Hey! I'm Des!
Welcome to Life’s Ambrosia where Dinner is served and memories are made. Here you will find over 1000 tried and true recipes for every possible occasion. In the last 10 years, this blog has helped millions of families put dinner on the table and create food memories. Let me help you too.
Garlic Rice
This garlic rice is a perfect, easy way to jazz up your rice side dish.
A lot of my recipe ideas come from trying new things at restaurants. Take this Garlic Rice for instance.
A few years back I ate at a Peruvian restaurant with some friends. I had never eaten at a Peruvian restaurant before so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. As I perused the menu, my eyes came across a few words that determined my meal right then and there: Served with garlic rice. Eureka!
I ordered right away and I waited patiently. About as patiently as a kid who gets up at 4am on Christmas morning patiently waits to open presents. In other words, I was anxious and by the time my food finally arrived I was ready to devour it.
And I’m not gonna lie… devour it I did.
What can I add to make rice taste better?
This is question I used to ask myself all the time. And honestly, a question that I got from a lot of friends.
Growing up, I found it kind of boring. But there are ways that you can jazz things up. First of, like in this recipe, you can cook the rice in broth instead of water. Broth is obviously much more flavorful than water so it adds much more flavor.
You can also add different kinds of herbs. Cilantro is always a good option, if you like cilantro that is. My family would always say butter and soy sauce. And while these are all great options, adding garlic to rice is my absolute favorite way to jazz it up.
Which type of rice should you use for garlic rice?
I am not quite sure why I never thought to make garlic rice before. It is such a simple and easy way to jazz up rice. I opted to use jasmine rice for this recipe because I have about 20 pounds of it sitting in my kitchen. It is my favorite kind of rice and worked very well for this dish.
For those of you that don’t have much experience with jasmine rice I really suggest picking up a bag.
Jasmine rice is a fragrant long-grain rice that has a subtle nutty flavor. I use it for just about any dish that calls for rice. It can be expensive at grocery stores but if you have an Asian market near you you can probably get a 20lb bag for around $20.
If you have a Costco membership, depending on their inventory, you might even be able to pick up a 20lb bag for around $15.
How do you make garlic rice?
STEP 1: Heat butter and olive oil together in a pan until butter melts.
STEP 2: Add garlic. Cook just until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
STEP 3: Add rice and stir to coat in the butter. Allow to cook just until rice becomes translucent about 4 minutes.
STEP 4: Pour in broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and cook 20 – 25 minutes. Carefully remove lid and fluff rice with a fork.
This rice side dish and I LOVE serving it with my family’s favorite Chicken Curry and our favorite Baked Salmon with Lemon Caper Butter.
And if you are looking for more ways to use this garlic rice, I’ve also made some and stuffed it in portobello mushrooms. It was divine. Check it out for yourself here: Garlic Rice Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms.
I have made this recipe for garlic rice several times over the years and it is still one of our family favorites. My boys pretty much devour it every chance that they get. For those of you that cannot find jasmine rice, you can substitute long grain rice too.
Other Best Easy Side Dish Recipes:
Note: This recipe was originally posted in 2009. It was updated in 2020 with step by step photos, tips and a video.
Garlic Rice
Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic sliced
- 1 cup uncooked jasmine rice
- 2 cups chicken broth
- chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- In a saucepan over medium heat combine butter and olive oil. Once butter has melted add garlic and cook one minute.
- Stir in rice, cook until rice becomes slightly translucent. Stirring occasionally to make sure rice doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan. About 4 minutes. Rice may brown slightly.
- Stir in chicken broth, bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and let cook 20-25 minutes.
- Carefully remove lid, fluff rice with a fork and sprinkle with chopped parsley.
- Serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Hey! I'm Des!
Welcome to Life’s Ambrosia where Dinner is served and memories are made. Here you will find over 1000 tried and true recipes for every possible occasion. In the last 10 years, this blog has helped millions of families put dinner on the table and create food memories. Let me help you too.
Tati
August 31, 2024 at 4:23 pmWhat’s the serving size?
Callan
July 24, 2024 at 3:13 pmIs the fresh parsley necessary
Deseree
July 25, 2024 at 2:18 pmNo! You can leave it out if you like :)
Kimi
August 30, 2023 at 5:10 amCan you use minced garlic instead of fresh garlic slices? It sounds good and can’t to taste it. Making garlic butter steak bites.
Deseree
August 30, 2023 at 9:27 pmI never have used pre-minced garlic in this but I don’t see why not! Hope you enjoy this and the steak bites :)
Rich
August 5, 2023 at 8:44 amHi. How would you think it would taste with vegetable broth?
Thanks!!
Deseree
August 12, 2023 at 4:05 pmI’ve made it with vegetable broth before when I was serving some vegetarian friends, it worked great!
Ariane
March 19, 2023 at 2:53 pmSimple and tasty!!!! Thanks.
Deseree
March 20, 2023 at 10:01 pmYou’re welcome!! Thanks for your feedback!
Lelia Andrews
February 26, 2023 at 5:59 pmFantastic! I love the slightly nutty flavor. I paired it with seared butter garlic chicken breasts. They complemented each other nicely.
Deseree
February 26, 2023 at 9:13 pmGlad you enjoyed it, Lelia!! That sounds like a perfect dinner!
Margaret
January 26, 2023 at 7:40 pmThis rice was the bomb my family truly enjoyed it.
Deseree
January 27, 2023 at 8:45 pmYay! So happy to hear that, Margaret!
Carey
January 8, 2023 at 2:04 pmLoved the flavour; family only gave it a 5:10 as consistency was very heavy/ not fluffy, and made it too filling…not sure what I did wrong, however the rice was very gluey; was really hopefully for this one!
Harriet
January 2, 2023 at 1:51 pmI know this recipe has been around for a while but I only just came across it today. The whole family loved this, we had it with Keema. We have loads left over so we will use it as an egg fried rice tomorrow. Thank you very much for this recipe, we used around 6 garlic cloves as we are all garlic lovers.
Deseree
January 4, 2023 at 11:34 amI am so happy to hear that, Harriet! Thank you for taking the time to review! :)
Romana
October 20, 2022 at 9:23 amHi, what’s the recipe you use for chicken broth? :)
Deseree
October 20, 2022 at 10:08 amHi! I usually use the low-sodium Better than Bouillon. :)
Patricia
June 5, 2022 at 5:18 pmCan I substitute powdered garlic for the sliced garlic.
Deseree
June 6, 2022 at 1:39 pmPatricia, I’ve never tried doing it that way before so I can’t say it would taste the same. If you do try it, I would add the garlic powder with the chicken broth. It would likely burn if you sauteed the rice in it. Hope this helps!
Kyle
April 1, 2022 at 7:34 amCan you use water or a mix of water and chicken broth?
Deseree
April 1, 2022 at 6:28 pmYou can! The rice wouldn’t have as much flavor (more like steamed rice with garlic) but still good! Half water/half broth would also be good.
Scott
October 24, 2021 at 3:32 pmMade this last week with Basmati rice….our preference. My wife has talked about this rice a dozen times since! Tonight I’m making Asian chicken lettuce wraps and my wife aaked me to make THIS RICE specifically to have with the wraps. I consider this a winner! It was very tasty, very fluffy, and the first time I made it, my wife had the leftover rice for lunch the next day…a woman who RARELY eats leftover ANYTHING! I followed the recipe other than a little cracked black pepper and a couple of extra garlic cloves…absolutely delicious! MAKE THIS RICE! You will NOT be disappointed!
Deseree
October 24, 2021 at 8:49 pmThank you for such a fabulous review, Scott! I am so happy to hear that you and your wife enjoyed it!
Kie
June 15, 2021 at 7:50 pmCan this be cooked using rice cooker?
Deseree
June 16, 2021 at 10:21 amKie, I have not personally made it in a rice cooker but a few people in the comments have! If your rice cooker has a saute feature you could use that. Or you could do the sautéing in a pan and then transfer it to the rice cooker, pour in the chicken broth and cook as usual. :)
rob howard
April 25, 2021 at 12:41 amcan the rice be cooked in a rice cooker after the initial steps?
Deseree
April 25, 2021 at 4:55 pmHi Rob! I don’t see why not but I have not personally tried it so I can’t be sure.
dom leacy
March 30, 2021 at 10:13 amAbsolutely fantastic,
we love it ,and have passed the rcipe on to my family,
works with so many things,,
Regards from sunny hertfordshire, uk
Deseree
April 1, 2021 at 5:11 pmThank you so much! I am happy that you and your family love it! Also, little jealous of your sunshine from here in Seattle ;)
Cody
March 3, 2021 at 4:20 amI found it to be extremely salty and almost porridge like.
Deseree
March 3, 2021 at 9:34 amI’m sorry to hear that! The saltiness could be because of the chicken broth used. You can fix that by using a low-sodium chicken broth or doing half chicken broth/half water. I am not sure of the issue with the consistency though. I’ve never had that problem but would be happy to help you trouble shoot. Can you tell me what kind of rice you used?
Mateus
January 10, 2021 at 8:04 amThis is the brazilian recipe of rice!! hahahaha. Just: Oil + Fresh minced garlic + Rice + Sault = the perfect rice! ❤
Deseree
January 12, 2021 at 10:19 pmIt is the perfect rice!
Barbara Parsons
December 9, 2020 at 1:22 pmI was just browsing through some recipes when the term “garlic rice” caught my eye. I’m fixing Korean spicy lamb chops tonight and voila!!! this will be the perfect side. Everything about the recipe–its presentation and instruction and finished dish photos–convinced me to try it. I’m sure it will be perfect.
Jacqui
April 26, 2020 at 11:03 amI made this in a rice steamer by adding the rice, microwaving the garlic, olive oil and butter and putting it in with the rice and mixing it up, adding the chicken stock and mixing all…. and then steaming the rice the same way I always do and it worked out PERFECTLY!! SO delicious! Thank you for the recipe!!
Deseree
April 29, 2020 at 8:54 amIt’s great to know that you can do it in the steamer this way!! Glad you enjoyed it :)
Adrienne
October 15, 2019 at 1:20 pmI made this recipe using the mixed basmati rice from Trader Joe’s. Everyone raved about it. This is how I’ll serve it to my family from now on. Thanks.
linda mcintosh
August 4, 2019 at 1:58 pmso very good……we loved it ….thank you for sharing your recipe
Laura
April 25, 2019 at 11:31 pmDeseree, thank you! Veru tasty and easy-to-cook) Pinned it)
Deseree
April 26, 2019 at 4:38 pmYou’re welcome! And thank you!
Caprine Agrotech
February 25, 2019 at 3:50 amYour recipes are great, simple and yummy. They really bring in our interest into cooking. Love them.
Marcia Keys
January 1, 2019 at 9:17 amExcellent ! Perfect!
This recipe elevates rice to something a little more special than just cooked rice. It’s fragrant with just a hint of garlic.
It works well with brown rice too. I tried it with garlic that I bought chopped in a jar but that didn’t work as well.
Deseree
January 3, 2019 at 11:15 amThat is wonderful to hear! And also good to know that it works with brown rice as well. How long did you cook it?
shannon ryan
April 24, 2018 at 4:11 pmVery easy and very good!
Deseree
April 24, 2018 at 8:50 pmSo happy to hear that Shannon!
Carl Murphy
March 11, 2018 at 2:59 pmMe and my family have been making this recipe consistently now! We add the zest of one lemon for 1 1/2 cups rice when we fluff the rice after cooking. It’s a nice variation.
Deseree
March 12, 2018 at 10:14 amI am loving that variation! Garlic and lemon is always a great combo!
Qeryn
January 9, 2018 at 1:55 amHi Deseree, I found your recipe and it seems amazing :). One question: I usually cook rice in a rice cooker. Do you know if this recipe is feasible in a rice cooker and how? Thank you for your help!
Deseree
January 9, 2018 at 1:23 pmHey Qeryn!
If your rice cooker has a sautéing feature, I think that you could use it! If not, I think this would be better in a pot :)
Melinda
May 14, 2018 at 12:49 pmI followed the recipe until step 2 in a sauté pan and then put it in a rice cooker with the liquid and it turned out perfect!
Deseree
May 14, 2018 at 1:04 pmThank you for this! I have had people ask if it works well in a rice cooker, that is good to know! :)
Steve Smith
January 21, 2017 at 2:33 amI made this last night as a side dish to Baked Haddock. It was delicious! I will definitely make this again and again! Thank you Deseree.
Des @ Life's Ambrosia
January 22, 2017 at 7:52 pmYou are so welcome Steve! I’m so happy you enjoyed it! :)
BonaFideBlondie
August 25, 2016 at 8:28 pmI made this for dinner tonight, and this recipe is definitely going into my regular dinner rotation. It was a hit. I added a little extra garlic (wouldn’t have hurt to have even more), and I should have turned the heat down to low as I would usually do because it burnt a bit on the bottom in 20 minutes.
Eileen Eisler Wagner
February 18, 2016 at 8:16 pmI was so excited to try this that within 10 minutes of reading it I had it on the stove! Haha! And I must say… OMG soooooo good!!!! I had to settle with using what was in the house, so I substituted vegetable broth for chicken broth (we have some vegetarians in our household), used 5 large cloves of garlic instead of 4 (as we’re all garlic lovers!), and since vegetable broth can be rather bland, I also added 1/2 tsp salt. Just smelling it cooking made my mouth water, and I couldn’t wait to dig into it! I was amazed at just how simple it was, with such an amazing outcome! Thanks for the awesome recipe, it’s now a family favorite! Highly recommended!
Deseree
February 18, 2016 at 9:28 pmYou are welcome Eileen! I am so happy you liked it! :)
Chayoroxx G
August 27, 2015 at 11:26 amI made this rice about 2 weeks ago and it went fast. It is so simple to make and sooooo delicious. I sliced my garlic. My husband wants me to add at least 15 more sliced garlics. We are garlic lovers. My son only wanted to eat this when I made it. (GO MOM)
The Jasmine rice gives it an added good taste as well. I am so happy I found this recipe.
Des @ Life's Ambrosia
August 27, 2015 at 12:47 pmThank you @chayoroxxg:disqus! I am so happy to hear that you and your family enjoyed it! :)
Becky
May 26, 2013 at 8:46 amMy sister-in-law is married into a Filipino family. They have rice and garlic for breakfast. Served with fried eggs on top so they can be chopped into the eggs. Its a great boost in the morning.
Conchi
August 22, 2012 at 1:07 pmHmmm!!!! I found the recipe. It looks scrumptious. I note that the garlic used is not mashed, but rather, sliced. Has anyone made it both ways? Any preference?
Evelyn
February 28, 2012 at 12:08 pmI love rice, and I also love cooking, Garlic rice its really tasty.
I have a couple of more suggestions for rice. Put in your blender the normal water You r going to use to cook your rice, parsley and a sachet of chicken bouillon?? and cook it as normally You do. It will b a green rice and it’s yummy!
I love it!!!! Hope You like
Debra
February 13, 2011 at 8:41 pmI make this rice whenever I want a little something different. My husband cant get enough, it’s even delicious by itself. YUM.
Deseree
December 7, 2009 at 9:54 amThank you Marilyn! And congrats to you on 44 years of marriage, that’s wonderful! :)
Marilyn
December 5, 2009 at 6:04 pmAlso made this tonight with the Adobo chicken, it was a great hit. The rice is very tasty and very aromatic. Didn’t use the full amount of garlic as the husband is not wild about garlic, but I married him anyways 44 years ago!!!!
Jessie
December 4, 2009 at 10:56 amoh man garlic and rice together? I’m in love!
Lex
December 3, 2009 at 5:40 pmGarlic Rice is delicious! Sometimes I like to add some white wine with the stock and then add chopped cilantro right before serving.
michelle
December 3, 2009 at 9:55 amgarlic? rice? I’m sold!
Liesl
December 3, 2009 at 9:53 amThis sounds like a delicous side!! I love garlic!
Von
December 2, 2009 at 11:12 pmWow- I’ve never thought of garlic rice either, but it’s such a smart idea! It sounds and looks so good!
tigerfish
December 2, 2009 at 9:17 pmIt sounds so aromatic!
shannon
December 2, 2009 at 3:21 pmYES! Love garlic in any form so I can’t wait for this one! Thanks for the birthday shout out:)
Jenn
December 2, 2009 at 3:12 pmYUMMY!!! I was just trying to think of a new way to serve rice! Thank you!!!
Kacey
December 2, 2009 at 2:19 pmThis sounds delicious! I bet the aromas of the garlic, parsley, and jasmine rice are wonderful! I will definitely be trying this recipe!