up to you. The great thing is that this baked rice recipe can go with all kinds of chicken recipes.
Pork is another great choice, especially if you have a sauce or gravy to go with it. Pork can often be made in the crock pot, making it even easier for you to make dinner. How nice would it be to come home from work and only have to make rice? Plus, you can put whatever sauce or gravy you have on hand over the rice.
Our final suggestion is for the non-meat eaters out there. You can never go wrong with some good roasted asparagus. Since you're already using the oven, why not go ahead and make another dish that needs it? Roasted asparagus is often a side dish, but we see no reason it can't stand as an entrée. When paired with this baked rice, roasted asparagus will make for a delicious and nutritious meal.
If you enjoyed this recipe, make sure to check out our Sweet Butternut Squash and our Mashed Potatoes Recipe.
- 4-serving meals starting at $3.77 per serving (up to 25% cheaper than HelloFresh).
- Incredible variety with 10+ weekly meal options, delivered directly to you.
- Easy to prepare meals ready in 30-minutes or less.
Baked Savory Rice Recipe
(17 votes, average: 3.94 out of 5)
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- Total Time: 40 Minutes
Description
This recipe for baked rice seems a bit unusual but that’s only because you haven’t tried it yet. The advantage of this rice is that not only does it all cook on its own, but it also forms a crust that gives it a delicious crunch.
Ingredients
- ¾ cup raw white rice, washed
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 Tablespoons butter or margarine
- 2 Tablespoons minced onion
- 2 cups boiling water
Instructions
- In a greased 1 ½ quart casserole, combine all the ingredients.
- Cover, bake in a moderate oven of 350 degree F, for 30 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 Minutes
- Cook Time: 30 Minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American