Oven Baked Rice
This easy Oven Baked Rice recipe uses just 4 simple ingredients and a foolproof oven-steaming method to deliver perfectly fluffy rice every time. Baking rice in the oven eliminates guesswork, making it an effortless, hands-off side dish that pairs beautifully with any meal.
How Long to Cook Rice in the Oven at 350
The beauty of this baked rice technique is that it’s foolproof! It bakes in around 30-35 minutes in a preheated 350°F oven.
Ingredients to Make Oven Baked Rice Recipe
Rice is such a versatile side dish to make and goes with so many entrees we love in the South. Low country cooking, Creole and Cajun and beyond call for rice in one form or another. In the early years, rice was grown primarily in the Gulf and South Atlantic states. Currently the largest producer of rice in the United States is Arkansas with rice being grown in more than half of the counties in the state. Rice is also a staple worldwide that’s enjoyed across many cultures and cuisines.
This oven baked rice recipe takes the hassle out of making rice on the stove or in a rice cooker and it steams covered in the oven. It’s simple, and doesn’t require constant attention to make fluffy rice.
Checkout this quick list of key ingredients you’ll need to make easy Oven Baked Rice: (Scroll down for full printable recipe card.)
- Uncooked Dry Rice – Two cups of long grain white rice i.e. Ben’s Original or similar.
- Water – Four cups boiling water kick-starts the cooking process.
- Butter – Salted or unsalted butter adds a hint of richness.
- Seasoning – One teaspoon salt.
How to Make the Best Oven Baked Rice Recipe
- Preheat Oven – Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Measure Rice – Pour rice and salt into a 3 quart Dutch oven or baking dish.
- Water – Boil water in a saucepan on the stovetop or in the microwave. Melt butter in boiling water. (You can also boil the water in a kettle.)
- Combine – Add boiling water and butter to rice, stir to combine.
- Oven Bake – Cover tightly and bake per the baking time in the recipe. (Check at 30 minutes and stir, if needed)
- Let Stand – Let stand 5 minutes on the counter or just until all liquid is absorbed.
- Serve – Fluff with a fork and serve.
Kitchen Equipment to Make Baked Rice
- One 3-quart Dutch oven with a lid or similar size 13×9-inch baking dish or pan.
- Large spoon for stirring.
- Measuring cups and spoons and a fork for fluffing the rice after cooking.
Recipe Variations, Tips and Substitutions
- Stock – You can use chicken stock, chicken broth, vegetable broth or beef broth in place of water. Low sodium is best.
- Rice – You can adapt this recipe using different kinds of rice. Use basmati rice, jasmine rice or brown rice. Each type of rice cooks slightly differently so decrease or increase cups water to adapt. Use this recipe for long grain rice as a starting point and adjust depending on the type of rice being used.
- Use an Oven Safe Skillet or Baking Dish – The best type of casserole dish to make oven rice is one that has a snug fitting lid. That said, you can also use a baking dish tightly sealed with heavy duty aluminum foil.
- Adjust the Amounts for More Servings – You can easily adapt this recipe making less rice or more rice depending on your desired number of servings.
- Spice Variations – You can add other spices to the rice. Things such as granulated garlic, black pepper, saffron or turmeric, or herbs such as tarragon or thyme. You can even add lemon zest to infuse citrus into the flavor or add bay leaves.
- Vegetables – You could add diced peppers or onions to the rice mixture as well as peas and carrots. Add chopped cilantro and a splash of lime juice for cilantro lime rice.
- How to Serve Baked Rice – You can serve rice with Asian entrees like orange chicken, on taco salads, with fried chicken drizzled with gravy or any time rice is on the menu.
Storage and Leftovers
- Leftovers – Store leftover Oven-Baked Rice in an airtight container chilled in the fridge for up to 5 days or cool and freeze.
- Reheating – Reheat individual portions in the microwave.
- Freezer Tips – Package and freeze rice baked for up to 2 months for meal prep. Thaw in the refrigerator and reheat in the microwave.
Southern Style Recipes to Serve with Rice
As I mentioned previously, rice goes with so many delicious main dishes that we all love. A few you recipes you may like to try to go with this oven baked rice recipe:
- Sweet and sticky Bourbon Chicken.
- Sesame Beef and Broccoli is a natural fit sprinkled with toasted sesame seeds.
- Smothered Chicken and Gravy goes as well with rice as it does mashed potatoes to soak up that gravy.
- Smothered Steak Tips with Creamy Mushrooms and Onions ladled over a big bowl of rice is a one dish meal.
- Easy Shrimp Creole with a rich tomato gravy.
- Add it to this recipe for Copycat PF Chang’s Lettuce Wraps from Averie Cook’s.
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Helpful Kitchen Items:
Oven Baked Rice
Ingredients
- 2 cups long grain rice i.e. Uncle Ben's
- 4 cups boiling water
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Pour rice and salt into a 3 quart Dutch oven or baking dish.
- Boil water in a saucepan on the stovetop or in the microwave. To the water add the butter. Stir until melted then add to rice, stir well.
- Cover tightly and bake for 30-35 minutes. (Check at 30 minutes and stir, if needed)
- Let stand 5 minutes on the counter or just until all liquid is absorbed.
- Fluff with a fork and serve. (Makes approximately 6 cups cooked rice or twelve 1/2 cup servings)
Notes
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- Stock: You can use chicken stock, chicken broth, vegetable broth or beef broth in place of water. Low sodium is best.
-
- Rice: You can adapt this recipe using different kinds of rice. Use basmati rice, jasmine rice or brown rice. Each type of rice cooks slightly differently so decrease or increase cups water to adapt. Use this recipe for long grain rice as a starting point and adjust depending on the type of rice being used.
-
- Spice Variations: You can add other spices to the rice. Things such as granulated garlic, black pepper, saffron or turmeric, or herbs such as tarragon or thyme. You can even add lemon zest to infuse citrus into the flavor or add bay leaves.
-
- Vegetables: You could add diced peppers or onions to the rice mixture as well as peas and carrots. Add chopped cilantro and a splash of lime juice for cilantro lime rice.
For perfect brown rice, use 1 cup rice with 3 cups water and a teaspoon of salt. Place in a cold oven. Set oven at 375 degrees. Turn off oven in one hour but don’t open oven door for a second hour. After two hours in the oven, fluff the rice with a fork. Perfect!
Could you use jasmine or basmati rice ?
You can use other varieties of rice but they all cook differently. The times and liquid amounts in this recipe are for long grain rice. So, you’ll need to watch and adjust the time as needed.
I used this basic recipe, but I wanted Spanish rice so I sautéed bell pepper, onion and garlic til soft. I added in the rice and browned it slightly and followed the rest of the recipe. As you said perfect rice!!! Thanks for sharing
My mother always made baked rice and I’ve never made it any other way but I’ve never seen or heard of anyone else baking it.
It’s a terrific technique!